The Fear Project: What Our Most Primal Emotion Taught Me About Survival, Success, Surfing . . . and Love

by Jaimal Yogis

An epic adventure full of incredible characters, death-defying athletic achievement, and bleeding edge science, THE FEAR PROJECT began with one how can we overcome our fears to reach our full potential? Who among us has not been paralyzed by fear? In The Fear Project, award-winning journalist and surfer Jaimal Yogis sets out to better understand fear-why does it so often dominate our lives, what makes it tick, and is there even a way to use it to our advantage? In the process, he plunges readers into great white shark-infested waters, brings them along to surf 40+ foot waves in the dead of winter, and gives them access to some of the world's best neuroscience labs, psychologists, and extreme athletes. In this entertaining, often laugh-out-loud narrative, Yogis also treats himself like a guinea pig for all of his research, pushing his own fears repeatedly to the limits-in his sport, in his life, and in love. Ultimately, Yogis shares with his readers the best strategies to emerge triumphant from even the most paralyzing of fears. THE FEAR PROJECT gives readers insight into the

- How fear evolved in the human brain
- How to tell the difference between "good fear" and "bad fear"
- How to use the latest neuroscience to transform fear memories
- Why fear spreads between us and how to counteract fearful "group think"
- How to turn fear into a performance enhancer - athletically and at work In pursuing this terrifying-and often thrilling-journey with Yogis, we learn how to move through fear and unlock a sense of renewed possibility and a more rewarding life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Memoir, Personal Growth, Biography, Philosophy

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2013

About the author

Jaimal Yogis is the author of numerous books including Saltwater Buddha, The Fear Project, and All Our Waves Are Water, which have been internationally praised and translated into numerous languages. More recently he has been writing children's books like Mop Rides the Waves of Life, which was named a 2020 Favorite by the Children's Book Review and one of the best sportsbooks for all ages by Book Riot. The next picture book in the series, Mop Rides the Waves of Change, comes out this July from Parallax Press and Penguin Random House, and his middle-grade graphic novel series, City of Dragons, also releases this fall, 2021, from Scholastic. Jaimal's award-winning journalism has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, ESPN Magazine, The Atlantic, and many others. He lives near San Francisco's Ocean Beach with his wife Amy and their three boys.

Reviews

[Joshunda Sanders]

I've coincidentally been reading a lot about fear and fearlessness. I'm reviewing this book for Spirituality and Health magazine, so I'll say more specifically about this book later. There are some enlightening, thoughtful passages here, but the book is hard to describe. It's part memoir, part journalistic exploration of the psychological and biological roots of fear. Yogis is an avid surfer, so the surfing lingo is a little much. But the main takeaway seems to be that fear can be useful in moderate doses and that the most successful people in life lean into fear instead of letting it rule their lives.

[Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first bought this book, I wasn’t ready for it, even though I bought it hoping that it would help me deal with my own demons. But I left it on my shelf for 2 years and a half, having read only the first 2 chapters. Every time I thought about picking it up again, I felt like it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Well, turns out I was completely wrong. It was just really not the right time for me.

But time passes and, well...things change. I began to show a lot of interest in Psychology and Neuroscience and realized that these subjects not only feed my insatiable curiosity but also help me understand myself and others in a whole new level. So while navigating these new waves I decided to pick up The Fear Project again and give it another try.

For the past year or so I’ve read many books and watched many videos, classes, and documentaries on psychology and neuroscience and I’ve added a few books to my favorites list because they actually helped me and I learned a lot from them, but none of them had the kind of content that connected with my soul so much like this one, and it wasn’t even written by a person who works in the field. But that’s what made it special and raw and extremely real. Jaimal did his homework while writing this book; He researched the hell out of life and talked to all sorts of specialists (which gave him a lot of credibility), but in my opinion, the key ingredient to his work was the fact that he applied everything he learned to his own life and documented it all in such a beautiful way, that not only makes us, readers, relate to him, but it makes us learn and it gives us hope.

