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Brave Enough
Travel with Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins on her compelling journey from America’s heartland to international sports history, navigating challenges and triumphs with rugged grit and a splash of glitter
Pyeongchang, February 21, 2018. In the nerve-racking final seconds of the women’s team sprint freestyle race, Jessie Diggins dug deep. Blowing past two of the best sprinters in the world, she stretched her ski boot across the finish line and lunged straight into Olympic the first ever cross-country skiing gold medal for the United States at the Winter Games. The 26-year-old Diggins, a four-time World Championship medalist, was literally a world away from the small town of Afton, Minnesota, where she first strapped on skis. Yet, for all her history-making achievements, she had never strayed far from the scrappy 12-year-old who had insisted on portaging her own canoe through the wilderness, yelling happily under the unwieldy weight on her “Look! I’m doing it!”
In Brave Enough, Jessie Diggins reveals the true story of her journey from the American Midwest into sports history. With candid charm and characteristic grit, she connects the dots from her free-spirited upbringing in the woods of Minnesota to racing in the bright spotlights of the Olympics. Going far beyond stories of races and ribbons, she describes the challenges and frustrations of becoming a serious athlete; learning how to push through and beyond physical and psychological limits; and the intense pressure of competing at the highest levels. She openly shares her harrowing struggle with bulimia, recounting both the adversity and how she healed from it in order to bring hope and understanding to others experiencing eating disorders.
Between thrilling accounts of moments of triumph, Diggins shows the determination it takes to get there—the struggles and disappointments, the fun and the hard work, and the importance of listening to that small, fierce I can do it. I am brave enough.
Pyeongchang, February 21, 2018. In the nerve-racking final seconds of the women’s team sprint freestyle race, Jessie Diggins dug deep. Blowing past two of the best sprinters in the world, she stretched her ski boot across the finish line and lunged straight into Olympic the first ever cross-country skiing gold medal for the United States at the Winter Games. The 26-year-old Diggins, a four-time World Championship medalist, was literally a world away from the small town of Afton, Minnesota, where she first strapped on skis. Yet, for all her history-making achievements, she had never strayed far from the scrappy 12-year-old who had insisted on portaging her own canoe through the wilderness, yelling happily under the unwieldy weight on her “Look! I’m doing it!”
In Brave Enough, Jessie Diggins reveals the true story of her journey from the American Midwest into sports history. With candid charm and characteristic grit, she connects the dots from her free-spirited upbringing in the woods of Minnesota to racing in the bright spotlights of the Olympics. Going far beyond stories of races and ribbons, she describes the challenges and frustrations of becoming a serious athlete; learning how to push through and beyond physical and psychological limits; and the intense pressure of competing at the highest levels. She openly shares her harrowing struggle with bulimia, recounting both the adversity and how she healed from it in order to bring hope and understanding to others experiencing eating disorders.
Between thrilling accounts of moments of triumph, Diggins shows the determination it takes to get there—the struggles and disappointments, the fun and the hard work, and the importance of listening to that small, fierce I can do it. I am brave enough.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
September 17, 2020
Would I be a true nordic skier if I didn’t rate this 5 stars?
February 23, 2020
The progress made by women in many sports has been amazing in the past twenty years and one of those sports in which women, particularly American women, have made great strides is Nordic, or cross-country, skiing. An Olympic medal winner for the United States, Jessie Diggins, writes her memoir in a light, breezy manner that is not only easy to read, it is one that shows the reader every side of this young woman.
As is typical with any sports memoir, Diggins shares her stories of growing up with her family but with a little more detail than usual. Growing up in Minnesota, it was fitting that she became active in the winter with her sister and parents and from there, she became involved in skiing early and has kept up a demanding training schedule from seventh grade in the early 2000's to today.
The reader will learn much about the sport of Nordic skiing, particularly the history of the sport for women, where they have made tremendous progress with not only their performances, but also their exposure and publicity. Diggins talks about her training and her accomplishments in a manner that shows she is still a young woman at heart. That is one of the more endearing aspects of the book – she writes in the manner that she would talk to someone about her skiing career and her life.
Her life was not all glamor, however, as she spends a good amount of text talking about her dark secret – her struggles to overcome bulimia. Anyone not familiar with what that disease can do to a person, including noting that it is not just skinny young girls who become afflicted with this disease, will learn a great deal from Diggins' candid account of her struggle and recovery from this eating disorder. She has a great deal of praise for the Emily Program, which was the program that assisted her with recovery.
