Just understanding what fear is has made a significant change in my daily life. It's short, easy to read, and applicable to everyday life. Dr. Jeffers is also very personable and well-spoken. I recommend the unabridged book on tape.

I could be wrong about this, but I think I originally saw Susan Jeffers on PBS, five or six years ago I think. Well regardless of where it was that I saw her, on that show she was very inspiring and passionate about helping people to understand some good concrete ways to start taking some control of your life. I bought this book directly after watching that show and it was one of those rare times when the book actually seemed to match the show in enthusiasm and quality. I still have this book from back then and was just recently flipping through it again. I was pretty happy to discover that in those years since I read it, I had actually incorporated a few of the ideas from it into my life and have benefited from them. In my opinion, you really can't ask for much more than that from any book.

One of those idea that I incorporated, the biggest thing that influenced me from the book was, taking personal responsibility. Back then it wasn't such flooded market and that concept of taking personal responsibility for everything in your life wasn't as well-known as maybe it is now. Even if there is someone else that may deserve more blame than you for something, you shouldn't even consider blaming them or anyone else, including yourself actually, but instead declare that you will take responsibility to rectify the situation and in so doing, not need to feel helpless and controlled by outside circumstances. Maybe you can't control everything and probably shouldn't try to, but if you commit to those things in life that are most important to you and take responsibility for them, without taking the easy blame game route, then you will feel more empowered and in control of your life. I started doing that back then after reading this book, and I had forgotten where the original message had come from until finding my copy again and flipping through it. It all came rushing back. What a great help it has been to me in my life.

Irene Hara
Tao Cycle Therapy

This is an excellent, thoughtful read for those on the journey to growth and happiness.....she helps make the "facing fears" part of that path positive, adventurous and ultimately a "no lose" proposition...

I bought this book based on a reference in Secrets of the A Game by Logan Edwards. I originally purchased this book to help with getting over my social fears with meeting women, but I actually got much more out of it. Of course, it DID help out with meeting women, but also gave me a better perspective on interacting at work and with family. I highly recommend it.

Anyone struggling with fear or anxiety would do well to read this book. Susan Jeffers has written a wonderful book full of practical advice for overcoming fear and building courage to do what you want to do in life. She does it in a humane way without stigmatizing the person who is suffering. She recounts the story of one person who showed up for her class on coping with fear, and announced that she almost didn't attend, for fear of having a panic attack in front of everyone. Susan then asked her to show the class what a panic attack would look like, and of course, the student was unable to conjure one up. Throughout the book, she tells stories about how people overcame things they were afraid of, and started having fuller lives, using the techniques in the book. One of the main tenets of the book is that fear is not going away, and the only way to get past the fear is to go out and do what you want in spite of the fear. This is not a book you will want to read once and forget about. It is one you will want to refer to time and time again, for reminders on actions you can take to Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. They are actions you will need to remember to do often, until they become habits.

Its a great book, gives great advice on positive thinking, changing our behaviour to get the best out of life and selves. Recommended to anyone, buy it without fear no matter how old you are or you'll be missing a great companion and friend, in fact you are going to love Susan and see her as a friendly mentor who'll be there whenever you need her..thank you Susan for your wise, kind and helpful advice :)

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway is a great read. The positive and practical approach to fear and things we dread doing is quite useful. I was surprised to find that the book has been in circulation for more than 20 years and still rings as true as ever.

I must say this book helped me to identify some of my fears as far as stepping out into the unknown. Susan Jeffers, wrote an awesome book. All the issues she touched on proved to me that she was once where I am at now. At times I find myself slipping back into my old way of thinking, which usually contribute to the chatterbox in my head.

Her book has given me encouragement and hope that I can someday be relieved from this fear that I have carried around for many years. I just have to believe in myself and know that whatever happens, in the end, it will be alright.

As Susan has written, "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" and that is what I am planning on doing.

Thank you for having the book and delivering it to me in a timely fashion.

