User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I loved the honesty and emotion in Bravey. Pappas discusses her struggles with depression in an open way that is easy to relate to. She shows that even someone that appears to have everything going for her still struggles. Pappas inspires readers to chase their dreams and not to let anything get them down. Pappas describes her mother’s death by suicide and how that has affected her throughout her life. Pappas female role models growing up were friends’ moms and athletes. I like how Pappas describes how hard she works as an athlete but also acknowledges that there is some ability she was born with. Pappas describes anxiety before races and feeling like she wasn’t good enough. In college, Pappas was not the best runner and it took her a few years to realize things like eating right and getting enough sleep were important to be a successful runner. Pappas discusses canceling her wedding and working on herself before focusing on her relationship. I really enjoyed Bravey and reading it felt like a friend telling me about their personal experiences. I loved reading about Pappas accomplishments, struggles she had to overcome along the way to accomplishing her goals, and advice to readers.
Thank you Random House for gifting me this book. All opinions are my own.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Rating: really liked it
Okay I struggled with my review on this and feel more clear after debriefing with Liz...this book is a 6.9/10 for me. 3.5/5 stars.
Reasons I loved it: Alexi is funny, likeable, self-aware, and a decent story teller. Her life is both relatable and impressive. I get the sense that we’d be good friends. I appreciated her vulnerability in talking about her struggle with depression, adored her stories about her father, and laughed at some of her hilarious moments thoughout life.
Reasons I didn’t love it: She spends a lot of pages in self-reflection and life analyzing. Realizing through reading this book and Untamed that I don’t love reflective memoirs that dig so deep into the meaning of life and feelings. It gets old after a while. I prefer more story-telling. Also, I was unimpressed with her writing style. As a Dartmouth grad, I expected more. I think she struggled with translating her academic, creative writing skills into a relatable memoir.
Rating: really liked it
I picked up Bravey during an Amazon kindle sale, the goodreads award event. It is catalogued on my "random" shelf which basically means I purchased it with no previous knowledge of the book. There is something very compelling about an Olympic level athlete as she navigates the terrain of mental and emotional wellbeing. High performing athletes are gifted with an athletic talent and a drive towards achievement. Raw talent alone does not get a person to the Olympics. Alexi Pappas is a gifted runner, a good writer and someone who is very self-aware within the confines of her own lived experiences. In Bravey, she takes us on a journey of emotional and mental health in pursuit of her dreams but more importantly in pursuit of self-discovery, self-awareness and self-care. She approaches this book with a very focused eye, but an eye full of love, compassion and kindness and some humor towards her family and more importantly towards herself. (view spoiler)
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Pappas as a child was raised in emotional trauma. Her mother was severely mentally ill and medically mistreated. There is a moment when Pappas was nearly 4 years old and walked into the bathroom where her mother was trying to saw her own arm off. She tells Pappas not to tell anyone, but even at that early age Pappas knew better and her mother is institutionalized for the 4th time. The next time she is released, her mother succeeds in killing herself. Because of her young age, Pappas has very few memories of her mother. She is raised in a household with a single father and an older brother. While growing up she wasn't told many stories of her mother. In some of the later essays she has access to some of her mother's medical records and psychological treatments. It's clear that even though she doesn't have many memories, the absence of her mother had profound and obvious impacts on her family, her upbringing, her environment, her mental and emotional wellbeing, and her view of the world. These are some pretty heavy origins for an Olympic athlete. Pappas demonstrates some athletic talent early on in school but doesn't really take it too seriously until she leaves home. In college she develops her writing skills and drama skills and hones her athletic talent. She becomes an Olympic level runner and is selected for Olympic team (Greece) running the 10K; the first female Greek athlete ever to qualify for this event (caveat - she is born in Greece but raised in America where she discovered, developed, and honed her racing skills). After the 2016 Olympics, Pappas falls into a severe depression and learns how to deal with the uncertainty of her future. (hide spoiler)]Pappas's story is compelling and her process for growth and self-awareness was insightful. Her childhood could have been huge obstacles towards her success, but she has embraced her challenges. One of the things about Olympic level athletes is their need to endure and overcome pain. I remember a long time ago a Lance Armstrong interview in which he said,
"I like to suffer". I was amused by what I thought was the absurdity of that quote at the time (some 20 years ago) but Pappas brings home what should be obviously true. Olympic level and pro athletes endure pain. Pappas tells us every run for her is painful. This is not pain associated with injury, this is pain associated with suffering. The suffering that happens when you push your body to limits it doesn't know it has. There is a mindset of people to subject themselves to suffering and every high performing athlete understands that suffering is the key to successes as measured in athletic competition. Overcoming the suffering is part of what defines a champion, a hero, a success story. Suffering is the adversary. In many ways, that's the theme of her book. Confront the suffering because suffering (pain) is going to happen. In the introduction of the book:
Brave—ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage."
