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The Power of Choice
'Life is part chance, part circumstance, part choice. You don't get to choose everything that happens to you, but you always get to choose who you become in response.'
Neale Daniher is in his thirteenth year of living with Motor Neurone Disease. His body is broken and he can no longer speak, but his mind is sharp and his capacity to give, unvanquished.
With the terminal diagnosis came a to retreat into the comfort of home and family, or to look for opportunity in the darkest of times.
Neale - a thinker, a taskmaster, a competitor - chose to fight, not just for his life but for those who will be diagnosed in the future. His tireless work with FightMND has helped to mobilised millions of Australians to combat the cruel killer he calls The Beast.
Neale shares with us what he wishes to pass on to his six grandkids, to help them harness the power of choice and make good decisions. Lessons on choosing your attitude, being courageous and accepting responsibility sit beside advice on practising gratitude, valuing actions over words and making the world a better place - all leading towards getting the most out of ourselves and staying in the driver's seat of our own lives.
Written with the clarity, wisdom and huge-heartedness of a man who has chosen to dedicate his final years to the service of others, The Power of Choice is an urgent reminder to use our agency to grow, to give, to love and to make every minute count.
Neale Daniher is in his thirteenth year of living with Motor Neurone Disease. His body is broken and he can no longer speak, but his mind is sharp and his capacity to give, unvanquished.
With the terminal diagnosis came a to retreat into the comfort of home and family, or to look for opportunity in the darkest of times.
Neale - a thinker, a taskmaster, a competitor - chose to fight, not just for his life but for those who will be diagnosed in the future. His tireless work with FightMND has helped to mobilised millions of Australians to combat the cruel killer he calls The Beast.
Neale shares with us what he wishes to pass on to his six grandkids, to help them harness the power of choice and make good decisions. Lessons on choosing your attitude, being courageous and accepting responsibility sit beside advice on practising gratitude, valuing actions over words and making the world a better place - all leading towards getting the most out of ourselves and staying in the driver's seat of our own lives.
Written with the clarity, wisdom and huge-heartedness of a man who has chosen to dedicate his final years to the service of others, The Power of Choice is an urgent reminder to use our agency to grow, to give, to love and to make every minute count.
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
93 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Inspirational, Wise Words
- - -
There are so many self help and life advice books out there but give me your ‘Let Them Theory’ and I’ll give you Neale Daniher every single time.
Neale’s advice isn’t fluffy, trendy or recycled it’s real, lived and full of the kind of grounded common sense that genuinely benefits everyone.
For those who aren’t familiar, Neale is a former AFL player and coach who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and has dedicated his life to raising funds and awareness to fight what he calls ‘the beast’.
His reflections on football, family, resilience in the face of diagnosis and purpose are woven through the narrative in such a warm, engaging way.
The themes around the choices we make, the attitude we carry and the contribution we offer to the people and community around us really struck a chord with me. I also enjoyed the words of wisdom thrown in from other famous people throughout time.
I listened on audio and the narrator delivered Neale’s words beautifully. You can bet I’ll be going out to buy my own copy now, highlight new parts every time I revisit it and then buy another 20 copies to gift to friends and family.
Neale Daniher is an extraordinary man and this is an extraordinary must read/listen book.
Vibes: Inspirational, Wise Words
- - -
There are so many self help and life advice books out there but give me your ‘Let Them Theory’ and I’ll give you Neale Daniher every single time.
Neale’s advice isn’t fluffy, trendy or recycled it’s real, lived and full of the kind of grounded common sense that genuinely benefits everyone.
For those who aren’t familiar, Neale is a former AFL player and coach who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and has dedicated his life to raising funds and awareness to fight what he calls ‘the beast’.
His reflections on football, family, resilience in the face of diagnosis and purpose are woven through the narrative in such a warm, engaging way.
The themes around the choices we make, the attitude we carry and the contribution we offer to the people and community around us really struck a chord with me. I also enjoyed the words of wisdom thrown in from other famous people throughout time.
I listened on audio and the narrator delivered Neale’s words beautifully. You can bet I’ll be going out to buy my own copy now, highlight new parts every time I revisit it and then buy another 20 copies to gift to friends and family.
Neale Daniher is an extraordinary man and this is an extraordinary must read/listen book.
January 14, 2026
(Audiobooked)
I think this book was a great summary of a lot of the important themes discussed across a variety of self help/development books. A really good book to start with if new to the genre.
I enjoyed the quotes at the start of the chapters. I didn’t enjoy the long lists of examples that felt repetitive more than helpful in getting the points across. The personal anecdotes also felt repetitive at times. But, this was written for his grandkids who will probably feel very differently about that.
Steve Shanahan was great as the voice for the book.
Favourite reminder: ‘Be curious about why others see the world as they do.’
I think this book was a great summary of a lot of the important themes discussed across a variety of self help/development books. A really good book to start with if new to the genre.
I enjoyed the quotes at the start of the chapters. I didn’t enjoy the long lists of examples that felt repetitive more than helpful in getting the points across. The personal anecdotes also felt repetitive at times. But, this was written for his grandkids who will probably feel very differently about that.
Steve Shanahan was great as the voice for the book.
Favourite reminder: ‘Be curious about why others see the world as they do.’
December 28, 2025
Neal Daniher is an Australian sporting identity, with a background in Australian rules as both a player and coach. Tom Trumble is a journalist with a background in history, survival and themes of the human spirit who co-wrote the reflective book about Daniher' s fight with Motor Neurone Disease, I believe also known as Lou Gehrig's disease in the Unites States. In this book MND is known as the Beast, and Neale Daniher has started a charity called Fight MND to raise money for research into a treatment and cure ( as there is currently neither). The Power of Choice outlines his life mantra, written in a straightforward manner to explain how he has managed to endure the deterioration in body function that has made him totally dependent on carers and facing an early death.
Fight MND, with a slogan, 'It Takes People' has raised funds for the research into the condition, largely from small public donations, through selling items and public involvement of celebrities in the Big Freeze.
Neale Daniher has restricted life expectancy and has chosen to set out his mantra on life, particularly as it relates to personal and social community relationships. I found it an interesting insight into the life of a famous man facing a nightmare but making something good from his experience despite not being able to save himself.
I'll let him speak in his own words:
'In the end, this lesson isn't just about MND. It's about life. It takes people to create change. And it takes people to make meaning.
That's why I believe, one day, together , we'll slay this Beast' Neal Daniher
Read this for your understanding, your community and your own wellbeing
Fight MND, with a slogan, 'It Takes People' has raised funds for the research into the condition, largely from small public donations, through selling items and public involvement of celebrities in the Big Freeze.
Neale Daniher has restricted life expectancy and has chosen to set out his mantra on life, particularly as it relates to personal and social community relationships. I found it an interesting insight into the life of a famous man facing a nightmare but making something good from his experience despite not being able to save himself.
I'll let him speak in his own words:
'In the end, this lesson isn't just about MND. It's about life. It takes people to create change. And it takes people to make meaning.
That's why I believe, one day, together , we'll slay this Beast' Neal Daniher
Read this for your understanding, your community and your own wellbeing
January 15, 2026
Neale Daniher’s The Power of Choice is not your typical self-help book. There’s no fluff, no trendy jargon - just genuine, grounded wisdom from someone who has lived through immense challenges and come out the other side with purpose, grace, and humour.
A former AFL player and coach, Daniher was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and has since become a powerful advocate in raising awareness and funding for the fight against what he calls “the Beast.” His reflections on resilience, family, football, and facing a terminal illness are weaved throughout this book, offering inspiration without ever becoming preachy.
Structured around nineteen choices - like “Choose to be grateful”, “Choose to take personal responsibility”, and “Choose to forgive” - the book is both a reminder and a starting point. It distils ideas that are common across personal development literature, but with a refreshingly Aussie, no-nonsense tone. If you’re new to the genre, it’s a solid, accessible introduction. For seasoned readers, it might feel familiar, but still worthwhile as a reflective check-in.
I particularly appreciated the warmth of his storytelling and the inclusion of quotes and insights from other notable figures. While not life-changing for me, it’s a heartfelt, sincere guide to navigating life with clarity and courage.
A quick, meaningful read - best suited to those seeking purpose, perspective, or a fresh mindset reset.
A former AFL player and coach, Daniher was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and has since become a powerful advocate in raising awareness and funding for the fight against what he calls “the Beast.” His reflections on resilience, family, football, and facing a terminal illness are weaved throughout this book, offering inspiration without ever becoming preachy.
Structured around nineteen choices - like “Choose to be grateful”, “Choose to take personal responsibility”, and “Choose to forgive” - the book is both a reminder and a starting point. It distils ideas that are common across personal development literature, but with a refreshingly Aussie, no-nonsense tone. If you’re new to the genre, it’s a solid, accessible introduction. For seasoned readers, it might feel familiar, but still worthwhile as a reflective check-in.
I particularly appreciated the warmth of his storytelling and the inclusion of quotes and insights from other notable figures. While not life-changing for me, it’s a heartfelt, sincere guide to navigating life with clarity and courage.
A quick, meaningful read - best suited to those seeking purpose, perspective, or a fresh mindset reset.
January 3, 2026
First read of 2026 and it's been the most inspiring book I've read. Powerful 🙏🙌
January 9, 2026
Almost DNF. Just found it really boring. Sorry I feel bad as MND is a great cause and what a legend to write with his eyes ! But I just didn’t enjoy
January 11, 2026
I wish we could all become this wise without a massive setback like a terminal illness. So many turned-in pages for quotes I want to remember.
November 21, 2025
Given everything Neale is going through with MND this gave a lot of thought provoking comments and quotes on how he’s gotten through life and currently trying to best deal with the hand he’s been dealt.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews