Daring to Fly: The TV star on facing fear and finding joy on a deadline

by Lisa Millar

Lisa Millar has spent her whole life showing up, getting things done and making things happen. As a child growing up in country Queensland, she dreamed of a big life. Working as a foreign correspondent gave her that, but it also meant confronting the worst that humanity can bring. Three decades as a journalist witnessing tragedy had a cost. And an ever-escalating fear of flying threatened to rob her of her ability to work at all. For that young girl from small-town Kilkivan, who had to push herself to keep going, push herself to conquer fear, push herself to tell important stories, finally came the realisation that sometimes all we really need is what we already have. And she shows us that we are all stronger and more resilient than we give ourselves credit for if we just dare to let ourselves fly.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Australia, Autobiography

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Leaha Hosking · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in current events and the excitement of the life of a foreign correspondent. If you hunger for lands beyond your own. If you have an overwhelming fear of something and feel you just can't deal with life. If you have suffered trauma or you just want to be truly inspired, you need to read this book.

This is a non-fiction book, but it reads like a Hollywood blockbuster. It is the story of a small-town girl from the country who grew up to live her dream and see the world. It is a chronicle of some of the worst events in the last 20 years. Events that shocked the world, as the body count rose. Events, that we all remember, seen from a different view-point and by someone who witnessed, first hand, the aftermath of each tragedy.
2017 was truly a horrific year. Reading this book, I became aware of just how many terrorist attacks occurred that year. I also understood that from a journalists view-point, reporting on them time and time again, was a difficult and traumatic experience, I am sure, many people would not be able to cope with.
You could feel the tension and stress in these situations. The desperate effort to meet the deadline and get a story. You can feel the sadness, as the author witnessed people mourning loved ones, lost in tragic events and the fear, as people ran away from situations and they ran towards them, wondering if another attack was imminent.

This is also a story of a family. A loving and supportive family. It is a story of romance and loss. But it is also lighthearted and funny. It is a trip back in time to when life was very different. It illustrates how far technology has come and how we see the world, has changed.
It is a story about people. People who came into her life and helped her along a path, guiding and supportive, each having a role to play.
It is about determination and overcoming fear. It is inspiring story that will lift you up and let you know, that anything is possible, if you just give it a go.
This book made me laugh, smile, cry and as I closed the back cover, I was truly impressed. This is a beautifully written memoir, that you won't be able to put down. It is easy to read, the language is descriptive and it flows, taking the reader along on the journey. It doesn't delve into the gore and blood aspect of the events, but lets you see the human side and especially the human side of those who report them.
This is a book, that once you have finished it, you just want to read it again.
If you only read one non-fiction book this year, read this one. You won't regret it.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book for my wife after seeing the captivating cover of the photo of the author as a young child sitting in her father’s small plane. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover but on this occasion that does not ring true. Lisa comes across as a lovely and sensitive woman. Her story, apart from being of great interest to the average reader, should ring alarm bells for young journalists in particular with wide eyes wanting to take on the world as a foreign correspondent or indeed as a specialist journalist back home. From the very outset I need to say I make no judgements about Lisa Millar and how she went about juggling her journalistic life with her family and private life.

Journalists and media advisers often work in a ‘media/political bubble’ where they think the only thing that matters to the world is the ‘big story’ they are covering. The journalist or adviser can think they are the centre of the universe. Let me assure you you are quickly forgotten.

Lisa Millar’s focus on her journalism seemed to me (and by her own acknowledgement) to come at great expense to her personal relationships and perhaps more importantly (from my standpoint) her family relationships. I noted towards the end of the book a certain family member was extremely sick but Lisa stayed behind in London for one final story. I won’t spoil the yarn but my advice to any young journalist is to go in with the attitude that when this sort of thing happens get on the first plane and get home!

I loved it towards the latter part of the book when she located an aeroplane that she used to fly in as a child. It had been sold to Christian missionaries and this helped in the identification process because there was an old sticker leaving an imprint which said ‘While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.’ Lisa saw lots of death and terrorism in her job so this quote from the Bible was a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice.

I really appreciated hearing about her extreme fear of flying. I once shared that fear but it was much less severe.

Every journalist, especially those seeking overseas postings, should read this book and look beyond the drama, fancy dinners, the intrigue and perhaps self-importance (not in Lisa's case) and work out how you will juggle your family and personal lives beyond the pull of the television camera, microphone or newspaper headline. As the back cover says: (For Lisa) '...finally came the realisation that sometimes all we really need is what we already have.' Recommended reading.

