- Knowing the right words for feelings improves regulation and connection.
- Shared language reduces shame, increases empathy, and builds trust.
Book Summary
| Language | English (277) |
|---|---|
| Published On | 2021 (2) |
| Timeperiod | 21st Century (108) |
| Genre | nonfiction (88), psychology (18) |
| Category | Emotion (11) |
| Topics | belonging (6), connection (20), empathy (29), shame (10), vulnerability (11) |
| Audiences | educators (21), leaders (133), parents (44), students (198), therapists (36) |
Table of Contents
- What’s Inside Atlas of the Heart
- Book Summary
- Chapter Summary
- Atlas of the Heart Insights
- Usage & Application
- Life Lessons
- FAQ
- Famous Quotes from Atlas of the Heart
What’s Inside Atlas of the Heart
Synopsis
A research-backed map of 87 emotions that gives you the precise language and tools to understand what you feel, communicate it clearly, and create meaningful connection at home, work, and in your community.
Book Summary
- Precision in naming emotions improves regulation and decision-making.
- Shared emotional language is a low-cost, high impact trust builder in teams.
- Distinguishing near enemies (e.g., empathy vs. sympathy) prevents disconnection.
- Practices like gratitude and grounded confidence are teachable and repeatable.
Chapter Summary
- Places We Go When Things Are Uncertain or Too Much – Understand stress, overwhelm, anxiety, fear, and vulnerability to regain steadiness.
- Places We Go When We Compare – Differentiate admiration, envy, jealousy, and resentment to reduce scarcity thinking.
- Places We Go When Things Don’t Go as Planned – Navigate disappointment, regret, and frustration without spiraling.
- Places We Go When It’s Beyond Us – Explore awe, wonder, curiosity, and surprise to widen perspective.
- Places We Go When Things Aren’t What They Seem – Decode amusement, bittersweetness, nostalgia, and cognitive dissonance.
- Places We Go When We’re Hurting – Name hurt, sadness, grief, and despair to heal with support.
- Places We Go with Others – Build skill in empathy, compassion, and boundaries for healthy connection.
- Places We Go When We Fall Short – Work skillfully with guilt, shame, embarrassment, and humiliation.
- Places We Go When We Search for Connection – Clarify belonging vs. fitting in; recognize loneliness and invisibility.
- Places We Go When the Heart Is Open – Practice love, trust, self-trust, and navigating heartbreak.
- Places We Go When Life Is Good – Cultivate joy, calm, contentment, gratitude, and manage foreboding joy.
- Places We Go When We Feel Wronged – Channel anger, contempt, and disgust without dehumanization.
- Places We Go to Self-Assess – Balance humility, modesty, pride, and guard against hubris.
Atlas of the Heart Insights
| Book Title | Atlas of the Heart |
| Book Subtitle | Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience |
| Author | Brené Brown |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Translation | Original language: English; Translation: N/A |
| Details | Publication Year: 2021; ISBN: 978-0399592553; Publisher: Random House; Pages: 336 |
| Goodreads Rating | 4.32 / 5 – 94,740 ratings – 8,622 reviews |
Author Bio
Dr Brene Brown is the author of books such as Daring Greatly and The Power of Vulnerability. The TED talk and Netflix production based on her research reached out to millions of audience. She researches effects of courage and vulnerability in shaping people's work and relationships. She leads the Brene Brown Education and Research Group and provides evidence based insights into practical tools to help people train themselves.
Official Website |Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube |
Usage & Application
How to Use This Book
Here’s how to put this book to work fast.
Scenario 1: Team performance. Start weekly with a two-word emotion check-in (e.g., anxious + hopeful). Use Brown’s definitions to separate stress from overwhelm, then pick a 10-minute action for each. Teams that name emotions clearly cut meeting friction by 20–30% and make faster decisions.
Scenario 2: Parenting under pressure. When a child melts down, label two emotions (“You’re frustrated and disappointed”). Research shows accurate labeling reduces emotional intensity, helping you co-regulate and problem-solve.
Scenario 3: Conflict with a partner. Swap judgments for precise feelings (“I feel hurt and lonely”) and ask for one concrete behavior change. This moves you from blame to repair. Pro tip: Post a shortlist of 15 emotions on your fridge/Slack for daily practice, language becomes habit in 14–30 days.
Video Book Summary
Life Lessons
- Language is a tool: naming feelings is the first step to transforming them.
- Empathy outperforms advice, understand before you fix.
- Belonging requires authenticity, not fitting in.
- Joy is inseparable from vulnerability; gratitude keeps the door open.
- Boundaries are compassionate, they make connection safer and clearer.