Additional information
| Author | Jenny Brown, MSW |
|---|
Growing Yourself Up
By Jenny Brown, MSW (2012)
What the internet says
Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.
Overall reception: Mostly positive
Growing Yourself Up by Jenny Brown receives predominantly positive reception across review platforms, with a 4.26/5 rating on Goodreads (526 ratings) and 4.6/5 on Amazon (402 ratings). Readers consistently praise the book's application of Murray Bowen's family systems theory to everyday relationships, finding Brown's approach accessible and practical. The book resonates particularly with readers seeking to understand relationship patterns from their family of origin and how these affect current relationships with spouses, children, and colleagues.
What readers loved
- Clear and accessible explanation of Bowen family systems theory without overwhelming psychological jargon
- Practical framework for understanding emotional maturity through the concepts of 'self' versus 'togetherness' in relationships
- Helpful questions throughout that enable readers to self-evaluate their capacity to maintain individuality while staying connected to others
- Strong emphasis on personal responsibility and managing one's own emotions rather than trying to control or fix others
- Valuable insights on over-functioning and under-functioning patterns in family dynamics, particularly in parenting
- Applicable across multiple life stages and relationship contexts (marriage, parenting, workplace, extended family)
- Encourages readers to see the 'big picture' of relationship patterns rather than simply blaming others
Common critiques
- Writing can be vague at times, making it difficult to extract clear, actionable applications
- Beginning sections feel difficult to digest before the book gets into specific life-stage examples
- May feel repetitive or 'light' on depth for readers already familiar with family systems concepts
- Unclear how well the Western-focused framework translates to non-Western cultural contexts
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