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Fear: Our Ultimate Challenge
Explorer and adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes explores the concept of fear, and shows us through his own experiences how we can push our boundaries in everyday life.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has climbed the Eiger and Mount Everest. He's crossed both Poles on foot. He's been a member of the SAS and fought a bloody guerrilla war in Oman. And yet he confesses that his fear of heights is so great that he'd rather send his wife up a ladder to clean the gutters than do it himself.
In FEAR, the world's greatest explorer delves into his own experiences to try and explain what fear is, how it happens and how he's overcome it so successfully. He examines key moments from history where fear played an important part in the outcome of a great event. He shows us how the brain perceives fear, how that manifests itself in us, and how we can transform our perceptions.
With an enthralling combination of story-telling, research and personal accounts of his own struggles to overcome fear, Sir Ranulph Fiennes sheds new light on one of humanity's strongest emotions.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has climbed the Eiger and Mount Everest. He's crossed both Poles on foot. He's been a member of the SAS and fought a bloody guerrilla war in Oman. And yet he confesses that his fear of heights is so great that he'd rather send his wife up a ladder to clean the gutters than do it himself.
In FEAR, the world's greatest explorer delves into his own experiences to try and explain what fear is, how it happens and how he's overcome it so successfully. He examines key moments from history where fear played an important part in the outcome of a great event. He shows us how the brain perceives fear, how that manifests itself in us, and how we can transform our perceptions.
With an enthralling combination of story-telling, research and personal accounts of his own struggles to overcome fear, Sir Ranulph Fiennes sheds new light on one of humanity's strongest emotions.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2016
50 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Ranulph Fiennes
98 books287 followersSir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE, better known as Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records.
Fiennes has written books about his army service and his expeditions as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. In May 2009, aged 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. According to the Guinness Book of World Records he is the world's greatest living adventurer.
Fiennes has written books about his army service and his expeditions as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. In May 2009, aged 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. According to the Guinness Book of World Records he is the world's greatest living adventurer.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 25, 2017
What a crock. Very disappointing. I am an admirer of Fiennes, and have a personal interest in fear and the process of overcoming it in sport / life / adventure, so picked this up thinking he would have good insight into exactly this. But the book reads like a collection of anecdotes from his (admittedly vast) experience, but never explored, no insight, and precious little thought or rigour gone into tying the stories into a theme. Feels like he needed to get another book to his publishers, and they have trawled through his vast catalogue of printed material and churned out a book in a few weeks for him to sign off on. Worthless, and more than that, cynical trading on his name.
February 8, 2017
If like me you are expecting how to cope with fear, than you might struggle a bit, because the book is true to its title, it lists fears of various types and its effects on humans. What the book lacks any suggestions on how to actually deal with fear.
April 22, 2018
Who better to discuss the topic of fear than a man who trekked solo across Antarctica, climbed Everest, ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days shortly after suffering a heart attack - not to mention his time served in the SAS and Sultan of Oman’s army.
Aside from these obvious and often voluntary stresses the major issue of constant low level stress and fear causing anxieties are also covered that cause issues for millions worldwide.
The only solution it seems is to maintain awareness and untimely control over our thoughts as the majority of pain and anguish is mental and based on our interpretation and rumination over past or possible future events.
Aside from these obvious and often voluntary stresses the major issue of constant low level stress and fear causing anxieties are also covered that cause issues for millions worldwide.
The only solution it seems is to maintain awareness and untimely control over our thoughts as the majority of pain and anguish is mental and based on our interpretation and rumination over past or possible future events.
December 28, 2023
I have to admit that in terms of structure, this book is pretty chaotic. Ordinarily I wouldn't vibe with such disorder in the subject matter; it really is difficult to tell what it's trying to be -- a memoir? analysis? commentary? In the end it's kind of all of this and more, and it does make for some major disjointedness. In a book less interesting, this would be infuriating. Thankfully literally everything here is deeply fascinating, so I didn't mind that I was constantly being yanked around ninety degree angles into something tangibly or even completely unrelated to the previous paragraph.
