The Gift of Fear

Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence

De: Gavin de Becker

Narrado por: Gavin de Becker

A special edition of The Gift of Fear, with a new foreword by the author.

A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers to help carry a woman's groceries. Is he a good Samaritan, or is he after something else? A fired employee says "You'll be sorry". Will he return with a gun? After their first date, a man tells a woman it is their "destiny" to be married. What will he do when she won't see him again? A mother has an uneasy feeling about the nice babysitter she's just hired. Should she not go to work today?

These days, no one in America feels immune to violence. But now, in this extraordinary, groundbreaking book, the nation's leading expert on predicting violent behavior unlocks the puzzle of human violence and shows that, like every creature on earth, we have within us the ability to predict the harm others might do us and get out of its way. Contrary to popular myth, human violence almost always has a discernible motive and is preceded by clear warning signs.

Through dozens of compelling examples from his own career, Gavin de Becker teaches us how to read the signs, using our most basic but often most discounted survival skill - our intuition. The Gift of Fear is a remarkable, unique combination of practical guidance on leading a safer life and profound insight into human behavior.

©1997 Gavin de Becker; 2021 Gavin de Becker (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Great book

Great book to help anyone better understand how fear is a tool to use to protect yourself. I also liked his common sense approach to talking about gun ownership at the end of the book. He sees it from both sides of the gun control debate. He doesn’t demonize either side and that is what more Americans need to do to come to a compromise.

Must read

This book clearly defines how useful real fear can be and how to use it to our benefit! This helped me be informed and boosted my confidence to listen to my instincts!

Very informative and Interesting

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I learned a lot of valuable information and could even nod along to many points he made. I am saddened however that this book did not hold the answer for me that I needed. He gives advice for people dealing with a known stalker. Stop all contact completely. I however, have had an unknown stalker for 7 years. He does not communicate with me. I tried cameras, he hacked them. I have locks, he picks them. He takes my personal use items and killed my rat, stands in the dark outside of parked outside but is gone by the time cops arrive, he has been in every apartment and every vehicle that I've had over the past 7 years.He wants me to know that he can get to me anytime and that he is in control. I work full time, go to school fulltime, but I'm broke. I can't afford expensive security measures or to hire a body guard. I have police reports in three different towns that I've lived in over the last 7 years. They can't do anything because he's smarter than the police and me. He knows when cameras are down. I have a picture of his truck but that's it. He's escalating and I am powerless. I hope that I don't become a statistic.

lifesaving information

This book should be gifted to all the people that you care about. As a CPL instructor, my students will benefit from this book more than their firearms.

It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.

This book was recommended but I do not know which author. It was a powerful book. The word “fear” I hear about quite frequently from clients I work with. I will be recommending the book to them. I will go back and listen again but with the physical book. Great book!

Amazing information!

I have listened to this book twice and will likely listen again! There is much too learn and just as much that just needs to be recognized within ourselves. The freedom to trust intuition rather than fabricating our own fear in the name of caution is liberating! I have been the victim of childhood sexual abuse and physical abuse. I have been the victim of home invasion during the night when I was sleeping and awakened. I have a stalker who is mentally ill. I have had a spouse who has been physically abusive and emotionally abusive. Throughout this book I see passages of my life that I’m gaining a clear understanding for. I am also seeing time some in life where I may have felt more safe than I should have. I have a clear understanding of why I did not follow that path of abuse that I witnessed. I’m very grateful for the writings in this book, I am very grateful for the acknowledgment from the writer, or the OK from the writer that it is OK and acceptable to offend someone in Europe opinion make sure I’m comfortable in the name of being safe and protected. Thank you for the information and the insights. I can’t wait to access more of your writings. I recommend this to my entire family and friends and anyone that is willing to read it.

no headline

insightful, thought provoking, with enough real life examples to hold your attention throughout. a worthy read/listen

Fascinating Read

This book was recommended to me, otherwise I doubt I would have selected it. It turns out I could hardly stop listening to it. It is perfectly narrated by the author and is pack with live saving information. I am sharing it with others. Exceptional!

excellent and informative

Very helpful information about safety, human nature, and confidence, Will definitly recommend this to others.

Happy I took the time to listen

I appreciate the concise explanation of fear and our innate ability to survive through it. Every person on the planet can relate to at least one incident or description of a time they experienced fear spoken about in the book and how it translated to the brain at the time or later on when you’ve had time to analyze it. This is an empowering book, I recommend 100%