[SJP]

dairy farming. flying. trinkets from the china cabinet. homesickness. stepping into a big wide world. thanks Lisa for sharing your brilliant story

favs:
• if you worry you do not trust. if you trust you do not worry. pray if you worry. why worry if you pray?
• power of positivity
• bureaucracy and extreme sport weren’t a comfortable match

https://music.apple.com/au/album/dont...

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book about a girl from the country who dreams big and works hard. I knew I loved Lisa Millar’s journalism, but this really is something else.

[Alison P · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - a wonderful memoir from a fellow wearer of animal pants in ‘80s Brisbane.

[Susan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to Google its the 47th week of the year and this is the 47th book I have read this year. In my field of work, these mid-40s weeks of the year count amongst the busiest and its when I go looking for something light, not too strenuous on the brain but interesting. This book fitted that need. I am somewhat familiar with Lisa's work as an ABC journo.

The first part felt a little forced but when she was describing her life as a foreign correspondent, I felt the book started to hit its stride. Her descriptions of being in UK/Europe in 2017/2018 with terrorist event upon terrorist event is grim, especially when some of those events were close to (her) home/office in the UK. I got the sense that family was very important to her, especially when she talked about being isolated from them in Melbourne during lockdown. She refers to them frequently throughout the book.

I appreciated a number of themes she had interspersed throughout the book - facing your fears for one, and knowing that when those fears do come, you can get through them with some help. Good messages which I hope don't get hidden.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I have great admiration for Lisa Millar’s trusted journalism, and here she is telling her own story, rather than reporting other people’s stories. Lisa writes with honesty and compassion, she is gracious and humble. As an ABC foreign correspondent she reported some harrowing and tragic events - a reign of terrorist attacks throughout the UK, Europe and Asia, the Grenfell tower fire, and school shootings in the US. The years of rushing to a scene and facing death and destruction did come at a cost. I’m so pleased she is back home and now shining on ABC News Breakfast.

[Wes]

Millar has crafted a lovingly written memoir, outlining her early years and through to her current position as co-host of ABC News Breakfast.

I really enjoyed a look at the Millar family’s early life, so different from my own, and their trials and triumphs were bought to life in front of me via Lisa’s warm turns of phrase and genuine affection for that time period.

As someone who is fascinated by the Australian media landscape, I really appreciated the details of the life of a foreign correspondent, the pressures of life in the field and the lasting impact that it has on broadcasting professionals.

Millar has tied together the theme of embracing fear to find joy in a beautiful way. Thank you for sharing, Lisa.

[Trish Quirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa’s candidness and humility is highlighted in this memoir that foregrounds her struggles with fears and trauma suffered throughout her career. Her story reminds us of the many terrible events she has covered , right in the front line , and gives us a glimpse of what that’s really like, what it takes to get the 2 minute piece to camera for us to watch from our lounge. I loved her Kilkivan recollections and laughed out loud as I relived my own embarrassing fashion moments in her description of her early experiences at uni as a 16 year old country bumpkin

[Ashlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

my interest in foreign correspondence has been sparked by reading Lisa Millar’s words on her extensive experience in different postings around the world in her time working for ABC. i throughly enjoyed reading about her life starting in a small rural town in Queensland, but especially her emphasis on trauma in a journalists life and how important it is to recognise the early signs.

looking forward to reading more memoirs this year!

[Katie Clews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 star 🌟 read
From Kilkivan to Washington this honest bare all memoir was such an enjoyable and engaging read .. I flew through this in a couple of sittings.. highly recommend adding this to your TBR. Lisa’s story is certainly an interesting one ..

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had so much career envy while reading this one. I really enjoyed the content and Lisa’s casual writing style.

Three stars is a standard rating from me for a memoir, although I was tempted to throw on another one for her triathlon story alone.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Lisa Millar has led a fascinating life. Her writing is so evocative that at different times I felt like I was there with her at different events that she reported on. There were elements of her story that resonated deeply with me, as someone whose career has brought me into regular and ongoing contact with tragedy and traumatic events. Lisa’s sense of optimism and pragmatism is utterly refreshing. Highly recommend this book. It’s left me feeling inspired and encouraged to take chances with opportunities that come along when we answer ‘yes’.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m currently in quarantine after a COVID exposure at work. I have been surprisingly agitated about it this time and hankering to get out in the beautiful spring weather. This book, however, has transported me. I started reading it this morning and barely moved from the coach until I closed the back cover (and then went to the Chats 10 Looks 3 page to watch the taped Facebook live session). Lisa Millar is a beautiful writer and had me in tears multiple times. What an absolutely amazing life you have lived. Thank you for sharing it.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Millar is no stranger to viewers of ABC TV. For many years, an ABC foreign correspondent, she’s now a trusted and friendly face over the cornflakes as co-host of ABC News Breakfast. This fascinating memoir traces Lisa’s path in journalism, from the early years growing up in rural Queensland, through her career in Australia and overseas.

