A SPIRITED BOOK CLUB DISCUSSion of Mariann Edgar Budde’s NYT Bestseller ‘How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith’
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.
Book Overview
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, readers 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.
Reviews for How We Learn to Be Brave
“In a Nutshell: I read this more for the author than for the book itself as I am not so fond of this genre. But no regrets at all. This book offers several inspiring anecdotes and life lessons, and also insights on what counts as bravery. January 2025 has already established that this lady is courageous and inspiring. The content of this book shows that she has been walking the talk for much longer than most of us knew.” —Rosh, Goodreads
“Budde writes a compassionate well researched and referenced supportive guide to making tough decisions about life. She writes about her own tough decisions, tells biblical tales of conundrums and she writes as an observer and interviewer of friends and colleagues who made tough choices. She is humble and real in her story telling and her faith shines through each chapter.” —Dosa Rosa, Amazon
“I couldn’t love this book more. I loved it so much. I ordered one and gave it to a friend for her birthday. There is a quiet elegance to the way the author shares her life story and the way it impacted her adult choices and who she is today. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate her Christian point of view. I love this book and have it with me, even though I’ve read it through twice! How to be brave as a skill, we should be teaching our children and this book helped me remember key points on how to do this as an adult. It’s my go to gift for so many people right now.” —Crissy Dailey, Amazon
CLUB DISCUSSION dates
BOOK CLUB meets Thursdays, June 12 & 26 @ 12:00 – 1:00 pm AZ (MST)
For June 12: Introduction – Chapter Four
For June 26: Chapter Five – Epilogue
++Book discussion facilitated by Sheri Brown
About the author
Mariann Edgar Budde is an American Episcopal prelate who has served as Bishop of Washington since 2011. She is the first female bishop of the diocese.
Budde was ordained as a deacon in 1988 and as a priest in 1989. She served as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1993 until she became the bishop of Washington in 2011. In 2017, she oversaw the removal of Washington National Cathedral’s stained-glass windows honoring Confederate generals, which were replaced in 2023 with windows representing the civil rights movement. In 2018, she presided over the interment of the ashes of Matthew Shepard, a murdered gay man, at the cathedral.
She delivered a benediction at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Budde delivered the homily at the January 2025 interfaith prayer service following Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration. Her sermon called for compassion and mercy toward marginalized groups. Trump and some of his supporters criticized her remarks, while other public figures and faith leaders praised her message..
Read more about Mariann Edgar Budde. To access her work, go to www.mariannbudde.com.
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