The Gift of Fear

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Summary: golf professional attacked suggests everyone read this book
Review: A secret service agent gave me this book after my one year old and I were attacked by would be rapist. Every daughter or wife needs this book to be educated on potential violence. Had I read book before my attack I would have listened to my inner voice sooner and run! Please get this book!

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Summary: Not bad -- but we aren't prey and shouldn't act like it
Review: Gavin De Becker's book, The Gift of Fear, is such a well written, informative book that it is a shame Mr. De Becker feels he must pander to women in order to sell his book. The opening note of the book is telling of things to come. He states that "when it comes to violence, women can proudly relinquish recognition in the language, because here at least, politically correct would be statistically incorrect." This statement seems a bit absurd coming from someone whose own mother shot his stepfather. De Becker might want to look at his own use of attempting to be politically correct rather than statistically correct. He certainly chooses to ignore statistics involving the homicide rates in Florida since the concealed carry laws were passed. De Becker states he met a middle-aged couple from Florida who had decided to carry a weapon for protection around the city such as at restaurants, etc. De Becker, in his anti-gun mode (which appears to be his consensus throughout the book) says it would make more sense to carry sharp tubes to give emergency tracheotomies to people who are choking. Yet, he ignores that since the inception of the concealed carry laws, homicide rates in Florida have actually dropped. Carrying his logic through to other instances, one could also say that more children die in swimming pool accidents or from overdosing on iron pills than die from guns, but I certainly don't see the government outlawing vitamins and swimming pools. Really, Mr. De Becker, with all the wonderful insight and advice you give on changing how criminals are viewed in the media, I am surprised that you would fall victim to the same narrow-minded view with regard to gun ownership. You give advice on how to size up someone who might harm you, but you seem to advocate doing nothing or in the case of battered women--going into hiding at a women's shelter. The book seems to suggest that the honorable thing to do is to render oneself defenseless, especially if you are a woman. Yes, it would be nice if there were no guns in America but that would only leave the strong to prey on the weak. Of course, the weak could turn to someone with a gun to help, perhaps the police. And Oops! I forgot, thats what we need your firm for. Helen Smith Knoxville, Tennessee

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Summary: Misplaced fear is one's enemy.
Review: Gavin De Becker has shared his deepest inner turmoils from his childhood in an effort to bring awareness and enlightenment. His teachings of using the power of fear as a positive influence in one's life is prolific indeed.Using fear as a negative influenceconfines and conforms our thinkingin corridors of habitual actions. Using fear as a positive influenceawakens the inner senses to thrustoutward the emotional counterbalance to a vision of an unimpaired probability, or potential happening. Thank you Gavin De Becker for sharing your life story. Perhaps it was after all the greatest answer for human consciousness.

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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This is one of those rare books that I tell everyone about -- "you must read this!" Fascinating. Insightful. Provocative. And it just may save your life. Buy one for yourself and for a friend.

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Summary: Full of important and useful information.
Review: When I read this type of book I have a habit of underscoring information I want to read again. When I finished the Gift of Fear, almost every page had something underscored. There is so much useful and important information I am sharing the book with my family and purchasing the taped copy for my busy daughter. The Gift of Fear is #1 in my house.

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Summary: Must read for citizens of the modern society
Review: Empowers one to feel safe in a dangerous world. Acknowledges fear as a trusted friend. Uses actual cases and suggestions to make one feel safe , it helps you to know the difference between real 'gut' fear that needs to be listened to, and imagined fear that needs to be ignored. I read it, as is my wife and daughter.

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Summary: Survival textbook for life in the U.S.
Review: Gavin DeBeckers "Gift of Fear" is a fascinating read. The real life anecdotes blew me away. The account of the murdered woman who had reportedly suffered violence at the hands of the defendant for a long while. The calls to police, filing battery charges, lady killed by stabbing, defendant had a dream about killing her, his lawyers claiming it was drug dealers that committed murder. Sound familiar? DeBecker reveals that this true story happened six months before the famous "white Bronco" television event in a neighborhood thousands of miles from Brentwood. This book is to good NOT to read.

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Summary: Great Christmas Present!
Review: The information in this book is invaluable. When I saw the title (Gift of Fear), I wasn't sure it was for me, because I don't consider myself fearful ... but as soon as I read it, I realized that I needed that information. And I couldn't stop thinking of loved ones who needed it too. Great book to share.

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Summary: A must-read for anyone concerned about his or her safety
Review: I recommend this book everywhere I go. As a self-defense instructor for many years, I find the biggest challenge is not in teaching physical tactics, but in teaching students to cultivate a self-defense mindset. Gavin deBecker's book enables readers to make maximum use of the best defensive weapon they have: the mind. Once a confrontation becomes physical, the odds favor whoever is bigger and stronger, all other things being equal. DeBecker's book promotes personal safety at a stage way BEFORE physical tactics are needed. As far as I'm concerned, this is the definitive book for the average person who wants to live a safer life. And it's readable, too--what a bonus!

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Summary: A well-researched, must-read.
Review: Mr. de Becker does an exquisite job of educating while not forcing. This book grasps you from the moment you open the cover but keeps you reading because through it, you are learning about yourself. As a future FBI profiler this book taught me many skills I hope to use and reinforced the ones that I already knew but didn't have proof of. This book is not new news, it is just presented in a new context. You will be glad you read this book, but most of all you'll be relieved. Relieved that you are an animal and that you have natural instincts. Instincts that provide you with the ability to protect yourself and enable you to live a life free of fear or anxiety.