The book focuses on fear both as Fiennes has known it, and also as a general human condition. Fear is unavoidable, and in certain situations it's good and useful and beneficial. Unfortunately for most people, it can also be a real pain in the ass, depriving countless people of opportunities or experiences they might otherwise benefit from. At its worst, it's the root of anxiety disorders which can completely derail a person's life. Useful in small doses, I think a lot of us in the modern age are toeing the line where it can become a real enemy. This book is a very interesting glimpse at fear in all its forms, both rational and irrational, and what it means to know it as intimately as Fiennes does.
I've always said that nothing worth doing is safe. Go figure -- I became a war photographer. It is a very rewarding job, exciting and I will admit fun. But it's also terrifying, and I would get nowhere by pretending that I'm not scared out of my gourd a lot of the time. Something that a lot of people don't tend to realise (or perhaps accept) is that overcoming fear does not mean no longer feeling it; in fact, this is a bad thing. You should always feel fear. It keeps you alert, it keeps you grounded, it keeps you safe. Overcoming fear means learning to move in tandem with it, read its messages, assess what it's trying to tell you, and, if the risks are acceptable and/or expected, doing it anyway. The more you explore your fear, the more comfortable you are moving around in the world it creates, and the more you can do and learn. Fiennes showcases this very well with a wide range of experiences, both his own and those of others.
The only criticism I have is that sometimes the book skips over pretty massive events very suddenly and with no warning. I get that there might not be much to say, or nothing that hasn't said before, but it's still pretty jarring to read things that basically say "Anyway, then I crossed both Poles. Moving on..." Impressive and like, truly admire this man's balls, but I'd love a bit more of the gossip. Especially as I imagine such things are pretty damn scary.
The book focuses on fear both as Fiennes has known it, and also as a general human condition. Fear is unavoidable, and in certain situations it's good and useful and beneficial. Unfortunately for most people, it can also be a real pain in the ass, depriving countless people of opportunities or experiences they might otherwise benefit from. At its worst, it's the root of anxiety disorders which can completely derail a person's life. Useful in small doses, I think a lot of us in the modern age are toeing the line where it can become a real enemy. This book is a very interesting glimpse at fear in all its forms, both rational and irrational, and what it means to know it as intimately as Fiennes does.
I've always said that nothing worth doing is safe. Go figure -- I became a war photographer. It is a very rewarding job, exciting and I will admit fun. But it's also terrifying, and I would get nowhere by pretending that I'm not scared out of my gourd a lot of the time. Something that a lot of people don't tend to realise (or perhaps accept) is that overcoming fear does not mean no longer feeling it; in fact, this is a bad thing. You should always feel fear. It keeps you alert, it keeps you grounded, it keeps you safe. Overcoming fear means learning to move in tandem with it, read its messages, assess what it's trying to tell you, and, if the risks are acceptable and/or expected, doing it anyway. The more you explore your fear, the more comfortable you are moving around in the world it creates, and the more you can do and learn. Fiennes showcases this very well with a wide range of experiences, both his own and those of others.
The only criticism I have is that sometimes the book skips over pretty massive events very suddenly and with no warning. I get that there might not be much to say, or nothing that hasn't said before, but it's still pretty jarring to read things that basically say "Anyway, then I crossed both Poles. Moving on..." Impressive and like, truly admire this man's balls, but I'd love a bit more of the gossip. Especially as I imagine such things are pretty damn scary.
March 3, 2020
Not sure that this book had an intended purpose. It was all over the place!
Was it about the author's personal experience with fear? The stories of other people's fear? Objectified and general fear? Specific and detailed stories of fear throughout history?
Because all this and more was in the book. What was missing, was how to deal with fear. So hey, at least it's not about that.
The writing was a little on the rough side, with paragraph and topics chopping about, sometimes leaving me thinking - oh we're talking about something else now, are we?
Ironically, reading about things that cause fear and terror left me, well, a little unsettled at times - as though my panic levels should be greater than they are. Particularly since as the COVID19 (Coronavirus) is headline news everywhere right now and the author talked about pandemics and mass hysteria.
All in all, I found it fairly interesting once I'd accepted the "style" and the fact there was no specific point to the book. Although, I must admit I skimmed large chunks of the author's expeditions because they seemed largely irrelevant in that level of detail. Perhaps it was just an excuse for him to recount them.
Was it about the author's personal experience with fear? The stories of other people's fear? Objectified and general fear? Specific and detailed stories of fear throughout history?
