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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This is among my favorite books of the year and ever. Thank you Alexi for the wonderful writing and the sharing of a story that I identify with so very much as another motherless lady in running and beyond. I'm currently chasing a running dream, and the last part of the book really motivates me too!
What a beautiful, vulnerable and indeed bravey piece of art from Alexi Pappas.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
This was an inspiring read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. Alexi shares a series of stories of perseverance and overcoming challenges as she describes her remarkable life as an Olympic athlete, film artist, and bravey. She ends with a series of self-help tips for those who dream to begin paving a way from aspiration to reality. I particularly loved her chapter about overcoming depression, and (as someone who also suffers from this disease) I would recommend it as a read for all who are navigating silent mental illnesses.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This book means a lot to me. As I finished the book I genuinely felt sad that I won’t have the entire book engrained into my head forever for me to reflect on. Pappas did such a good job of portraying her life and showing the life lessons she got out of seemingly small events in her life. I felt seen and represented reading her book, as a distance runner and that is something so rare. I’m so grateful I was recommended this book, as I think it genuinely changed my perspective on running. Coming back from a severe injury that cut me off of running for over half a year I questioned how much I was committed to running. During my break I never ached to run, I never felt the need to break my recovery to run and that feeling of acceptance made me feel lazy and frustrated. I wanted to want to break my recovery and run again, and even though I did feel that way I respected my passion and my commitment to running so much more and I would quit for as long as I needed to so that I could further pursue my passion. This book was fundamental to my understanding of running and how I am going to continue my commitment and reach my goals. I’m going to be using this book as a resource for a very long time and I’m just so grateful to have read it.
Pappas approaches telling her life story which included the tragic death of her mother and her struggles with mental illness, her own battle with mental illness as well as her exploration of the two parts of her career. I didn't even mind the deviation from straight-forward chronology. I just wish she hadn't turned the end into a teaching session.
Definitely written for a younger audience. Reads more like a YA self-help book. (Is that a thing?)
Feels like she wrote a bunch of her life stories on note cards and randomly assembled them into a book. No clear narrative framework or outline.
When young people write these books it’s always so “adorable” in the most negative sense. They just haven’t experienced enough of life to have a decent perspective.
This would be an ideal gift for a feminine middle or high schooler.
Oh and as always, authors should NEVER narrate their books!!
Feels like she wrote a bunch of her life stories on note cards and randomly assembled them into a book. No clear narrative framework or outline.
When young people write these books it’s always so “adorable” in the most negative sense. They just haven’t experienced enough of life to have a decent perspective.
This would be an ideal gift for a feminine middle or high schooler.
Oh and as always, authors should NEVER narrate their books!!
Bravey by Alexi Pappas is a collection of essays and poems reflecting on the author's life and experiences with depression and mental health, running, and her early career. It's a bit difficult to nail down exactly what this book is about, but it encompasses what is means to be a bravey, Pappas describes a bravey as "a self-identifier for those who are willing to chase their dreams even though it can be intimidating or scary."
I've followed Alexi Pappas' career for a few years now. It was surprising to learn how she struggled for many of the years I've seen her compete. I appreciate her honesty in sharing about those early years of her career now that she's lived with depression and come out the other side. While Pappas is a filmmaker and Olympian, her essays are deeply relatable. Her reflections on her marathon debut and needing to reframe her goals reminded me of my own first marathon. Living with depression in her early career is something many twenty-somethings, including myself, can relate to and learn from. While she writes about how she has struggled, I also found this to be a joyful and uplifting book. I would recommend this book to anyone in their twenties or college who is trying to figure out their life. While anyone could benefit from reading this book, I would especially recommend it for athletes.
I've followed Alexi Pappas' career for a few years now. It was surprising to learn how she struggled for many of the years I've seen her compete. I appreciate her honesty in sharing about those early years of her career now that she's lived with depression and come out the other side. While Pappas is a filmmaker and Olympian, her essays are deeply relatable. Her reflections on her marathon debut and needing to reframe her goals reminded me of my own first marathon. Living with depression in her early career is something many twenty-somethings, including myself, can relate to and learn from. While she writes about how she has struggled, I also found this to be a joyful and uplifting book. I would recommend this book to anyone in their twenties or college who is trying to figure out their life. While anyone could benefit from reading this book, I would especially recommend it for athletes.
challenging
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
A very good memoir by a very outstanding human. Alexi is inspiring in so many ways. I appreciated how she wrote honestly about her life and struggles. The last chapter is a little too motivational/self-help for what I expected to find in a memoir, but maybe it will land for other readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide
A good look into causes she seems to champion: let’s reexamine the way we treat and train young female athletes, and let’s destigmatize mental health concerns.