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: Thrilling and empowering
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't let anyone tell you this book is fear-inducing. Hardly! It's one of the best books I've ever read on any subject (easily in the top 5). It reads like a thriller, but left me feeling very empowered. I always knew I believed in "instinct" without go so far as to believe in something like a holy spirit, but I couldn't quite explain why I believed that. This book answered that question for me. We spend so much time looking to outside sources to resolve al sorts of outside issues, when we've had the power within us from the beginning--we just tend to rationalize it away. I absolutely loved the book and plan to give it to all of the women in my life for Christmas this year (although men should read it too--open their eyes to how our fears compare to theirs).
Some reviewers say the book sounded like a sales pitch for the author. I read those reviews before reading the book, so I kept waiting to get to that part (but never did). He occasionally explains what he does and his background, but it didn't sound like a pitch at all.
Book Review: Important book to read
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book after seeing it highly recommended in several different online discussions. I found it very worth my time and it is a book I believe will stick with me for a long time.
The book focused primarily on listening to one's instincts, and then went into more specifics of the behaviors of dangerous people. It was an interesting exercise to think through some of the situations listed in the book and understand the factors that were in play.
I think the book is valuable both to people who find themselves dealing with violence, and also for people who do not expect to be in that situation. It really made me think about a lot of "accepted knowledge" and strategies for one's daily life.
My one criticism of the book is that it at times it seemed to veer a little into the territory of advertising the author's security service firm. While I believe the purpose was to establish his credibility firmly, for a "regular reader", the price and need for such services is a pretty remote possibility.
Book Review: Sensible
Summary: 5 Stars
On one of my writers loops, a recent discussion was Facebook safety. Some of the authors had been stalked and one recommended this book. I sampled it on my Kindle and then bought it. I enjoyed the whole lesson. Gavin de Becker was born into a dangerous home. He grew up witnessing horrible crimes. To protect himself and his little sister, Gavin learned to differentiate between fear and intuition. He learned not to live afraid, but instead to let his intuition guide him when he needed to act. He grew up to become an expert in threat assessment and his firm consults with everyone from the Secret Service to celebrities to average citizens all over the world. This was a real page turner, in simple to understand terms. Some of his case studies were so engrossing I had to stop and remind myself I was reading nonfiction, not a fictional thriller. I loved the book and hope that I come away with my intuition fine tuned and my nonproductive worry and fear cast aside. I recommend this book to everyone.Book Review: A Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great book.Read and learn. Even if you are a scholar, I cannot imagine you not being able to gain something from this book. Mr. De Becker has an impecable background and knows of what he speaks.
Read of the media, the modern day fear machine. And of society with its tail tucked neatly between its legs. Read of you and of me. Read of our sorry arse, so rot with confusion we are unable to sense that impulse so important - real fear. Mr. De Becker will help you to discern between manufactured and actual (life saving) fear.
I loved this book because while reading it I could not help but think of all the millions of people that could benefit from it. This book makes a great gift idea. Read this book for yourself and then get this book for your young adult children. This is an important work, most important for the coming generations. With all the manufactured 'news' it is important to be able to put things in proper perspective. This book is just that clarifier.
Book Review: A Great Weapon Against Crime
Summary: 5 Stars
Gavin De Becker's book should be at the top of every woman's reading list. Why? Because women are the number one target of crime. After reading De Becker's book, I now make a point of keeping a safe distance from individuals that approach me in an airport or shopping mall and attempt to strike up a conversation. Moreover,in an emergency situation I choose the person that I want to help me, as opposed to receiving help from someone offering assistance. De Becker says that we would be more likely to pick a "safe" individual from a crowd than receiving help from someone who just appears out of nowhere. I have used De Becker's book in my work with battered women and firmly believe that his work should be required in all self-defense classes, mainly because he teaches that our brain is the most powerful weapon against crime. Patricia Gaddis, Author: Dangerous Dating: Helping Young Women Say No To Abusive Relationships (Waterbrook Press, 2000)