"Courage—the ability to do something that frightens one; strength in the face of pain or grief.
Bravey is a made up word. Pappas describes how the word became part of an urban lexicon (full disclosure I'd never heard of it before this book):
It became the label for a mini-movement, a self-identifier for those who are willing to chase their dreams even though it can be intimidating and scary.
Intimidating as in "may have to endure pain". In Pappas view this can be extrapolated to real life where she says
Most people innately want to avoid pain and seek out comfort, and chasing a dream means challenging the default.
And there you have it. Lots of people do not achieve because they are not willing to suffer.
Sometimes it hurts to know you can do it. It’s an intimidating thing to realize because it means that the only person who can really define your growth and happiness is yourself.
Pappas also has some words of encouragement about self-care and confidence.
You have to believe you are deserving of good surprises in life. You set yourself up for it."
"Luck can be cultivated."
"Negative thinking drains energy"
She also has thoughts about emotional and mental health and depression.
"I think many people make the same mistake of not taking a mental injury as seriously as they would a physical injury."
"The minute you start looking backward, when you entertain the idea of trying to unscramble an egg, you need to ask for help. You need to stop moving and deal with yourself at exactly where you are in that moment."
"depression can distort how you see yourself and your place in the world"
I was especially drawn to her concept of trying to "unscramble an egg" or "unring a bell" which is something I think many/most of us try to do at one point or another. For me, another way to phrase it is to rewrite the narrative or denial. Not sure if it is an indication of a mental injury severe enough to seek professional help, but it could an indicator to pause and reflect before reacting.
I thought the book was very good and successful for what it does. This is yet another book in which sadly, I am not the intended audience though I didn't recognize that at the outset. The book takes on such huge concepts that I expected a look back on how she overcame some insurmountable odds and lived a fulfilled life. And honestly, it is that, but Pappas is currently 31 years old. I thought that she would be much older (my own neice is 32 yrs old and she is still a baby as far as I'm concerned). Though her achievements thus far are amazing, I don't think she's fully baked yet. I think Pappas is very insightful, self-aware and charming, but it's still very early in her hopefully long life. Though I can see Pappas has done a lot of work toward mental clarity and self-care, some of the assertions and concepts in the book in my view were a little simplistic, underexplored and/or underrepresented. To me it is clear that the act of writing this book is part of her journey towards emotional health and wellbeing. She is very much still a work in progress (aren't we all). There is very little here for this grizzled old lady to take to heart. No pearls of wisdom that I haven't picked up in my own lived experience. However, there is still much to admire about this young, smart, inspiring, and talented lady. A great book to recommend for my would be high achieving, driven children under 25…if I had any.
3.5 Stars rounded up for this amazing young womanRead on kindle
Rating: really liked it
When I received this advance digital copy, I had no idea who Alexi Pappas was. Therefore, I knew nothing about her story. I went into this book totally blind. But, I wanted to read it for two reasons. One, I like the cover, and two, Maya Rudolph wrote the Foreword. I like Maya and I am/was a diehard supporter of her mother the late great Minni Riperton. Although I went into this memoir without knowing much about the author. I was 100% invested within the first few pages of reading the book.
An Olympic runner, actress, filmmaker and writer, at the age of four years old, Alexi’s mother died by suicide, drastically altering the course of her life. In this book Alexi shares what she’s learned from her experiences, while offering advice on achieving your dreams.
