The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence
by Gavin de Becker
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Book Reviews of The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence
Book Review: The Single Most Important Book You Will Ever Read
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, I must tell you I have read this book twice, but my daughter has read it 7, yes seven, times. She has worn it out and I have replaced it 4 times. She can quote most of it directly and is now one of the most forthright and aware people I know. I have bought 11 copies of this book. 4 for her and one for my other daughter and one for each of my daughters-in-law and for my 2 best friends. Of course I have 2 myself. I honestly believe it is a MUST READ for every woman, mother, and daughter. There is not a woman (or man for that matter) that would not benifit from this book. Even if that benifit is just being more aware of your surroundings. That alone, could avoid a possible confrontation or worse. Besides the copies I have personally purchased, I can't begin to tell you how many women I have encouraged to read this book. After reading it, every one of them reported feeling safer and some acknowledged an experience, in which they believe, information gleaned from this reading helped them avert a potentially risky and/or dangerous situation. Please, please buy it, check it out at the library or borrow it from a friend, but read it (at least once). It can't hurt and it could "save your life".Book Review: A "must read" for parents in protecting our children
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read both of Mr. deBecker's books (hard cover editions). Both have reminded me that my "uncomfortable feelings" in situations are there for a reason. We must start listening to our instincts to protect ourselves and our children in potentially threatening situations. Instincts, as Mr. deBecker has repeated in both books, are there for a reason - they are a "first line defense" of what we should pay attention to. I appreciate Mr. deBecker's honesty and willingness to take on these issues. Safety issues with our children are increasing-we must pay attention to what goes on in this world and teach our children that they need to listen to their "feelings" when something just doesn't seem right. If you care about your children these books should be a first priority to read and start teaching your children how to take care of themselves. My children are now "listening" to their instincts and realizing when something isn't right with situations they've encountered. Mr. deBecker deserves praise for putting these issues before all of us. He knows what he is talking about and does a wonderful job getting the issues across. Thank you, Mr. deBecker!Book Review: A Rational Approach
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're sure neither you nor your loved ones will ever get in a serious fix with someone who isn't "all there" and/or has a dangerous obsession, then this book isn't for you. For the rest of us, Gavin de Becker's "The Gift of Fear" provides a wealth of good information about what to do in a variety of situations such as when a romantic interest won't let go, or when you need to terminate someone whom you know won't take it well. His approach is professional, pragmatic, and rational, backed by decades of experience. I'm currently taking his advice to defuse a situation. A little more broadly, local newspapers reported the case of a middle school principal in the next county over who ignored the "gift" of fear--i.e., her premonition a necessary firing might not go well. She ignored the promonition, and now she's paralyzed after being gunned down by a loony 5-th grade teacher. De Becker gives you the basis of a methodology for avoiding such consequences. The book is interesting on other levels and is well written, making it an easy read. De Becker's ruminations on what motivates potentially dangerous people and how different--and how similar--they are to all of us are very thought provoking.Book Review: Mandatory Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is mandatory reading for everyone. Period. Yes, it's subject matter is confronting and one we'd all rather not have to deal with. But the reality is exactly the opposite. EVERY single person on the planet will be affected by violence at some point in their life. If not themselves, someone they work with or live with or care about. What is so incredible about this book is that whilst the subject matter is about violence, it really is actually a manual of discovering more abilities we possess as human beings that we never knew we had!! This book was like someone telling me I had an extra set of arms at my disposal that I was blindly unaware of! This book is about being more human and ironically it sits proudly on the same shelf as any of my best personal development books i own.
I grew as a person by reading this book. I have shared this with family and friends and they too have told of how it has transformed them for the better.
If you have never read this book then please just do it now. It is guaranteed to radically change the way you see yourself, the world and everyone else in it; sometimes for a little worse .. but ultimately for the best.
Book Review: Thank God for Intuition
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Gift of Fear" makes a great case for the value of having, listening to, and acting on intuition. It also helps explain why many people in Western societies endanger themselves by choosing logic over intuition. We reason away the messages that our complex, near-instantaneous preservation system send us, choosing instead to avoid conflict or be nice when confronted with people who are dangerous. The book includes several eye-opening statistics about violence against women in the United States, including the fact that the most frequent cause of on-the-job death for women is being killed by a coworker.
Would take off half a star for the self-promotion angle; the author markets himself and his company's products throughout the book. Nevertheless, the idea the book MOST promotes is that we can and should take advantage of the gift of intuition--which includes the gift of fear--and live relaxed and confident in the knowledge that it will protect us. I completely understood, after reading the book, why advice columnist Carolyn Hax recommends it to any letter writers who are uneasy about the possibility of violence in a relationship.