I’ve struggled with fear and anxiety my whole life and I guess I just always wanted to find an honest, realistic and inspiring way to deal with it. I found in science the tools I was looking for to understand my fears, and I found in voices like Jaimal’s, the inspiration to execute my recovery, as well as that extra bit of courage that we all need and that I will be forever grateful for.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fear Project was truly a pleasure to read. Part personal story, part investigation into the phenomenon of fear, the book gives just enough of the former to keep it interesting and relatable and just enough of the latter to teach you a little something as you read. And even though Yogis frames much of the book through surfing, which he adores, it was the universality of fear that struck me: the mental processes surrounding it, the way it manifests, the patterns it drags us into. I’ve never been on a surfboard, but I had no trouble feeling like I understood what Yogis was talking about. Definitely worth the read!

[Ginnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a fan of Jaimal Yogis before reading this book, with his earlier book "Saltwater Buddha" being at the top of my favourites list. I enjoyed this one (though I have to admit I still like SWB better). The analogy of waves representing our fears is apt, and there was some interesting neuroscience bits, as well as some autobiographical elements, which make Jaimal's writing applicable to people living in the real world. It's a great read if you deal with anxiety (and most of us do to some extent), even if you aren't a surfer. This one will get a reread.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating, with great story-telling. I learned much about fear and it helped me see and meditate on my own fears. Interesting to think about how they formed, and how real they feel, and how I can rewrite/rewire the memory of them, to create new and better memories—without fear.

I am doing an Olympic-sized triathlon next month, my first. I’m a little bit scared out of my mind. Two years ago this month I was trying to teach myself how to swim, and was finally able to put my head under water while front-crawling. And now I’m contemplating swimming for 40 minutes straight? In a lake in cold May? With a wetsuit? By myself (and a bunch of fit competitors that I don’t know)? And I haven’t actually done the full length of the bike ride yet, let alone running a 10k after all that. Yeah, it’s scary. I’m scared. I could fail. I could get injured. But I’m pretty sure I’m going to stick my neck out there, and the experience is going to rock my world. So it’s worth the training six days a week for months, and the fear.

Quotes:
[speaking of right when he is trying to surf Mavericks]”I’m not in any powerful, meditative state. In fact, after hours of botching opportunities, I’m incredibly agitated. But bobbing in the light onshore breeze, I take a few deep breaths and feel a renewed vigor in this realization. Just let the fear be there, I tell myself. Don’t run from it. Don’t identify with it. Don’t fight it.” [He goes on to describe his “primal surrender,” great stuff.] (153)

“...death—even the fear of death—can serve as a reminder or to fritter our time away, to appreciate the ones we love. And it’s love that allows us to move, to act, even in the midst of fear. We’re all different. But maybe the point is, if you start to understand what is driving you, the script that has been written into your genes and your collection of memories, you can begin to mold your life a bit more. It will be scary, but every stressor, every fear, is really just a sign that those boundaries are stretching.
I think we have to keep confronting our fears, and keep telling one another the stories that come from doing that. Stories mold our brains, our selves, our future. So we have to choose our stories wisely: the ones we write, the ones we consume.” (196)

[Megan Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This album is a great soundtrack to which to read this book: http://open.spotify.com/album/43D9TzQ...

P. 67: "In almost all primate species -- and we are one -- there is a phenomenon scientists call voluntary dispersal or voluntary transfer. A monkey, usually around adolescence, will leave the safety of his or her clan and family to go and mate with a monkey from another area, a huge risk. The monkey must leave the familiarity and safety of the clan, travel alone, and expose itself to what may be an abusive or dangerous group of monkeys. Romeo seeking Juliet is the prime human example of this, and while the importance of this brazen act is likely to keep us from all dating our cousins, it may be one of the origins of what we call courage."

