Must read 🏆

“Heartbreaking and hilarious...Inspired even me to want to put on some sneakers and run.” ~ Mindy Kaling

Both the title and subtitle were intriguing to me - Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain and Other Big Ideas... I love autobiographies because of what I can learn from other's struggles and triumphs and this honest and inspiring story does not disappoint.

Pappas, who was an Olympic runner, beautifully describes her own struggle with depression and peels away its stigma of shame. Instead she presents it as a puzzle that takes time, patience, and proper attention to solve. And she helps the reader see how all of the pieces fit together.

With the recent focus on the pressures Olympic athletes face, most notably Simone Biles, this story is an excellent reminder of the importance of taking care of both our physical and mental health. Pappas shows the reader how fragile the human body and mind are and the essential links between the two.

She goes into detail about training and yet her descriptions were well written and interesting - even for a "non-athlete" like myself.

Her writing style is open and her honesty is refreshing. Her discoveries of her mother's struggles with depression and the circumstances of her suicide give the reader a glimpse into how destructive suicide is to a family and how the effects of such a painful act resonate years beyond a person's death.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading biographies and wants to be inspired by an account of resiliency and strength in the face of both physical and emotional challenges.

Reviewed by

I have worked as an elementary school librarian and enjoy learning each day about how technology can be used to enhance our curriculum. For ten years I wrote book reviews and columns for our local newspapers. I love to read and write so this would be a great opportunity to do both!