Transcending Fear: The Doorway to Freedom

by Brian Germain

The product of a lifetime of research and reflection, Transcending Fear is Brian Germain's most important work. The book addresses the most significant challenge of human kind to the process of recognizing and moving beyond fear. In an age in which fear has literally brought our world to the brink of destruction, understanding why we contract in fear and how we can go beyond this instinctive reaction is essential for our survival as a species.As a World Champion skydiver, test pilot and psychologist, Brian Germain offers a unique personalized perspective on the phenomenon of fear. Reflecting on his many intense experiences with fear, Brian sorts through the most current psychology research on fear, and presents the ways to de-escalate the emotional response in provocative situations.The fundamental premise of the book is Fear makes us stupid. If we are to transcend the limitations imposed by a contracted perspective, we must develop our ability to remain calm. Specific methods for relaxing in dangerous situations are covered in detail, as well as scientific evidence to support the reasons for this unusual and powerful approach to dealing with fear.

Genres: Nonfiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Alexander]

The author is a parachute designer and canopy piloting teacher. The ideas in the book are important and well presented, but the book as a whole is not very well organized.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has multiple personalities.

On the one hand the actual transcending fear model where the author talks about first relaxing and then finding focus and flow instead of giving in to the freeze and then fight or flight reaction is brilliant. It's especially intriguing when you consider taking its application from the psychological to the sociological scale. For example, how we respond to fear in politics and through social institutions.

On the other hand, it's not that well written. Specifically, it's redundant and filled with cliches.

But when he actually gets into his personal stories (he's an extreme sports guy who won the X-Games in freestyle skydiving) it's pretty interesting. I wish he had included more along those lines and less of his "quotes of wisdom."

[Adam Tuttle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're currently struggling with fear -skydiving related or not - this book night help you. However if - like me - you're just a newbie skydiver looking to soak up all of the best skydiving material available to you... Pass on this book. Brian is a brilliant skydiver and as self-help books go this one seems fine, but it only tangentially relates to skydiving and I was very disappointed. Not money well spent, that's for sure.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

skydiving book

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Act on inspiration rather than the avoidance of fear."