In the next paragraph, he quotes Robert Sapolsky: "...We do know that following this urge is one of the most resonantly primate of acts. [snip] To hell with logic and sensible behavior, to hell with tradition and respecting your elders, to hell with this drab little town, and to hell with that knot of fear in your stomach. Curiosity, excitement, adventure -- the hunger for novelty is something fundamentally daft, rash, and enriching that we share with our whole taxonomic order."

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P. 69, love/oxytocin as the antidote to fear: "...Scientists have shown that oxytocin -- sort of like love in chemical form -- is what helps mammals be brave. [snip] ...If they injected oxytocin into the fear center of rats, the amygdala, and gave them the same shock that usually makes rats freeze with fear, the rats still went into fight-or-flight (raised heart rate, adrenaline, etc.), but these love-boosted rats were far less likely to freeze from fear. They had the ability to act and move and respond..."

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P. 79, fear is imaginary, in the cage underwater: "My heart is racing. I can see that shark from Creatures of the Deep coming right toward me. But curiosity -- aided by my nominal faith in the steel cage -- trumps fear, and I find myself grabbing the oxygen hose and plunging in. [snip] ...It can't be the shark. It's far too dark, too massive. [snip] ...There is no way to describe the sheer girth, the volume. From top of dorsal fin to belly, the shark looks like an Airstream trailer. [snip] His eyes are black, just like you always hear, but they are not malevolent, not empty. They are simply the eyes of a being that has existed on Earth for 11 million years, just like this. I'm looking back in time. I expect to feel afraid but I'm not. This fish is too majestic. He swims by slowly, seemingly making eye contact but without much apparent interest. He doesn't swim up or chomp at the bars. Doesn't ram into the cage. In fact, as he turns, I have the strange desire to get out of the cage and swim after him. But as quickly as he appeared, he's gone."

This portion of story is incredible. It is a beautiful analog for facing and embracing fear, and discovering that fear is often just another creature or process or mode, like we are. The thing we're afraid of exists in our minds, not in front of us. Discovering this breeds fascination with the thing we once feared, but just as often, it slips away. I read this over and over.

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P. 106: "Good thoughts can be as powerful as good events. Hanson recommends starting with thoughts of loved ones. 'We're so deeply social,' he tells me, 'I often start there.' The way to do this is by just imagining, anytime of day or night, some person or a group of people who love you and support you. Imagine yourself with those people and how good it feels to be with them. The key, Hanson says, is really letting the emotions of goodness flood your body. By holding this imagery and feeling in your mind, you're actually strengthening neural networks and stimulating oxytocin, the body's bonding hormone, which decreases the fearful freezing response. Doing this often, you'll build a strong base, so you're not so easily swayed by your own negative feedback loops."

Fascinatingly, this is some of the science behind the self-love and re-parenting steps suggested in Karyl McBride's book -- building a strong base for oneself that is not necessarily dependent on others. I don't entirely dismiss the idea of using thoughts of loved ones, of course, but this is why the self-love and self-parenting portion works the way it does, too, I bet.

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P. 114: "...Meditation seems to give the benefits of reduced anxiety and better fear instincts. Practitioners of mindfulness meditation, even after just 8 weeks of 30 minutes per day, actually react to a stimulus with stronger emotional spikes, more intensity instead of less. Their stress response is actually more robust in the moment. The key difference, Goldin said, is that the meditation practitioners then have an easier time returning to a baseline of calm when the threatening stimulus has passed, which is exactly what most of us want. We want to react to the real tigers with quick reflexes while letting the paper tigers pass without sending us into panic attacks."

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P. 157: "We must be learning if we are to feel fully alive, and when life, or love, becomes too predictable and it seems like there is little left to learn, we become restless -- a protest, perhaps, of the plastic brain when it can no longer perform its essential task." ~ A quote from Dr. Norman Doidge, from The Brain That Changes Itself.

