Naked Determination: 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear

by Gisela Hausmann

Discover this author's 41 most exciting and inspiring adventures...
66 reviews averaging 4.7***** at Amazon.

If you liked the "Chicken Soup" series you'll love this life skills book. 41 Stories about
#TRUST #ESSENTIALs #TIMING #SMILING #GUTS #RED_SHOES #SHRINK #AFFAIRS #SEX #LOVE #PROFESSIONAL_LIFE #EMAILS #MONEY #FINANCIAL_DISCIPLINE #ELECTRIC_ENERGY #REJECTION #PROBLEMS
#FUTURE #TREES #HOPE

BRONZE at the eLit Awards 2012 (category inspirational/motivational)

5***** at Readers Favorite

Genres: Memoir, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Self Help

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2012

About the author

Gisela Hausmann is a 29 yr. self-publishing industry veteran, an email evangelist and a top reviewer.

Her work has been featured in regional, national, and international publications including Success magazine (print) and Entrepreneur, on Bloomberg, The Innovation Show - a show for Square Pegs in Round Holes, "The Brutal Truth about Sales & Selling"-podcast, and Austria's Der Standard and Das Wirtschaftsblatt. Gisela is a graduate of the University of Vienna, Austria.

A unique mixture of wild risk-taker and careful planner, she globe-trotted almost 100,000 kilometers on three continents, including to the locations of her favorite books: Doctor Zhivago’s Russia, Heinrich Harrer’s Tibet, and Genghis Khan’s Mongolia.

Her motto:
"Don't wait. The time will never be just right."-Napoleon Hill

For more information about the author please visit her website at www.GiselaHausmann.com

Reviews

[Arminius · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gives lessons and advice after her life experience's. She leaves post it notes at the end of each chapter that captures the lesson she learned. My favorite post-it- note of the book is "Fear is the biggest obstacle."

I love how she explained how to become an expert at anything. 10,000 hours of doing something makes you an expert. It sounds like a daunting amount of time. Ms. Houseman simplifies the process by figuring out that if you spend 3 hours a day on a specific task you can master it in just 3 years.

I also love how she is a boxing fan. Predicting Mike Tyson's downfall was something few experts had seen at the time. Ms. Hausmann recognized Tyson's lack of fire and knew it would conquer him.

It has it's somewhat sad parts but also has very funny parts like her puzzled embarrassment when the maid of her future husband winked at her.

But I have to say if you are a man wanting to court her you better abide by her liberal politics or she will not give you the time of day.

As for self help books go "Power of the Subconscious Mind" is my top. This book comes in second because it is filled with stories of a smart, determined lady.

[Traci Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book was not so much about the specific content of each of the 41 inspiring real-life stories as it was about becoming a part of the incredibly broad worldview of the author. It was about searching my soul and broadening my own horizons. My worldview, my physical and intellectual capabilities, and my life experiences differ in almost every respect from the author's.

This author has "The Eye of the Tiger" (from the movie, Rocky III-appropriate since she loves boxing!) She has that driving hunger to succeed against all odds. Yet, to appreciate her book, you don't have to be unbelievably well traveled; speak at least two languages; be a master of a phenomenal number of ever-expanding trades, skills, and crafts; earn a hefty income at many jobs, or; be physically fit.

The two main messages of the book are "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." and "Trust your instincts and seize opportunities as you can." The author proves her own capabilities to survive every setback and grab every opportunity: if one career, or relationship, doesn't work out, she moves on; if a major publisher won't publish a photography book according to her specifications, she self publishes it; if she needs a tree cut down immediately, she grabs a chainsaw, and; if she can't get into a restricted foreign country by one route, she tries another route...These are only a few of the examples of the author's own naked determination.

These messages are delivered in series of honest, no-holds-barred vignettes from the author's own life.

Some of my favorite quotes follow: "The real experts are we ourselves.", "Don't let misery sink in.", "It is the unexpected and seemingly impossible challenges that allow us to grow.", "You must ask for your dream.", and "When you trust yourself, you develop strength."

If I had to choose only one quote to sum up the whole book, I would choose this one: "There is no perfect time to do what we feel we must." The whole book is about seizing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities the second they arise, or inventing your own incredible opportunities. It's a book about reinventing the wheel.

There is something in this book for everyone, no matter what their background. Although many of our experiences will differ greatly from the author's experiences, we can still learn from the tidbits of wisdom that she puts into each story.

I'm so glad that I read this book!

[Gloria Antypowich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book exemplifies Hausmanns spirit. So many of us wish, dream and consider doing things that never come to fruition, but Gisela Hausmann was born with a sense of adventure and a feisty determination that has carried her through life. She nourished those gifts, learned to not hesitate, to grasp the moment, to form alliances with people who would support her goals; devise a plan and sacrifice material things so she could fulfill her dreams. She learned to ask; not just to discover what she didn’t know, but to open doors for further opportunities to use what she did know.

When her husband died unexpectedly her world as she knew it disappeared too, and she had to “reinvent herself” to provide for her family; then again when the disasterous financial downturn in the US hit in 2008 she lost the source of income that she’d struggled so hard to achieve. Both times she grieved, and floundered in fear and depression for a time. Them she did what she knew she had to do. She pulled herself up by her bootstraps and once again “reinvented” herself, she relearned the lessons of her youth, she assessed her skills and marched forward to conquer her fears, because she knew she couldn’t fail; she had no choice And she succeeded.