Diggins shares several amusing and entertaining stories as well as the "dark side" of her disease. One good example is her actions when she and the rest of the American Olympic team was welcomed at the White House in 2014 upon their return from the Sochi Winter Olympics. She was so overcome with emotion when President Obama shook her hand that she not only cried, but also blurted out she wanted to hug him, something no other athlete had done that day. Not only did the President hug her, but so did First Lady Michelle Obama immediately afterward, and said a few comforting words to Diggins. Jessie's account of this moment is just one of many light-hearted and funny tales she tells as well as the seriousness of her sport and her disease.
This book is an entertaining and informative read that anyone who is interested in Nordic skiing, the life of an Olympic athlete or wishes to learn more about eating disorders is encouraged to read. Jessie was certainly "brave enough" to not only tackle her disorder, but also to become an Olympic medalist.
I wish to thank University of Minnesota Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
As is typical with any sports memoir, Diggins shares her stories of growing up with her family but with a little more detail than usual. Growing up in Minnesota, it was fitting that she became active in the winter with her sister and parents and from there, she became involved in skiing early and has kept up a demanding training schedule from seventh grade in the early 2000's to today.
The reader will learn much about the sport of Nordic skiing, particularly the history of the sport for women, where they have made tremendous progress with not only their performances, but also their exposure and publicity. Diggins talks about her training and her accomplishments in a manner that shows she is still a young woman at heart. That is one of the more endearing aspects of the book – she writes in the manner that she would talk to someone about her skiing career and her life.
Her life was not all glamor, however, as she spends a good amount of text talking about her dark secret – her struggles to overcome bulimia. Anyone not familiar with what that disease can do to a person, including noting that it is not just skinny young girls who become afflicted with this disease, will learn a great deal from Diggins' candid account of her struggle and recovery from this eating disorder. She has a great deal of praise for the Emily Program, which was the program that assisted her with recovery.
Diggins shares several amusing and entertaining stories as well as the "dark side" of her disease. One good example is her actions when she and the rest of the American Olympic team was welcomed at the White House in 2014 upon their return from the Sochi Winter Olympics. She was so overcome with emotion when President Obama shook her hand that she not only cried, but also blurted out she wanted to hug him, something no other athlete had done that day. Not only did the President hug her, but so did First Lady Michelle Obama immediately afterward, and said a few comforting words to Diggins. Jessie's account of this moment is just one of many light-hearted and funny tales she tells as well as the seriousness of her sport and her disease.
This book is an entertaining and informative read that anyone who is interested in Nordic skiing, the life of an Olympic athlete or wishes to learn more about eating disorders is encouraged to read. Jessie was certainly "brave enough" to not only tackle her disorder, but also to become an Olympic medalist.
I wish to thank University of Minnesota Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
May 7, 2020
This is a memoir from Jessie Diggins, a female cross country skiing rockstar. Her message about overcoming an eating disorder is a good one to tell but I think the book was perhaps premature. It doesn’t seem like she has the perspective yet for a reflective memoir so the book reads more like a diary and exhaustive recollection of her experiences than an integrative reflection. Although she has a co-writer, the writing was still hard to get through, with lots of exclamation points and parenthetical comments. Her story is a beautiful one but this book doesn’t do her story justice.
April 30, 2023
Jessie is so inspiring, i had no idea that she advocates for the Emily program, this book is a really good read for anyone who has struggled w an ed
December 21, 2021
I watched cross country skiing in the Winter Olympics 2018. I was in it and I was filled with tears when Jessie and Kikkan won the Gold. It was a big deal for USA to win a medal, let alone a Gold. When she came out with this book, I had to have it. My friends bought me a gift card to my favorite bookstore, because I hit a big milestone in my road to recovery and this book seemed just right. I'm glad I read it.
The book is very informative about her road to getting to the Olympics and the books finishes roughly after the big event. She is honest and whole and the writing was pretty darn good. I loved that she opened up about her eating disorder. As a former athlete (I didn't train as hard as her) who dealt with people constantly saying how I looked anorexic all the time when I was just a kid who was an extremely picky eater and also worked out 24/7; my body couldn't keep up. I may not know the scale of what she went through, but I can certainly identify with the comments from the masses.
My only issues with the book were some of the chapters had titles and a theme, but the content didn't necessarily match. There were quite a few transitions that were hard cuts to a new detail that didn't flow with the previous one. For example, she's talking about her foot and getting a minor surgery in New Zealand and then bam, the next line is about meeting her boyfriend in Canada at a wedding. There was just no smoothness about it and it really didn't make sense with the chapter as a whole.
But I loved this book. It started out slow and I thought, oh no, what have I done. But then, it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I will say that if you don't believe in climate change, you will probably not like this book a whole lot. Her chapters have an undercurrent theme in each chapter; the ski season is getting shorter, because there is less snow in many places around the world. I think it's great what she's doing and I totally recommend this book, but I know some people won't like it (and probably another small section that some people will blow up about without actually reading). Anyways, read the book, get inspired, and watch her and the USA team at the Olympics, but don't forget the glitter.
