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Empower: Conquering the Disease of Fear
From finding common ground with warlords, introducing the Taliban to change, and working with NFL greats such as Marshawn Lynch, this uplifting and inspirational memoir from coach and personal development expert, Tareq Azim, will help you build a relationship with fear and embrace your own power.
A descendant of Afghan nobles, Tareq Azim’s family was forced to flee their homeland in 1979. He assimilated in the United States through his love of sports, excelling in wrestling, boxing, and football. In 2004, Azim decided to visit his home country, and upon arriving, he discovered countless children living on the streets, waiting for the inevitable recruitment into terrorist networks and anti-peace militias. Azim’s close encounter with the ravages of a war-torn society taught him how pain can generate the most intense forms of fear, anxiety, and depression. He had found his salvation through sports and physical activity, and he knew these children could, too.
He put his method to the test and created the Afghan Women’s Boxing Federation, the official governing body for women’s sports for the National Olympic Committee and the first ever in the history of any Islamic republic, proving that Afghanistan was ready for social change by addressing the harms of accumulated trauma.
Now, his remarkable full story is revealed in this book that is both a memoir and a roadmap. Through his own experiences, he effortlessly explains how fear is an invitation to seek a deeper feeling within—a feeling that is achieved when we engage in righteous and sincere struggle. Only then will our choices be guided by values that help us avoid the pitfalls of moral and personal failure. Featuring actionable advice and varied clear-eyed case studies, including MMA star Jake Shields, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York— Empower is the ultimate guide to living a life understanding that fear is there to help you.
A descendant of Afghan nobles, Tareq Azim’s family was forced to flee their homeland in 1979. He assimilated in the United States through his love of sports, excelling in wrestling, boxing, and football. In 2004, Azim decided to visit his home country, and upon arriving, he discovered countless children living on the streets, waiting for the inevitable recruitment into terrorist networks and anti-peace militias. Azim’s close encounter with the ravages of a war-torn society taught him how pain can generate the most intense forms of fear, anxiety, and depression. He had found his salvation through sports and physical activity, and he knew these children could, too.
He put his method to the test and created the Afghan Women’s Boxing Federation, the official governing body for women’s sports for the National Olympic Committee and the first ever in the history of any Islamic republic, proving that Afghanistan was ready for social change by addressing the harms of accumulated trauma.
Now, his remarkable full story is revealed in this book that is both a memoir and a roadmap. Through his own experiences, he effortlessly explains how fear is an invitation to seek a deeper feeling within—a feeling that is achieved when we engage in righteous and sincere struggle. Only then will our choices be guided by values that help us avoid the pitfalls of moral and personal failure. Featuring actionable advice and varied clear-eyed case studies, including MMA star Jake Shields, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York— Empower is the ultimate guide to living a life understanding that fear is there to help you.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
272 pages, Hardcover
Published January 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 24, 2022
I saw this book covered in a McKinsey article titled “How to conquer fear, prepare for death, and embrace your power”. Besides it being slightly puzzling that a management consultancy would talk about these issues, I was interested enough to read it. I do have fears, and death specially so.
The book does have some interesting messages like the relationship between mental and physical health, and also how to tame the inner fears that affect most of us, primarily through deep open conversations.
It also outlines very interesting experiences by the author many of which I found highly inspiring.
However ….
It’s too much about the author, not the reader. It doesn’t really help or foster thinking by the reader.Specially towards the end, it’s very centred on the author, almost creating some discomfort. I get it, he has done some really cool stuff, but the description of some of his life experiences is a bit OTT.
It would be useful to help readers more practically, a lot of chapters could be summarised as “here is an interesting topic and this is now I did it in my business and how I helped my mate and client Dave, who is very powerful and accomplished, overcome it”
The book does have some interesting messages like the relationship between mental and physical health, and also how to tame the inner fears that affect most of us, primarily through deep open conversations.
It also outlines very interesting experiences by the author many of which I found highly inspiring.
However ….
It’s too much about the author, not the reader. It doesn’t really help or foster thinking by the reader.Specially towards the end, it’s very centred on the author, almost creating some discomfort. I get it, he has done some really cool stuff, but the description of some of his life experiences is a bit OTT.
It would be useful to help readers more practically, a lot of chapters could be summarised as “here is an interesting topic and this is now I did it in my business and how I helped my mate and client Dave, who is very powerful and accomplished, overcome it”
January 13, 2022
McK Author Talks: How to conquer fear, prepare for death, and embrace your power
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-ins...
Excerpts:
Death is not an unknown. It’s the only guarantee, and it’s the only thing we should prepare for. My game plans are primarily about getting to that mindset and getting to that state of consciousness. It’s about, “How do you want to feel on your last breath?”
My purpose would be about feeling content when I die with how I had touched the world.
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-ins...
Excerpts:
Death is not an unknown. It’s the only guarantee, and it’s the only thing we should prepare for. My game plans are primarily about getting to that mindset and getting to that state of consciousness. It’s about, “How do you want to feel on your last breath?”
My purpose would be about feeling content when I die with how I had touched the world.
August 22, 2022
I admit it. Until I read Empower: Conquering the Disease of Fear, I didn't know I was such a scaredy cat. But, as I made my way through the pages, I realized that fear had me by the throat and it was up to me to change my perceptions. Now, any time I think I've known difficulties, I'll think again thanks to Azim's thought-provoking words of wisdom and thought.
This is a person who's faced incredible obstacles. Further, he's provided more than a handful of accounts by others who have endured but because of a superior mindset have not only survived, but thrived. Further, Azim has inspired others, and found inspiration in them. That's an obvious gift we take for granted.
Life changing? Yes. Life affirming? Yes. A ray of real sunshine? YES! Should you read it? Yes, yes, yes!
This is a person who's faced incredible obstacles. Further, he's provided more than a handful of accounts by others who have endured but because of a superior mindset have not only survived, but thrived. Further, Azim has inspired others, and found inspiration in them. That's an obvious gift we take for granted.
Life changing? Yes. Life affirming? Yes. A ray of real sunshine? YES! Should you read it? Yes, yes, yes!
January 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this book…read it from cover to cover in a few days. it’s an easy read. It’s made up of powerful stories of his experiences with NFL clients and Tareq’s personal stories of his family and Afghanistan. Didn’t want to put it down. I would call it a memoir/self help book.
May 9, 2022
Live with goosebumps
Be a selfless human being
Death is not unknown, it is one of the only certain
How do you prepare for it?
What is your biggest fear?
What is the worst?
How can you embrace it?
Be a selfless human being
Death is not unknown, it is one of the only certain
How do you prepare for it?
What is your biggest fear?
What is the worst?
How can you embrace it?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews