I really wanted to love The Soul of Shame, especially given how powerful and important the topic is. Understanding shame and how it shapes our lives feels like such meaningful work, and I was hopeful this book would help me go deeper in that.
However, I found the writing style to be much more academic than I expected. At times, it felt overly complex and difficult to follow, which made it hard to stay connected to the message. Instead of helping me better understand shame, I often felt like I was struggling just to understand the language itself.
Because of that, I didn’t walk away feeling clearer or more equipped, in fact, I found myself feeling discouraged, even wondering if I just wasn’t “smart enough” for the book. That was disappointing, especially for a topic that should feel inviting, healing, and accessible.
I can see how this book might resonate with readers who enjoy a more academic or clinical approach, but for me personally, I was hoping for something more approachable, relational, and easy to absorb.