We Are Not Afraid: Strength and Courage from the Town That Inspired the #1 Bestseller and Award-Winning Movie "October Sky"

Rating:
Summary: An antidote for being afraid
Review: There are so many self-help books out there that just give you a lot of mush and feel-good words that don't add up to something. This book actually tells you real stuff. It helped me understand how being afraid is more than what we usually think of as fear. It's what keeps us from being successful, or happy. Unless you understand what Homer calls long-term fear, you can't break out of it. I love the little stories Homer tells about the people back in Coalwood. They make you laugh and then they make you think and you realize you've learned something really good! Of all the self-help, inspirational books out there, this one will really help you to break loose from what's been holding you back even when you didn't realize it. And, folks, if you've got something scary to do, like flying on a plane for a long trip or something and you've been dreading it, read this book and I'll guarantee you that you won't be afraid. It's really kind of a miracle read.

Rating:
Summary: Fear diminishes the quality of life.........Don't let it!!
Review: We Are Not Afraid is a very inspiring book about strength and courage in perilous times. I think everyone who reads this will come away a stronger individual for it. If you have children, sons, daughters, nieces or nephews I think it is even more important to read this!!! The book was just such a "thinker". It is only 213 pages, it reads quickly but it lasts long after you close the cover.
While it is a collection of stories about growing up in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia it makes you stop and think hard about what really should be important in life, the values, the morals, the spirit, all the things that went into creating our great Nation. Mr. Hickam points out that yes times are perilous, but that there have been many perilous times and many hardships and challenges and being afraid is not a way to meet these. He pulls no punches when he discusses the United States of America. He dismisses those who want to focus on our failures as a Nation and fail to acknowledge our ability to correct our errors and move forward as a whole. This book is a life lesson on how not to live your life in fear, and how to overcome and surmount obstacles in your way. This is not accomplished by promising "pie-in-the-sky" but by learning from the examples of others ways to be strong and have courage and face life with your head up. This revolves around four important attitudes. #1 We are proud of who we are. #2 We stand up for what we believe. #3 We keep our families together. #4 We trust in God but rely on ourselves. These may sound simplistic to many people, but when they are broken down and explained you will know that it is possible to live a good purposeful life and not be diminished by fear and to pass this on to those around you.

Rating:
Summary: Fear diminishes the quality of life.........Don't let it!!
Review: We Are Not Afraid is a very inspiring book about strength and courage in perilous times. I think everyone who reads this will come away a stronger individual for it. If you have children, sons, daughters, nieces or nephews I think it is even more important to read this!!! The book was just such a "thinker". It is only 213 pages, it reads quickly but it lasts long after you close the cover.
While it is a collection of stories about growing up in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia it makes you stop and think hard about what really should be important in life, the values, the morals, the spirit, all the things that went into creating our great Nation. Mr. Hickam points out that yes times are perilous, but that there have been many perilous times and many hardships and challenges and being afraid is not a way to meet these. He pulls no punches when he discusses the United States of America. He dismisses those who want to focus on our failures as a Nation and fail to acknowledge our ability to correct our errors and move forward as a whole. This book is a life lesson on how not to live your life in fear, and how to overcome and surmount obstacles in your way. This is not accomplished by promising "pie-in-the-sky" but by learning from the examples of others ways to be strong and have courage and face life with your head up. This revolves around four important attitudes. #1 We are proud of who we are. #2 We stand up for what we believe. #3 We keep our families together. #4 We trust in God but rely on ourselves. These may sound simplistic to many people, but when they are broken down and explained you will know that it is possible to live a good purposeful life and not be diminished by fear and to pass this on to those around you.

Rating:
Summary: A book of wisdom, humor, and great advice
Review: What Homer has done here is lay out the attitudes that he was taught by the people of Coalwood that allowed them to defeat fear. We are proud of who we are. We stand up for what we believe. We keep our families together. We trust in God but rely on ourselves. He writes neat little stories to illustrate each one, then tells why they are important to keep what he calls long-term fear away. It's his belief that fear is like an addiction, that there are many people who every day get up and are afraid of what's going to happen to them. Through Homer's book, I was able to see that I am a victim of this, just like most people. If there's something that keeps you from doing everything you want to do, whether it's take a new job, or get on an airplane, go to college, or a thousand different things, reading this book will unlock the thing that's holding you back. This is pure wisdom folks, not of some ancient tribe, or religion, but of a people who had to learn to defeat long-term fear. It will make you think and look at life in a whole different way. As Homer writes, he's not a psychologist or any other kind of -ologist, but he was raised by a tough and wise people who gave him the tools to live a good life. We can all profit by understanding what is in this book.

Rating:
Summary: A book of wisdom, humor, and great advice
Review: What Homer has done here is lay out the attitudes that he was taught by the people of Coalwood that allowed them to defeat fear. We are proud of who we are. We stand up for what we believe. We keep our families together. We trust in God but rely on ourselves. He writes neat little stories to illustrate each one, then tells why they are important to keep what he calls long-term fear away. It's his belief that fear is like an addiction, that there are many people who every day get up and are afraid of what's going to happen to them. Through Homer's book, I was able to see that I am a victim of this, just like most people. If there's something that keeps you from doing everything you want to do, whether it's take a new job, or get on an airplane, go to college, or a thousand different things, reading this book will unlock the thing that's holding you back. This is pure wisdom folks, not of some ancient tribe, or religion, but of a people who had to learn to defeat long-term fear. It will make you think and look at life in a whole different way. As Homer writes, he's not a psychologist or any other kind of -ologist, but he was raised by a tough and wise people who gave him the tools to live a good life. We can all profit by understanding what is in this book.