Gisela Hausmann and her father shared a special bond; I loved that when she was a young child they took long motor trips, leaving early in the morning while the rest of the household was sleeping and they visited castles and museums and historical sites. He understood her sense of adventure and didn’t discourage it, but instead fed it when he showed her a brochure listing a trip to Russia that he knew she would love. She couldn’t take it on her own because she was a very young woman and the journey was long and possibly dangerous. In what became typical Hausmann style she didn’t give up but hounded her grandmother to go with her until the woman relented, and shared what turned out to be a wonderful experience for both of them.

I chuckled when she took on the neighbourhood bully in defense of her younger brother and felt happy to note that the two siblings formed an alliance that stayed with them until he died an untimely death. She is a boxing fan, and I’m sure the seed of that interest may have been planted there!

Husmann is so honest and forthright in her depiction of her life, her exotic travels, revelations of intimate details; affairs, lovers, how she met her husband who was the real life fulfillment of the man she had envisioned in an advertising job two years earlier—right down to being an Austrian who wore cowboy boots! There is no exhibitionism here. She tells it like it is and explains the lessons that she learned, the joy that she felt, sad acknowledgements of dreams gone awry. Each story leaves the reader with a seed of thought; how they too can make their life bolder, broader and realise greater satisfaction.

Truly, not all of us will travel like she has, we won`t work in the movie industry or make comercials, we won`t have affairs with men who are bigger than life, and we hope we won`t have our lives shattered by the loss of a loved one or lose our careers to forces beyond our control and have to start all over again. However this wonderful little book proves to all of us that it is within the human spirit to rise above overwhelming difficulties and succeed. It also shows us that we can spread our wings and fly, making our own life more dynamic and our dreams come true if we want them bad enough to apply the lessons the author has shared. How sad if we chose to live a lesser dream!

Don`t miss this impressive read. See what Gisela Husmann has accomplished in her life and discover that she is very human, just like you are, so reaching your own dreams is very possible. You just need to trust that you can do it, find the strength within yourself and pursue your goals with Naked Determination.

[Lloyd Antypowich · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I like determined people”. They have the will and grit to make them succeed. In my opinion people should read Naked Determination, because the author has done an excellent job showing people how to overcome the thing that robs so many people of achieving their goals—FEAR. She explained to them the need to have confidence in themselves by showing them what she has done ,and where she went.
If there are road blocks, and life is full of them, you simply never except can’t. That only means nothing, and a hundred nothings are still nothing. Only yeses count. A hundred yeses are pretty impressive. Think of it as interviews, or relationships, get the idea. Every day we sell our selves, do we sell negatively or positively?
Gisela Hausmann is a very positive person, and she portrays that in her book. It should inspire people who read her book to realize that THEY must put into motion the wheels that will enable them to also become successful. When I was a 4-H leader we developed a motto, “learn to do by doing” It was our job to show them how to do things, but they had to do them. In my opinion those that will apply this book in their lives, will reap many benefits.
Thank you, Gisela Hausmann, for giving me the opportunity to read your book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Because there is so much positive’ information in this book I give it 5 Stars.

[Leyla Atke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gisela Hausmann wrote a great book sharing her life experiences and lessons she learned from them. It is actually a story of her life. I really enjoyed the exciting descriptions of author’s adventures in different situations and the ways how she solved problems. 4 stars only because I think the quality of pictures could be better.

[Dennis Littrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceptively deep memoir

This is a collection of 41 stories or personal essays—petite memoirs actually—from the life of the author. Hausmann’s intent is to inspire others to overcome adversity and to meet life’s challenges. She shows us how she did it (with a little help from friends and family).

This is also a book of lessons about life and afterthoughts on how to live life in the fullest sense, and how to create our happiness in the face of adversary and just plain bad luck.

What Hausmann does in addition to inspiring is to recall for the reader her psychological experiences as she lived these events. She could watch uncaring as a large bottle of red cranberry juice spilled out onto the floor because she was so deeply into mourning due to the death of a loved one.

Some of it is a bit corny, like “Know Your Dream Destination” (relearned lesson from “Knowing Your Destination”) or “You Must Ask for Your Dream” (from the story about working with director Franz Novotny). And some of it really is blatant (if not exactly “naked”) determination. For example, fifteen-year-old Gisela got her grandmother to accompany her on a long bus trip to Moscow by nagging her daily for MONTHS. By the way, the afterthought to that story is surprisingly about logistics! Hausmann quotes General Omar Bradley as saying, “Amateurs study strategy, professionals study logistics.” Why? Because it’s a long, long ways from France to Moscow as Napoleon learned the hard way and as Hausmann was able to experience vicariously by traveling across the vast Russian countryside with her grandmother.

Yes, a lot of this is about traveling—to Tibet, to Los Angeles, to Russia, to China, etc., but it’s also about people and what “Gisy” learned from them. And yes it is about affairs and love.

From reading this I would say that the secret to Hausmann’s success is hard work and the ability to see things in a positive light whenever possible. Too fat? Can’t sleep? Solution: enroll in a gym that stays open 24/7 and when you have two a.m. insomnia, get up and work out for an hour and a half. This made Gisela feel almost studly. Further result: “So I took myself a new lover and had fun.” Yes, Hausmann can be strikingly candid.

One of the things that struck me about his book was how much Hausmann revealed about herself, both intentionally and by-the-by. She is with Walt Whitman in that she celebrates herself openly without blatant bragging. We all should be proud of ourselves (and a lot of this book IS about building self-esteem) but we should also realize as Hausmann has that we can only be proud of ourselves if we do the best we can as often as we can.

Finally I was amused by Hausmann’s story about “the Casablanca Principle” in which she assuages herself as she breaks up with a boyfriend by using this famous line from the Humphrey Bogart-Ingrid Bergman film: “We’ll always have Paris.” The idea of emphasizing the good times together is typical of Hausmann’s attitude toward life. I was amused because after I broke up with a girlfriend with whom I had travelled a bit in the U.S., she liked to say with a smile, recalling the Bogart line,“We’ll always have Colby, Kansas” (where we stayed one night).

By the way, I say that this book is “deceptively deep” because of what Hausmann ultimately reveals about herself.

All in all this is a most interesting memoir from a woman who knows the world and herself.

--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”

[Jessica Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Naked Determination: 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear" is packed with various real-life situations the author has dealt with and how she overcame obstacles without giving up. There are beautiful photos within this book, with my favorite being that of the Potala Palace where the author took a once in a lifetime photo. The author explains that timing can be important, so don't wait to go do things and experience life. Ask questions, be true to yourself, and don't accumulate stuff you wouldn't be happy to move several times. The author explains how rejection isn't the end and being the underdog isn't always a bad thing. The author also details how to use our own stories to solve our own problems to keep going and stay determined.
I recommend this book to adults who are looking for some inspiration, not just a self-help book.

[Alana Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an autobiography of a different kind. The author tells her story in a series of flashbacks that she describes as lessons she has learned along the way, from early childhood to present time.

Immediately I began reading I found the language to be stilted, until I realised that English is her second language. Then suddenly in my head I heard her words in the voice of a Dutch friend who speaks the same way. After that I found the mistakes and the often formal style very charming.

Autobiographies and memoirs amaze me. It astounds me how much people can recall. I certainly can’t remember details and conversations from years ago, especially from when I was a youngster. So when I read a good one, such as this is, I’m fascinated.

Hausmann was born and grew up in Austria, moving to the US as an adult. From an early age she had wanderlust and began travelling in her teens to such wild and exotic locations as Russia, Kashmir and China in the days when it required major logistical organisation. She lived frugally with the purpose of travelling, saving as much as she could from the diverse and sometimes fascinating spheres she worked in, such as the film industry.

The enthusiasm and effort she puts into everything—travel, work, family—shines out. She believes in putting everything of yourself into everything you do and has applied that to herself along the way.
As I said, the book is told in the form of life lessons and she finishes each story with an afterthought and what the lesson has taught her.

Honesty shines out of these stories, sometimes intimate, sometimes humorous, always inspiring. She’s had it tough, losing her husband in an accident and her brother to illness. What you finish the book thinking is that this is one of life’s indomitables.

The drawback to reading this on my Kindle was that it didn’t do full justice to the photos. The scenic shots in particular are probably magnificent in full size and colour.

An inspiring read. If it doesn’t instantly energise or re-energise you to conquer your own mountains then perhaps we haven’t read the same book!

[Inna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not won this book on GoodReads.com site. I read first couple of stories from the book on Amazon site as a preview. Then for a day or so I was trying to convince myself that my pile of 'To-read' books is big enough already, and if I add digital ones, oh... Do I really need one more book? Then I read those chapters one more time, then I talked about them with my daughter and how impressed I was and how I liked the idea of the book and the style of the author. And then those stories were on my mind and the topic of conversations again. And then I decided that I just have to finish this book, have to read all 41 stories.

There are several categories of the books. Some of them you read once and never come back. Some of them you cannot put down because you just should find out how it all ended. Some of the books you want to read really slow to enjoy every minute of experience, to absorb every tiny little detail. Others you want to read and reread again for motivation, for ideas, and so on. This book was giving me mixed feelings, I wanted to slow down in order not miss anything, I wanted to hurry up to find out what is ahead, I wanted to go back and read from the beginning because I liked some of the stories so much - all at the same time. it is very emotional, it is very personal, it feels like author is sitting next to you and telling you the story.

I highly recommend the book. Thank you Gisela, this book will be definitely on my Favorite 'virtual' shelf.

[Josephine Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gisela Hausmann points out that her book, Naked Determination, is not a self-help book. Maybe not, but it is definitely a self-encouraging book. Reading the forty-one anecdotes of her life experiences is like spending a morning with an up-beat, no-nonsense friend, in her kitchen, drinking coffee. Perhaps you were feeling at a loss, defeated by life, but you leave her feeling brighter, up-lifted and full of self-confidence.