Three close calls with fate in her twenties caused her to reflect on the randomness and fragility of life, and also triggered an escalating fear of flying. A thread running right throughout the narrative is an exploration of how that fear and exposure to trauma through her work impacted her career and how she overcame these obstacles.

In times of international crisis, celebration or despair, as TV viewers we turn to the foreign correspondents on the ground to calmly report on the situation and confidently explain it to us. We take for granted that the familiar face will be there, without thinking too much about the personal toll this could take. Their work means witnessing some of humanity’s worst moments. The escalating European terrorism in 2017, when Lisa was ABC bureau chief in London, was a particularly challenging episode. By the time her posting ended in 2018 she had personally covered eight terrorism attacks in Europe, and reported on others from the bureau.

I found the description of the practicalities of foreign news reporting particularly fascinating. Racing against the clock and skewed timezones, the logistics involved often make The Amazing Race look like a total walk in the park. Throughout it all, Lisa describes how each story is dependent on every member of the team, and honours all the producers and crew she has worked with.

This book is intensely honest and opens up an important conversation about the effect on media professionals of ongoing exposure to trauma. I was interested to read about the work of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma in helping helping media workers better understand the impact of that trauma.

Memoir is one of my favourite book genres, and this one meets all my expectations. Five stars from me. Highly recommended.

[Mimi Kwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa is a former colleague who has become a friend during the writing process of both our books. Her tenacity, positivity and generosity knows no bounds, and now I have read her story, I understand why. Her book is a surprising journey that through sharing deeply personal struggles uncovers vulnerabilities we all share. Lisa’s memoir is brave and at times breathtaking. Even having worked in the field of journalism, domestically, I learned so much more than I imagined about a foreign posting and I was delighted - literally uttering ‘oh wow’ aloud — to read pleasantly (and sometimes not so pleasantly) startling facts about airlines and so much about Lisa’s relationship with flying since a child. I found the research and writing more and more immersive the further along I read, my copy of Daring to Fly now riddled with sticky notes marking amazing events, memorable or poetic lines, and passages I formed a relationship with, having had a relatable experience in my own career. Heartbreaking and uplifting, I enjoyed the pace and the story so much and I count myself truly lucky to know the human behind it. Congratulations, Lisa. You are a star! Five, in fact! xx

[Carty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 an interesting read especially about trauma

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, surprisingly boring. This journalist has had an interesting life with incredible experiences but somehow she’s not able to write it with much pizzazz. I persevered because she is a Queenslander and I knew some of the places et cetera but I almost gave up halfway through. Perhaps I should’ve stopped then … For a journalist, her writing is pretty poor. And I loathe the title!!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Millar lights up the ABC News Breakfast each morning with a sense of calm, kindness and positivity. Her memoir shows that she has always been someone who looks for the good in every experience, and someone who has compassion for others above all. Lisa's early days in Kilkivan (I know that place well!) are reflected on fondly and her live for family is evident. She is humble and honest in her storytelling, generous in her truth, which is important for any author, but especially a journalist. By sharing her anxiety around flying, she weaves a metaphor for her own life, and also shows the reader that it's okay to not be okay, and that sometimes even the most resilient member needs a time out. I was very intrigued by the sections regarding her tone as a foreign correspondent, and was blown away by how many huge stories she covered during a time of crazy world events. The Sandy Hook section was particularly moving, and I found myself tearing up several times. Lisa writes about her experience in a calm and considered way, never passing judgement, and always placing an emphasis on the people behind the story. Her narrative style was engaging and easy to read, and I felt that the Lisa I see every morning on the tv was transferred well onto the page. I was also most excited to learn that her middle name is Joy - mine too!! So now I love Lisa Millar even more than I did!

[Laura O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always admired Lisa on ABC Breakfast. I really enjoyed this autobiography.

I, too, am a country girl from Gympie and moved to the city to test my own sense of adventure. I related to Lisa's being torn between family and wanting to test herself in the big wide world.

I am not a journalist. I have worked in the accounting world throughout Australia, living away from family, returning when circumstances allowed. I understand the pull between career and family and as Lisa has found out, following our dreams and passions comes at a cost. Lisa has acknowledged the cost of following her dreams and she has pulled through the challenges and made peace within herself. This is a book about being open to taking risks, feeling the fear and doing it, which results in being a person who is able to face even greater risks and coming through.

Lisa's book shows by taking action outside of your comfort zone you build resilience that prepares you for further life challenges.

This is a must read for young people considering a career in journalism, not to put them off from choosing that career, but making them aware of some of the consequences of that life choice.

