Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway
by Susan Jeffers
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Book Reviews of Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway
Book Review: Not for everyone
Summary: 4 Stars
Even the best therapist or the best self-help book is not right for everyone. A self-help book has the advantage that, if you think it's useless, you can just throw it across the room. Don't try that with your therapist. I usually suggest browsing through the self-help sections of the bookstores and seeing what fits. In general, for panic attacks, depression and agoraphobia I suggest Claire Weekes; for obsessive-compulsive disorder, Foa and Foa; for cutters, Tracy Alderman; for addictions, anorexia and alcohol there are so may I wouldn't know where to begin. We mustn't forget the good old Internet, where I think the government NIMH sites are most reliable.
In spite of its title this book is not limited to phobias. In fact Jeffers mentions that she does not treat agoraphobia. The case examples she gives are of victims of mild but disabling degrees of social anxiety, marital maladjustment and worrying. She recommends that people seek therapists and support groups. She does not mention medication and does not deal with alcohol and drug use. There are a lot of do-it-yourself exercises. She does not give any evidence to support the effectiveness of these, but I don't think she needs to. You can try them and see. Some suspension of disbelief is called for. She does not use statistics or cite experimental work.
She recommends Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking", Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Yourself" and Maxwell Maltz's "Psychocybernetics" as well as the works of Victor Frankl, Rollo May and Jung. Her theoretical basis comes at the end of the book and is quite interesting but is not essential to the usefulness of the book It is psychodynamic and somewhat Jungian. Jeffers divides the mind into a "higher self" and a "chatterbox" and we are supposed to be able to call on a "Universal Energy" to help us ignore the Chatterbox and get into touch with the Higher Self.
Book Review: Fair
Summary: 3 Stars
This book has some great ideas and techniques. It is standard self-help fare which basically means that it is armchair psychology. If you are so downtrodden to really need this book to change your life then likely self-help is not the thing for you. Professional-help is more apropos. If you are a highly functioning adult with quirks in how you approach the world you will still find a few nuggets of interest here, but likely a lot of it will seem a bit silly.
This is not to say the effort was bad. The book in and of itself is quite adept at explaining the nature of fear, the value of positive thought, as well as pointing out things that you may not be wholly aware of in how you interact with the world. Some things may appear obvious, but it is always good to be reminded of the behaviors that are detrimental.
Why I am not able to give rave reviews about this book is that the techniques are very plain and somewhat cumbersome. People in the self-help genre are notorious for trying to give the people what they want. Simple answers to complex problems. I think the techniques in this tome are simple yet much too cumbersome to maintain for a long period of time. I think people would be better served by having one technique to try for a while and alternatives to try if that one fails. This book has a slew of techniques for each situation and the reader is led to believe that all of them should be used at all times.
Book Review: Inspiring
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever since reading "Your money or your life" I have been on a quest to find similar mind shifting books and "Feel the fear and do it anyway" fits into that category.
It's funny how things come into your life by coincidence. In a casual chat to a friend one night about something totally unrelated, he mentioned how he taught a course based on the principles of this book, so I bought it. The book has answered many questions that I have had rattling around in my mind for a while.
My big fear was public speaking so I'm doing a toastmaster course now. I'm still fearful but at least I'm chipping away at the coal face to become more at ease with the task. I have been checking out toastmaster clubs of late and the other night the guests were given the opportunity to speak in table topics. In this situation I would normally say no because of fear but "Feel the fear and do it anyway" came to mind so I did. At the end of the night I was given another opportunity to speak which was great. I am slowly chipping away at my public speaking fears thanks to the book. I was chatting to a girl at the public speaking course and she has read the book and was there to overcome her public speaking fears as well.
What I am finding really helpful with these reviews is when people mention similar books that have given them inspiration. If you have any inspiring book then mention them please.
Book Review: You are not a failure if you do not make it.You are a success because you tried.
Summary: 5 Stars
I think that this book is meant for every one of us on this earth.Reason is that we all go through tough times in our lives.Sometimes everything falls on our head all at once.Then we have no breathing space.We cannot see clearly were we are going,and what we should do.We are stressed to the maximum.This book shows us a way to analyze ourselves in different prospectives.How to handle things that are good,bad,overwhelming and at the same time destructive.
We need guidance sometimes,and this book has helped me see the light of many things.Friends that unless you share with them their misery will dump you like a sack of potatoes.They use you and throw you away.
Almost losing a loved one, the desperation of that moment,what can you do, so that you can help your loved one live longer and not die in front of you that such thing does not happen.To extend life for many years more.Is it in our power to do so?I think to a certain extent we can extend it.It happened to me.
How to react when you are not welcomed in a different culture.How to accept defeat and yet move on.
I think that we should really analyze how we interact towards each and NEVER take each other for granted.But see the love that is within all of us, and try to express it in every way we can.With a smile, a caress,and a look.It makes the person that sees it feel happy and wanted.
Book Review: Recommended for Everyday Use!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
My life has changed dramatically since my reading this book. I considered myself "negative Nancy" before reading it. My negativity was definitely coming from a place of fear. But what I didn't realize was that my negativity and fear acted as blinders. I wasn't seeing all the doors and opportunities that were around me because I was so crippled by the fear/negativity...completely closed off. This book has helped me build a regimen (and that's exactly what is required for life-long learned behavior) that is allowing me to slowly, but surely, respond differently to anything that happens in my life. I read a little every day, I've got a daily 20 minute regimen based on Susan's teachings(self affirmations, exercises in responding to everyday life, and ways to look at challenges that help you "respond" vs "react,) and I've found myself handling everything that comes my way with grace and with a new found understanding that I choose how to respond in life. I just bought the book for my mom (I was a chip off the ol' block in terms of outlook on life) and I'm already seeing a change in her. I highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone... YES, everyone...from the most successful to those paralyzed by fear and negativity. Don't wait another second!