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Hope in an Anxious World: 6 Truths for When Things Feel Overwhelming
Understand anxiety better and how God can free us from its grip. Whether mildly, moderately or severely, feeling anxious is something most of us experience at some point in our lives. It drags us down and it leaves us unequipped for the day ahead. This short, sympathetic, and warm book will help both Christian and non-Christian readers understand anxiety better, learn some useful techniques to cope with it, and, most importantly, show how the living God can liberate us from its grip. Whether you are used to reading about God or not even sure if he really exists (or if he cares about your anxiety in any meaningful way), this book has precious words of encouragement for you. “As you read, it is my prayer that you will come to see real hope and take the first few steps in a lifetime of change.” Helen Thorne, author.
106 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2021
18 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Helen Thorne
12 books8 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Helen Thorne is Assistant Director of the Open Bible Institute where she oversees the Cert HE Theology courses validated by Middlesex university and offers general student support. She is also a trustee for Capital Youthworks, the charity behind Sorted - an annual youth event held in London.
Helen Thorne is Assistant Director of the Open Bible Institute where she oversees the Cert HE Theology courses validated by Middlesex university and offers general student support. She is also a trustee for Capital Youthworks, the charity behind Sorted - an annual youth event held in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 7, 2023
A great little read if you struggle with anxiety or know someone who does.
October 22, 2025
A great short book on anxiety from a Christian perspective. Thorne writes with care and experience, grounded in scripture, while acknowledging the physical, medical side of mental health. This book is realistic without excessive pessimism and hopeful without excessive optimism. It is grounded both in human experience and scripture. It is clear on what anxiety is and feels like, and points to Christ as its eternal solution.
October 16, 2022
A great little book about different anxious thoughts we have and how to combat them with the truth of God.♡
December 15, 2021
It’s can be so difficult to put anxiety into words but for me personally this book understood me. Less than 100 pages on what anxiety is and how we can put Christ above it.
“battling anxiety is just that - a battle, at times. But it’s not about summoning up the strength to defeat anxiety on your own. It is about taking hold of all of the help God is providing you with. You and called to fight, but you are never alone.”
Even if you personally don’t experience anxiety daily, I can assure you someone around you is. If you want to know how to love those close to you who struggle with anxiety or simply understand them a little better, please read this book.
“battling anxiety is just that - a battle, at times. But it’s not about summoning up the strength to defeat anxiety on your own. It is about taking hold of all of the help God is providing you with. You and called to fight, but you are never alone.”
Even if you personally don’t experience anxiety daily, I can assure you someone around you is. If you want to know how to love those close to you who struggle with anxiety or simply understand them a little better, please read this book.
May 9, 2025
Helen Thorne, a counselor and wrestler with anxiety herself, shares various ways anxiety can look, what can bring it on, and 6 lies many anxious people tell themselves and how to combat those lies. The 6 lies covered are: 1) I’m all alone. 2) Everything is out of control. 3) I have no way of knowing where to turn. 4) I can’t carry on. 5) This is all my fault. 6) There’s no hope for me.
Thorne covers a wide range of anxiety in this book, and whether your anxiety is mild or extreme or somewhere in between, there should be something helpful in this book. Thorne approaches the topic from a Christian worldview but makes the book approachable for those who are not Christians as well. The end of the school year is always a stressful time and generates a certain level of anxiety, so this was a timely read and I found it full of helpful reminders even if everything didn’t apply to me. She also does a good job of pointing out that people struggle with anxiety for a variety of reasons, some of which are biological and could require help from a medical professional. I appreciate when this is acknowledged as I have friends and students for whom this has been the case. You need to target both the heart/mind and the body.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Nothing descriptive. She mentions how assault can bring anxiety to some people in future situations.
Violence: She mentions how past violence/accidents can bring on anxiety. Anxiety to the point of being suicidal is touched on and the author gives recommendations of where to get help.
Ethnic diversity: The author is white European. She doesn’t name or describe sample cases she brings up in terms of ethnicity.
LGBTQ+ content: Nothing mentioned
Other: Obviously psychological and emotional issues are talked about a lot.
