The Resilience Myth New Thinking on Grit, Strength, and Growth After Trauma

A “vital, life-saving must-read” (Nora McInerny, author of Bad Vibes Only) manifesto for communal resilience based on in-depth investigations into history, social science, and psychology, from the bestselling author of Rage Becomes Her.

We are often urged to rely only on ourselves for strength, mental fortitude, and positivity. “With her signature clarity and penetrating mind” (Jean Guerrero, author of Hatemonger), Soraya Chemaly challenges us to challenges us to reject this model—based on a culture of toxic individualism—and, instead, leverage our interdependence.

Drawing on comprehensive research and eye-opening examples from real-life, The Resilience Myth offers an “ambitious” (Publishers Weekly) feminist paradigm of resilience based on an ethic of care, cognitive flexibility, and the provision of material needs. Interdependence, collective care, and nurturing relationships to each other and the earth, she compellingly argues, are the keys to positively adapting to adversity and polycrises.

Soraya Chemaly is an award-winning writer and activist whose work focuses on the role of gender in culture, politics, religion, and media. She is the Director of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project and an advocate for women’s freedom of expression and expanded civic and political engagement. A prolific writer and speaker, her articles appear in Time, The Verge, The Guardian, The Nation, HuffPost, and The Atlantic. Follow her on X at @SChemaly and learn more at SorayaChemaly.com.