The book is very informative about her road to getting to the Olympics and the books finishes roughly after the big event. She is honest and whole and the writing was pretty darn good. I loved that she opened up about her eating disorder. As a former athlete (I didn't train as hard as her) who dealt with people constantly saying how I looked anorexic all the time when I was just a kid who was an extremely picky eater and also worked out 24/7; my body couldn't keep up. I may not know the scale of what she went through, but I can certainly identify with the comments from the masses.
My only issues with the book were some of the chapters had titles and a theme, but the content didn't necessarily match. There were quite a few transitions that were hard cuts to a new detail that didn't flow with the previous one. For example, she's talking about her foot and getting a minor surgery in New Zealand and then bam, the next line is about meeting her boyfriend in Canada at a wedding. There was just no smoothness about it and it really didn't make sense with the chapter as a whole.
But I loved this book. It started out slow and I thought, oh no, what have I done. But then, it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I will say that if you don't believe in climate change, you will probably not like this book a whole lot. Her chapters have an undercurrent theme in each chapter; the ski season is getting shorter, because there is less snow in many places around the world. I think it's great what she's doing and I totally recommend this book, but I know some people won't like it (and probably another small section that some people will blow up about without actually reading). Anyways, read the book, get inspired, and watch her and the USA team at the Olympics, but don't forget the glitter.
July 20, 2020
I had no idea what this book was about when I saw it pop up on my library's website. From the cover I thought it might be a thrill of some sort, then I read the copy and realized it was a home town girl done good and I clicked on it.
I must have been living under a rock, because a girl from the Twin Cities winning a gold medal should have been news I was aware of, it probably was shouted at all the news and radio stations in town, yet somehow I don't remember this. So listening to this book was fun. I liked how Jessie described her childhood, how skiing came to be in her life and how it took her life over. How she wasn't perfect, but tried hard at everything. I found myself getting annoyed when someone would call me and I'd have to stop the audio book, I just wanted to keep listening. I also found myself stopping what I was doing to google different things Jessie was talking about, especially the winning race.
This book makes me want to ski, even though I hate winter and the cold and have no coordination, but most of all I want to be able to cheer Jessie on again and to see her and her teammates win.
I must have been living under a rock, because a girl from the Twin Cities winning a gold medal should have been news I was aware of, it probably was shouted at all the news and radio stations in town, yet somehow I don't remember this. So listening to this book was fun. I liked how Jessie described her childhood, how skiing came to be in her life and how it took her life over. How she wasn't perfect, but tried hard at everything. I found myself getting annoyed when someone would call me and I'd have to stop the audio book, I just wanted to keep listening. I also found myself stopping what I was doing to google different things Jessie was talking about, especially the winning race.
This book makes me want to ski, even though I hate winter and the cold and have no coordination, but most of all I want to be able to cheer Jessie on again and to see her and her teammates win.
January 15, 2020
Order your copy now! This memoir is full of true grit and lots of heart. Go on Jessie’s journey from childhood to the Olympics. Read about her highs, lows and ultimate triumphs. You’ll be cheering for her the whole way through.
February 9, 2025
Loved this book so much! So well written and relatable.
February 24, 2021
I’ve followed cross country skiing for around five years now and been always intrigued to know more about the amazing athletes – their backgrounds, training routines and personalities. Through watching the races you don’t really learn any of that. Social media has certainly helped, but I’ve still been craving something. But I didn’t precisely know what I wanted before Brave Enough offered me exactly what I was looking for.
In her autobiography Jessie Diggins goes through her life from an adventurous childhood spent outdoors to the top of her sport, describing with honesty her struggles with an eating disorder along the way. The best thing about the book is how strongly Diggins’ personality comes through in the text, but I also loved all the different aspects she covers: sharing the daily life of a professional athlete competing in a particularly demanding sport and giving behind the scenes insights into the cross country skiing world, while never ceasing to emphasize how important community is for succeeding in that world.
In her autobiography Jessie Diggins goes through her life from an adventurous childhood spent outdoors to the top of her sport, describing with honesty her struggles with an eating disorder along the way. The best thing about the book is how strongly Diggins’ personality comes through in the text, but I also loved all the different aspects she covers: sharing the daily life of a professional athlete competing in a particularly demanding sport and giving behind the scenes insights into the cross country skiing world, while never ceasing to emphasize how important community is for succeeding in that world.