Because all this and more was in the book. What was missing, was how to deal with fear. So hey, at least it's not about that.
The writing was a little on the rough side, with paragraph and topics chopping about, sometimes leaving me thinking - oh we're talking about something else now, are we?
Ironically, reading about things that cause fear and terror left me, well, a little unsettled at times - as though my panic levels should be greater than they are. Particularly since as the COVID19 (Coronavirus) is headline news everywhere right now and the author talked about pandemics and mass hysteria.
All in all, I found it fairly interesting once I'd accepted the "style" and the fact there was no specific point to the book. Although, I must admit I skimmed large chunks of the author's expeditions because they seemed largely irrelevant in that level of detail. Perhaps it was just an excuse for him to recount them.
August 27, 2020
Listened to the audiobook.
I found this book very interesting to listen to, particularly not having read anything by Fiennes before. It's a series of personal and historical anecdotes analysing situations in which fear has been the overwhelming theme, and the extremes situations within which one could find themselves. These anecdotes are all very well delivered and impactful, which really helps to put ones own fears into perspective.
However, there is a distinct lack of structure to the book. The chapters are titled according to different "realms" of fear, but in no particular order, and the book is bookended by some disparate comments on fear and overcoming fear oneself.
If you want to listen to some stories, and learn more about Fiennes' own life, then this is a good book. If you want a psychological/philosophical guide on the nature of fear and overcoming it, then this isn't the right book for you.
I found this book very interesting to listen to, particularly not having read anything by Fiennes before. It's a series of personal and historical anecdotes analysing situations in which fear has been the overwhelming theme, and the extremes situations within which one could find themselves. These anecdotes are all very well delivered and impactful, which really helps to put ones own fears into perspective.
However, there is a distinct lack of structure to the book. The chapters are titled according to different "realms" of fear, but in no particular order, and the book is bookended by some disparate comments on fear and overcoming fear oneself.
If you want to listen to some stories, and learn more about Fiennes' own life, then this is a good book. If you want a psychological/philosophical guide on the nature of fear and overcoming it, then this isn't the right book for you.
September 23, 2017
Voted BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, Fiennes gets close and personal as he shares his own personal experiences about fear and those of others that make this an interesting read. Part intriguing, part terrifying, by venturing into London 7/7, Nazism, street gangs, and mass murder to name a few, it changes your perspective to life. Alas this book is not a cure but a way for Fiennes to maybe reflect and deal with his own issues by tying in examples of fear. Some chapters have felt anaemic and you are left wanting for more: a new book perhaps? Nevertheless, if Fiennes can overcome his fears, climb Everest in 2009, aged 65, but also show that it is all right to fear and that fear itself exists in the mind and can be overcome, then surely I can do the same?
First edition published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2016.
First edition published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2016.
January 25, 2023
Was an interesting read, and Sir Fiennes definitely is more than qualified to write about fearsome experiences. But the book is literally a random collection of his own adventures and stories related to whatever fear the chapter is presenting. It's like he googled each type of fear and put in the first few results for them, while forcing in his own anecdotes where even if slightly relevant. Would much rather have read his autobiography instead.
I agree with many of the reviews here that say the book feels like just a publisher putting together something to stamp on the Ranulph Fiennes label on to sell.
I agree with many of the reviews here that say the book feels like just a publisher putting together something to stamp on the Ranulph Fiennes label on to sell.
September 8, 2023
It started off with some phobias about insects and I thought, okay, dealing with phobias, this will be cool. We then journeyed in 76 different directions with stories from every topic imaginable. His life accomplishments sound amazing but honestly, I don’t know if it’s just the way it was written, but he sounds very full of himself.
I enjoyed the random stories about different interesting life events from himself and other people but found myself drifting in and out from cool story to boring copy paste facts.
I enjoyed the random stories about different interesting life events from himself and other people but found myself drifting in and out from cool story to boring copy paste facts.
April 29, 2022
This is an interesting read. Peppering his life experiences in with the topic of fear Ranulph invites the reader to not only picture his situation but also imagine themselves in the same place.
The science and evidence behind the points add weight to the subject.
While the accounts of terror attack survivors is truly haunting.
I have found his books to be approachable, insightful and engaging.