Ms. Hausmann's childhood was comfortable and loving but as with most human beings she did not escape tragedy; losing a beloved, young brother and later her husband, widowed and bringing up two young children in a country that was not her own. She was born, clearly, with the most precious of gifts: self-belief, boldness and unquenchable optimism, which she shares with the reader in these interesting, short life-stories. She is adventurous, unafraid to travel alone, unafraid of hard work, and this is perhaps the essential "lesson" of Naked Determination: facing fears and overcoming them, not allowing them to curtail or dominate our lives.

Ms. Hausmann writes with an infectious enthusiasm that will inspire any woman who finds herself at one of life's many crossroads. Naked Determination is a rousing "pep" talk, a "you can do it!" cry of encouragement from a supportive friend. Buy this book for your daughters, sisters, mothers, and yourself.

[Surjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

After going through the reviews on the book,I was fascinated to read it.I have no hesitation to state that "Naked Detemination" has not disappointed me.Rather,I relished it & found it informative,educative and motivating.It is 'travelouge,biography & self-help' rolled into one.The reader will find interspersed knowledge & pearls of wisdom emnating from the personal experience of the writer.A book worth reading.

[Frank Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naked Determination gets at your soul. It reminds me of the trials I've already faced, the embarrassing moments in my life and the comfort of knowing someone else has met the same situations with grace (sometimes) and with good humor (always.) I enjoyed the book and have recommended it to my friends. I give it five stars for poignancy and five more for style. Loved it and will read more from Gisela.

[Cathy McGough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book, filled with personal, revealing and heartfelt life experience stories from Gisela Hausmann. The thought that kept crossing my mind was - this should be a movie! Truly inspiring. Needless to say, I'm a fan!

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Naked Determination: 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear” by Gisela Hausmann is a compelling collection that masterfully blends personal narrative with life lessons, offering readers a unique and engaging approach to tackling fear and fostering personal growth. Hausmann’s decision to forgo traditional self-help formats in favor of sharing her own experiences is both bold and refreshing, effectively demonstrating the power of storytelling in overcoming life’s challenges. The book’s organization into ten life-skills groups, including basics, essentials, personal evolution, love, and professional life, ensures that there is something for everyone. Each section is enriched with four autobiographical stories that not only entertain but also enlighten, providing valuable insights into the complexities of human emotions and the resilience of the spirit. The inclusion of an afterthought and a sticky note at the end of each story distills the essence of Hausmann’s experiences into tangible takeaways, making the lessons easily accessible and relatable.

What sets “Naked Determination” apart is Hausmann’s raw honesty and vulnerability. By opening up about her own fears and the strategies she employed to overcome them, she creates a powerful connection with her readers, encouraging them to reflect on their own stories and the lessons they hold. The book’s global adventure trip and diverse workplace settings add an extra layer of intrigue, illustrating that the journey to self-discovery and empowerment knows no boundaries.

The 42 illustrations accompanying the stories further enhance the reading experience, providing a visual dimension that complements the narrative’s emotional depth. These illustrations serve as a visual treat and a reminder of the multifaceted nature of fear and the courage required to confront it.

In conclusion, “Naked Determination: 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear” is a remarkable and insightful book that challenges conventional self-help paradigms. Gisela Hausmann’s innovative approach to sharing life lessons through storytelling is both effective and inspiring. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to explore their fears, understand their personal narratives, and embark on a journey of self-improvement and empowerment.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, a gifted writer.

This is not like any memoir I have read before-but in a good way! It's a refreshing change, written in a different style. It is perhaps a book I would be put-off initially-by the title: it seems like a self help book. Once you get hooked in reading this, it is so good, just a different technique of writing a memoir. This goes much deeper straightaway. Early on in the book, I could tell Gisela was going to be an amazing woman, she has had to deal with so much in life and come through it and written about her life, made it into something positive. This IS memoir-about her life, family, sadness, deaths of loved ones. Such a shock right at the beginning of her memoir stories: her husband is dead, fallen from a balcony. This is good-and it's awful to say because she's writing about the aftermath of her husband's death but she has a real talent for writing. Vividly recreates all this, just a few pages in and I was so moved by this, really admiring her, her writing has the power to achieve this in only these few words. I liked the presentation-the photos of post it notes really added to it. Not long after she has been telling of the loss of her husband, the brother she has been talking about has passed away due to Multiple Sclerosis. So sad, really grabs your attention. Tales about family, tragedy, mentions of places, travel etc. photos included. Perfectly described, you really get the picture, not excessively wordy at all. Gisela worked in the movies, intriguing, it just makes you want to keep reading on. She seems to be 4 years older than me-15 in 1977-amazing what she has achieved. Trip to Moscow with Grandma when 15, mentions the places and things they saw there. Such enthusiasm as she tells. Comical about how the drivers changeover on the bus-without stopping the bus! I've not heard of this Trans Siberian route before, ok, I'm not very well-travelled but I do like to read about other's travels in books/memoirs. It's great reading about their travels here. Interesting how they planned this trip years ago yet by now she and the boyfriend are exes-but she still asks him to go on the trip, just like they arranged all those years ago! At this time, her brother was having tests (which eventually lead to his diagnosis but they don't know about this yet at this point in the book). He doesn't go, the boyfriend doesn't go, so she's taking on such a big travel project singlehandedly. She tells us about some of the foods available that she ate in Tibet. Good, short, bite-sized chapters, irresistible for dipping in, just a few moments longer, another chapter. By 2008 she was living in the US. There was a recession and she lost her job in the construction industry-what did she do? She got a job in the transportation industry-she seems to be able to turn her hand to anything-is there anything this lady can't do?! Later we are reading that she was now a single mum with two children. I do like these easy to read, more random subject chapters but would have liked a more chronological approach to how she came to have her kids then how she came to be single-although-it does set you wondering-so you got to read more!-good tactic I think! I love how she writes about meeting her husband Florian. At first he wasn't interested in the book project. Her annoyance that he wasn't ready on the dot for their 3pm meeting, holding her finger on the doorbell-ha ha! A few smiles in this chapter. One chapter deals with traveling on holiday to Italy with Jim. A chapter which shows her talent for travel writing too!-describing the local area. I like this, as, I don't travel so much now but I love to read about different countries where people live or their memorable trips there. Brings back memories of my trip to Austria and the day trip from there to Innsbruck and Vipetino. There's a very interesting chapter about her trip to Kashmir, photos included etc. also, The International Ice And Snow Sculpture Festival- yes, this snow and ice festival sounds amazing-what a sight to see. She has so much to say to interest you. We hear about her life, family and loved ones who are now gone, her travels, all very interesting and varied and contains many aspects of her life. Such varied jobs she's had, a wealth of experience-yet this book is never preachy or I did this I did that, the tone is just right and it was all very appealing to me.