March 26, 2023
Jessie is such a good person I can’t not give this 5/5 stars!!! She’s so proud of where she came from, so thankful to everyone in her life, and not cocky at all when she easily could be. I love the skiing community and how wholesome it is :)
September 5, 2025
A nice read from the most accomplished American cross-country skier in history. It showcases not just the drive and determination it takes to compete at the highest level, but also shown light on the pressures (actual or perceived) these athletes go through. Her advocacy for mental health awareness and climate policy, in my opinion, make her one of the most inspiring athletes out there
October 25, 2020
I am likely a biased reader, coming from the same small town and high school as Diggins, although I didn’t know her personally. While some of the critiques in other reviews are undoubtedly true - the narration is sometimes unorganized, there are lots of asides which can come off as distracting, there are some implicit and explicit product placements for sponsors - overall I think this is a very honest and raw autobiography about an incredibly talented and driven athlete. I found that it gave a very personal insight into the life of a professional xc skier, one which does not romanticize or glorify the profession but rather tackles head on both the uplifting moments and the dark sides. Diggins shows considerable courage in opening up about her eating disorder, and the struggles she has been through in confronting and overcoming it. And I am happy to look past the product placements as a necessary side of a sport without the financial support of mainstream sports. For fans of endurance sports, this is the story of a contemporary role model for hundreds of thousands of aspiring athletes around the world.
April 30, 2020
So fun to read about this fellow Minnesotan! She is an amazing athlete and human being! I appreciated reading about her experiences and her vulnerability with her eating disorder.
(Three and a half stars, as the writing wasn’t the best.)
(Three and a half stars, as the writing wasn’t the best.)
July 1, 2023
Jessie Diggins is the epitome of good sportsmanship. So glad this book offers a unique look into the world of Nordic skiing and the demands it asks.
January 25, 2021
Brave Enough is Jessie Diggins' memoir of her journey in becoming an Olympic gold medal winner in cross country skiing, the two person sprint race to be exact. Kikkan Randall, an experienced skier in her last Olympic race was her teammate. This was the first Olympic medal win (of any color) by the U.S. women in over 40 years. Three things really stood out to me. First, as a child, she experienced the freedom to explore, create, take chances and be the highly energetic, exuberant person that she still is. Jessie grew up in Afton, Minnesota, where she tried out various other sports and activities. Her family spent time during the summer with relatives at a camp at Thunder Bay, Ontario, where again she had new adventures and began to learn about competition. She and her teammates won the state cross country championship for Stillwater High School. Older teammates took her under their wing which doesn't always happen in high school sports. In parenting, it seems as though sometimes there is a mismatch between parents and their children. Definitely not for Jessie. Her parents were the perfect ones for her always supporting her and finding what was best. That brings up the second thing; Jessie's struggle with bulimia after graduating from high school. Her parents were wise in figuring out that she needed help but insisting she make the first phone call to The Emily Program, a treatment clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jessie learned to overcome the monster. The third thing was the commitment needed for cross country skiing. She says it is the most demanding of sports and after reading about the training regimen, I believe her! To be fair, I haven't ready other memoirs by Olympic caliber athletes and no doubt, the commitment for not only training but making the sport your life is only for the very elite athletes. The writing is Jessie; enthusiastic, honest, tell it like it is. Although she wrote the book with Todd Smith, I believe it comes straight from her. One sad note; Jessie used the media platform of her Olympic gold to lobby for a World Cup in Minneapolis, March 2020. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled due to Covid-19. I hope Jessie gets her wish to being the World Cup to Minnesota at some point.
June 20, 2024
Going outside what I normally read with a great autobiography! I really admire Diggins’ spunk, determination, and grit. It was amazing to read about an important female athlete for a sport (Nordic skiing) that is not often recognized in the spotlight. She was extremely honest with her struggles. One thing I loved was the amount she attributed her success and making it to the Olympic stage to other people. It’s very clear she values her whole support system for her success, which made her book read much less self-centered than how I feel autobiographies can normally come off. Would recommend!
July 7, 2021
It was a amazing read about an incredible woman I already admired, who shared her Olympic tales and vulnerability, making her story sound similar to my experience as a division 1 athlete in college. She is funny, motivational and honest. I loved finding all the hidden gems about climate change and the subtle name drops of her sponsors 😁
November 26, 2021
Definitely recommended for youngsters and the adults in their lives, especially if they are participating in sports. Diggins is such an inspiration and models sportsmanship, hard work and life/work balance.
April 21, 2020
One of my new favorites. Jessie’s sub-story about HER struggle with her ED is incredibly real. The chapters are fluid, and her storyline is smooth. Loved it.
November 4, 2020
A heartwarming and inspiring story of courage and bravery and just plain guts. Recommended reading for all young female athletes and their parents.