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It's a little too long to quote, but the section on HRV and its relationship to stress, love, and performance -- starts on page 216 -- is *amazing*. It basically describes how thinking thoughts of love and gratitude improve our ability to interact in the world with coherence, high performance, and harmony. Loved this, and find myself wanting to buy an HRV monitor...

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P. 219: "If we can understand fear rather than demonize it, reframe fear as a natural part of our biology rather than avoiding and repressing it, stretch our comfort zones just a little every day, and walk peacefully and courageously into those scary memories of embarrassment and trauma, we will gradually learn to transform fear into focus and compassionate action, and our sons' and daughters' world can be better than the one we live in. Will we collectively freeze, fight, and stagnate? Or will we learn and act?"

[Peter Clothier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaimal Yogis is the kind of writer who is willing to plumb the depths of his own lived experience—and his own heart—for his material. I’m not surprised to find him quoting Michel de Montaigne , the granddaddy of this approach to writing that most engages and inspires me. It’s what I myself aspire to.

So from the very first Yogis’ new book, The Fear Project, took me back to my own experience in discovering how fear could affect my choices—and the direction of my life—without my even knowing it; and how I learned, in the course of a (much dreaded, eventually liberating) men’s weekend, to “go for the roar,” or in other words to recognize the source of my fear and head directly into it rather than choose avoidance and suppression. One of my own lifelong fears was rooted in body shame, the fear of physical exposure; it led me—long story—to eventually pose naked for four hours under the unwavering gaze of a well-known figure painter!

But that’s a small thing when compared with Yogis’ choices, which lead him to such extreme actions as a swim across the San Francisco Bay in the attempt to reach Alcatraz Island and a mile-long paddle out to face the gigantic, sixty-plus foot waves at Northern California’s infamous Mavericks site. Attracted by its title a while back, I reviewed Yogis’ earlier book, Saltwater Buddha, which I saw essentially as a coming-of-age story about a young man’s quest, through surfing, for his own identity and freedom. That first book was also in good part about conquering fear, so it’s no surprise to find the author taking its issues a few (giant!) steps further in this new work.

The Fear Project lives up to its title. Yogis makes of it a project. There are plenty of books around whose authors are happy to tell me how to conquer my fear, think positively, find happiness, and so on. There are few whose authors are prepared to actually do the really hard, practical work and not just preach about it. Yogis penetrates the darkest of his fears and takes us along for the sometimes hair-raising ride. He introduces us to his personal heroes—mostly, but not exclusively men—who challenge the most dangerous surfing spots or BASE jump from tall buildings or mountain tops, who dive to the depths of oceans or make friends with great white sharks. The kind of people, you know, who make you wonder about their sanity and just what drives them to take such death-defying risks. Yogis is not satisfied with wondering about them, he seeks to know them, find out what makes them tick, and at times to emulate them.

But his project is not just experiential. An experienced journalist, he is also a compulsive researcher and he wants not only to confront his fears and conquer them, but also to understand the brain chemistry involved, the history of human fear, and its social, physiological and psychological effects. He’s at pains to interview experts of all kinds, from neuroscientists to biologists, psychiatrists , anthropologists and social scientists—all passionate about their work and eager to share their often fascinating findings with one curious enough to ask. Yogis proves a good listener, and a cogent reporter. From the plains of Africa where homo sapiens first rose on two feet to modern-day America, we learn a great deal about the history of fear and the depths to which it reaches in our human psyche.

Beyond all this… there’s a love story. The arc of Yogis’ narrative proceeds from the painful loss of one serious relationship, through countless fears and a morass of self-doubt and self-examination, to accepting the possibility of a new one. Along the way, he explores every aspect of the fear that threatens to paralyze him, leading in the penultimate chapter to a profoundly moving meditation on the biggest one of all: the fear of death. (It’s here that he quotes Montaigne, by the way: “Let us deprive death of its strangeness, let us frequent it… We do not know where death awaits us, so let us wait for it everywhere.” I.e., let’s go for the roar.)

And then, remarkably, in his last chapter, Yogis moves equally profoundly back from death to life as he narrates the preparations for, and the birth of a new baby son, whose arrival makes all the fears that delayed it seem absurdly trite and self-involved. It’s a beautifully written and emotionally gratifying conclusion to his “project.” This book about fear and doubt ends in a joyful celebration of love and faith, the paean of an infatuated new father to his son and to the dearly loved, much appreciated wife who gave him birth.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Saltwater Buddha by this author and really enjoyed it so when I saw he was writing a new book on fear I was really looking forward to its release. I couldn't wait for the library and had to buy it. I was not disappointed. I appreciate the way this author can communicate complex concepts from neuroscience in easy to see metaphors. I liked how open the author was about his own personal fears and how he was able to diminish them to achieve the things he'd always wanted to do. I also love that this book talks a lot about surfing. I am learning to surf and lately I've been facing some of my fears and remaking them into new memories. I definitely have to force myself to do it but this book really inspired the motivation. My favorite part was when the story of long distance ocean swimmer, Karen Rogers, is swimming in deep dark waters and a territorial elephant seal rams into her twice. Karen didn't stop but just said to herself "I belong here too." About 10 minutes later she feels a swirling current below her and sees a great white shark 10 feet below her. Instead of freaking out she just kept swimming and saying to herself, "I belong here too." (Swimming is her ultimate passion and she also knows that great white sharks are not the bloodthirsty man-eaters they are made out to be.) I know my fears are petty compared to deep water ocean swimming with sharks but the missive "I belong here too" has helped me swim in shallow ocean water that is 10 feet deep and dive under waves to gain confidence so I can feel comfortable in learning to surf. It helps in all sorts of little fears too. The author also includes links to youtube videos in the back of the book so you can see some of the people and situations in the book as they happened.

[Johnee Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly accessible journey through the primal and contemporary aspects of fear. In a really smart structural move, Jaimal winds his research and analysis of fear through his own personal narrative. While with some authors this could get overly self-referential and boring, Jaimal is gracious with the reader and this really helps you identify with your own fear issues. There is also a really interesting Jungian sense to the book which I appreciated--fear is about somehow coming to grips with the wholeness of life. He also explores some very interesting scientific experiments and data that balance out and reinforce much of the personal narrative he is discussing.

Fantastic read!

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was inconsistent. There were parts I thought were really fascinating, particularly the parts focused on meditation, neurobiology, and fear and anxiety as they relate to mental health and sports.

Everything else was superfluous to me. The author was very self-focused in writing this book and it was apparent; at times I felt like I was reading an autobiography. It was unclear how the subject material was directly related to fear. I'm sure it was tangentially (but really what can't be made relevant with enough word magic?).

So yeah. Could have done without so much autobiography. Also didn't need the bit about the sharks.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Jaimal Yogis I found a kindred spirit. Although our personalities and material circumstances are quite different I felt that he speaks my language. Fear is a large factor in my life, something that I'm now learning how to find a solution to. I started surfing three years ago and as much as I love it I am afraid of big waves, to hear those same fears echoed by a world-class surfer helped me realize that my fears can be overcome and that with work and faith I can become the person that I can be.

[Jack Oughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to live a life without fear when your brain has spent the last few million years using fear as a very effective survival mechanism.

So, embrace and use the fear instead.

See also: Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear :3

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and its eloquent mix of science and personal stories. I enjoyed every page and was disappointed to finally reach the end. My favorite quote was the simple statement: "Fear is lying to you"

Can't wait for Yogis next book this summer

[Lisa Dubbels]

Disclaimer: a client, so I'm biased.

[Aaron Cardinal · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent book. changed my whole outlook of fear.

[Mohammad Noroozi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been on my own project, trying to understand fear lately. I feel like I had great luck that I ran into this book when I did. The author used his personal stories about surfing, family, and relationships to anchor the knowledge about fear that he distilled in this story. I thought that was brilliant. He became his own example of how to use what science teaches us to master fear instead of letting it master us.

