by Kaitlyn Chow
Summary
Untamed is a memoir (that could also be considered self-help) published recently in March 2020. Glennon Doyle, the author of this memoir, illustrates her life story, from her teenage years to the present, explaining the ups and downs of her life. She describes in this #1 New York Times Bestseller the lessons that she has learned throughout her life, the way her mentality changed over the years, and how she is the person she currently is.
Doyle portrays an honest and open version of herself in this book; for example, when she describes the times she would abuse alcohol and other substances to feel acknowledged and “good” about herself and her family problems.
The primary focus of Untamed is how Doyle has learned to listen to her “Knowing” (one’s “inner voice”), and how she has learned to honor herself and who she truly is. She explains how she has learned to do things for herself and not for others, and to be defined as who she is instead of what she is (e.g. a mother, a wife, an activist). Moreover, she also discusses various stereotypes associated with both women and men, although this book is meant to promote feminism and that women can be anything, too. Specifically, Doyle explains how boys are often told to “man up” and be “strong” or “brave.” Doyle illustrates how even males are forced to fit into a certain stereotype and often forced into a “cage.” This memoir is meant to spark a change in readers’ minds and to show everyone they should honor themselves for who they are and be their “truest and most beautiful self.”
Would I Recommend This Book?
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who would like to become bolder and more confident. This book is truly motivational, for I constantly felt strong urges to break my own confidence boundaries and to portray myself to my friends, classmates, and the society, as the “truest and most beautiful version of myself.” I no longer believe that I have to be the timid girl I was. I do not have to stay inside a “cage” and fit into a certain stereotype that is generally associated with being a female. I learned how I am allowed to show others my confidence and the truest version of myself. Additionally, I was often fascinated by Doyle’s story and her transparency when describing her life; I found it amazing how Doyle was able to be so open to share such intimate and personal stories of hers, including her divorce and her new marriage.
Although this memoir was very inspirational, there were many times when I disagreed with what Doyle was saying, specifically regarding religious beliefs; however, this does not impact how much I would recommend this book to others. This was just my personal opinion regarding the religious beliefs mentioned. Ultimately, Untamed is an uplifting and moving book, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle can be found at Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, online libraries, public libraries, Kindle, and many other platforms.
Overall Review: 8/10
Doyle, G. (2020). Untamed [Image]. Untamed Book. https://untamedbook.com/