June 8, 2023
This book was so wonderful! She shares so many happy Minnesota memories of being outside and on the north shore.
February 21, 2024
This book was fantastic and very interesting. I don’t know much about Nordic skiing, but I loved learning about it from Jessie’s perspective. Feeling very inspired by this book!
March 14, 2020
In her autobiography, Jessie Diggins tells her story. From a childhood canoeing in Minnesota and Canada to lunging across the finish line to win the first ever cross-country skiing gold medal for the United States in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyongchang, South Korea. Jessie talks about everything that led her to that moment, including her struggle with bulimia. She tells her story of fierce determination through fun and disappointment to prove to herself that she is brave enough.
I enjoyed the upbeat way Diggins writes, where you can feel her fun personality shine through the words. The story is one that deserves to be told, as an inspiration, so that people know that you can persevere through even the hardest of personal struggles to achieve your dreams (even if those dreams are winning Olympic gold.) My biggest issue lies in the political nature of some of the comments, one in particular. I can get behind her concerns about global warming and doing what she can to influence politicians to pay attention to how the world is changing, but it is the comment about a certain politician that bothers me, primarily because it isn’t necessary to any part of the story. I would’ve liked it so much better if politics had stayed out of it. I, also, think this book was a little premature: Diggins is only 28 telling her story when her story hasn’t even been halfway written. There are so many more achievements that she will be able to make in her lifetime and writing the book after the gold medal seems to conflict with the point about herself that she’s trying to make at the end. So three stars.
I enjoyed the upbeat way Diggins writes, where you can feel her fun personality shine through the words. The story is one that deserves to be told, as an inspiration, so that people know that you can persevere through even the hardest of personal struggles to achieve your dreams (even if those dreams are winning Olympic gold.) My biggest issue lies in the political nature of some of the comments, one in particular. I can get behind her concerns about global warming and doing what she can to influence politicians to pay attention to how the world is changing, but it is the comment about a certain politician that bothers me, primarily because it isn’t necessary to any part of the story. I would’ve liked it so much better if politics had stayed out of it. I, also, think this book was a little premature: Diggins is only 28 telling her story when her story hasn’t even been halfway written. There are so many more achievements that she will be able to make in her lifetime and writing the book after the gold medal seems to conflict with the point about herself that she’s trying to make at the end. So three stars.
March 2, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Univ of Minnesota Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jessie Diggins tells her inspirational story of her love for skiing and her Olympic Career. She also reveals her struggles and hardships she had to face on her way to success. (+1)
But I have to be honest; I didn't finish the book after I reached halfway. There was just too much going on in between the most significant moments of her life. (+0)
Brave Enough has a powerful voice where I can almost hear her speaking the book to me. I can hear her bubbly and positive attitude seeping through the pages. (+1)
Diggins writes in a way that reminds me of an interview. She gives straightforward information about the events in her life and how they made her feel. Some parts were slightly confusing due to a lack of explanation. But for the most part, I could create a picture in my head. (+1)
She is also all over the place with her organization. (It's like when you're listening to someone tell a story, and they are excited, and they are all over the place with their story.) I recognized this because I do it all the time. For the most part, I thought that was genuine, raw, and real, and it felt like she was telling the story to me specifically, but at some points, I questioned if some of the details were necessary for the book. (+.5)
My favorite part was the pictures in the middle. It gave great insight into the elements of happiness, family, hard work, determination, and historical moments in sports.
My least favorite part, and the one that made me stop reading, was the comments of the White House meeting after she won her second goal medal. (This is her autobiography, and she can write WHATEVER she wants about her life, thoughts, and feelings, and I'm not trying to take that away from her al all.) I am not a political person, and I hate it when either side of the political spectrum interjects the opinions on others. It makes me very uncomfortable. It's not like I don't agree, I feel like those are private thoughts, and I don't need to hear them.
Jessie Diggins tells her inspirational story of her love for skiing and her Olympic Career. She also reveals her struggles and hardships she had to face on her way to success. (+1)
But I have to be honest; I didn't finish the book after I reached halfway. There was just too much going on in between the most significant moments of her life. (+0)
Brave Enough has a powerful voice where I can almost hear her speaking the book to me. I can hear her bubbly and positive attitude seeping through the pages. (+1)
Diggins writes in a way that reminds me of an interview. She gives straightforward information about the events in her life and how they made her feel. Some parts were slightly confusing due to a lack of explanation. But for the most part, I could create a picture in my head. (+1)
She is also all over the place with her organization. (It's like when you're listening to someone tell a story, and they are excited, and they are all over the place with their story.) I recognized this because I do it all the time. For the most part, I thought that was genuine, raw, and real, and it felt like she was telling the story to me specifically, but at some points, I questioned if some of the details were necessary for the book. (+.5)
My favorite part was the pictures in the middle. It gave great insight into the elements of happiness, family, hard work, determination, and historical moments in sports.
