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Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World
Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World
173 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
89 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Harold S. Kushner
62 books403 followersHarold S. Kushner is rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in the Boston suburb of Natick, Massachusetts. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he is the author of more than a dozen books on coping with life’s challenges, including, most recently, the best-selling Conquering Fear and Overcoming Life’s Disappointments.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 12, 2019
Think you’re not afraid?
If you had to list five things you were afraid of, what might they be?
Fears.....
of.....
death, loneliness, abandonment, rejection, public speaking, terrorism,
natural disasters, aging, sudden change, spiders, airplanes, germs, loss of a job, loss of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, close friend, beloved pet, your own inner ugly thoughts, Alzheimer’s disease, boredom, accused of a wrongdoing when innocent, being disabled,
financial security, homelessness, the government, health care, pain, shots, surgeries, global warming, ongoing power outages, intimacy, sex, love, clowns,
fear of being without vices: coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, sugar, music, books?....
Fear of not being understood, unworthy, depression,
anxiety, never reaching your dreams, etc? etc.
etc..
Harold Kushner offers perspectives on conquering fear, acknowledging it, and managing it.
He offered words of wisdom about the value of groups and community.
He explores denial, hopelessness, suffering, prayer, and service.
With compassion, humor, and straightforwardness... ( not preachy)....
He stands for
“living boldly in our uncertain world”.
Kushner is humble, gentle, knowledgeable, and very likable.
3.5
If you had to list five things you were afraid of, what might they be?
Fears.....
of.....
death, loneliness, abandonment, rejection, public speaking, terrorism,
natural disasters, aging, sudden change, spiders, airplanes, germs, loss of a job, loss of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, close friend, beloved pet, your own inner ugly thoughts, Alzheimer’s disease, boredom, accused of a wrongdoing when innocent, being disabled,
financial security, homelessness, the government, health care, pain, shots, surgeries, global warming, ongoing power outages, intimacy, sex, love, clowns,
fear of being without vices: coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, sugar, music, books?....
Fear of not being understood, unworthy, depression,
anxiety, never reaching your dreams, etc? etc.
etc..
Harold Kushner offers perspectives on conquering fear, acknowledging it, and managing it.
He offered words of wisdom about the value of groups and community.
He explores denial, hopelessness, suffering, prayer, and service.
With compassion, humor, and straightforwardness... ( not preachy)....
He stands for
“living boldly in our uncertain world”.
Kushner is humble, gentle, knowledgeable, and very likable.
3.5
October 4, 2012
Though I tend to have allergic reactions to self-help books, I saw Conquering Fear... on the shelves and thought about reading it, then put it back thinking, "What do I need a book about fear for?" A minuscule part of me was also afraid of what people would think if they saw me reading a book about fear. Yes, I feared people would think I harbored some form of fear. "Perhaps I should read this book," I said in defeated resignation.
Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World follows a lifetime's path of fears, starting with common childhood concerns like the fear of the dark and ending with the fear of getting old and dying. It is not an all-encompassingencyclopedia WebMD of symptoms and cures for what ails ya in the fear department, rather it touches upon the most common of our worries and woes. The touch is a tad light and not terribly helpful at times. This is not where you should turn to break out of your crippling agoraphobia for instance, but if for instance you feel some light unease about 9/11 and think you'd feel better having someone talk it out for a bit, this might be what the doctor ordered a well-meaning-but-unqualified friend might tell you.
Not recognizing Kushner as the author of the popular When Bad Things Happen to Good People or realizing that he was a prominent rabbi, I was caught off guard by the book's religious tone and numerous references to the Bible, scripture, etc. Some of that was difficult to endure. However, Kushner is a very laid back holy man and seldom did I feel overly put-upon by the religious subtext, even when it became ubertext.
Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World follows a lifetime's path of fears, starting with common childhood concerns like the fear of the dark and ending with the fear of getting old and dying. It is not an all-encompassing
Not recognizing Kushner as the author of the popular When Bad Things Happen to Good People or realizing that he was a prominent rabbi, I was caught off guard by the book's religious tone and numerous references to the Bible, scripture, etc. Some of that was difficult to endure. However, Kushner is a very laid back holy man and seldom did I feel overly put-upon by the religious subtext, even when it became ubertext.
February 21, 2016
Well, maybe I should have read the descriptor of this book before reading it, because it wasn't at all what I was expecting. Still a great book, but I was looking for something more along the lines if helping me conquer my fear in everyday situations/my own self doubt. This book focuses more on the "big" fears in life in general that everyone worries about. Still a great read. I found it comforting. It jis wasn't what I expected.
