The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Gift of Fear
Book Review: A book every woman should read
Summary: 5 Stars
I really do think the world would be a better place if everyone read this book. It connects you to violence in a sometimes disturbing way, but the overall message is one of empowerment. I admit to being more afraid than I was before I read this book, until I got to the last chapter on dismissing the kinds of fear that you don't need: worry, paranoia, and anxiety. Now I feel safe in the knowledge that I will prevent the violence I can, and live without worry of what I can't prevent. I know my life will be better for having read this book.Book Review: A book that dispells crime prevention myths
Summary: 5 Stars
Few crime prevention experts emphasize intuition. Instead, they talk about staying alert to crime. Sometimes crime prevention experts generate more fear than they alleviate.Gavin deBecker, on the other hand, makes intuition and freedom from fear the focus of his philosophy. Instead of imagining the bad things that could happen, he says, live without worry of crime.
He also says to stop watching the news. It only generates needless worry and gives one a distorted view of the world. I have been teaching these same concepts for years as a black belt in karate, so it was refreshing to read them from someone else. I avoid newspapers and TV news--it only darkens our view of the world. It only makes crime seem worse. Give up news for two weeks and notice how your outlook improves.
As a teacher of women's self-defense, I've heard many stories of intuition. Some people call it the "back ground music," because it is like the music that plays in a movie before something bad happens.
As deBecker writes, act upon your survival signals (run, search your house in the middle of the night, stay away from an individual, etc.), even if you feel foolish doing so.
Shed the fears in your life, because fear clouds the survival signals. Those who live in fear of crime are already victims.
Some of the book is difficult to read, such as chapters on child abuse. But the book is still worth it. Buy copies for yourself and friends. If you spend time worrying about crime, this book could change your life.
Book Review: A book to live by!
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't say enough good things about this book and Mr. De Becker's other book, Protecting the Gift. Words of wisdom from someone who has experienced violence firsthand and has used this experience to protect others. The information in this book is practical and proven. You will feel safer and more confident after reading The Gift of Fear, because you will know that violence is predictable and not just something that happens out-of-the-blue. And you will have the tools to help you predict violence and avoid it. A great book!Book Review: A disappointing waste of time
Summary: 1 Stars
This book starts off well enough, but fades rapidly and horribly after a moderately gripping introduction. While there is some valid information in "The Gift of Fear", any useful material is lost in a muddle of anecdotes and misinformation. Mr DeBecker portrays all women as helpless victims incapable of proactive thought, and demeans them by repetitively suggesting that any danger they encounter is a result of their own ignorance or poor planning. Constant references to celebrities who he refuses to name make this book into a petulant exercise in name-dropping, and his liberal bias, particularly a voraciously anti-gunowner slant, permeates nearly every page. Furthermore, despite authoritative overtones that imply serious research, the author offers almost no scientific backing to his claims, leaving his conclusions hollow, empty, and subjective.
I wish I could be more positive about this book, particularly after seeing some of the other reviews, but any attempt on Mr DeBecker's part to make this a scholarly endeavor has been destroyed by his own bloviation.
Book Review: A few extremely good lessons in an overly verbose book.
Summary: 4 Stars
Gavin De Becker has written an important set of lessons in this book. Unfortunatly it is almost lost in the mess of ego that dominates virtually every chapter. The good points in this book are extremely valuable and thought provoking and ultimately worth the anguish of the read. I know I have used issues raised in this book as topics of discussion with several friends, both male and female. It is just such a shame that one has to endure De Becker's self rightous, listen-to-me-because-I-know-better-than-anyone tone to get the insight he offers. This book would be an excellent candidate for an abridged version.