This is the most honest, heartfelt, transparent and emotionally vulnerable account of the affects that mental illness and suicide can have on a child. Not only is this memoir entertaining, but more importantly it is informative. Alexi took me into her life and her emotions. There were moments my heart wept for her. Reading about her mother’s mental illness was gut wrenching. She did a phenomenal job of capturing her emotions and the confusion she lived with, as a result of being a girl living without a mother.
Alexi’s vulnerability was also on full display as she wrote about her own battle with post-Olympic depression. A topic very few athletes discuss. She walked me through the entire journey, from beginning to end. It was very eye opening.
But don’t get me wrong, this book definitely had moments that made my heart sing. Reading how she overcame the issues of her past, and becoming an Olympic runner was inspiring.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It contained everything I look for in a great memoir. I recommend this book for everyone, especially #YA readers, and anyone dealing with mental illness. This book offers hope for a better tomorrow. And that my friends, is why this book deserves 5⭐️s.
Rating: really liked it
This book would probably be great for 10-13-year-old girls. The writing is simple, straightforward, and repetitive, filled with "you can do it" encouragements and life lessons that these younger readers may not yet have learned. However, I, as a reasonably well-adjusted 35-year-old woman, found the writing somewhat twee and the repetition borderline insufferable. I hate having ideas that were conveyed in a single sentence mashed into my face over and over for pages on end. It's probably why I so rarely read "inspirational" books at all.
If I were the editor of this book, I'd have tried to get the writing to progress chronologically with the writer. It's fine for the beginning chapters of the book to be rendered simplistically, because in those chapters Pappas is a child, seeing the world through a child's eyes. Therefore, a child's language is appropriate. But as she grows and matures in the book, the writing does not grow and mature with her. That, in my opinion, was a missed opportunity on the part of whoever was guiding this book through publication.
All of this being said, I very much enjoyed the level of specific detail Pappas brought to scenes within some of her personal stories. I'm a big fan of memoirs in general, so the more her stories portrayed the people of her life as characters (namely her mother and father), the more she captured my attention. There's one scene of her mother doing something very disturbing (which I won't recount here) that still sticks with me, it was that powerful. I also appreciated the transparency she brought to her negotiation of sponsorships and the instability that can come with trying to decide where and how to train.
All in all, I gave this book three stars because I personally would give it two or two-and-a-half, but I think for the right audience (adolescent/young teenage girls) it might be a four-star book. And the title? And that cover? Those get five stars for sure.
Rating: really liked it
Not much good to say about this book and curious to see where all the very high Goodreads ratings are coming from. I thought this was a memoir of an Olympic athlete turned film maker with a tough upbringing but it is more a series of essays that loosely fit together as a story. The book begins interesting enough with the authors stories of her Mom’s early exit by suicide at her age of 4. There are recollections from those times ( I don’t remember anything from that early age of my life) and those hold your interest but after that, the book skips around and skims the surface of what may be a fascinating person but I was not fascinated. The book really runs out of gas at the end where author Alexi Pappi decides to end with stories about her head lice as a young girl ( really?!) and finally with some obligatory self-help type coaching up as to how to persevere and reach your goals. I didn’t know if Alexi Pappas before this book showed up as recommended and I likely won’t hear of or think of her again. I wish her well though, just not someone worthy to read about.
Rating: really liked it
This was a 3.5 for me. The first half is a very open and honest memoir. Alexi Pappas has taken hardship and trauma and found ways to not just survive, but thrive. Her road to the Olympics and artistic success was paved by an inordinate amount of blood, sweat, and tears. She's incredibly inspiring.
Unfortunately, the second half of her book starts to meander and she turns to some repetitive cliches (always work hard, follow your dreams). She's so vulnerable in talking about her mother's mental health and subsequent suicide in the beginning, but then starts the second half of the book with a story about having lice in first grade. I just think it could have been stronger if it was edited down a bit.
Rating: really liked it
I’m a track and field fan, but because Alexi Pappas ran the 10k for Greece in the Rio Olympics, she wasn’t on my radar. Instead, I saw an excerpt from this book, and knew I wanted to read it.
Alexi faced a big challenge as a little kid: When she was only 4, her mom died, and due to her mother’s mental health struggles, Alexi’s memories of her are not all good. Her dad stepped up as well as anyone could to raise two children, but it is very difficult to be a motherless girl. Alexi compensated by watching her friends’ moms, and by gravitating towards women who could mentor her in the activities she loved: writing, acting, and sports, especially soccer and running.
