Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. by Laura Tremaine | Zondervan {Book Review}

Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. by Laura Tremaine

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Book Summary:

Part memoir and part guidebook, Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. is the invitation you’ve been waiting for to show up with your whole self and discover the intimate, meaningful relationships you long for.

In spite of the hyper-connected culture we live in today, women still feel shamed for oversharing and being publicly vulnerable. And no matter how many friends we seem to have, many of us are still desperately lonely.

Laura Tremaine says it’s time for something better. Openness and vulnerability are the foundation for human growth and healthy relationships, and it all starts when we share our stuff, the nitty-gritty daily details about ourselves with others. Laura has led the way in her personal life with her popular blog and podcast, and now with lighthearted self-awareness, a sensitivity to the important things in life, and compelling storytelling, Laura gives you the tools to build and deepen the conversations happening in your life.

Laura’s stories about her childhood in Oklahoma, her complicated shifts in faith and friendships, and her marriage to a Hollywood movie director will prompt you to identify the beautiful narrative and pivotal milestones of your own life. Each chapter offers intriguing and reflective questions that will reveal unique details and stories you’ve never thought to tell and will guide you into cultivating the authentic connection with others that only comes from sharing yourself.

Publication Date:

February 2nd, 2021

Genre:

Non-Fiction/Self-Help/Friendship

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Review:

I have been a long-time fan of Laura Tremaine so I was delighted when I saw she was publishing her first book, Share Your Stuff, I’ll Fo First. I have followed along with Tremaine on podcasts for years (Sorta Awesome & Smartest Person in the Room) and was ecstatic when she started the 10 Things To Tell You podcast.

10 Things To Tell You Podcast…

If you haven’t heard of this podcast before, this is the summary… “Laura Tremaine has 10 Things To Tell You. And YOU have 10 Things To Tell. This is a show about sharing your stuff. Each episode asks a question, and you can take that prompt to your journal, to your best friend, or to social media. Let’s dig deeper.”

“Small  Talk” vs. How We Really Are Doing…

So, I have realized something during the last few years…I despise “small talk”. I love talking (if you know me, you know this LOL) but there is nothing more exhausting than “filling the void”. Give me the real stuff – let’s talk about how we really are doing, the joys, the heartbreaks, and everything in between.

Life is built in the moments of gray, and that is also where our connections come from. For most of us, day to day life is built up of so many little moments, of questioning ourselves and sometimes each other. Of wondering if we have ANY idea what we are doing. Of remembering we all have different stories that have molded us into who we have become (and are still becoming) today. We are who we are, yes, but we also are not stuck here.

Showing Up, Even If We Don’t Have It All Figured Out…

When we talk, like really talk, we learn, and we grow, not only on our own but also together and Laura Tremaine has been one of my biggest inspirations in this area. Tremaine is not afraid to show up, even if she doesn’t have it all figured out. She is honest and real, and willing to listen and grow. And that is the beauty of being human, right?

A Mix of Memoir-style Prose, Discussion Topics, and Self-discovery:

This book follows a similar path to her podcast, where she shares 10 questions, dives into her own journey, and then opens the door for your own examination of the topic. It is a mix of memoir-style prose, discussion topics, and self-discovery. Her writing is easy and although you might not relate to every part of Tremaine’s journey, she helps us realize that sharing our stuff is not only important but vital to ongoing understandings and connections with one another.

I got so much out of this book and it was such a wonderful reminder of the power of vulnerability and the various trajectories that have impacted who we are, and who we have yet to become.

Thank you to Zondervan for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.