“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle: Book Review
I love people, but not in person. For example, I would die for you but not, like, meet you for coffee.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who can relate to that. Untamed was a breath of fresh air, full of lighthearted and hilarious stories with deep meaning. It’s about everything and nothing, conveying Glennon Doyle’s philosophy of life in vignettes of everyday life.
Summary
A series of stories and reflections, Untamed defies easy summary. Blurbs I’ve seen often focus on the author’s coming out story, but while she does share that story, it’s just one piece of the book.
From bulimia and addiction in her youth, to uncertainty about her own desires later in life, Doyle faced many battles to get to where she is today. She speaks openly about how lost she felt and how difficult it was to let go of what society taught her about how to behave and feel.
“Love should make you feel both held and free,” Doyle says. Her family is her foundation, and it’s the heart of this book, too. Sweet stories of loving family relationships mingle with uproarious moments of family life. After years of avoiding being a soccer mom, Doyle – now married to a former soccer star – gives in and lets her daughter try out for a competitive soccer league, leading to hilarious and endearing moments of anxiety as she roots for her baby (teenage) daughter’s success.
Sprinkled into these stories, so subtle you could almost miss them, are simple and yet profound lessons. “Feelings are for feeling” stopped me short. It seems obvious, doesn’t it? But I find myself repressing emotions that aren’t productive, or trying to cheer up a sad friend, when perhaps we need to let ourselves experience those emotions more.
Through sharing her own journey, Doyle counsels other women to be brave and free, to be true to their own desires. “Women define themselves by who they serve,” she says, and many of her stories illustrate how we can redefine ourselves in new ways – and give others the space to do the same.
Review
A little stilted in the beginning, Untamed finds its voice midway through and is an absolute delight to read. Simply as a memoir, it’s a joy, full of humor and love. The philosophy tucked into the stories is powerful yet so unobtrusive, you can engage with it as much or as little as you like.
Some readers have questioned Doyle’s dramatic changes of heart since her previous books, and the author herself dismisses some of her old writing. I haven’t read her other books, but I found her willingness to change her perspective authentic and human, rather than unsettling.
If you haven’t read this, do. “It’s like we really believe that our hearts were meant to be hidden away, bubble-wrapped and under lock down,” Doyle says. This book will encourage you to open up to yourself and to new feelings and experiences, and it’s so fun to read you won’t even mind the subtle push.
Rating
Overall: 4.5. This cracked me up so many times, yet left me pondering life afterward.
Audiobook rating: 4. Usually I like books read by the author, but I found the narration a bit overdone at moments. I’d read it in whatever format you usually prefer.
About the author: Glennon Doyle
Author of two other best sellers, Love Warrior and Carry On, Warrior, Glennon Doyle is an activist and inspirational speaker. In addition to writing, she founded a women-led nonprofit, Together Rising, focused on grassroots philanthropy. She lives in Florida with her wife and three children.