Thorne covers a wide range of anxiety in this book, and whether your anxiety is mild or extreme or somewhere in between, there should be something helpful in this book. Thorne approaches the topic from a Christian worldview but makes the book approachable for those who are not Christians as well. The end of the school year is always a stressful time and generates a certain level of anxiety, so this was a timely read and I found it full of helpful reminders even if everything didn’t apply to me. She also does a good job of pointing out that people struggle with anxiety for a variety of reasons, some of which are biological and could require help from a medical professional. I appreciate when this is acknowledged as I have friends and students for whom this has been the case. You need to target both the heart/mind and the body.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Nothing descriptive. She mentions how assault can bring anxiety to some people in future situations.
Violence: She mentions how past violence/accidents can bring on anxiety. Anxiety to the point of being suicidal is touched on and the author gives recommendations of where to get help.
Ethnic diversity: The author is white European. She doesn’t name or describe sample cases she brings up in terms of ethnicity.
LGBTQ+ content: Nothing mentioned
Other: Obviously psychological and emotional issues are talked about a lot.
November 28, 2021
I read this book to set a foundation for a group I led integrating grappling with anxiety and the hope that Christ offers. Helen Thorne did such a great job of realistically addressing anxiety and the effects it has on peoples lives. She also wonderfully threads in the Gospel and how Jesu s offers hope in the battle of anxiety. She backs up with scripture how trusting in God doesn’t promise a life without struggle and anxiety, but he does offer hope and an eventual life without it. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is looking for hope with their own struggle with anxiety!!
July 12, 2022
A good succinct book, felt quite generic and I found the writing style a bit dry, especially the first couple of chapters - felt like I was reading an essay on the topic of anxiety. The practical half of the book was much better and it is a short read at just 70 or so pages.
September 13, 2024
Simple but good, helpful for myself and for helping other people
October 14, 2022
A super readable short book that will equip you from God’s Word to handle anxiety better, knowing that we must live day by day in the real world until that new world come to be and all anxiety is wiped away with our tears.
Helen tackles six lies that anxiety flings at us: I’m all alone, everything is out of control, I have no way of knowing where to turn, I can’t carry on, this is all my fault and there’s no hope for me.
With humour, biblical insight and some excellent practical tips (like breathing and grounding), Helen shows us a way through the minefield. She is honest about her own struggles so this is no ivory tower or mountain top that she’s writing from - but in Jesus the victory is certain as is the daily supply of his grace to overcome all our agitations.
Helen tackles six lies that anxiety flings at us: I’m all alone, everything is out of control, I have no way of knowing where to turn, I can’t carry on, this is all my fault and there’s no hope for me.
With humour, biblical insight and some excellent practical tips (like breathing and grounding), Helen shows us a way through the minefield. She is honest about her own struggles so this is no ivory tower or mountain top that she’s writing from - but in Jesus the victory is certain as is the daily supply of his grace to overcome all our agitations.
May 23, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This small book is about a hundred pages long, and shares succinct encouragement for people dealing with anxiety. Helen Thorne writes to an audience of both Christians and seekers, and explains how core Christian beliefs can help us in the midst of our struggles. In the first four chapters, she writes about what anxiety is, how we can understand our struggles within a Christian framework, and how we can find hope day by day through practical exercises and following Jesus. The remaining chapters counter anxiety’s lies with biblical truth, showing how we can respond when we feel alone, feel like everything is out of control, and think that we can’t carry on.
This is a short, encouraging, and practical read. Whether someone’s struggle is because of a chronic disorder or is mostly situational, they can find perspective and encouragement here. However, even though this book is appropriate for people with varying levels of anxiety, the downside is that it is somewhat general and vague. I would have appreciated additional material and more information about the author’s personal experiences. She writes some about her thoughts and feelings, and refers to past abuse and struggles with addiction, but she never goes deeper than that. Even though this isn’t a memoir, I think it would have been helpful for her to share more of her own story.