August 24, 2023
I'm glad I read this one by the late Rabbi Harold Kushner first.
Don't think I ever read When Bad Things Happen to Good People, but I did read Overcoming Life's Disappointments back in 2008. Don't remember any details, just that I wasn't wowed by it. Reading Who Needs God now, and having some issues with it as well. But Conquering Fear I liked. The book consisted of nine chapters in which he discussed kinds of fear. I listened on audio during a car trip, and he's clear and direct, easy to understand and to pay attention to. He made sense. An example from the book is that he says that people at the end of their lives don't fear death as much as they fear being left behind before they die. He says that during final illnesses and suffering, death itself can spell not fear but relief. He also talked about loss of love, loss of job, and the loss of self-esteem that can accompany them. He was willing to use personal examples, such as a time before he was well-known when he didn't get a job at a bigger congregation. I liked the book. Thought it helpful. I'm a big scaredy-cat, often am having to face down fear, so naturally liked hearing once again that the goal isn't absence of fear but facing it. Very useful. The one part I have some quibbles with is his finding it necessary to dispute the term "fear" of God and replace it with "awe." Hey, it's both -- simultaneously. I just looked up and reread "The Cosmic Vision," from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 in that connection. Other than that -- unlike Who Needs God -- I could read, or in this case listen, without having to argue with him.
Rabbi Kushner died earlier this year, another reason it's wonderful to have listened to this audiobook.
Don't think I ever read When Bad Things Happen to Good People, but I did read Overcoming Life's Disappointments back in 2008. Don't remember any details, just that I wasn't wowed by it. Reading Who Needs God now, and having some issues with it as well. But Conquering Fear I liked. The book consisted of nine chapters in which he discussed kinds of fear. I listened on audio during a car trip, and he's clear and direct, easy to understand and to pay attention to. He made sense. An example from the book is that he says that people at the end of their lives don't fear death as much as they fear being left behind before they die. He says that during final illnesses and suffering, death itself can spell not fear but relief. He also talked about loss of love, loss of job, and the loss of self-esteem that can accompany them. He was willing to use personal examples, such as a time before he was well-known when he didn't get a job at a bigger congregation. I liked the book. Thought it helpful. I'm a big scaredy-cat, often am having to face down fear, so naturally liked hearing once again that the goal isn't absence of fear but facing it. Very useful. The one part I have some quibbles with is his finding it necessary to dispute the term "fear" of God and replace it with "awe." Hey, it's both -- simultaneously. I just looked up and reread "The Cosmic Vision," from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 in that connection. Other than that -- unlike Who Needs God -- I could read, or in this case listen, without having to argue with him.
Rabbi Kushner died earlier this year, another reason it's wonderful to have listened to this audiobook.
October 10, 2022
So comforting. I've read a few books by Kushner and they always make me feel better.
March 3, 2010
A quick read. I like Rabbi Kushner's writing, though it's a bit like reading mystery novels by a favorite author; you sort of know what to expect.
This book takes on different types of fears in the various chapters (fear of death, fear of loss of self, etc.). Nothing earth-shattering, but comforting without being platitudinous.
This book takes on different types of fears in the various chapters (fear of death, fear of loss of self, etc.). Nothing earth-shattering, but comforting without being platitudinous.
February 11, 2021
This wise old rabbi's other books helped me through some of the toughest times of my life but this one unfortunately read more like a collection of targeted essays rather than a cohesive book. Some of the language has become dated over the past decade. The final chapter and epilogue felt more like what I love about his other works. The themed chapters on different common fears were not always relevant to me, but I very much liked when he went more abstract about facing fear and uncertainty in general rather than simply discussing how to get over one's fear of terrorism for example. I always enjoy getting to learn about Judaism from him as it's not a religion I have really had any exposure to living in SK.
I know Kushner is VERY old now but I really want him to write a pandemic book.
I know Kushner is VERY old now but I really want him to write a pandemic book.
March 20, 2017
Book #8 : Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World by Harold Kushner | Finished February 4th 2017 #100BooksChallenge
Favourite Take Aways
Marketers and politicians have learned how much easier it is to manipulate people, to get them to do what you want them to, when they are frightened. In the next electoral campaign, take note of how much of what a candidate says is a promise of the good things he would do and how much is a warning of the terrible things that will happen if his opponent is elected.
In sum, a small dose of fear keeps us alert and alive, but an overdose can leave us perpetually tense, emotionally closed, and paralyzed to the point of inaction. If we could take a pill to banish fear, or if we could have a small part of our brain removed so that we would never feel afraid, it would be a serious mistake. Our goal should not be the total absence of fear but the mastery of fear, being the master of our emotions rather than their slave. Our goal should be to recognize legitimate fears, dismiss exaggerated fears, and not let fear keep us from doing the things we yearn to do.
