The Gift of Fear

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Summary: This was a comfort book just like comfort food!
Review: How can I Thank Mr. Gavin de Becker enough, for the warm and comfortable feeling I got after reading such a wonderful book? I had such concern about my safety and fellow worker's safety that I was constantly frightened but now I feel more confident and secure and I have been constantly telling people about this book that I'm sure they are tired of hearing from me already! Thank you again Mr de Becker!

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Summary: A must read for instructors teaching self defence.
Review: I highly recommend Mr. Becker's book, The Gift of Fear. An absolute must read, for all instructors of 'self defence'courses and their students. The book covers; the effective use of fear, the importance of awareness, decisiveness, and immediate action, all of which are critical elements in effective self defence. As well, De Becker details how to avoid mistakes made by a great many victims.

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Summary: An affirmation in the ability to trust in your intuition.
Review: I read this book with the eye of someone studying cognitive neuroscience and auditory perception. Mr. DeBecker's book is an excellent reminder and affirmation that what our brains process is enormous and no amount of conscious attention can create a "true reality". Reality is in one's mind before we are conscious of it (paraphrased) is one of the most poignant statements about how much we can acknowledge and unfortunately how much we ignore. I have purchased many copies of this book and given it to my friends - male and female - in the hope that the women will be safer and the men will understand. I encourage anyone seeking to feel safe and comfortable to read this book and recommend it to others. Sincerely, Barbara Reynolds, M.S., CCC-A Clinical Audiologist

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Summary: A thought- (and most importantly) action-provoking book!
Review: I heard about Mr. De Becker on Oprah's show about a year ago and I have to admit, I thought he was just another two-bit author trying to sell his book by banking on the fear most of us feel in conducting our every-day lives. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I was wrong. This is a well-written book replete with common-sense ideas and practical advice on leading a life without anxiety. The author's elegantly simple canons distill a thought/action process that most of us have all but forgotten in our haste to keep up with the times. I say, read this book. Memorise and act on the principles found in it and I assure you, as the author does, that your life will be that much easier to "bear."

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Summary: A must read for all human resource workers.
Review: As a parent educator and children's protective services social worker I highly recommended this book to everyone, parent or not. We can no longer afford to teach our children to ignore their instincts. We override their concerns about other people by telling them not to be silly because s/he is such a "nice person". I have used De Becker's pre-incident indicators to teach parents how much harm they do when they fail to teach their children assertiveness skills. Most of us miserably fail our children in this arena since we sure don't want them practicing their skills on us! After all, we dare not raise a child, especially a female, who has the audacity to refuse to submit to someone who wants to control them. All the child molesters, male or female, I have had the unpleasant task of interviewing are very "charming" and described by friends, neighbors and acquaintances as a "nice" person.

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Summary: I recomend to everyone!!!
Review: I bought this book after hearing an interview with Gavin DeBecker on the radio, and it's probably one of the best books I have ever read. The book is easy to read and right to the point. I've bought this book for friends and will continue to do so. I think everyone (especially women) should have a copy!! Perfect!

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Summary: The most important personal safety book ever
Review: I work with sexual assault victims on a college campus. During my training, this book was discussed. I am finally getting around to reading the entire book and I can hardly force myself to put it down. The lessons within are so incredible, and the numerous cases he uses to illustrate them are fascinating. I feel compelled to buy this book for every woman, and most men, that I know.

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Summary: Great book for personal and professional survival.
Review: I have been an instructor of nursing for many years. Since I read Gavin De Becker's book, I have gifted it to all my graduating nursing students. It complements what I have taught them about trusting their professional instincts to keep their patients safe, by learning to trust their personal instincts to keep themselves safe. It's also been a gift to the loved ones in my personal life.

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Summary: The greatest gift of love!
Review: After reading The Gift of Fear, I made it a personal mission to recommend this book to everyone I cared about. Whether you purchase, or merely recommend this reading to someone, after they are finished, they will see it as a true act of love on your part.

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Summary: finally someone who tells the trurth...
Review: thank you Gavin for finally saying what I have been thinking for so long, start with the children. As I read the other reviews I noticed thet no one speaks of this pure and simple fact. If we change the way we treat our children we will reduce crime in our society. The stats on the amout of children murdered and abused are shocking! Have they gone ignored once again? The Gift of Fear is a wake up call. It's telling us to help our children. Let's show them how to prevent voilence on themselves and violence on others won't be so prevelent.