There's some great tricks to learn in this book to work through your fear. One is collecting positive memories from moments you pushed through fear in the past and remembering them as you amp yourself up to the event ahead of you. Another is visualisation and meditation about your worst fears, living that hypothetical out in your mind but gradually wearing down its triggering effect on you. Another was careful training and preparation for the aspects that scare you most. The book is full of great advice in that way and, again, married to real life examples from his own life.

He didn't just talk about how to beat fear. He talked about how fear got incorporated into our DNA. Why being so viscerally responsive to our fears was a trait which helped early humans, in much more hostile environments, survive. He talks about distinguishing between fear when it's helpful versus fear when it's not.

There is one drawback for me that I have to mention though. He's a big surfer. I'm not. I really liked what I learned from this book but I feel like people who surf, or at least people into surfer culture, might be more in tune with this book than I was. I knew for sure that that was true when he went through a story about a long distance swimmer friend of his encountering a Great White Shark. I'm an open water swimmer too and I could feel the moment a lot more than I could feel his surfing stories. I don't want to turn readers off the book. It is definitely an accessible and enjoyable read for the general public. I think surfers will enjoy it a little more though.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough one to rate...but I think it comes in solidly at a nice average 3 star. Not great, not bad. What’s good about it is, in no particular order:

- it’s written (and spoken in the audiobook) like a normal person is talking, even the scientific descriptions. It’s not dry, and it’s not trying to sell you on anything. A stark contrast to the last book I read by Malcolm Gladwell. I definitely prefer this style.
- it falls in the perfect spot between scientific treatise and self-help instruction: it’s practical and makes you think.
- it comes to a conclusion about dealing with fear in life, which is impressive considering it’s written mostly as a personal memoir.

What’s not so good:
- are adventurous daredevils the right people to be analyzing for a book about fear? Probably not. To his credit, he addresses this.
- I didn’t finish it because the very end is all about his excitement to have a kid and so he veers off from the topic to go completely into memoir mode.
- I felt he could've gone into more depth on the topic but he stays mostly in the realm of interesting thoughts on fear, not building knowledge on it. He brings up the science but then just moves on.

If this book appeals to you, it's interesting. You learn more than a little, less than a lot. (This might be my most lukewarm review. It kind of makes me want to take a nap more than go surf a giant wave.)

[Sage Trailblazer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Fear Project" by Jaimal Yogis indeed offers a comprehensive analysis of the various triggers of fear, providing readers with a deeper understanding of this primal emotion.

He delves into the biological and evolutionary roots of fear, examining how it has evolved as a survival mechanism to protect us from harm. Yogis also explores the psychological aspects of fear, uncovering how past experiences, beliefs, and conditioning can influence our perception of danger and trigger fear responses.

Moreover, Yogis examines how fear manifests in different aspects of life, from facing physical dangers to navigating social interactions and pursuing personal goals. By dissecting these triggers of fear, he helps readers gain insights into their own fears and learn how to respond to them with courage and resilience.

Overall, "The Fear Project" serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of fear and its impact on human behavior. It empowers readers to confront their fears, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate a mindset of bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.

[Sara Kimball · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, especially if you or someone you love is often paralyzed by fear. One of my favorite quotes from the book "If I've learned anything , it's that nature has selected a whole variety of traits for us- some good, some bad, and some a combination of the two. But the brain and the mind and the body have more plasticity than we ever imagined. We are constantly evolving. We learn from events, from one another, from our own empathese and awarenesses. A single thought changes the very structure of our brains. Think about that for a moment. A single thought moves matter. And that's a good thing if we use that malleability wisely. We can take this biological mess of wild impulses, hormones, ferocious emotions, and sharp intellect that we're saddled with and do something worthwhile- maybe something beautiful. "

[dane hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

FEARTASTIC!

The authors ability to keep me intrigued as well as entertained and most importantly educated made this read extremely fulfilling. This was not a life changing book for me but indeed life enhancing. Completely understanding a fear, the fear, all fear or no fear was not my experience. What I did experience is learning a new tool to look at some fears with less fear. And I have already tried to put that in action. Being a surfer myself I found a lot of the content was highly relatable. I would recommend this book to almost any age group because we all have different levels of fears we are charged with.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this book and had a blast. The way Jaimal develops the book, taking the reader on his own life journey, sharing all the facts but also narrating how he confronted his fears and analysing them so that anyone can learn from his experiences... All of this makes for a fascinating read, eye-opening and captivating. It really helped me to get a new perspective on fear and anxiety and also on surfing!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good book but very different from the first one I read by Jaimal Yogis. I was expecting something different.
If you want to learn a bit about the brain and how emotions work, this is a good read.

[Ryan MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book as it sucks you into the adrenaline world for those that live and love adventure... Fear plays a major role in our lives but learning why and how to deal with it makes living life to the fullest that much better

[Russell Voigt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great stories especially if you’re into adventure sports. Some cool ideas and viewpoints, other parts were kind of random or unnecessary as the author seems to talk about himself a little too much and stray from “the project.”
Fairly fast read and easy going.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the best book I’ve ever read - amazing!

[Catarina Glashester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an athlete and this book really changed my approach to fear, practice and breaking my boundaries. Recommend it to anyone who is looking to be challenged!

[Luke S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 10. Cool book that relates to everyday life and how we perceive fear and why we have it

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

review: 100% recomendado. El miedo nos acompaña a diario, es hora de finalmente entenderlo y enfrentarlo. Parte cientifico (pero siempre explicado), parte memorias del autor. En corto: este libro cambió mi vida (y no lo digo a la ligera). Muchos de los problemas nacen del miedo y pueden ser vencidos. Vamos "forward."

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. This one is really more of a 4.5 stars book for me. I picked it up on a whim (it was one shelf down at the library from the book I was looking for) but very glad I did, especially as it also includes big-wave surfing and Mavericks, two things I'm very much a fan of.

He does a great job of presenting why we may be afraid of certain things (nature versus learned sort of discussion), but also with a sense of humor. In facing his fears he says "I decide to start an activity much more frightening than big-wave surfing: dating." (I can totally identify!)

I wasn't with familiar with the research on memories and "brain rewriting" (my paraphrase) but it makes great sense and I will try to use some of what was discussed to "rewrite" some of my less than positive memories, as well as do a bit more research on this.

I would have been fine for him to end the book with the page 195 "summary" as I loved this bit: "But if I've learned anything in this research on fear, I guess it's not really specifically about death, or even about fear. If I've learned anything, it's that nature has selected a whole variety of traits for us - some good, some bad, and some a combination of the two. But the brain and the mind and the body have more plasticity than we ever imagined. We are constantly evolving. We learn from events, from one another, from our own emphases and awareness. A single thought changes the very structure of our brains. Think about that for a moment. A single thought moves matter. And that's a good thing if we use that malleability wisely. We can take this biological mess of wild impulses, hormones, ferocious emotions, and sharp intellect that we're saddled with and so something worthwhile - maybe something beautiful."

Definitely plan to pick up his other book and keep an eye out for future books and articles by Yogis.

[Doreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Given a copy from the author - Goodreads giveaway**
Thank you Mr. Yogis.

I have to admit that I sort of (ok maybe more than sort of) procrastinated starting this book. I was really excited when I read the description on the back of the book, then I started thinking, "what if it reads like a text book and I don't like it?" "The author was kind enough to share his work with me and I don't want to have to tell him I don't like it..."


I SHOULD HAVE STARTED IT SOONER!
The Fear Project, was a very good book. I started it last night, and I finished it last night. Mr. Yogis delved into his own life and used his own analogies to get the reader to understand the basis behind fear and why we react the way we do to certain situations.

I found it very interesting.