When I started the book, I assumed that “Bravey” was Alexi’s nickname, but instead it’s from a poem she wrote that became popular among her Instagram followers:
run like a bravey / sleep like a baby / dream like a crazy / replace can’t with maybe. This poem pretty well sums up Alexi’s approach to life: She loves to run; she doesn’t skimp on sleep and recommends that everyone get plenty of it; and she’s determined to use a combination of hard work and good luck to make her craziest dreams become reality. So far, she’s been very successful at that.
This book is both gritty and inspiring. Alexi is absolutely truthful about all of her experiences, the beautiful and the ugly, and all of her reactions to those experiences, good and bad and truly awful (the severe depression she went through for nearly two whole years following the Rio Olympics). The writing style is mostly chatty and upbeat, but there’s no lightening the weight of some of what she’s been through. Her personality really shines through, and she seems like a terrific person to know and hang out with.
This is written as a combination memoir/self help/guidebook, with tons of advice from Alexi. And, in my opinion, most of that advice is very good, especially since it stays “advice” rather than being presented as the only way to approach life (“this is what worked for me” is the tone). I’m definitely outside of the target demographic -- this book is probably best read when you’re 14 to 25 years old. It speaks to anyone who is creative, athletic, or especially both.
I especially related to the chapter about how young female athletes are treated, and how it needs to change. My college swimming coach used to do weigh-ins, and whatever we weighed, we were always pushed to weigh “less.” There was no attempt to determine what our ideal competitive weight might be, or to make sure we were getting enough calories (especially the right kind of calories) to support strenuous training; there was just the attitude that less of us was always better. Surprise, surprise, we were all tired and injured all the time. And this still seems to be the dominant attitude in many sports, particularly among male coaches of female athletes. Alexi has strong words about this, and more power to her.
I’m glad I read this, since I really liked Alexi and her voice. I’m a little sad that this book didn’t exist when I was 16 -- I would have gotten a lot from it then, and the advice about recognizing when to seek help for depression would have been invaluable. Whatever Alexi does with the rest of her life, it’s sure to be amazing.
Rating: really liked it
This book is as emotional, honest, straightforward as if you are having a heartfelt conversation with your best friend. It is very well written and will keep your attention from the first page until the last. The first couple of chapters that deal with the mentally ill mother sets the stage for you to pay attention to every detail, every word of this girl's journey. Don't be surprised if you want to read 'one more chapter' as there never seems to be a good place to pause.
Rating: really liked it
I’ve followed Alexi on social media and she seems wonderful, energetic and likely a good mentor. She is open and honest, but this book was too all over the place for me. Too much inferring of moments in her life, name dropping, and as a reader I didn’t feel like there was a clear plot line. Lastly it didn’t meet my expectation for level of writing for an Ivy League grad. I will still be a huge fan of Alexi but likely won’t pick up her next book too quickly.
Rating: really liked it
i was so impressed with the first 2/3 of the book That i prematurely gave it 5 stars but then I docked a star for her converting an anemic teenage vegetarian runner to a red meat eater . If she had taken nutrition courses in college rather than poetry she would have known that dark green leafy vegetables at much better at building red blood cells than red meat while at the same time building strong dense bones and being charges with anti oxidants and anti-inflammatories .There is nothing in red meat that is not also in chlorophyll rich greens . Why do you think grass fed beef is so much more nutritious than corn fed beef ? It because the cows are eating greens .
In fairness to Katie Davis Majors ( author of "Kisses from Katie" ) I docked another star because I agree with Katie that its really mind blowing how people from rich countries can drop 200.00 on a pair of shoes (gucci's are $800 and up) when that same 200.00 could pay a years tuition for like 10 ORPHAN Ugandan student (what about THIER dreams??? )
She lost her mother at age 5 but was left with a loving Dad and a good home . Ugandan orphans are set on trash piles at birth or lose BOTH parents at age 5 and are with our food , clothes and shelter .