[Divya Lavanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everyone lives a life worth writing about, but the author certainly did. At a very young age, she discovered that travelling was her passion and spent most of her life living her passion. This book, however, is not just about her travel experiences. It’s most importantly about the instances in her life where she overcame fear with determination. I believe that every Indian woman should read this book. It’d be inspiring to read about a woman, who, against all odds, traveled 47 different countries, faced great recession, held several jobs ranging from director’s assistant in movies to a boring 8to5 job in order to support her children as a single parent, and finally wrote a book about the lessons she had learnt along the way.

This book is divided into 41 stories, with a takeaway at the end of each story. I particularly liked this clever way of making readers remember important points in the book. This is not a self-help book, however. It’s an autobiographical account of the author, which makes the lessons even more valuable, because it reminds me of the quote, ‘Practice before you preach.’ She herself applied all the principles to her life and experienced success, and now she wants to share her stories with the world, to inspire at least a few people.

The book starts with an inspiring note: “Yes—You can start over, every single day”. Every sunrise offers us an opportunity to start our life over, and it’s up to us whether we grab it or not. The author sank into depression after the premature death of her husband and was in desperate need of inspiration to start her life all over. That was when she took courage in the fact that she had done awesome things in the past, and when she could do those things then, she could do it again. I liked all of the stories, not just the first. Here’s a woman who traveled round the world, achieved some great things, and yet the tone of the book is never preachy. That’s where the beauty of the book lies.

When we read a collection of stories, it generally happens that some stories stand out among others. It’s perhaps because we can relate to them. Some of the stories I liked and why:

1. In the story “Knowing you destination”, the author says that the earliest desires are untainted by secondary thoughts. They represent what we really want and can accomplish if we set our mind on it. I could relate to this so well. When I first visited Hyderabad as a kid, I instantly knew that it was where I wanted to be— In a big city (Well, it was a big city to me then). Even now I often wonder if it’s just a coincidence that I happened to study there or was it my strong desire that guided me.

2. The story “The guts to ask” is worth remembering. If I think about it deeply, it is really true. Sometimes, we might get what we want just by asking.

3. I liked the lesson of the story “Smile”. It’s true that our mood travels through the phone line even. Unconsciously we can detect if a person at the other end of a phone is cheerful or irritable and we respond in the same vein.

4. If I could truly relate to one story, it was “Don’t ask the devil’s advocate”. It had an interesting line “It is deeply human to ask others for their opinion and/or support, but really most often we would like to hear an enforcement of our own opinions”. So true.

5. The next story “My case for affairs” is interesting as well, particularly the Casablanca principle. “Not every relationship is meant to last a lifetime”. If only humans can understand that and move on.

6. If there’s one story I want everyone one to follow that’s “Give credit where credit is due.” Often, we see people claiming the credit of others. We need to put ourselves in the place of the other person and give credit where credit is due.

7. And lastly, I liked “What do we really need?” not only because it’s set in Kashmir, but also because of the thought provoking takeaway at the end.

I could go on and on about the lessons at the end of each story, but then I’d revealing too much. I see that I’ve already written a lot about the book. One has to read it to truly understand the essence of the book. It is one book I’d heartily recommend to anyone in need of inspiration. Give it a try…