God always knows what we need.

Ivory Rivers-Scott

"Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" conveys that by taking positive control of our lives, letting go of resistance, and ultimately choosing one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, we can begin to realize that "pushing through fear is less frightening than living with the bigger underlying fear that comes with a feeling of helplessness."

From a personal perspective, I have seen too many people walk through life afraid, believing themselves to be a victim and giving away control of their lives to others. In fact, I must admit that I myself spent many years as a prisoner of my own fears, letting that fear control what I did and did not set out to accomplish. Eventually, I decided that I was tired of being afraid. This culminated with a skydive at 11,000 feet. I will never forget the moment that I approached the door, wind in my face, stood on the edge, and said to myself, "I believe." For the first time in my life, I completely let go. It was the most beautiful moment of my existence to date.

Control your fears, don't let them control you. Folks... this one is worth your time.

I think that this book is meant for every one of us on this earth.Reason is that we all go through tough times in our lives.Sometimes everything falls on our head all at once.Then we have no breathing space.We cannot see clearly were we are going,and what we should do.We are stressed to the maximum.This book shows us a way to analyze ourselves in different prospectives.How to handle things that are good,bad,overwhelming and at the same time destructive.
We need guidance sometimes,and this book has helped me see the light of many things.Friends that unless you share with them their misery will dump you like a sack of potatoes.They use you and throw you away.
Almost losing a loved one, the desperation of that moment,what can you do, so that you can help your loved one live longer and not die in front of you that such thing does not happen.To extend life for many years more.Is it in our power to do so?I think to a certain extent we can extend it.It happened to me.
How to react when you are not welcomed in a different culture.How to accept defeat and yet move on.
I think that we should really analyze how we interact towards each and NEVER take each other for granted.But see the love that is within all of us, and try to express it in every way we can.With a smile, a caress,and a look.It makes the person that sees it feel happy and wanted.

"At the bottom of every one of your fears is simply the fear that you can't handle whatever life may bring you. The truth is: If you knew you could handle anything that came your way, what would you have to fear? The answer is: NOTHING!" ~ Susan Jeffers from "Feel the Fear... And Do it Anyway"

This is one of my Top 10 favorite self-development books. Easily. If you haven't read it yet, I have a feeling it will make it to your Top 10 list as well.

Please (please please) get it. And read it. And mark it all up. And do what Susan suggests. It has the potential to change your life.

My rating is specifically directed at the "audio" version of this book. The narrator's voice is not very pleasing to listen to and can become in fact a little distracting. Rather than listening to a clear professional voice, there's a nasal quality to it and a bit of a lisp. You hear a lot of her tongue, swallowing & spit in her mouth...a bit gross. If you don't need the audio version and you are sensitive to these types of sounds (it can over time become as irritating as listening to someone who makes tons of slurping noises while eating), I recommend you read the paperback book version instead.

I have read this book twice now...and every time i come up with something else to help my way of thinking. i use to be overly negative and i hated it...so when i got this book recommended by my doctor...i feel like i have taken a 180 and have recommended it to several friends.

A book filled with tools we can all use to punch through that wall of fear that we all crash into in trying to move ourselves forward. You don't have to be crippled by fear to find it highly useful, many of us rationalize our fears to the point where we forgot that fear is the root cause of our avoidance.

I purchased the very-talked-about book "The Secret" and never read through 3 pages.

This book "Feel the Fear", I bought it two years ago. Last week I looked at it and decided to read it. Then I said to myself "WHY DIDN'T I READ IT UNTIL NOW?"

It answered so many of my questions about my disappointment at the issues of my friends and family that have been bothering me for years.

It also helped me gain courage to deal with any major decisions in my life by minimizing my anxiety level.

It reconfirmed to me that NOTHING in life is ever a wrong decision because every experience brings us valuable lessons that helps us become wiser and smarter about things.

"I can handle it!" indeed is the best treatment for any kind of fear or worry.

Her wisdom and real life experience make me realize that I don't need anyone else to tell me what is right for myself because deep in my heart, I know what's best for me and it is okay to try.

Succeeding or failing as an outcome does not determine the true definition of success. The experience is what counts. At some point in life, all of that experience is going to pay off at some point in the future in whatever things we're working on or dealing with. Isn't that very true?

Everyone in this world has fear. She wrote on and on in this book only to point out that the factor which set people apart was the difference between "action" and "non-action." So true! Success only comes with trying, neither fear nor playing safe.

Some of my favorites from her:

"You're not a failure if you don't make it; you're a success because you try." p.110

"The knowledge that you can handle anything that comes your way is the key to allowing yourself to take healthy, life-affirming risks." p.107

"At the bottom of every one of your fears is simply the fear that you can't handle whatever life may bring you." p.7

These are the words that work for me and the stage of life where I am. My traumatic childhood and part of the adulthood have diminish a lot of my drive and ambition over time. I am at a point where I need to be re-centered and to re-discover who I am and what I want in life. Therefore, this is a book that works for me for the purpose. I have some friends who struggle through life as well, so I am getting this book for them.

This book has so many answers to our problems in life that are simply generated by the same negative attitude. Without the book pointing them out, I wouldn't have realized all the blind spots and causes for the obstacles in life.

Amazingly, this is a book written in the 80's and her wisdom still applies to today's world! Life is life. Some of the things in life don't ever change!

Knowing about myself and being able to study people are tremendous help for work, for career, for everything. And this is absolutely one of the books that I definitely recommend to anyone.

I've read some self help books before, and this one is a must read for virtually anybody. I've bought 3 more copies to give away since I read it, and I recommend it to everybody. I don't know a single person that wouldn't benefit from the techniques I've learned from this book for overcoming the fears in life.

This book is one of the best books I think that any person could read. It has many insights that are very helpful. The language used is not complex, but instead is very "layman's." I really have enjoyed actually taking steps in my real life to "Feel the Fear... and Do it Anyway."

I had this book sat on my bookshelf for a great many weeks before eventually getting round to reading it. I would have read it so much earlier if I had only known what a gem it was going to turn out to be.

As a therapist I spend a lot of time reading, learning and relearning techniques that will not only help my clients, but help me to live a more joyful and rewarding life. Feel the Fear and do it Anyway is one of those titles that like many self-help books focuses heavily on cognitive behavioral techniques. In my opinion, this is what makes it such a massive seller the world over.

The book has twelve, easy to read chapters that are mostly filled with excellent learnings that you 'will' be able to implement in your life without too much effort, however some of them are big life changers and you may find them a bit of a challenge.

If you are an avid reader of self-help books you will certainly have heard Susan Jeffers message before, however she does offer some uniqueness throughout.

Before I get to the crux of why I think this book is fantastic I want to cover a few things that I thought were downsides to the title.

Firstly, I found that it delivered the information too quickly. Right in the first few chapters I was left with loads of tips, but didn't find it easy as to where I should start. Something better may have suggested 'do this day one' and 'this on day two' and so on. A sort of calendar of events type of structure would have been fantastic. This isn't a big deal, however it did make me feel overwhelmed a little at the beginning.

Secondly, Susan kept referring to other 'self-help materials' that she recommends. At the start of the book these announcements were often and it felt like I was being back ended with sales of other products. Once or twice would have been fine, but I lost count how many times it was suggested that I get other materials such as the tapes and books that were listed at the back of the book. This actually was a big disappointment as they seem like cheap little tactics, however it shouldn't overcast that this is a very special book.

Third and lastly, it all got a little spiritual and preachy in chapter 11. This will be fantastic for most, however for me it was a bit of a turn off. I am not going to say too much on this as I don't wish to offend those with beliefs in the 'spiritual realm' or that we 'are all connected through the universe' somehow, but what I will say it that it discredited what could have been a fantastic chapter (in my opinion!).

Having said that, I really do love this book for many reasons. One of the those reasons is that once you get your head around the message, you will think 'now why didn't I think of that'. Apart from chapter 11 when (as I said) it gets a bit spiritual and new-agey, it is pretty much logical and easy to accept, although as I said it could have been better structured.

So in conclusion: Fantastic message, the writing has a nice flow and is easy to read, however it could do with a lot of restructuring. Then it truly would be fabulous instead of just fantastic.

If you are serious about growing as an individual then I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

I will certainly be looking forward to the chance of reading the sequel in the near future.

Warmly,

Richard MacKenzie
Author of Self-Change Hypnosis

This is a wonderful book. I recommend it whole heartedly and have tried Susan Jeffers suggestions and they work! Having had anxiety and worry almost all my life its a great relief to know that there methods that acually work if you commit yourself to them. A good therapist and the basics of this book is a good start to recovering from fear.

I found this book to be inspiring and a great read. This was the perfect reminder of concepts I was aware of but they were explained in a refreshing new way. I learned new ways to look at situations and this has been extremely helpful in dealing with everyday issues. The exercises were helpful and easy to implement. I read through this book quickly and plan to go back to it often as a reminder. Definitely worth it!

This book was actually recomended to me by a therapist - some of it is very obvious - but some of it really hits home - the format allows you to refer back to the parts you may feel you need to read again. May not have all the answers but it does make you think

This book didn't tell me anything I didn't know or do already. Waste of money.

Understanding for fear does not help to overcome them! I know exactly what is wrong with me but that still didn't help. You just have to jump in the fire and get burned, no book can help you.

I was shocked when I read this book. I like to read self help books. This book helps you deal with your every day life and make the best of it. It is a quick and easy read that helps you in your life. I recomended this book to many of my friends and even gave it to people who were look for a book to improve their life.

Love this book. Only started reading and already enjoy it. Very helpfull tips on how to work with your fears. Going to buy a couple more as gifts.

I love Susan Jeffers! Her book Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway has helped me clarify what is important to me, who I want to be in the world, and the kind of life I want to live. Her works are so congruent with my own personal journey toward wholeness. I recommend that you read the book first. If it resonates with you, then you'll want her three Inner Talk CDs. I listen to Inner Talk for a Confident Day and Inner Talk for Peace of Mind almost every day. They help me achieve inward peace and remind me of what is truly important in my life. I could go on and on about her books and CDs. I recommend her works for anybody desiring joy, peace, love, and fulfillment in their life. She is practical, uplifting, empowering, and hugely encouraging. Be prepared, however, to put in to practice her very practical advice. The only way to benefit from her book is to commit to her suggestions. I have, and it has made a hugely positive impact on my life.

Ever since reading "Your money or your life" I have been on a quest to find similar mind shifting books and "Feel the fear and do it anyway" fits into that category.

It's funny how things come into your life by coincidence. In a casual chat to a friend one night about something totally unrelated, he mentioned how he taught a course based on the principles of this book, so I bought it. The book has answered many questions that I have had rattling around in my mind for a while.

My big fear was public speaking so I'm doing a toastmaster course now. I'm still fearful but at least I'm chipping away at the coal face to become more at ease with the task. I have been checking out toastmaster clubs of late and the other night the guests were given the opportunity to speak in table topics. In this situation I would normally say no because of fear but "Feel the fear and do it anyway" came to mind so I did. At the end of the night I was given another opportunity to speak which was great. I am slowly chipping away at my public speaking fears thanks to the book. I was chatting to a girl at the public speaking course and she has read the book and was there to overcome her public speaking fears as well.

What I am finding really helpful with these reviews is when people mention similar books that have given them inspiration. If you have any inspiring book then mention them please.

I ordered this book on the suggestion of a friend from Italy. I really haven't had time to get into it as yet, but from what I've read it is just exactly what I was interested in.

There is a good reason why this book is still a top seller after 20 year: IT WORKS!

Look, no matter who you are, everyone feels fear, uncertainty, and doubt. This is a fact. The thing to remember is that the difference between the most successful people and those left behind is that the successful people faced their fears and took action anyway. Susan Jeffers outlines the same strategies they use so that you can too! Even better, this book isn't full of empty, philosophical musings; these are real tips for real people.

I strongly suggest that you make this book a part of your success library.


Jeb Blount, Author of PowerPrinciples: Do You Have The Winning Edge?

This is a common sense book to inspire you to take the plunge, and make changes in your life. Actually, its biggest motivation is to let you feel secure enough to try. As the author reminds us, we are often plagued by our fears, doubts and insecurities. These normal human emotions aren't necessarily wrong, but they can be a hindrance to our development, and an excuse for failure when they cause us (or permit us) to give up when we need not do so. I particularly liked that author Susan Jeffers writes clear, enthused, and common sense prose, and lets us know that changes are less risks than they are opportunities to grow.

This book really gets at the heart of self-empowerment. It will change your life. Guaranteed.

This is the best book for anyone trying to find out more about who they are (if you honestly go through and do every one of the exercises that is recommended). We're usually so wrapped up in our fears, weaknesses and inadequacies that we don't realize that there is so much more to ourselves that we could be doing with our lives.

It's for everyone because everyone has some feelings of anger, discontent, fear, anxiety, upset, or anything along those lines, and this book provides tools for overcoming them (although you're actually the one to do all the work, which is good because that means you get the satisfaction of knowing you did it).

This book is not pop psychology and not a dangerous self-esteem inflator, nor - if you follow it - will you be anything but better off. At least, that's what I've found.

The change working with this book brought (maybe "growth" is a better word) was huge and welcomed, even though I didn't know what I wanted until I actually tried it out.

I was cynical about some of the points made in the book, thinking it was overly-optimistic and/or "stupid," but the author does a very good job of handling those feelings (and once you get over yourself and try one exercise and finds it work, you'll probably end up trying the other ones).

I'd also like to add that the author does NOT have a superior or guiding attitude in her writing style - she's very straightforward, clear, enthusiastic, and on your level, like she's been there and still going through it. It's a very wonderful read.

So no matter where you are in life right now and whoever you are - whatever age, gender, ethnicity - feel the fear and try this book out.

Review Edit: The author suggests other reading material. Don't be afraid to check them out - they're worth it (You Can Heal Your Life was ... beyond helpful).

This is the best book for anyone trying to find out more about who they are (if you honestly go through and do every one of the exercises that is recommended). We're usually so wrapped up in our fears, weaknesses and inadequacies that we don't realize that there is so much more to ourselves that we could be doing with our lives.

It's for everyone because everyone has some feelings of anger, discontent, fear, anxiety, upset, or anything along those lines, and this book provides tools for overcoming them (although you're actually the one to do all the work, which is good because that means you get the satisfaction of knowing you did it).

This book is not pop psychology and not a dangerous self-esteem inflator, nor - if you follow it - will you be anything but better off. At least, that's what I've found.

The change working with this book brought (maybe "growth" is a better word) was huge and welcomed, even though I didn't know what I wanted until I actually tried it out.

I was cynical about some of the points made in the book, thinking it was overly-optimistic and/or "stupid," but the author does a very good job of handling those feelings (and once you get over yourself and try one exercise and finds it work, you'll probably end up trying the other ones).

I'd also like to add that the author does NOT have a superior or guiding attitude in her writing style - she's very straightforward, clear, enthusiastic, and on your level, like she's been there and still going through it. It's a very wonderful read.

So no matter where you are in life right now and whoever you are - whatever age, gender, ethnicity - feel the fear and try this book out.

This is the best book for anyone trying to find out more about who they are (if you honestly go through and do every one of the exercises that is recommended). We're usually so wrapped up in our fears, weaknesses and inadequacies that we don't realize that there is so much more to ourselves that we could be doing with our lives.

It's for everyone because everyone has some feelings of anger, discontent, fear, anxiety, upset, or anything along those lines, and this book provides tools for overcoming them (although you're actually the one to do all the work, which is good because that means you get the satisfaction of knowing you did it).

This book is not pop psychology and not a dangerous self-esteem inflator, nor - if you follow it - will you be anything but better off. At least, that's what I've found: I feel so changed after just a while of working on it.

The change (maybe "growth" is a better word) was huge and welcomed, even though I didn't know I wanted to change until I actually did it.

I was cynical about some of the points made in the book, thinking it was overly-optimistic and/or "stupid," but the author does a very good job of handling those feelings (and once you get over yourself and try one exercise and finds it work, you'll probably end up trying the other ones).

I'd also like to add that the author does NOT have a superior or guiding attitude in her writing style - she's very straightforward, clear, enthusiastic, and on your level, like she's been there and still going through it. It's a very wonderful read.

So no matter where you are in life right now and whoever you are - whatever age, gender, ethnicity - feel the fear and try this book out.

Great book with lots of advice. I would recommend this book if you feel any doubt or negative thoughts. This book helps with positive thinking and helps you phrase things in such a way that you will feel empowered.

I was warned that sometimes "feeling the fear and doing it anyway" can be counterproductive, but had no idea it would land me in the ER, which is exactly what happened.

If you are seriously phobic (or just extremely anxious) about something, bullying your way through it might not be the smartest approach. Consider your fears, talk to a professional, and then consider again before following the methods in this book.

After an accident, I became fearful of driving. I talked to a therapist, who told me I should "get right back on the horse." I told her that I wasn't just afraid of another serious accident -- I was concerned because when in a car, I felt confused and light-headed. She dismissed the physical factors and gave me a copy of this book. Five days later I was driving (feeling confused and experiencing some pain), and woke up in the ER. I'd had a minor heart attack, apparently brought on by the panic I'd felt while driving.

So please be cautious when jumping into a technique like the one laid out in this book. Your life could depend on your decision.

Sometimes, it DOES help to know how and why you have a fear and the right therapist (it can take time to find the right one) can help lend insight that relieves anxiety. Understanding that one is not "crazy" or "weird" for having certain fears and that they may actually have started for some pretty good reasons (at one time) but the precipitating factors may no longer be there.

For other people, this book may be all they need - if they have the courage to keep going in spite of massive anxiety attacks, pounding hearts, etc. Ever try to convince a person who is hyperventilating that he or she is not dying or having a heart attack? Ever try to get an agoraphobic to leave their safe space and venture outside?

Reading this book may help give insight and a great pep talk to those who live in fear and anxiety but the real work starts when the book is put down. The ultimate courage is up to the reader.

We all have fear, in one shape or form. This book gives some great guidelines and suggestions, while explaining the basis and reasons for why we fear the things we do.
Excellant and extremely helpful. A must for everyone!

This book is great. I remember reading it when I was in college at 18 I never took the information seriously but the title always stayed in my head now 20 years later I decided to re-read the book and it is great. I have totally turned my thinking around and am able to face a lot of my fears. Even though I have a long way to go I still was able to make some immediate changes. I could kick myself for having gone through 20 years of pain and fear when I had the tool and resources to make my life more enjoyable right under my nose.

I have read about 50 or more self improvement books and this one is easily in the top 5. Though I don't personally have a huge problem with fear, I read this book because the title intrigued me. After the third chapter I was hooked and devoured the book. This deals in a realm well beyond handling fear. This gives you a practical understanding of how we are self limiting machines. We construct our own glass ceilings and we have the power to shatter through them but most of us are not aware of the God given tools we have and how to use. This book reveals how to use these tools to break through our comfort zones, stretch and achieve. If you want to shift your paradigms and expand your horizons this is a must read. If you want to live in a cave and view the world with tunnel vision this is not the book for you.