A quote form the book " People say dream pursuers are selfish but thats OK if it does not hurt anyone " Well, It turns out that red meat eating is hurting the entire planet becasue the methane generated by the meat industry is the bigger contributor of global warming. Also the deforestation caused by cutting down trees for cattle pasture .So if someone thinks that have to eat red meat to builds up their red blood cells it is not only wrong but is also clearly it is harmful to every one one this planet.
If instead of eating red meat to build up her red blood cell count she had eaten calcium rich kale. collards , turnip greens , wheat grass , and moringa etc she would have had much denser pelvic gridle bones and would probably not have fractured it . Eating red meat is also proinflammatory which retarded her recover after the pulled hamstring .It also leads to gout and rheumatoid arthritis NOT GOOD for an athlete's longevity .I noticed that she never made it back to professional running much less the Olympics even though she was only 30 in the last Olympics.If she had been relying on raw green leafies in lieu of red meat to up her red blood cell count she would have been at peak on 2020 .
QUOTE from Book " fitness and health are two different things .Fitness is being able to preform in the short term . Health is the durability of our body in the long term. For sucsess as an athelete health is more important that fitness " ( then she promotes eating red meat to boost red blood cells count!!! )
For emphasis I will repeat Her career was over at age 26 . Scott Jurek ,a vegan , Set the speed record for completing the Appalachian Trail (approx. 2,200 miles) in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes in 2015 at age 42 . (after winning many world class ultra marathons in through out his 30s )
Jurek is an advocate of plant-based eating for health and ethical/environmental reasons, and he cites his diet as the key to his athletic performance and recovery. He gave up eating meat in 1997 and became totally plant based in 1999, motivated by the belief that poor nutrition was responsible for the chronic illnesses he saw in his family and in his physical therapy patients
For more info on great vegan runners see : https://www.greatveganathletes.com/ca...
I am a runner .I have pulled hamstrings . I did not need to go to a doctor . I was back in top form in 6 months .I am a vegetarian.
One runner to another -you NEVER message an injury --especially a torn or strained ham string !!!!
The way to rehab a torn , ruptured , or strained hamstring is to : rest for 3 days then do a very slow easy jog on level ground for 20 minutes the 4th day > then alternate slow 20 minutes run days with longer and longer slow run days staying on fairly level ground until you get up to 10 miles on you long days >ALWAYS RUNNING WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE PAIN (if you feel pain quit at once until next day )
The taper looks like this : 20 minutes > 20 minutes > 20 minutes > .....20 minutes > 25 minutes > 20 minutes ......20 minutes > 30 minutes > 20 minutes ....20 minutes > 35 minutes > 20 minutes > .....adding a little more every 3 weeks until you get to 20 minutes > 10 miles > 20 minutes > then add more hills > then slowly add more speed
You can stretch the ham out gently WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE PAIN - after each run by lying on your back and using a towel or strap under your shoe
That's the fastest surest way to rehab a hamstring without making it worse .
FOR INSOMNIA : the best way to handle insomnia is to meditate and do what the yogis call savansan(lie on your back -spread eagled - with palms facing up while systematically relaxing every muscle in you body starting with the toes (one toe at a time one foot at a time) > forehead > feet > ankles < shins > calves ) all way up to your the top of your head
when you can't lie down on your back any walk any more- get up and walk a few steps - stretch a bit then sit up cross legged with eye closed and try to keep your inner attention in the darkness visible to the closed eyes and in that darkness repeat a mantra to keep thoughts away .The best mantra is a name of God that you like or love when you cant sit any more . Do savasan again or take a very hot bath and savansan again. Do this R&R until 8-10 hours has passed
This way you will relax deeply even if you don't sleep . 45 minutes of Savasan is much more restful than 8 hours of fitful sleeping .Your body will be stronger and more rested than if you'd slept 8 hours .You will become a master of relaxing your muscles including your heart and arteries .with practice. You will be able to dilate the capillaries in your muscles and even skin bringing the fresh nutrition
there are many savansan videos for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AX4H...
(note probably a good idea to use a Orthopedic Design, Egg-Crate Foam pillow like this
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Contour-Fo...
or roll up a towel and put it behind you neck
Even better than savansan -- try putting in ear plugs and listening to the ringing sound that is audible in your brain and let this non physical musical note or melody sooth and energize you >Listening to it is much more restful and physically and menially beneficial than sleep. This sound is a like soothing beautiful undulating melody .It is not physical .It comes from a higher plane and your pituitary gland picks it up like an antennae .it is like the musical voice of God soothing ,sustaining , you calling you back . Just listen attentively to it and enjoy it . It is more energizing and healing than any physicals food or energy drink > it will give you very good elevated dream if you do fall asleep --like floating in an ocean of love . The ancient Greeks called this music "the music of the spheres" Present day yogis who listen to this are called "surat shabd yogis "
For depression : Act happy then you may start to feel happy works to some extent but stilling your mind in order to build a personal relationship with God during the long insomnia nights is even better. Just turn off your thoughts and grope for his presence in your head. Insomnia can be a great blessing and source of strength -enjoy it while it lasts
Red meat eating contribute to menial illness because the animals being raised and kept so cruelly are filled with pain and fear when they die which spikes the secretion of stress hormones which flood the meat .Vegetarians eating produces tranquility so we sleep and rest better. Green leafies have calcium , iron that women need for strong bones and rich blood .Plus there is that scientific Law " For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction " when we buy beef we create a demand for the cruel conditions cows and kept and killed in . How can the reaction of that be any thing but pain for the meat eater .
When plants are raises and killed they feel no pain thus there is less of a debt to pain and death weighing down on our emotions .
Our DREAM should be to be happy .We should choose our dream and the path to it wisely and logically .
OH one last thing " She talks about concentration drains " Sex is a huge concentration drain . Mediation is a huge concentration builder . But its hard to meditate if ones mind is agitated from eating red meat.
Rating: really liked it
Siehdnxleirhfndkwodu !!!
I probably cried through half of this book, and half of that time was more of a full out sob. This book might not be for everyone, but it was for me. I’ve been a longtime fan of Alexi Pappas and am even more fond of her now.
Alexi is raw, open and vulnerable about her losses, struggles, how she overcame and how she looks ahead to achieve her, literally, Olympic-sized dreams. I feel I can check all the boxes needed to get something out of this book: female: check, runner: check, dreamer: check, artist: check, depression: check, painful childhood: check... I’m so grateful for this book and for her advice. With Alexi losing her mom at a very young age, it left an obvious gap in her life from the start. She was wise and strategic in the face of that to go after mentors as if her life depended on it. It’s something I wish I’d also done, and maybe would’ve if I realized I needed one so desperately. It’s hard finding women who inspire you and whose words you can actually trust, but this book feels like a slice of big-sister-that-I-really-needed plus a flame to the a** to get moving and chasing your goals because damnit they’re important and if you’re not going to take them seriously, then nobody else will. And they probably won’t even if you do, so do it anyway. Be brave. There are about 50 quotes I’d love to mention as my kindle version is highlighted up the wazoo but I won’t spoil any here. So grateful for this book and Pappas sharing her story with the world.
Rating: really liked it
This fell flat for me. Not sure if it was the writing style or the way the book jumped around but I found myself skimming large parts of it.
Rating: really liked it
Wow! I'm a runner and Alexi fan, but even if I weren't, I would have loved the book just the same. Alexi makes her lessons in sport (and outside of sport) relatable. Her stories are honest, heart-breaking, and funny. The book is brilliantly organized not by timeline, but by theme. A beautiful writer, Alexi includes small poems between sections.
I found Alexi's stories about her mental health struggles particularly compelling and heart-wrenching, but also motivating and inspiring! I also found myself wondering about her romantic relationships and then in the next section--there it was! Her love story! Throughout the book, Alexi destigmatizes mental health and encourages readers to release the grandeur we too often hold for celebrities.
Bravey is at its core a self-help book, but the best thing is this: the book doesn't read like a self-help book. I would particularly recommend this book for young women and for anyone chasing her dreams.
Rating: really liked it
Alexi Pappas is a fantastic writer and offers great advice for athletes (including amateur athletes like me) and goal- and dream-oriented people. I will be taking her advice with me into my training and other life goals. Her personal story is compelling and inspiring, and I am grateful for her vulnerability and advocacy in the mental health space. I highly recommend this book!