I personally wish that this book had been longer and more involved, but it has great advice and spiritual encouragement for anxiety sufferers. It validates our experiences, and encourages us to find hope in God even as we deal with something that may never fully ease on this side of heaven. I appreciate this book’s encouragement, and its simplicity will appeal to people who don’t have the mental energy to read something longer, or who are looking for brief encouragement while working through more complex elements of their anxiety elsewhere. I would recommend this to anxiety sufferers and their loved ones, and it can also be a helpful read for church leaders.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This small book is about a hundred pages long, and shares succinct encouragement for people dealing with anxiety. Helen Thorne writes to an audience of both Christians and seekers, and explains how core Christian beliefs can help us in the midst of our struggles. In the first four chapters, she writes about what anxiety is, how we can understand our struggles within a Christian framework, and how we can find hope day by day through practical exercises and following Jesus. The remaining chapters counter anxiety’s lies with biblical truth, showing how we can respond when we feel alone, feel like everything is out of control, and think that we can’t carry on.
This is a short, encouraging, and practical read. Whether someone’s struggle is because of a chronic disorder or is mostly situational, they can find perspective and encouragement here. However, even though this book is appropriate for people with varying levels of anxiety, the downside is that it is somewhat general and vague. I would have appreciated additional material and more information about the author’s personal experiences. She writes some about her thoughts and feelings, and refers to past abuse and struggles with addiction, but she never goes deeper than that. Even though this isn’t a memoir, I think it would have been helpful for her to share more of her own story.
I personally wish that this book had been longer and more involved, but it has great advice and spiritual encouragement for anxiety sufferers. It validates our experiences, and encourages us to find hope in God even as we deal with something that may never fully ease on this side of heaven. I appreciate this book’s encouragement, and its simplicity will appeal to people who don’t have the mental energy to read something longer, or who are looking for brief encouragement while working through more complex elements of their anxiety elsewhere. I would recommend this to anxiety sufferers and their loved ones, and it can also be a helpful read for church leaders.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2021
This small book only contains about 100 pages, yet it will leave a huge impact on your life and the way you view your anxiety. Thorne writes this book to help us as believers know that we are not alone in our walk dealing with anxiety. Everyone at one point in their life deals with anxiety. It does not matter your age, beliefs, or even the color of your skin. Thorne shows us that while we all struggle with anxiety, some of us suffer more than others. She discusses that though we suffer from anxiety there are core parts of Christianity that help us deal with anxiety. These Biblical truths help us realize that though we might seem alone, others have walked through the same fear.
This book is broken up into two key parts; the first deals with living in an anxious world, while the second part of the book deals with how there is hope despite our anxieties. Over the course of this book, Thorne chose to take some time teaching us about what anxiety is, who suffers from it, and how we fight against our worries. Thorne also teaches us how to combat the lies anxiety tries to tell us.
While the Bible is a key part of learning to hand your anxieties over to the Lord, Thorne reminded us that the Bible is not a self-help book. The Bible was not written to help us deal with our worries, but rather it is there to help us with our walk with the Lord. This is a key part of understanding the world. So often we go to the Bible wondering how it can help us, rather than letting it draw us closer to the Lord.
I personally love this title, but I wish I could have enjoyed it for a little bit longer, because of it being a short read, I was able to complete this book in less than an hour. I wish that Thorne would have taken a little bit longer to present our hope despite dealing with anxiety. Despite this book being small, I enjoy this book more than any other anxiety books that I have read.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are my own and not paid for.
This book is broken up into two key parts; the first deals with living in an anxious world, while the second part of the book deals with how there is hope despite our anxieties. Over the course of this book, Thorne chose to take some time teaching us about what anxiety is, who suffers from it, and how we fight against our worries. Thorne also teaches us how to combat the lies anxiety tries to tell us.
While the Bible is a key part of learning to hand your anxieties over to the Lord, Thorne reminded us that the Bible is not a self-help book. The Bible was not written to help us deal with our worries, but rather it is there to help us with our walk with the Lord. This is a key part of understanding the world. So often we go to the Bible wondering how it can help us, rather than letting it draw us closer to the Lord.
I personally love this title, but I wish I could have enjoyed it for a little bit longer, because of it being a short read, I was able to complete this book in less than an hour. I wish that Thorne would have taken a little bit longer to present our hope despite dealing with anxiety. Despite this book being small, I enjoy this book more than any other anxiety books that I have read.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are my own and not paid for.
June 7, 2021
Anxiety is a feeling many of us have felt during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Hope in an Anxious World, Helen Thorne helps us with six truths for when we feel overwhelmed.
Our Anxious World
The book is divided into two parts. Part One examines our anxious world, showing how we are made anxious by things that are both outside of us as well as what is also inside our own hearts. In fact, our hearts are broken, and there are needs and desires that will carry on until we find our true rest in Christ. Thorne offers practical help, such as exercise and rest, but the real spiritual help comes next.
Hope in the Face of Anxiety’s Lies
In Part Two, Thorne teaches us Biblical truth to give us hope in the face of anxiety’s lies. We are not alone, the world is not out of control, we can always turn to God, we can carry on, our guilt and shame can be erased, and our hope is found in Jesus. These truths are supported by Scripture, and the overall feeling is uplifting.
Find Your Calm in Christ
At just over 100 pages, this is a short and simple book. But the truths are deep and profound. They will be life-giving and life-enriching. It is the perfect book to give to unbelievers that struggle with anxiety. It would also make a gift to those entering new seasons of life. As we move into a post-COVID world, our lives will begin to pick up the pace. We can find rest in the word of God. And our anxieties can find their calm in Christ.
I received a media copy of Hope in an Anxious World and this is my honest review.
Our Anxious World
The book is divided into two parts. Part One examines our anxious world, showing how we are made anxious by things that are both outside of us as well as what is also inside our own hearts. In fact, our hearts are broken, and there are needs and desires that will carry on until we find our true rest in Christ. Thorne offers practical help, such as exercise and rest, but the real spiritual help comes next.
Hope in the Face of Anxiety’s Lies
In Part Two, Thorne teaches us Biblical truth to give us hope in the face of anxiety’s lies. We are not alone, the world is not out of control, we can always turn to God, we can carry on, our guilt and shame can be erased, and our hope is found in Jesus. These truths are supported by Scripture, and the overall feeling is uplifting.
Find Your Calm in Christ
At just over 100 pages, this is a short and simple book. But the truths are deep and profound. They will be life-giving and life-enriching. It is the perfect book to give to unbelievers that struggle with anxiety. It would also make a gift to those entering new seasons of life. As we move into a post-COVID world, our lives will begin to pick up the pace. We can find rest in the word of God. And our anxieties can find their calm in Christ.
I received a media copy of Hope in an Anxious World and this is my honest review.
September 17, 2022
A short book by the Good Book Company, if you've read even a little about this topic before, it's probably not going to tell you many things you don't already know but it's still worth reading. Please don't give up reading if the beginning may seem a bit slow, it picks up in the end and you'll end up with some good information halfway through. Yes, you'll hear about beliefs and changing behaviour but more than that, it gives you also encouragement coming from a person who struggled with anxiety herself. I specifically liked her prayer, "Lord, if I'm pursuing something that's not right, please let me stop. If I need rest, please help me take it. But if I am pursuing something that is good, please help me rely on You and know beyond any shadow of doubt that You are equipping me every step of the way."
June 5, 2022
Over the past year or so, as I've begun to confront the anxiety that I now realize has badgered me most of my life, I've been searching for good resources both for myself and to recommend. This book is a wonderful first read for anyone who is beginning to tackle their own anxiety, like me, or who wants to support someone they know. Anxiety can be so hard to describe to others, so this book was a huge relief to read (it expressed very clearly so many of my fears) and gave me more of a language to use in expressing it to others. But most importantly, it refixed my eyes on Jesus, the ultimate answer to every anxious thought.
July 17, 2025
A helpful little book, with warmth and gentleness Helen Thorne unpacks 6 lies of anxiety that we can believe, and counters them with 6 liberating truths.
It's not a book with "6 steps to an anxious free life," it's honest about the real struggle, and the length of the journey, but also unapologetically points to real hope.
It's not a book with "6 steps to an anxious free life," it's honest about the real struggle, and the length of the journey, but also unapologetically points to real hope.
April 26, 2022
I liked this little book by Helen Thorne. From a counseling perspective, the most helpful idea was to think of anxiety as a wall of bricks we create. Some bricks we can’t change, but others we can. CE can make progress by systematically focusing on the bricks they can gradually change over time.
August 3, 2022
One of the best Christian based reads on anxiety and mental health I've had the pleasure of consuming. Short and easy read. Highly recommend especially to those who are struggling to understand their own clinical anxiety, or the anxiety of others and how it fits into a Christian worldview.
January 4, 2023
A good entry level work but I found myself skimming through it as it had some very basic language which I felt didn’t feed me. But a great book for Christians new to the struggle of anxiety through a Christian lense.
October 31, 2023
As someone who struggles with anxiety, this little book (but full of wisdom) understands what I'm going through, and it gives practical advice on how to cope with anxiety with the help of God's word.
- S 🌝
- S 🌝
May 31, 2021
This is a short, easy, helpful read that tackles the lies those of us with anxiety face. Definitely would recommend to someone who is dealing with anxiety.
July 22, 2021
Helpful book with an important take on how to handle anxiety at its core.
August 23, 2021
An excellent book. Succinct, practical, biblical and very helpful. I will be re-reading!
November 28, 2021
Great book, does exactly what it says!
Excellent evangelistic tool.
Ideal for those who are anxious about appointments or exams and those who live with constant anxiety.
Excellent evangelistic tool.
Ideal for those who are anxious about appointments or exams and those who live with constant anxiety.
December 19, 2021
This book is timely. Offers practical tips and shifts our mindset with anxiety to biblical truths. Indeed Christ’ love is our greatest hope!
June 22, 2022
A useful insight I to how I can support and understand better friends and family who suffer from anxiety. A little gem of a book.
December 27, 2022
Absolutely loved this one and easy and simple to re read when feeling anxious, practical and to the point and useful
January 13, 2026
Excellent little book on anxiety- realistic and practical. Great book to pasd onto anyone struggling with anxieties.
June 28, 2021
(Full blog post here: https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/a-...)
In "Hope in an Anxious World: Six Truths For When Things Feel Overwhelming," Helen Thorne teaches us about anxiety, then leads us to “consider some of the lies that our anxiety encourages us to believe, and hear what God has to say in response.” The focus is not on clinical anxiety, but on God’s truth for us in our everyday anxious thoughts.
This book is divided into two parts, the first teaches us a biblical perspective of the world and how it contributes to our stress and troubles, then she provides an overview of some useful techniques and healthy habits.
During the second part, she addresses six lies we are prone to believe in our anxiety, and the truth of God’s word where we can lean into instead. If you have ever struggled with mental illness, these lies will sound vividly familiar and may even be regular visitors in your thoughts.
Lie: “I’m all alone.”
Truth: You were not created for isolation, you were designed with purpose and are known by God who loves and cares for you.
Lie: “Everything is out of control.”
Truth: We will experience pain and suffering, but all things are part of God’s good plan, and He is for you, not against you.
Lie: “I have no way of knowing where to turn.”
Truth: Overwhelmed by options, we may feel lost out in a stormy sea. Scripture points us to our good Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit is our guide.
Lie: “I can’t carry on.”
Truth: In our pain and suffering, exhaustion sets in, not sure if we can go on. As we reach the end of our rope, we see how far we’ve relied on ourselves rather than on God, but he invites us partake in his daily provision and the rest he offers.
Lie: “This is all my fault.”
Truth: We are not perfect people, we are going to mess up sometimes, and we will need to apologize when that’s the case. Then, we cling to God’s forgiveness, resting in our freedom in Christ, not leaving any room for shame.
Lie: “There’s no hope for me.”
Truth: Change can happen slowly, but the gospel is all about God changing people, taking us from darkness and bringing us into the light; because of our Savior there is hope! It is our daily walking in step with him where we transform more into his likeness and sometimes patient dependence is the key.
In my work as a mental health nurse, and as counselling student, I hear these words with almost every client. The pain and suffering we experience is real, and while not every anxious thought puts us into crisis, there’s a pattern where lies are fed and built upon. As we face these lies with biblical truth, we are wielding the sword of the Spirit and waging war on our moments of unbelief.
