The Courage Code: It's Yours, Break It, Own It, Use It by Megan Raphael | Jennifer Byron [rare books]

Book Summary

The Courage Code explores what courage means in the lives of ordinary women, especially how they break old norms, take ownership of their lives, and put courage into action. The book is organized around four main pillars (suggested by the subtitle): It’s Yours, Break It, Own It, Use It. These represent stages in developing and expressing courage.

• It’s Yours: Recognizing that courage already belongs to you. The authors begin by challenging outdated cultural definitions of courage (which often emphasize heroic or stereotypically “masculine” acts). They suggest that each woman has her own “courage code,” even if she doesn’t fully see or believe in it. The book includes stories illustrating how women begin by acknowledging their own courage.

• Break It: Breaking the old codes, expectations, or restrictions—internal or external—that limit courage. These might be traditions, social expectations, fears, self-doubt, or learnt behaviors. The idea is to question the “status quo, traditional views, and old Codes.” 

• Own It: Taking responsibility for one’s courage and choices. Once the old constraints are identified and loosened, the next step is to claim one’s own life, identity, voice, values. This means owning what one wants; making decisions from authenticity. 

• Use It: Then applying courage in everyday life—living it. The book shares 44 real stories of women who have “used” courage in various ways: some small, some large—walking away from unhealthy situations, speaking truth, making life changes, asserting boundaries, starting new paths, and so on. These stories show that courageous acts needn’t be dramatic to be meaningful. 

Throughout the book, the authors use a lot of narrative—first-person accounts, reflections, examples—to illustrate their points. There's also a reflective or introspective dimension: questions, suggestions for recognizing one’s own courage, examining the internal obstacles, and inviting action.

Overall, The Courage Code is motivational and intended to help readers reframe what courage means, own their personal agency, and find courage in everyday life—not just the “big heroic moment.” 

About the Authors

• Megan Raphael: Known as “The Courage Coach,” Megan Raphael is founder of the Courage Project, an initiative to help people (women and men) lead more courageous and fulfilling lives. She works as a professional coach, leadership trainer, and public speaker, with many years of experience in organizational development, group facilitation, and coaching. Her work often involves helping people clarify values, overcome internal obstacles, and live more authentically. She lives in Michigan.

• Jennifer Byron: Jennifer Byron is co-author of The Courage Code. She holds a BA in Business Administration, an MBA in Marketing, and an MS in Communications, and she is involved in applied brain research / educational kinesiology. She also works in higher education (at least at the time of writing), managing online degree programs, and she brings a background in learning theory and communications to the book.