Untamed by Glennon Doyle - Book Review

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Date: 13/11/2024
Location: Ischia island in Italy, looking over the beautiful water and glow of the evening lights on the island (see pic below). And partially on a train ride from Pozzuoli To Pompei in Italy.

I stumbled upon this book in a local library I signed up to soon after I moved to London. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and felt drawn to pick it up. It made me remember a friend that recommended the book a few years prior, but I completely forgot about it. I read the back cover and thought this is so fitting for where I am at right now!

I had recently moved to London from NZ, ending my relationship prior to moving over. Left my career as a physio and moved overseas to live my dream of travelling and creating a lifestyle more aligned with my health and values. I had finally decided to start listening to what my body was telling me. What I truly wanted to do, irrespective of what I “should do” or what others thought I should do. I hadn't truly done this before. I thought I was doing what I wanted to do previously. However, I always took into account others' views or opinions or what society instilled in me on what I “should” be doing. I didn't realise how unhappy and caged I was until I moved overseas and started making decisions based on what I truly wanted and needed. I feel the happiest and freest I ever have. And I'm never going back to my old ways!

Little did I know this book was going to further reinforce this new way of living for me and create such connection and community through Glennons incredible writing. She made me feel that I'm not alone in this and there are so many other women that are on a similar journey, through creating awareness and understanding of the factors contributing to this.

Untamed to me was awareness, community, connection, self growth, and personal development all in one. It had life changing ideals that made me hold up a mirror and look at myself truthfully, uncover ideals and indoctrination I wasn't even fully aware of. Gave me many topics that my eager mind wants to learn more about and add to my personal growth. On top of all of the above, it gave me pure love, like a warm hug of support, like you aren't alone in this Ruby-Rose. Glennon made me feel seen and heard. Glennon did this all in one damn fucking incredible, honest and life changing book.

It is hard for me to fully describe it in words. This book has been life changing for so many reasons for me and I think every woman should read this when the time is right for them. I hope you enjoy my honest review and reflections from this. Then you can decide whether it's worth the read for you!

Untamed is Glennon conveying key learnings/lessons she has learnt through telling stories of her life. The first 1/2 of the book is about her journey of finally listening to herself, what her body is telling her. Becoming “untamed” by stripping away the cages that society tells us we have to fit into. And what she calls returning to her “wild”. Truly listening to herself for answers and what to do, irrespective of what she should do and what others or society tries to tell her to do. She explains her experience and process of listening to her knowing (what her body is telling her to do) and trusting herself. This is one of the core ideas of the book. The chapters to follow build on this.

This first half of the book was the most important part. The ah ha and light bulb moment. It was everything I had just figured out myself just prior to reading and reinforced what I was feeling so much. I'm taking the time to write this book review because I want this book to reach as many women as possible. So they can start listening to their wild asap, so they can live more truer and happier lives aligned with what is best for them and what their knowing is telling them. To start putting themselves first more, instead of everybody else. So all women can realise that listening to their bodies, their needs and wants, isn't selfish at all. It's actually the best thing you could do for yourself and loved ones.

When we are living more aligned with what our body is telling us, we can give out and support others more. If you struggle to make decisions based on what's best for you or listen to your intuition/knowing/ whatever you want to call it. Then this book will definitely help you on this journey, like it has helped mine!

The second half of the book is a large mix of other stories, realisations, issues, and viewpoints of life and the world in general. From learning to sit and feel feelings, to racism, to raising kids in this world, to sharing experiences of other women on their journey to listening to their knowing and returning to their wild. Glennon covers such a wide range of topics in a captivating and thought provoking way. Unleashing new perspectives with real life examples as evidence, that I hadn't even thought about before.

The various examples of other women and Glennon herself, staying in awful situations for the benefit of others and expense of herself, and completely ignoring her needs and what her body was so clearly telling her, made me sick to my stomach. I think this was needed. This stark contrast made me hold up a mirror to myself and my life. Where had I done this to myself so willingly in my life? Way more than I thought and wanted to admit was the answer! This highlighted even more the importance of continuing to listen to my knowing going forward.

This book made it so clear that I have a choice and the immense impact this will have on my life. WiIl I get pulled back into following the sheep and just live a routine life cut out for me. Or live this life the way that is best for me. Make my mark and the difference I want to make in the world. Make this life worth it and continue to learn and grow for myself. But also for others to contribute to growth and progression in humanity somehow. Once you see it that way. For me. Making my decisions myself and trusting my knowing wasn’t something I should try and do. It’s now something I will do for the rest of my life. And yes it requires reminding myself when I get into old patterns of unhelpful thought. Getting perspective from others you trust is one thing, but using them to make a decision instead of going inward and trusting yourself is another. Yes sometimes I slip into old bad habits but this book has given me the awareness and understanding to notice when I do, and correct myself.

So are you living the life you truly want to be living, are you living your true wild, or are you still caged?

Glennon takes the perfection goal out of life. And makes life an exciting but also hard journey. She explains life rawly and truthfully. A journey of continually learning and growing with new views, new ways, new priorities, as we change throughout life. And makes you feel human and connected to other women just from reading it. It's like I no longer feel alone and crazy with the battles I've had in my life. But instead feel seen, heard, understood, supported and loved. And with hope as she emphasises life is supposed to be hard. And others find it hard too. It's not just me, yay! And we are here to learn and grow and not always be happy. She has highlighted new ideals and views that I can no longer unsee or unhear. I'm changed now. For the better. I now feel even more empowered to live my life the way I feel is best for me and make my mark and difference in the world. I have an inclination but don't know exactly what. But I know my knowing will guide me.

I hope you guys get as much out of this book as I did. You can get the audio book or physical book here if you are interested.

Stay wild!

Ruby-Rose