Why You Need To Read Elaine Welteroth’s “More Than Enough”
This post is all about my thoughts of Elaine Welteroth’s More Than Enough.
Truthfully, I didn’t know much about Elaine Welteroth before picking up this book. All I knew was that she was the editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue and that the magazine was becoming more and more “woke” with each publication. Then last year, her book came out and I only heard positive reviews. Entertainment Weekly even raved about it, calling it the “Millennial Becoming.” So naturally, I had to read it and give my official review.
About the Author: Who’s Elaine Welteroth?
Elaine Welteroth has the kind of career that anyone would admire. She’s worked at major publications like Glamour and Ebony before being promoted to be the Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue, all before she turned 30. She’s also been featured in Grownish and Project Runway, and has participated in photoshoots for public figures like Serena Williams and Michelle Obama.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she confessed to writing More Than Enough because she wanted to show the less glamorous parts of dream chasing and coming into your own. In a world consumed by social media, it’s easy to get caught up in “shiny objects” and be blind to the harsh realities of the grind.
Welteroth’s goal was to write a book that “delves into all of the intersections of what makes us who we are. Not just the career aspects, but also the personal aspects, the family dynamics, the racial-identity piece.” On top of that, this kind of text is intended to stimulate the kind of meaningful conversations that will challenge the way we go about everyday life and approach social issues.
Book Breakdown
It’s the perfect length. 316 pages broken up into 24 chapters. It starts off with her early childhood and progresses through her 20s and her time at Teen Vogue.
Main Theme
Purpose
No one has one singular purpose, and it doesn’t have to be tied to your career. As Elaine says, “job titles are temporary, but purpose is infinite” (315). Your purpose changes as you learn who you are and when you’re in alignment with it, everyone benefits.
Memorable Quotes
“I knew there was more-more to see, more to explore, more to experience. When your dreams are bigger than the places you find yourself in, sometimes you need to seek out your own reminders that there is more. And there is always more waiting for you on the other side of fear” (83).
“I was finally waking up to my own possibilities, and to a deeper realization of the power of vision and faith- two of the most important tools I would need on my journey. For the first time, I understood that the bigness of my life would be determined not only by the bigness of my dreams, but also by my capacity to trust that there is a Higher Power who would always take those dreams and multiply them” (85).
“This was a reminder that there is a divine order, a divine flow to our lives. We don’t need to have all the answers. But our job is to keep on dreaming and trusting enough to put one foot in front of the other. To keep moving forward. To keep pushing beyond whatever feels confining. To keep searching for where the magic is. To continue expanding, staying open to being stretched. And allowing room to be completely awed by how much better it gets along the way” (85).
“When you are invested in building something you believe in, and you know there is no safety net if you fail, it is all too easy to lose perspective” (275).
Elaine welteroth, More than Enough
Final Thoughts
I didn’t know much about Welteroth before reading this book, but I can for sure say that’s not the case now (*cue me following her on all socials*). Truthfully, I couldn’t put More Than Enough down.
It’s much more than your typical coming-of-age novel. Instead, it’s a story about embracing who you are no matter how drastically you deviate from societal standards. It’s about wearing your skin and hair proudly, no matter how big of a political statement it can be. Welteroth beautifully articulated her experience as a biracial black woman in the corporate workplace and living through a series of dreams realized.
More Than Enough made me realize how rarely honest stories like this are told and so widely consumed. Like the constant sting of microaggressions from the people she considered to be friends, thus serving as a reminder no matter how hard she conformed, her race always entered the room before she did.
The whole text is honest and engaging. Specifically about the realities of dream chasing while coming into your own and the negative effects it can have on you and the people around you. In the same way, it’s a call to put yourself first. Like she stated in her interview with Entertainment Weekly, people don’t show the unsexy parts of pursuing their purpose.
It’s a book about coming into your own, knowing you’re more than enough, and being proud of it.
Readers don’t just get a glimpse into her career progression, but her personal life too. She reflects on her public and private failures and the Black women that helped her along the way (Bozoma Saint John and Ava DuVernay).
With so many “self-help” books nowadays, they try to give a step-by-step guide to achieving success. But they don’t account for who you are at your core and what barriers may stand in your way. More Than Enough was so refreshing because Welteroth is honest about the realities of being a biracial black woman.
So, Is This Book For Me?
Short answer: yes.
I genuinely felt so empowered and validated after reading this book. Truthfully, it would be hard for me to accept someone else could read this and not feel the same way. While it’s Welteroth’s personal story, there are so many raw lessons and unique experiences that we can all learn from.
More specifically, More Than Enough is for the young professionals who are seeking more, trying to push their own boundaries, overcoming self-doubt, and challenging implicit social biases along the way.
Think of it like The Devil Wears Prada but centered around race, love, career, purpose, identity, and social consciousness.
Before you go, read this one last piece!