My least favorite part, and the one that made me stop reading, was the comments of the White House meeting after she won her second goal medal. (This is her autobiography, and she can write WHATEVER she wants about her life, thoughts, and feelings, and I'm not trying to take that away from her al all.) I am not a political person, and I hate it when either side of the political spectrum interjects the opinions on others. It makes me very uncomfortable. It's not like I don't agree, I feel like those are private thoughts, and I don't need to hear them.
May 25, 2020
CW: Disordered eating
4.5/5 stars
One of the reasons why I love the memoir genre so much is I get to dive into lives I'll never have, and "Brave Enough" is no exception. Jessie Diggins is a sweet, sunshiney Midwestern woman whose drive to become better a better person propelled her to the world stage in cross-country skiing.
"Brave Enough" charts the journey from being a chipper Minnesota girl with an appetite for competition to becoming a world-class athlete and US Olympic gold medalist in her sport. I didn't go into this book with much knowledge about cross-country skiing, and Diggins's writing gives an inside look and will leave you with nothing but an immense respect for those in her sport.
I think there's sometimes a temptation with personal stories to only talk about things that make you look good or moments that were successful. But instead of taking the easy route, Diggins shows us that while she herself is full of glitter and energy, her path has not been easy. She opens up about the dark side of her drive for perfection: her struggles with an eating disorder. Her honesty and vulnerability in this book is really incredible, and offers a voice for other young women who might be struggling in silence in pursuit of being perfect.
Jessie Diggins is not only an incredible athlete, but also a leader for women and girls everywhere who are hungry for the next goal they want to achieve. Her book is full of so much joy, perseverance, honesty, inspiration, and clarity. It was an absolute delight to read. We are lucky to have such a voice in the world.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves inspirational stories, sports, or any girls who might be wrestling with how to be her best despite the world's unhealthy beauty standards.
Thank you to Netgalley and University of Minnesota Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
One of the reasons why I love the memoir genre so much is I get to dive into lives I'll never have, and "Brave Enough" is no exception. Jessie Diggins is a sweet, sunshiney Midwestern woman whose drive to become better a better person propelled her to the world stage in cross-country skiing.
"Brave Enough" charts the journey from being a chipper Minnesota girl with an appetite for competition to becoming a world-class athlete and US Olympic gold medalist in her sport. I didn't go into this book with much knowledge about cross-country skiing, and Diggins's writing gives an inside look and will leave you with nothing but an immense respect for those in her sport.
I think there's sometimes a temptation with personal stories to only talk about things that make you look good or moments that were successful. But instead of taking the easy route, Diggins shows us that while she herself is full of glitter and energy, her path has not been easy. She opens up about the dark side of her drive for perfection: her struggles with an eating disorder. Her honesty and vulnerability in this book is really incredible, and offers a voice for other young women who might be struggling in silence in pursuit of being perfect.
Jessie Diggins is not only an incredible athlete, but also a leader for women and girls everywhere who are hungry for the next goal they want to achieve. Her book is full of so much joy, perseverance, honesty, inspiration, and clarity. It was an absolute delight to read. We are lucky to have such a voice in the world.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves inspirational stories, sports, or any girls who might be wrestling with how to be her best despite the world's unhealthy beauty standards.
Thank you to Netgalley and University of Minnesota Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2020
I went into this thinking it would just be a nice feel good story about Olympic gold medalist nordic skier Jessie Diggins. It had a lot of that, but the detailed accounts of her battles with an eating disorder turned it into a real heavy and compelling read. Its incredible that she was able to overcome this challenge and keep her athletic career on the road to success. I learned a lot about eating disorders... Aside from that the book has plenty of interest to nordic skiing fans and endurance athletes. Highly recommended!
May 8, 2020
4.5 stars
October 25, 2020
Love Jessie Diggins and admire her for telling her story. Just felt the book could’ve used more editing and better writing.
March 15, 2022
“Right here, right now, it’s just me and my training, and my will to get better. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I love watching the Olympics. I always end up crying because seeing people realize their dreams in real-time fills me with such hope and joy. I’ve enjoyed watching Jessie Diggin’s enthusiastic spirit and cheerful attitude the past few Olympics, and was hoping this book would provide some insights into her journey and experiences. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I couldn’t help but tear up listening to Jessie narrate her gold medal race, and acknowledge all the people that made their effort possible. I’m not a skier, but I enjoyed hearing about how hard they train throughout the year, working together to be their best. And I love that their best isn’t necessarily winning all the things, though that’s awesome if it happens. I think in the long run, it’s easier to maintain your drive through the ups and downs of life if you’re focused on what you yourself can do, and not how you compare to others. Work hard, race hard, and focus on the positives.
The stories of training and the Olympics were fantastic, but what I loved even more how special and important the team itself was - it might be an individual sport but you need the whole team to succeed - training together and lifting each other up and giving it your all for one another. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of Jessie’s breakthrough successes came while racing a relay - there’s something about doing it for her friends that seems to drive her even more to the edge in her quest to see them all succeed together.
The part that surprised and affected me the most emotionally was when Jessie detailed her eating disorder journey. Not having experienced something like this, it can be hard to understand the difficulty, but the book is one of the best descriptions I’ve read of life with an eating disorder, with all the mental and physical ramifications., and the intense difficulty of recovery. While the shame and addictive nature can be accurately compared to alcoholism and drug addiction, you can’t stop food cold turkey. You have to change your relationship with food because just eliminating it from your life is impossible. And even when you think you’ve figured it all out, one unintended comment from someone else or one 3 second loss can send your mind tailspinning again. Jessie has so much strength, and she’s truly someone you can look up to, especially if you are a young athlete.
Here are some other quotes I liked:
“Winter skiers are made in the summer, and they aren’t made alone.”
“It wasn’t the result that defined my race, it was how I raced that mattered, and should dictate whether it was a good race for me. After every race, before I checked the results, Chris had me mentally list 3 things I did well during that race—for example, maybe I remembered to take an extra push over the top of a hill to gain speed, or maybe I had used my arms and lat muscles really well in my climbing technique—and list 3 things I could improve on for next time. I learned to understand that no race was either fully good or bad, but that in every race there was something to be learned and improved upon.”
“I learned that there were a lot of girls who were better technical skiers than I was, many were more gifted than I was, and some of them were faster. But I also learned that I couldn’t control any of that. I couldn’t control what others were doing. What I could control was how hard I worked. I made a pledge to myself that nothing was going to hold me back in the gym and in training.”
I love watching the Olympics. I always end up crying because seeing people realize their dreams in real-time fills me with such hope and joy. I’ve enjoyed watching Jessie Diggin’s enthusiastic spirit and cheerful attitude the past few Olympics, and was hoping this book would provide some insights into her journey and experiences. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I couldn’t help but tear up listening to Jessie narrate her gold medal race, and acknowledge all the people that made their effort possible. I’m not a skier, but I enjoyed hearing about how hard they train throughout the year, working together to be their best. And I love that their best isn’t necessarily winning all the things, though that’s awesome if it happens. I think in the long run, it’s easier to maintain your drive through the ups and downs of life if you’re focused on what you yourself can do, and not how you compare to others. Work hard, race hard, and focus on the positives.
The stories of training and the Olympics were fantastic, but what I loved even more how special and important the team itself was - it might be an individual sport but you need the whole team to succeed - training together and lifting each other up and giving it your all for one another. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of Jessie’s breakthrough successes came while racing a relay - there’s something about doing it for her friends that seems to drive her even more to the edge in her quest to see them all succeed together.
The part that surprised and affected me the most emotionally was when Jessie detailed her eating disorder journey. Not having experienced something like this, it can be hard to understand the difficulty, but the book is one of the best descriptions I’ve read of life with an eating disorder, with all the mental and physical ramifications., and the intense difficulty of recovery. While the shame and addictive nature can be accurately compared to alcoholism and drug addiction, you can’t stop food cold turkey. You have to change your relationship with food because just eliminating it from your life is impossible. And even when you think you’ve figured it all out, one unintended comment from someone else or one 3 second loss can send your mind tailspinning again. Jessie has so much strength, and she’s truly someone you can look up to, especially if you are a young athlete.
Here are some other quotes I liked:
“Winter skiers are made in the summer, and they aren’t made alone.”
“It wasn’t the result that defined my race, it was how I raced that mattered, and should dictate whether it was a good race for me. After every race, before I checked the results, Chris had me mentally list 3 things I did well during that race—for example, maybe I remembered to take an extra push over the top of a hill to gain speed, or maybe I had used my arms and lat muscles really well in my climbing technique—and list 3 things I could improve on for next time. I learned to understand that no race was either fully good or bad, but that in every race there was something to be learned and improved upon.”
“I learned that there were a lot of girls who were better technical skiers than I was, many were more gifted than I was, and some of them were faster. But I also learned that I couldn’t control any of that. I couldn’t control what others were doing. What I could control was how hard I worked. I made a pledge to myself that nothing was going to hold me back in the gym and in training.”