Purchase this book as a gift for someone you know who struggles with anxiety, or use it in small group setting. Consider buying it for yourself. You may have never battled with anxious thoughts or worries, but this time in life with the pandemic and subsequent isolation can spiral our thoughts if we are caught unaware. (I wrote an article about the rise of social anxiety after covid here.) So even though it may be foreign to you, it may be worth educating and studying so you can see it when it comes. It's a book I highly recommend!
Quick Stats
# of pages: 112
Difficulty: Easy
My rating: 5 stars!
*A big thanks to The Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!
In "Hope in an Anxious World: Six Truths For When Things Feel Overwhelming," Helen Thorne teaches us about anxiety, then leads us to “consider some of the lies that our anxiety encourages us to believe, and hear what God has to say in response.” The focus is not on clinical anxiety, but on God’s truth for us in our everyday anxious thoughts.
This book is divided into two parts, the first teaches us a biblical perspective of the world and how it contributes to our stress and troubles, then she provides an overview of some useful techniques and healthy habits.
During the second part, she addresses six lies we are prone to believe in our anxiety, and the truth of God’s word where we can lean into instead. If you have ever struggled with mental illness, these lies will sound vividly familiar and may even be regular visitors in your thoughts.
Lie: “I’m all alone.”
Truth: You were not created for isolation, you were designed with purpose and are known by God who loves and cares for you.
Lie: “Everything is out of control.”
Truth: We will experience pain and suffering, but all things are part of God’s good plan, and He is for you, not against you.
Lie: “I have no way of knowing where to turn.”
Truth: Overwhelmed by options, we may feel lost out in a stormy sea. Scripture points us to our good Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit is our guide.
Lie: “I can’t carry on.”
Truth: In our pain and suffering, exhaustion sets in, not sure if we can go on. As we reach the end of our rope, we see how far we’ve relied on ourselves rather than on God, but he invites us partake in his daily provision and the rest he offers.
Lie: “This is all my fault.”
Truth: We are not perfect people, we are going to mess up sometimes, and we will need to apologize when that’s the case. Then, we cling to God’s forgiveness, resting in our freedom in Christ, not leaving any room for shame.
Lie: “There’s no hope for me.”
Truth: Change can happen slowly, but the gospel is all about God changing people, taking us from darkness and bringing us into the light; because of our Savior there is hope! It is our daily walking in step with him where we transform more into his likeness and sometimes patient dependence is the key.
In my work as a mental health nurse, and as counselling student, I hear these words with almost every client. The pain and suffering we experience is real, and while not every anxious thought puts us into crisis, there’s a pattern where lies are fed and built upon. As we face these lies with biblical truth, we are wielding the sword of the Spirit and waging war on our moments of unbelief.
Purchase this book as a gift for someone you know who struggles with anxiety, or use it in small group setting. Consider buying it for yourself. You may have never battled with anxious thoughts or worries, but this time in life with the pandemic and subsequent isolation can spiral our thoughts if we are caught unaware. (I wrote an article about the rise of social anxiety after covid here.) So even though it may be foreign to you, it may be worth educating and studying so you can see it when it comes. It's a book I highly recommend!
Quick Stats
# of pages: 112
Difficulty: Easy
My rating: 5 stars!
*A big thanks to The Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!
June 26, 2025
This book is one I know I’ll keep coming back to as I continue to reckon with the anxious thoughts that cloud me during this stage of life. This book gives me hope that I’ll be able to overcome as it sheds powerful truths to relinquish the lies that anxiety tells. I love how Helen allows the reader to be deeply heard and understood with the struggles that anxiety brings. She provides very good practical tips at the start before she goes in detail on the 6 lies and as well as brings to remembrance God’s words of promises and truths to counter the lies. Her words give me assurance that there is hope for someone like me.
October 31, 2025
Helpful in so many ways, practically and spiritually. The brick-by-brick analogy especially. Definitely useful as a primer. However, while Christ is presented well as Saviour and freedom from guilt is spoken of, I feel the book misses touching on the riches of who Jesus is and how He suffered for us Himself.
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