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most important point that must be made in any evaluation of this book is to explain the use of the word "naked" in the title. In this case it means unvarnished, unaltered or unfiltered as in the phrase "naked truth."
The overall theme of the book is that fear is a powerful force in human lives and that if we are to accomplish anything of significance it must be overcome. Hausmann uses experiences from her life to describe some of the many forms that fear can come in, running the gamut from the fear of success to the fear of failure. The context of the fear also covers a great deal of ground, from her having to cope with the very unexpected death death of her husband to the fear of applying for and accepting a new job where she had questionable qualifications.
Many autobiographical books suffer from the problem that the author considers their stories significant, understandable because it is after all their life, but that interest does not transfer well to others. Sometimes it is because the reader cannot relate to the circumstances and other times it is because the telling of the tale just does not engage the reader.
Hausmann avoids both of those pitfalls; she tells her stories in a style that keeps your mind engaged in the events, even when they tend to be about the more minor problems of life. Secondly, since it is about fear, the emotion that even the bravest of us experience at points in our lives, even the most robotic person can relate to the situations. This includes the more unusual events that few people experience, such as losing a spouse when there are children to take care of and traveling the Trans Siberia railway and then going on to Tibet, are handled in a manner where the reader is sympathetic and understanding.
The story that I found the most amusing was one of the early ones called "Form Alliances" and is the story of when she beat up the bully that was much bigger than her. When she saw the bully beating up her younger brother she took him by surprise; got him down and gave him several solid whacks to the head. To her surprise the bully got up and walked away in a daze. The key point is the lesson that facing up to your fear and giving the perceived danger a couple of good whacks will solve the problem and help reduce your level of fear for the rest of your life. Something similar happened to me when I was in middle school when I stood up to a bully that was picking on one of my friends.
Each story ends with a short inspirational message that is consistent with the theme of the tale. For example, the one at the end of a story about seeking emotional support is "Only you, yourself can make your skills count."
We all have fears that must be overcome if we are to accomplish anything of significance in life. While Hausmann has done more than most, her telling of her adventures never leaves even the most unadventurous of readers behind.

This book was made available for free for review purposes.

[Donna McBroom-Theriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are those who dream and those who do. This author is both, and the resulting stories are fascinating. When she wants something, she has the courage to chase after it and grab it with both hands. There are forty-one stories that the author uses to portray the life lessons she has learned. She writes with humor and insight and the book is a joy to read. I am including a few quotes taken near the beginning of the book to inspire you to read it. It would be so very easy to quote the entire book.

I enjoyed the structure of the book. The author told a story and then at the end of each story, she added the life lesson that she had to relearn. It is an enjoyable read and one you will want to pass along to friends.


(Upon finding her brother being beat up by a bully) "Then I had an idea. I had read these stories by Karl May about this brave cowboy, nicknamed 'Old Shatterhand'. He could punch any guy, any size and knock him out - with a single blow to the temple! That was exactly what I was going to do. Michael the Bully was still surprised by the attack. I could tell. Probably nothing like that had ever happened to him. Fired up by seeing that he didn't know what to do, I grabbed him with my left by his collar and pulled his head up. At the same time I formed a fist with my right. 'Smack', I hit Michael with all my might against his temple. I was going to knock him out. Unconscious! Right now! But, Michael with his stocky body did not pass out. "Hm, somehow I must not have done this right." Old Shatterhand's opponents always passed out. So, while Michael lifted his head in utter astonishment I hit him again with my fist. Michael's head fell back onto the gravel. But, again, he lifted his head. Well, what could I do? I was trying to get this right. I hit Michael again..."

"One of them is the Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest railway in the world. Traveling the Trans-Sib, which she is fondly called by the travelers who have done this trip, means conquering a distance of almost 10,000 kilometers, crossing two continents and seven time zones...It is a train trip that lasts seven days...It is most certainly the ultimate railway trip!"

Read more at: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com...

[Tabitha Ormiston-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique book is a collection of true stories from the author’s richly varied life. Each story illustrates one lesson learned in the author’s quest for achievement and empowerment. This being said, though, the book is just a great read for its own sake, and should not be viewed as being merely in the self help, or personal development category.
The popular trope of self-reinvention is always a drawcard for me, but even so, this book stands out above the general run of “self-help” books, which all too often contain nothing but platitudes. The basic premise behind Ms Hausmann’s work is that one can do almost anything as long as one refuses to admit that one can’t do it - a great attitude and certainly one that has worked for her.
The book is structured into chapters of which each chapter illustrates one single lesson the author has drawn from her life experiences. Each chapter tells the story and then unpacks the lesson learned. There are small pictures and illustrations, but these don’t get in the way of the text, and in fact give the work something of the flavour of a friendly chat, with the occasional photo coming out of a wallet. I found Ms Hausmann’s writing style extremely engaging; there is a warmth and naturalness to it that makes one feel one is in the presence of an old friend. The occasional awkwardness in English arising from the fact that English is not the writer’s first language does not detract at all from the book, and in fact I felt that it enhanced it rather, giving Ms Hausmann’s writing that faint exotic flavour that a slight hint of European accent can give to a person’s speech. As a working editor myself, if called upon to fix this, I would not touch it - one of this book’s great charms is the way the author’s unique voices sounds so clearly in every line of it. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and one that I am sure I will revisit often.

