How We Learn to Be Brave Audiobook By Mariann Edgar Budde cover art

How We Learn to Be Brave

Decisive Moments in Life and Faith

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How We Learn to Be Brave

By: Mariann Edgar Budde
Narrated by: Mariann Edgar Budde
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About this listen

An inspirational guide to the key junctures in life that, if navigated with faith and discernment, pave the way for us to become our most courageous selves, by the bishop of the famed Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C.

The decisive moments in life are those pivot points when we’re called on to push past our fears and act with strength. With How We Learn to Be Brave, Bishop Mariann Budde teaches us to respond with clarity and grace even in the toughest times. Being brave is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day.

Here, Bishop Budde explores the full range of decisive moments, from the most visible and dramatic (the decision to go), to the internal and personal (the decision to stay), to brave choices made with an eye toward the future (the decision to start), those born of suffering (the decision to accept that which we did not choose), and those that come unexpectedly (the decision to step up to the plate). Drawing on examples ranging from Harry Potter to the Gospel According to Luke, she seamlessly weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to underscore both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive.

With Bishop Budde’s wisdom, listeners will learn to live and to respond according to their true beliefs and in ways that align with their best selves. How We Learn to Be Brave will provide much-needed fortitude and insight to anyone searching for answers in uncertain times.

©2023 Mariann Edgar Budde (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Christian Living Personal Development Spirituality
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Critic reviews

"With clarity, conviction, and a sure sense of the perils and the possibilities of the human condition, Bishop Mariann Budde has given us a great gift: A book that explores how God's children can stand up for the principles of His kingdom in a frail and fallen world. Courage, it has been said, is the most important virtue since it guarantees all the others, and Bishop Budde's searching account of her struggle to be brave is itself an act to be admired and absorbed."—Jon Meacham, author of The Soul of America and And There Was Light

"In sharing her story and that of others who have faced real challenges with ‘grit and grace,’ my good friend and fellow bishop Mariann Budde reminds us that extraordinary courage is possible for ordinary people. To help us she offers both the faith and the tools that make such courage possible for us."—The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and author of Love is the Way and The Power of Love

"It is easy to forget the simple, important dynamics of courageous leadership and living. Bishop Budde has given us all a thoughtful reminder."—Steve Leder, New York Times bestselling author of For You When I Am Gone

What listeners say about How We Learn to Be Brave

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Bishop Budde Delivers

A wonderfully captivating book on the importance of bravely learning your place in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and commend it to all who might need a dose of courage.

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Timely and Inspirational

Bishop Budde does a wonderful job of weaving personal stories with those of historical and biblical events. The right book for you if you are at a crossroad in your life.

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Bravery is always needed

Excellent and diverse examples of each characteristic required in learning how to be brave for many areas of life

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Wise words for our age

Joyful appreciation for these words that empower us to step up even when times are difficult.

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inspiring

This book helped me to clarify my faith. I realize that the way I vieweded my faith (as an evangelical) has led others to follow a devisive, evil path that has greatly harmed our nation.

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An Opportunity Missed

I never take pleasure in giving a bad review. I truly mean that. Over the past three decades, I have listened to well over 2,000 audiobooks, and have given only two reviews that have been critical.

This is the third.

The author is clearly a very intelligent person. Does that make her wise? Sadly, I'm not so sure that I can say "yes".

She starts her book via what I feel is a silly criticism about a leader who holds the Bible improperly. Really?! At least, the leader holds the Bible for people to see. I am older than the author, and I don't recall any leader at that level holding the Bible for people to see in my lifetime.

She also begins her book by uplifting George Floyd, the black man who the media and other church leaders claim was killed by a police officer. Back even before this audiobook was released, it was known that George Floyd did not die at the hands of the police but, instead, according to the autopsy, died from other related causes, including the drugs that this major drug addict had been taking. My prediction (and it is ONLY MY prediction) is that the police officer serving time in prison will be exonerated of this crime. No matter what I or anyone else might think of police or of this particular police officer, justice must be served at all times, even if one does not like a person for any particular reason.

So, the author starts the book in such a manner that tends to negate anything that comes after, even though what comes after contains some powerful messaging, because the reader, from the start, has to determine for herself or himself it the author has the wisdom to provide useful spiritual guidance.

The author grew up in a broken family. This, clearly, would impact any person. Somehow, she managed to overcome all of that to create a loving relationship with her husband, raise two children, and rise to the extremely high ranks of the Episcopal Church. One cannot help but admire this.

But to whom much is given, much is required.

I believe that one of the things that is required is to seek facts, truth, and wisdom; not merely parrot what is said in the news media (either side of the news media), especially when it has become profoundly clear that all media has its agenda, and has been pushing propaganda even well before the Revolutionary War. Samual Adams did it in regards to the British. And, during the Civil War, a newspaper in Ohio did it.

For example, a newspaper in Ohio reported that General Grant was drinking alcohol and getting contantly intoxicated in the process. President Lincoln dispatched a person to determine if that was the case. It was determined that General Grant was not drinking. The newspaper's desire was to make money by defaming. President Lincoln was wise enough to know he had to go to the source to get the facts. Today, we have to go to the source, always, and not rely upon the news media. Had the author gone to the source (the doctor who performed the autopsy), her glorification of George Floyd might have been tempered, though I cannot guarantee that. Many people in many positions of authority have their agenda.

The author is a supporter of the rights of women, and that would extend to certain aspects of abortion. I firmly believe that women (all people) must be treated as equals in terms of rights. But, I believe in thinking positive of babies. I am not pro abortion. I am not pro life. Both have negative connotations. I am pro baby. This society has gone so far in the wrong directions for so long, I'm not sure if this train-wreck of a life philosophy can ever be reversed, but I hope for a society where every conception and every baby is wanted and that all babies and mothers are given the emotional, educational, and financial support of our society to live life to its fullest. To achieve this will take dedicated, tirelessly hardworking leaders at all levels of our society. In short, to achieve this, leadership laziness must end, and the road less traveled must become an interstate highway.

I believe that we, as a society, must make a major paradigm shift and provide a society where all babies (all people) are considered precious miracles and not an inconvenience.

Along with my criticism of this audiobook, I want to give praise where it is due. The author narrated the book. It is my opinion that she did a very fine, professional job of it. Her voice and phrasing of the sentences was quite pleasing to listen to.

For those of you who follow my reviews (and I am honored that you do), I will end my review, as I do all my reviews, with my final opinion. This audiobook had the potential of being a major contribution to our society and the world in general. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this audiobook for the reasons stated above.

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