Thank you, Lisa, for showing the courage and determination to inspire your readers to be the best they can be.

[Melanie Dunstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read and insight into the life of an Australian and international reporter. I found myself reflecting on my life as a nurse in rural and remote Queensland and the things that I have been exposed to during my career and the conversations that have occurred with my colleagues. It’s an interesting similarity to compare how we do or don’t look after each other when exposed to environments that are confronting and challenging. Things do need to change and we need to get better at supporting each other’s mental health. Thanks Lisa for highlighting this issue and opening the door for these conversations to continue to happen looking forward to meeting you at my connected book club meeting this month. Yours in having a huge fear of flying during parts of my nursing career too especially on aircraft with no toilets! Mel

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book makes me like and respect Lisa even more. She wanted a big life and that is what she got. Adventure, romance, integrity, persistence, skill, commitment, fear and loss all played their part.

It was a significant story about the all-consuming life of a foreign correspondent and how many tragedies are reported. In the past there may have been more wars but Lisa highlights the number of terrorist attacks there have been and how many have been lost to natural disasters and what it costs reporters and camera operators to be there.

It was interesting to read about the trauma training and counselling but the incidents must take their toll. Great to read about her family too. Recommended story about a big life and a lovely person.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband gave me this physical book a year ago. I finally decided to tackle it this month, having reached my reading challenge for the year and needing to exceed it, if only by one.

Lisa Millar is an ABC journalist I enjoy watching. She has a charming affability. Her writing reveals her journalism background and is crammed with facts and information, more than deep emotional revelations. Yet, what a cracking life she has led, particularly in her overseas postings, and so much trauma witnessed. I had no real concept of how much terrorism and violence she had reported into our living rooms. I’m grateful to have shared this time with her thoughts and memories.

[Vin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific read. Australia is well-served by news reporters who apply their skills seamlessly in good memoir and reflection on society. Leigh Sales (Any Ordinary Day) and the late Caroline Jones come to mind. Lisa Millar adds her name comfortably to this list. The mixture of growing up in Queensland, reporting on international developments in Europe and the USA and tackling anxiety head-on make for a varied and inspiring memoir. One note of caution: if you plan to read this book during a fortnight-long holiday, you may be disappointed. Once I began reading I did nothing else until I finished a few hours later on the day I started.

[Katherine Kraayvanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - had it finished within two days in that deep, food-induced, post-Christmas stupor. I dream of being a foreign correspondent one day and it’s so inspiring to read of someone who has had such a career. From outback Australia to Paris to Washington DC - this book is an enjoyable and entertaining insight into the life of a journalist. “Easy to read” is not the right phrase but the storytelling is such that you are not caught up in trying to decipher a complicated plot or choice of words, so I really recommend it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love memoirs from foreign correspondents. The authors are always well traveled and informed and are naturally good at writing and storytelling. And it is my secret dream job to be a foreign correspondent, so I get to hear more adventures from this line of work as well.

I enjoyed this memoir a lot. Millar's life story takes us from regional Queensland to Washington to London and many other places between. It was interesting to revisit some major news stories from the lens of Lisa's experience of reporting from the scenes.

[Sal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this memoir and Lisa's narration was a pleasure to listen to. She is brave, compassionate, and resilient in the face of secondary (vicarious) traumatization in her work as a journalist. Managing her fear of flying and not letting it hold her back will be inspiring to many. I love Lisa's optimistic outlook on life, and her middle name, Joy, is definitely appropriate for her. Highly recommend this book, particularly the audio version.

[Kim Maidment · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa is just delightful, she has this way of describing a seemingly glamorous career into something relatable and with such humility. I particularly enjoyed the parts about her childhood in country Queensland, her family and her adventures.

If you like current affairs then you will like this book, she recounts the horrific year of 2017 and many other terrorist attacks that happened prior.

Recommend if you like a story about an Aussie!

[Kristal Dekleer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retracing the last decades of international news headlines through the eyes of a foreign correspondent was a crash course in recent history and also a personal tale of bravery and grit. If you follow current events, are curious about jobs in the media, or appreciate a brilliant and strong female voice, Daring to Fly is the book for you. Lisa is humble and open about her experiences and the lessons she learned along the way. Brava! 5 star memoir.

[Lisa Bacon-hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great story of Lisa’s extraordinary life as a journalist. I think we tend to forget that reporting trauma over and over must create great stress and anxiety for those at the front of such awful events! It must be so difficult to keep going…there is support for such journalists but still it’s a very tough occupation! Lisa overcame her fear of flying but still faces fear because her job puts in the hot seat with terrible things happen in our world! Huge sympathy for her!