June 30, 2020
This is a truly outstanding memoir on many levels. It is a book that details how a spunky athletic girl from Afton, Minnesota who skied her first varsity race in 7th grade became an Olympic champion. It explains what it takes to be an Olympic champion and the amazingly all out 365 day effort it takes to be a cross country skier at the highest level. It introduces the reader to what it’s like being on tour on the World Cup from picture post cards in Switzerland and Norway to the utterly bleak tour stops in Siberia. But most of all it tells the story of how Jessie Diggins was not only brave enough to confront and overcome a crippling, life threatening eating disorder but brave enough to tell the whole world about it. I suffered from crippling anxiety for decades before it was diagnosed and before I got treatment for it. I know how tough it can be having mental issues that simply won’t let up and how embarrassing and weak it makes you feel. But I had no idea how rough eating disorders are. I didn’t know that they also involve mental anguish and relentless feelings of shame, self loathing, and insecurity.
This book was wonderful and engaging and interesting as a general memoir. But it’s important as a book about what it’s like to have an eating disorder. If Jessie Diggins who seemingly led a charmed and perfect life—beautiful, athletic, smart, popular, and with a loving and supportive family—can have an eating disorder then anyone can. And this book’s important message is that eating disorders are nothing to feel shameful or embarrassed about and that help—like the Emily Project—is available and that anyone can be brave enough to conquer it.
Hoping that she may one day read this review, I have a few things I’d like to say to Jessie.
Thanks for being you and for writing this book. It’s sure to help thousands of people get help from eating disorders.
I’m sorry that you had to deal with bullying which is a painful ordeal to live through. I hope that that person who bullied you will read your book and know just how much pain she caused.
As a trial lawyer I can certainly empathize with what it feels to put it all on the line not win and also with situations where you should win, but didn’t. I still have nightmares about cases that I lost for reasons unrelated to the merits and all trial lawyers think of a million things they should done differently. In the end, you‘ve helped me realize that while you can learn from these losses, but always doing my best it’s senseless to play the I should have done this game.
I also feel for your losses due to your competitors having used and who obviously continue to use
special chapstick to get ahead. It must be frustrating to perform cleanly only to lose to drugged induced superwomen who have inhumanly Lance Armstrong like dominance.
Finally, even though I don’t know you, I’m proud of you. I’m proud of your love of life. I’m proud of you being the best teammate. I’m proud of your kindness. I’m proud of your complete commitment to your craft. I’m proud of your accomplishments on the snow. I’m proud that you are a fellow American (sorry Wade). I’m proud that you not only beat your eating disorder but that you were brave enough to write this book and inspire other people to do so.
So, Jessie Diggins, if Ed ever dares re-enter your psyche, just continue to be brave enough to tell him to go to hell.
This book was wonderful and engaging and interesting as a general memoir. But it’s important as a book about what it’s like to have an eating disorder. If Jessie Diggins who seemingly led a charmed and perfect life—beautiful, athletic, smart, popular, and with a loving and supportive family—can have an eating disorder then anyone can. And this book’s important message is that eating disorders are nothing to feel shameful or embarrassed about and that help—like the Emily Project—is available and that anyone can be brave enough to conquer it.
Hoping that she may one day read this review, I have a few things I’d like to say to Jessie.
Thanks for being you and for writing this book. It’s sure to help thousands of people get help from eating disorders.
I’m sorry that you had to deal with bullying which is a painful ordeal to live through. I hope that that person who bullied you will read your book and know just how much pain she caused.
As a trial lawyer I can certainly empathize with what it feels to put it all on the line not win and also with situations where you should win, but didn’t. I still have nightmares about cases that I lost for reasons unrelated to the merits and all trial lawyers think of a million things they should done differently. In the end, you‘ve helped me realize that while you can learn from these losses, but always doing my best it’s senseless to play the I should have done this game.
I also feel for your losses due to your competitors having used and who obviously continue to use
special chapstick to get ahead. It must be frustrating to perform cleanly only to lose to drugged induced superwomen who have inhumanly Lance Armstrong like dominance.
Finally, even though I don’t know you, I’m proud of you. I’m proud of your love of life. I’m proud of you being the best teammate. I’m proud of your kindness. I’m proud of your complete commitment to your craft. I’m proud of your accomplishments on the snow. I’m proud that you are a fellow American (sorry Wade). I’m proud that you not only beat your eating disorder but that you were brave enough to write this book and inspire other people to do so.
So, Jessie Diggins, if Ed ever dares re-enter your psyche, just continue to be brave enough to tell him to go to hell.
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