Of course there are issues. Logic leaps and assumptions but on that front he is not alone.
The science and evidence behind the points add weight to the subject.
While the accounts of terror attack survivors is truly haunting.
I have found his books to be approachable, insightful and engaging.
Of course there are issues. Logic leaps and assumptions but on that front he is not alone.
May 2, 2018
Clearly a very brave man with tremendous achievements. However this book is mainly autobiographical with some material quoted from others. It doesn’t clearly address the philosophy of fear and how to cope with it. It is also full of his own prejudices, and his version of history is without references and sensationalist.
May 26, 2019
No offence to the great man, but how did this manage to get published?! There’s no theme, no structure; it’s basically rambling anecdotes. I was hoping for at least one sentence on overcoming fear. Not sure if the people who have rated this over 2 stars have even read it?!
He’s got better books; this shouldn’t even be on shelves.
He’s got better books; this shouldn’t even be on shelves.
February 22, 2019
I found that this book was interesting for a view on Ranulph’s life and experiences but much of it was purely quoting other people’s experience of fear and really, really traumatic situations. Not for the feint hearted, and no tips or insight as to how to deal with fear itself.
June 30, 2021
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Previously I had considered the author a little distant to anything in my life, but here we see evidence pf being human and fearing the things that we all suffer.
March 27, 2024
A fascinating and inciteful book exploring the notion of fear. Using examples from his own experiences and the direct experiences of others Ranulph Fiennes investigates types of fear, their causes and how he, or the people he quotes, have managed them. An intelligent and informative read.
March 12, 2025
16 chapters on different things that could cause fear, from his army days to polar expeditions and Everest attempts, to personal anxieties around health, and then an exploration of big world events eg 9/11 and school shootings. Good audiobook material. Ultimately quite a surface level look at fear.
July 20, 2025
While the book is not a 'how to' for fixing your fears. It is a good insight into the concept of fear. I could feel the fear in each chapter, but the most fear inducing aspects for me were the fear induced by what humans can do to each other.
June 12, 2018
Loved this. Lots to think about and be inspired by.
April 6, 2019
A bit repetitive
A good book but I think it could have been a lot shorter. It’s repetitive and kind of depressing really.
A good book but I think it could have been a lot shorter. It’s repetitive and kind of depressing really.
July 31, 2019
Interesting set of short anecdotes and stories from lots of different scenarios of people over time.
November 14, 2020
A pretty decent read if you have no expectations on what to expect. Great series packed together. Its not a self help book. It illuminates fear I guess and draws on personal experiences.
April 20, 2021
This book got a lot of bad reviews. However I really enjoyed it. Not the most in-depth review just an honest one 😀
November 28, 2019
A compelling meander through the formidable exploits of the world-famous explorer. These are interspersed with fear-inducing endeavours first brought to consciousness in the news.
November 8, 2016
Disappointing because he never tells you enough. It's full of morbid tales, but none of them are explored in any depth, so in the end, the book ends up being a bit like the news, full of scary stories.
In a way, there was too much in this book. He says the BBC camera crew were trying to portray him as a bully and created a bad atmosphere on one expedition, but he doesn't say much more. Those couple of pages would have probably made a good book if explored in depth. The angle the BBC always take, and the power it has in this country interest me. A few lines of grumble do not.
In a way, there was too much in this book. He says the BBC camera crew were trying to portray him as a bully and created a bad atmosphere on one expedition, but he doesn't say much more. Those couple of pages would have probably made a good book if explored in depth. The angle the BBC always take, and the power it has in this country interest me. A few lines of grumble do not.
March 28, 2023
This is not so much about the achievements Fiennes has collected in his life time as the man and emotions behind it.
What I did notice was that it is a fear you cannot cure, you just work with it. There were a few times he could have easily died doing what he did, but sheer bloody mindedness and luck left him with wrotted fingers rather than a dead body.
I probably need to have a quick read through again to gather my thoughts.
What I did notice was that it is a fear you cannot cure, you just work with it. There were a few times he could have easily died doing what he did, but sheer bloody mindedness and luck left him with wrotted fingers rather than a dead body.
I probably need to have a quick read through again to gather my thoughts.
Read
January 18, 2018Ok.
Bit of a wishy washy theories
Bit of a wishy washy theories
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews