Book Review: Un-Ashamed by Heather Davis Nelson

When I was asked to review Un-Ashamed Healing our Brokenness and Finding Freedom From Shame by Heather Davis Nelson, I was at first reluctant.  Shame is an area I have studied, and I didn't think I would find much more on the topic than I already had encountered.  I am happy to say, though, that I was mistaken.

This book was a fast read for me.  I wanted to devour the information.  Usually when I read a book that quickly, I tend to then re-read it so I can absorb it completely.  This book begins with an overview of shame, how it differs from guilt, and then talks about what it is like to live without shame clouding your world view.  (Can I hear nearly everyone say, "Wow.  Wouldn't that be great?")  Then this book transitions into shame in more specific relationships.


How many of us have felt shame brought upon us by a church?  There's a chapter on this, and I feel certain after reading this that leaving my last church was the correct thing to do.  With people not speaking to me and lecturing me to tears, I don't need people deciding they know what is best in my life.  I am the one who has to give account to God, and I know my heart.  How do you know what to look for in a church?  What traits should a shame-free community have?  These are answered in this book.

Another chapter is how to parent without shaming your child.  While I don't have children (yet -- my husband and I have been through foster parent training).  This is a good chapter because I could see where shame was brought on me by parenting and even teaching methods used over the years.  I can remember a teacher standing beside my lunch table and looking at me and saying, "Shameful girl."  I wanted to crawl beneath my seat.  This book provides basic guidelines to correcting your child without shaming them.  It is all too common these days to make punishments public and post on Facebook, but how do you think your child would feel about that when s/he becomes an adult?  Will what you are doing today help or hurt your future relationship?

There are other topics discussed, too, such as body image and how we may feel shame from that.  I was overweight even as a child, and didn't realize until I read this book why I felt shame so early for being overweight.  I was in public with my family, and an overweight lady walked by.  She was wearing comfortable shoes, but they were kind of squishy, and I had a family member comment when she was out of earshot, "What is she trying to prove with those shoes?"  I couldn't help but wonder how much I was looked down on, even as a pre-schooler because I was overweight.  This book helps bring understanding to memories like this.

This is an excellent book on the strong feeling of shame.  It's less than 200 pages long, but it truly gets to the meat of the subject without a lot of excess which is something I very much appreciated.  If you feel shamed, or want to know how to help others who feel shamed, I highly recommend this book.

I even have a copy to give away to one reader of Books, Bargains Blessings.  You must reside in the USA or Canada to enter, and be 18 or older.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

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