[Michael Lynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Naked Determination, 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear" by Gisela Hausmann is a very well written and inspirational work. It does not fall neatly into any specific genre, but might perhaps be best characterized as a 'serial memoir' - almost a diary-like work of personal anecdotes that Ms. Hausmann relates from the first person point-of-view and then provides a sort of retrospective 'looking back' summation at the conclusion of each vignette to provide the reader with a specific life-lesson or concrete take-away that she distilled from the experience.
In this regard Ms. Hausmann has crafted a work which goes beyond a simple re-telling and allows her to first illustrate, then illuminate and finally guide the reader, being both the object as well as the observer in the missive. This is both intriguing and in my experience somewhat unique, and the method by which Ms. Hausmann has chosen to instruct is as effective as it is challenging. The challenge is embodied in the frank, self-deprecating and brutally honest way in which these recollections are voiced.
No punches are pulled, and Ms. Hausmann does neither beg our forgiveness nor does she overtly solicit our sympathy for the various difficult circumstances which she employs as fuel for her engaging encyclical. Rather she becomes a very matter-of-fact Everyman, (Everywoman?), in whom we can easily see ourselves, flawed and imperfect creations who might well think twice before granting ourselves airs or holding ourselves as in some way greater than our fellow man.
I want to extend my thanks to Ms. Hausmann for the opportunity to read her fine work. I was given a copy of this book as a prize for commenting on a blog site which was being guest-hosted by my benefactor and I found the work to be an inspiring if quick read. Good show!

[Philip J McQuillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seldom, in all my reading, have I found a book so immediately convincing that I wanted to copy/paste whole pages of it into an e-mail and send to a friend. There were passages that really grabbed me; instinctively, I knew they would grab others too and bring them déjà vu moments, guffaws of laughter or simply give them food for deep thought.

If there is a common thread running through all of her chapters it probably is, "These are the experiences that I had, different but not so much different from yours that you cannot identify with them. Here is what I took away from each experience." It then becomes a matter of reader’s choice, if they want to apply the take away message to their own life, such as it is. Personally, I found plenty of wisdom in these messages — much to digest and re-digest and to talk about later.

The author makes some very powerful points. When it comes to solving the problems life inevitably brings, she exhorts us to look within ourselves. If only we listen to and reflect on our personal stories, trusting ourselves completely, will the solutions (that we already know instinctively) appear like magic. We have but to look for them, find them, confide in their power to influence the present and the future, and then apply them with "naked determination!

I am sure I will return to this book from time to time, looking for the familiar yellow sticky notes that highlight "Lessons to Be Worked on Every Day", "Lessons I Always Keep in Mind" and other similar Lessons. I wish these lessons had been indexed in some way for quick reference; a clickable Table of Contents would have been very handy too, for the same reason. I wish that Amazon had a rating system that included a 4.5 star possibility, because that is genuinely what I think the book deserves.

[Kristen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating!


The author tells fascinating stories about growing up in Austria, visiting Moscow at 15, when it was still behind the “iron curtain,” and her adventurous travels to the ends of the earth. Each story is followed by a lesson she relearned.

What made it especially fun for me is that most of these were not luxury vacations. She saw the limitless skies of Mongolia, traveling the same roads as Genghis Khan. The journey through Kashmir was on a single lane, unpaved road over a 11,575 foot mountain pass. Traffic went in only one direction for hours at a time, and then would switch directions. There were steep drops over the cliff on the side of the road with no guardrails.

One destination was Harbin, China, the “Ice City.” It is well below freezing for months on end. The only thing there is ice, which the inhabitants used to celebrate with the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. That was one of my favorite stories, though I’m glad the author went, because the idea of my breath freezing in my mouth dissuades me from putting Harbin on my bucket list.

Reading the book is like sitting and chatting with your bff. The adventures are interspersed with tales of romantic encounters from online dating sites to one night stands, culminating in a fulfilling marriage and loss of her husband.

Throughout the book there are interesting photos.I didn't realize that on Kindle, you double click the pics and they get big, so I had to go back through the whole book to revisit all the photos.

I highly recommend this book as a travel/adventure/motivational satisfying read. I read the first chapter and finished the story in one reading.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/04/Nak...

Now, I am not much of a non-fiction reader but what attracted me to this book, and can also be said to be the USP of it, is the fact that the author has narrated incidents from her own life.

From losing her husband early to losing her job during recession to handling a bully, Gisela has seen and faced a lot in her life. As she tells us stories from different chapters of her life, she leaves us with a message that she learned and ones that we can learn from her life. Gisela has dreamt the dreams and the gone ahead to do what it takes to make those dreams come true. She did not back out when times got hard or when there seemed to be too many hurdles across her path. To move ahead and to take things in her stride as she moved forward on the path to success, Gisela has done a good job.

The stories are told simply as if the author was narrating it to someone sitting across from her. Highly unpretentious and not even a little bit preachy, these stories will strike a chord in your heart and maybe, just maybe, you will decide to take the lesson away with you. Being a 31 year old Indian, my background is very different from the author’s yet I had a sense of déjà vu while reading the stories as if she was telling me my story or that of someone I know closely. That is the best part of this book – the author narrates reality instead of some fictional stories and as such readers can connect to them better than those we read at moral science class at school.

Overall, this is a fast read even if it isn’t such a light one. Give it a try…

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book! It's not everyday that you find a book that is useful to the reader in it's own special way. All the stories have meaning and purpose. As with anything, some stories will resonate with you more than others. However, the author also put "Afterthoughts" at the end of each story to summarize what she got out of each life lesson. There are also Post-It Notes at the ends of each story, as a reminder of things we need to keep in mind in life. There are several stories that really stick out at me as I write this, one of them being: Don't Ask The Devil's Advocate. If you KNOW, then trust what you KNOW. Don't doubt yourself, trust your innate wisdom that we all have. Yes, this book is a great example of the fact that we really do have all of the answers inside of us. We just have to search, look, grow, learn, evolve, morph into the person we are really meant to be. Very impressed with the content! I started in the middle of the book on a story I thought might be of interest to me, and it most certainly got my attention as I nodded my head. From there, I perused the pages as my interest went from topic to topic. The author has utilized her well versed experiences in life, professions, love and more, to assist those who may just be starting their journeys, for those that may have lost their belief in themselves, or those who are just struggling day by day to figure it all out. Definitely, a worthwhile read.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Gisela's series of short [memoir] stories. Each one had a tiny kernel of truth, a lesson, buried deep enough that it didn't get in the way of the story telling, but left you understanding that there was a lesson to be learned.

My favorite one was about her protecting her brother. It's early in the book, so I'm not spoiling any of the story. [ "RUNNNN..." I yelled at my brother and threw myself on top of Michael the Bully. Since he was such a big guy I saw no alternative other than to sit down on his chest in order to pin him down as tight as I could. Of course, even the thought of sitting on a perspiring boy was 'ewww-disgusting' to me but in this moment the goal commanded the means. ] Gisela did a great job of portraying a young girl's feelings and misconceptions about what it takes to subdue a bully.

On the flip side, two things frustrated me. In the opening, I wanted to know more about why/what happened, more details. And second, I got a bit confused because the stories weren't in chronological order. Writer's choice, but it did tend to slow me down a bit having to figure out where I was in Gisela's life.

But over all, good job and I would read more of Gisela's work.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads First reads program. I initially thought this book was a self help book. Something to guide you on overcoming fear. And it's not really (which the author does state at the end), rather this is a compilation of stories from the authors life that tells how she got over some somewhat fearful hurdles, and what lessons she learned from them. I can't say this was a super engaging book, as it was a somewhat slow read, but I think that is just the nature of this type of book. It seemed to jump around timeline wise, and that was a bit bothersome to the organized side of me, but overall it didn't take away anything from the book. I also noticed right off that English probably wasn't the authors first language. It was by NO means confusing to read, but just the way some of the things were worded, you could tell. I found it rather endearing however. The 3 star rating, for me, was simply because this isn't my typical type of book - I tend to prefer fiction - mysteries in particular, but for the genre I did enjoy it. There was also a nice "workbook" at the end which could be great for a book group.

[Gigi Sedlmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons to learn in ones life.

Wow, what inspirational stories.

The power of the dream. It is amazing, how many times I found myself in Gisela's story. It's not only because my name is Gisela as well. It's her lifestyle, her determination, her hard work if she put something into her mind, she will fulfil it. All that is me as well.
When she learnt to swim, it happens like it was with me; also living in an apartment without running water, or having the toilet outside. Reading Karl May books in her young age, as I did as well. All that sprang into my mind and the memories were coming back. All that and more.

It just amazed me to read it in a book, written by another person with the same name as mine.

We, so similar were growing up, but still we are two different people. We overcame rejection, hardship and whatever life was throwing at us. There comes the saying: The need to be and to feel special and accepted.

The book is very different from the books I normally read, but I really enjoyed her good and humorous well written stories and recommend it to everyone.

[Zelmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book, filled with inspiring real life stories. I only only become aware of it when the author tweeted me, telling me that she was reading my debut novel, In the Middle. I then purchased her book out of respect for a fellow author. I started reading it the next day and I'm glad that I did purchase it and read it.

Starting with a great opening, Naked Determination is divided into forty-one short chapters, each one containing a life lesson that the author learned during the course of her life.

I wouldn't compare it to another self-help books because it doesn't read like one. Instead, reads like an autobiography and the lessons that the author learned in her life are very universal.

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels uncertainty about what they should do with their life. Reading it will give them the courage to follow their dreams.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodread's First Reads. Overall, I really did enjoy this book, and I loved how parts of it were relate-able to my own life. The author seemed to live an amazing life of travel and opportunities. It made me realize that I am still young and should start exploring the world around me. I also need to try and "search out" some more opportunities in my own life. The only reason my review did not get 5 stars was because some parts I felt were dragged out (some of the travel stories) or repeated a lot (the recession would find its way to pop into certain chapters). Finally, I would recommend this to my friends who are in need of finding themselves or unsure of how they would like to have their life go. I am very happy I received a copy of this book, and got the opportunity to review it.

[Siobhan Daiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Gisela Hausmann’s autobiography to be a compelling read. Each story about overcoming fear spoke to me. As the author herself says, ‘this book is not a self-help book – it is a reminder’ that through determination it’s possible to succeed. Gisela’s honesty shines through every word, not in a ‘preachy’ way, but more as if you were listening to a friend chat about what life has taught her. Take from it what you will, she doesn’t lay it on you. As Margaret Attwood said, ‘in the end, we’ll all become stories’. It’s what we make of them, and life, that Gisela highlights in her remarkable memoir. Such a courageous lady, and I’m full of admiration for her. I love the fact that 5% of the proceeds from sales of this book will go to the Red Cross. You’ll need to read “Naked Determination” to discover why that is.