I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t) cover art

I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)

Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)

By: Brené Brown
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends December 16, 2025 11:59pm GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

Only £0.99 a month for the first 3 months. Pay £0.99 for the first 3 months, and £8.99/month thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Start my membership

About this listen

The quest for perfection is exhausting and unrelenting. We spend too much precious time and energy managing perception and creating carefully edited versions of ourselves to show to the world. As hard as we try, we can't seem to turn off the tapes that fill our heads with messages like, Never good enough! and What will people think?

Why? What fuels this unattainable need to look like we always have it all together? At first glance, we might think its because we admire perfection, but that's not the case. We are actually the most attracted to people we consider to be authentic and down-to-earth. We love people who are real; we're drawn to those who both embrace their imperfections and radiate self-acceptance.

There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what, and how were supposed to be. So, we learn to hide our struggles and protect ourselves from shame, judgment, criticism, and blame by seeking safety in pretending and perfection.

Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth: Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we're all in this together.

As Dr. Brown writes, "We need our lives back. It's time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection - the courage to be real, the compassion we need to love ourselves and others, and the connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives."

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2007 Brené Brown (P)2010 Audible, Inc.
Gender Studies Mental Health Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences Inspiring Health Feel Better Compassion Leadership Resilience

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Power of Vulnerability cover art
Men, Women, and Worthiness cover art
Sort Your Head Out cover art
No Bullsh*t Leadership cover art
Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice cover art
The Windrush Betrayal cover art
Slay in Your Lane Presents: Loud Black Girls cover art
TED Talks cover art
Your Journey to Success cover art
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents cover art
Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race cover art
The Mother Dance cover art
Overcoming Perfectionism (Revised & Updated) cover art
The Journey of the Heroic Parent cover art
Surviving a Borderline Parent cover art
The Grown-Up's Guide to Teenage Humans cover art

Critic reviews

"Brené Brown’s ability to explore shame and resilience with humor, vulnerability and honesty is both uplifting and liberating. If we want to change our lives, our relationships or even the world, we must start by understanding and overcoming the shame that keeps us silent. This important and hopeful book offers a bold new perspective on the power of telling our stories." (Professor Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient; Campaign Ambassador, International Campaign to Ban Landmines)
"Grounded in exceptional scholarship and filled with inspiring stories, this is one of those rare books that has the potential to turn lives around." (Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., author of The Dance of Anger)
" I Thought It Was Just Me can be a doorway to freedom and self-esteem for many, many readers. (Martha Beck, Ph.D., columnist, O, The Oprah Magazine, and author of Finding Your Own North Star)
All stars
Most relevant
I've been slower to get upset or jump to conclusions when others act in a way that doesn't seem right. I've found myself to stop and analyse the situation. I feel like I'm more in charge of my actions / reactions - that feels good. I also feel more compassion for others. I'm slower to condemn. It just makes me feel good.

This information will benefit everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Wow, this changed my perspective on life so much. As a 'shame prone' person, I've found a tremendous wealth of information and support from this book.

Life changing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book has totally transformed my view of myself, others and the world around me, and it explained so much about why I have struggled for so long. It gives the theory and background as well as really practical tools for building resilience to the shame that is all around us every day. Even if you don’t struggle badly and have good shame resilience yourself, this will give you an insight and to help you understand those who don’t and why some people behave the way they do. If everyone read this and followed the advice, the world would be a much better place! Utterly brilliant!

Everyone should read this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved it from the start to the end. Brene Borown is an amazing person, professional and teacher. Love her work!

Great book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Interesting story and content but found it a little repetitive - similar anecdotes and examples used to make similar points. still, gladly finished it with enthusiasm!

interesting but a little repetitive

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews