A Healthy State of Panic

Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life

By: Farnoosh Torabi

Narrated by: Farnoosh Torabi

Named a Newsweek Best Book of 2023

From the creator of the popular finance podcast So Money, this accessible and clever guide to leaning into your fear to maximize your financial success and beyond “is a game-changer” (Kelly Ripa), perfect for fans of Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies and You Are a Badass at Making Money.

Farnoosh Torabi is familiar with fear. Growing up in the 1980s as the daughter of Iranian immigrants, she was warned to always play it safe. She spent her childhood immersed in fear—of rejection, loneliness, missed opportunities, and falling short of her potential. Of course, now her mother says, “It all worked out, didn’t it?” Funnily enough, it did. Farnoosh came to the realization that fear never limited her. Instead, it has become a friend, opening her world and equipping her with the tools and street smarts to navigate life’s trials and thrive on her own terms.

Now, Farnoosh pairs stories from her immigrant upbringing with hard-won industry knowledge and data to show how leaning into your fears can help you take control of your financial future. With clear-eyed advice and an engaging, heartfelt voice, she lays out the nine most common fears that hold us back—both personally and in our financial decisions—and shows how these fears can be pivoted into strengths and mined for wisdom to help us achieve richer, more meaningful lives:

1. The Fear of Rejection and how it leads to self-discovery and where we are loved.
2. The Fear of Loneliness and how it promotes strength, resilience, and empathy.
3. The Fear of Missing Out and how it begs for self-reflection and promotes individuality and boundaries.
4. The Fear of Being Exposed and how it heightens awareness and draws comedy and connection.
5. The Fear of Uncertainty and how it accelerates our goals and finds order in the disorder.
6. The Fear of Money and how it encourages landing on your (true) money story and pursuing financial freedom.
7. The Fear of Failure and how it helps us to embrace red flags and the next right thing.
8. The Fear of Endings and how it sparks action, deepens an appreciation for what endures and unveils the beauty in regret.
9. The Fear of Losing Your Freedom and how it fuels self-advocacy and inspires a legacy.

Discover how you can become more self-reliant and financially resilient, invite calm and control into your daily routine, and how fear can serve you with this “wise, witty, and illustrative guide” (Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author) to building your best life.

©2023 Farnoosh Torabi (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"In her insightful and humorous way, Farnoosh gives fear a much-needed rebrand. As someone who's no stranger to anxiety, this book is a game-changer. Who knew fear could be this entertaining?" (Kelly Ripa, New York Times bestselling author of Live Wire)"

"Farnoosh unveils the surprising truths about why we should be more patient with fear and honor its many unsung gifts. I’ll never experience fear the same way again — and thankfully so." (Tiffany Aliche, New York Times bestselling author of Get Good With Money )

"From grappling with FOMO in your career to navigating and affording life’s shitstorms, Farnoosh has been there and done that, and gives us the levity, wisdom, and advice we need." (Tori Dunlap, New York Times bestselling author of Financial Feminist)

How setbacks turn to wins

Loved this book. Provided great insight into turning setbacks into stepping stones and even when you think all odds are against you, keep doing what you’re passionate about and chase your dreams.

Fearfully Honest :)

I enjoyed the instructive, yet personal, nature of this book, and there is wisdom to be found amongst the pages. Farnoosh beautifully expresses the push and pull and, at times, stagnation, professional women experience. Her ability to move through the fear and keep going is, indeed, inspiring.

Such a powerful (and entertaining!) message.

I recently discovered Farnoosh’s podcast, which led me to this book. I adore it (and her) so much. I want this book’s message injected into my veins on the daily. I hope she somehow makes this into a children’s book.

Love Farnoosh! Great

I’m a long time listener of Farnoosh’s podcast and loved this more personal account of her story

my favorite book this year!

truly my favorite book for 2023! so many topics resonated with me and it was a pleasure to learn more about her back story. Great lessson, lots of warmth and humor.

A Must-Read for Women in Transition: never let fear dictate who you are or who you can be!

I read this book once and then, I listened to it again. The audiobook narration of A Healthy State of Panic by Farnoosh Torabi is wonderful. I loved the humor and irony throughout the book. My daughter gave me one copy of this book for Christmas, and while I now follow Farnoosh on social media, I discovered her podcast a while back while I was independently learning about investing.

After reading the book, I couldn't put it down! I even purchased the audiobook on Amazon so I could continue to enjoy it on my morning 20 minute walks to my office. Every day, I felt encouraged and empowered by Torabi's insights on how to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities, on how to let fear be your friend not your enemy. As a 46-year-old entrepreneur facing an identity crisis after my children grew up (one even left for college, far away!), a forced career change, and financial difficulties, Torabi's message resonated deeply.

I listened to the audiobook again on my way back home from work and I cried when I finished the epilogue. On the street, among all those staring people. It was so heartwarming and profoundly true. For me, this book was even more impactful than a Tony Robbins stage show.

A Book for Every Woman: This book is a must-read for women seeking a honest perspective, guidance and support in various aspects of their lives, including finances, independence, motherhood, relationships, and careers. It's incredibly encouraging and insightful.

Dear Reader: A Healthy State of Panic is written by a self-aware, strong, and independent woman who is fearless not because she has no fears, but because she knows how to manage them. I found myself wishing I could be more like her.

On Negative Reviews: It baffles me when people give a book a one-star rating simply because it wasn't the right fit for them. It's like giving a children's book a bad review because it doesn't resonate with an adult reader. Seriously, a one-star rating because someone chose the wrong book?

A Must Read

I’ve followed Farnoosh’s podcast for a while now, but this book is on another level. From being a daughter of immigrants to a first time mom, she leaves no stone unturned. This book is an intimate guide on how to use and leverage fear, to challenge ourselves in spite of adversity, and to pave our own paths. Well done Farnoosh!

This book is everything I wanted it to be!

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright once said, “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” On the contrary, I believe there’s a special place for women like Farnoosh Torabi, a woman who bravely and selflessly extends her hand to other women and says, “Follow me and take my hand. I will show you how to continue to empower yourself.”

This book is a beautiful extension of Farnoosh’s financial podcast, “So Money.” I’m exceptionally impressed with it because it goes much deeper than just the numbers and finance. It explores the psychology of fear and, rather than shaming the reader, encourages the reader to explore the fear and then use it as motivation to make change.

I’m so drawn to Farnoosh’s leadership and writing, especially her Iranian heritage and the advice given to her from her own parents. I appreciate her honesty and her ability to stand boldly in her convictions as opposed to chasing the latest social media trend.

My personal favorite chapter is the one on FOMO. It explored FOMO in a way I’ve never thought about. I even paused the audiobook at that point to reach out to Farnoosh herself on IG to tell her just that.

This book is one I will reread more than once. It offers timeless advice and is the perfect gift for anyone looking to continue growing as a human being.

A very personal account

Others may find the author’s personal experiences about anxiety to be helpful. Personally I didn’t get much that I could apply to my own life. The quality of the reading was good.