Sometimes our unrealistic fears are nourished by too much information. But sometimes our fears are nourished by too little information. If we knew more about what was happening and what the true extent of the danger was, we might fear it less. We might be able to see ourselves and our circumstances more realistically.
As the saying goes, pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. Athletes, surgical patients, and women in childbirth experience severe pain, but if they are confident in their ability to deal with the pain and if they remain mindful of the reward waiting for them at the end of the pain, they need not suffer. Life will probably hurt us all, but if we can just remember that it may not be our choice whether or not to be hurt but it is always our choice whether or not to be afraid of the pain, it will probably hurt less.
According to science, all living creatures crave what is known as homeostasis, when things remain the same. Our brains register serious discomfort when things aren’t what and where we expect them to be. It is a lot more efficient to be able to do things the way you have always done them, without having to think about it. (Think of suddenly encountering a detour on your familiar drive home.) As a result, we tend to resist change even when change would seem to be for our benefit.
Terrorist math is simple. Kill one person, frighten a thousand. Kill a few thousand people, terrify an entire population. Terrorism has been defined as the effort “to create fear in a population disproportionate to the actual danger.”
What we choose, changes us. What we love, transforms us. JAN L. RICHARDSON
Dr. Marc Siegel, author of False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear, “Our infectious fears spread faster than any bacteria and ignite a sense of [imminent danger] that far eclipses the reality.”
Courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of fear. MARK TWAIN
The person who is afraid to try guarantees that he or she will not gain the prize. Helen Keller once wrote, “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it…. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
Life is no brief candle for me. It is … a splendid torch … and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. - George Bernard Shaw
Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. MAYA ANGELOU
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the overcoming of fear. Courage is looking fear in the face and refusing to be intimidated. Courage is the firefighter rushing into a burning building or the soldier going into battle, fully aware of the dangers they are facing but accepting the challenge to do what duty calls on them to do for something they believe in. Courage is the young mother crippled in an accident or diagnosed with a degenerative disease who continues to raise her children and tend to her household instead of dissolving into self-pity.
"These, then, are my last words to you: Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” - William James.
Favourite Take Aways
Marketers and politicians have learned how much easier it is to manipulate people, to get them to do what you want them to, when they are frightened. In the next electoral campaign, take note of how much of what a candidate says is a promise of the good things he would do and how much is a warning of the terrible things that will happen if his opponent is elected.
In sum, a small dose of fear keeps us alert and alive, but an overdose can leave us perpetually tense, emotionally closed, and paralyzed to the point of inaction. If we could take a pill to banish fear, or if we could have a small part of our brain removed so that we would never feel afraid, it would be a serious mistake. Our goal should not be the total absence of fear but the mastery of fear, being the master of our emotions rather than their slave. Our goal should be to recognize legitimate fears, dismiss exaggerated fears, and not let fear keep us from doing the things we yearn to do.
Sometimes our unrealistic fears are nourished by too much information. But sometimes our fears are nourished by too little information. If we knew more about what was happening and what the true extent of the danger was, we might fear it less. We might be able to see ourselves and our circumstances more realistically.
As the saying goes, pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. Athletes, surgical patients, and women in childbirth experience severe pain, but if they are confident in their ability to deal with the pain and if they remain mindful of the reward waiting for them at the end of the pain, they need not suffer. Life will probably hurt us all, but if we can just remember that it may not be our choice whether or not to be hurt but it is always our choice whether or not to be afraid of the pain, it will probably hurt less.
According to science, all living creatures crave what is known as homeostasis, when things remain the same. Our brains register serious discomfort when things aren’t what and where we expect them to be. It is a lot more efficient to be able to do things the way you have always done them, without having to think about it. (Think of suddenly encountering a detour on your familiar drive home.) As a result, we tend to resist change even when change would seem to be for our benefit.
Terrorist math is simple. Kill one person, frighten a thousand. Kill a few thousand people, terrify an entire population. Terrorism has been defined as the effort “to create fear in a population disproportionate to the actual danger.”
What we choose, changes us. What we love, transforms us. JAN L. RICHARDSON
Dr. Marc Siegel, author of False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear, “Our infectious fears spread faster than any bacteria and ignite a sense of [imminent danger] that far eclipses the reality.”
Courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of fear. MARK TWAIN
The person who is afraid to try guarantees that he or she will not gain the prize. Helen Keller once wrote, “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it…. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
Life is no brief candle for me. It is … a splendid torch … and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. - George Bernard Shaw
Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. MAYA ANGELOU
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the overcoming of fear. Courage is looking fear in the face and refusing to be intimidated. Courage is the firefighter rushing into a burning building or the soldier going into battle, fully aware of the dangers they are facing but accepting the challenge to do what duty calls on them to do for something they believe in. Courage is the young mother crippled in an accident or diagnosed with a degenerative disease who continues to raise her children and tend to her household instead of dissolving into self-pity.
"These, then, are my last words to you: Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” - William James.
October 19, 2009
As with all of Rabbi Kushner's books, I always find both comfort and inspiration from his writing. While addressing humanity's fear in the 21st century, he has an interesting perspective on issues as varied as technology, aging, terrorism, and rejection. This is definitely a book to be read more than once and one that everyone could find something that relates to their own life.
July 3, 2012
While you might not always agree with this theological framework, Kushner provides words of wisdom for overcoming fear through different periods of life. It is a volume that encourages and inspires, provokes and challenges and causes you to question your own actions. At the same time it provides help for those dealing with uncertainty and fear.
September 9, 2015
I am consistently impressed by Rabbi Kushner's ability to situate his writing in the narrow spot among easy reading, deeply insightful, and pearls of wisdom.
This book is among the consistent wonderful reads this wonderful author has offered us. The fact that he is able to accomplish such depth and meaning in concise books further adds to his appeal. Highly recommend.
This book is among the consistent wonderful reads this wonderful author has offered us. The fact that he is able to accomplish such depth and meaning in concise books further adds to his appeal. Highly recommend.
December 4, 2021
I enjoyed this book. I gained most from the first two chapters. For the rest of the chapters, the author addresses specific types of fears. I'm not sure he really shows how to master fear, but he does a good job presenting the reality of it and the need to accept it as part of reality.
Here are some quotes I like:
“Our goal should not be the total absence of fear but the mastery of fear, being the master of our emotions rather than their slave. Our goal should be to recognize legitimate fears, dismiss exaggerated fears, and not let fear keep us from doing the things we yearn to do.” (Page 11)
“More than eighty times in the Bible, God tells people to not be afraid (usually translated as ‘fear not’). God says it to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to Moses. He repeats it four times in His first remarks to Joshua, lest Joshua be overwhelmed by the task of succeeding Moses. He tells each of the prophets not to be afraid of the demands of their role and commands them to tell the people to not be afraid as well. In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly admonishes his disciples not to be afraid, and the angel’s first words to Mary are ‘Do not be afraid.’
“Why do we need to be told ‘Don’t be afraid’ so often? I believe that God realizes how many things there are that frighten us, but He does not want us to live lives dominated by fear. Fearful people cannot be happy. Fearful people cannot be generous, charitable, or forgiving. Fear constricts the soul and keeps us from being as fully human as God would like us to be. In the Bible, virtually the first words spoken by a human being to God are an expression of fear. Responding to God’s question, ‘Where are you?’ Adam says, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden and I was afraid’ (Genesis 3:10).” (Page 23)
“God commands us not to be afraid, not because there is nothing to fear but precisely because the world can be such a frightening place, and God realizes that we can never fulfill our potential as human beings if we are paralyzed by fear.” (Page 23)
“The commandment not to be afraid, is meant to keep us from missing out on many of the blessings of life that are accessible only to those who are able to face their fears, see them clearly, and stare them down. Don’t be afraid of being afraid. Our goal should never be the denial of fear but the mastery of fear, the refusal to let fear keep us from living fully and happily.” (Page 24)
Here are some quotes I like:
“Our goal should not be the total absence of fear but the mastery of fear, being the master of our emotions rather than their slave. Our goal should be to recognize legitimate fears, dismiss exaggerated fears, and not let fear keep us from doing the things we yearn to do.” (Page 11)
“More than eighty times in the Bible, God tells people to not be afraid (usually translated as ‘fear not’). God says it to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, to Moses. He repeats it four times in His first remarks to Joshua, lest Joshua be overwhelmed by the task of succeeding Moses. He tells each of the prophets not to be afraid of the demands of their role and commands them to tell the people to not be afraid as well. In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly admonishes his disciples not to be afraid, and the angel’s first words to Mary are ‘Do not be afraid.’
“Why do we need to be told ‘Don’t be afraid’ so often? I believe that God realizes how many things there are that frighten us, but He does not want us to live lives dominated by fear. Fearful people cannot be happy. Fearful people cannot be generous, charitable, or forgiving. Fear constricts the soul and keeps us from being as fully human as God would like us to be. In the Bible, virtually the first words spoken by a human being to God are an expression of fear. Responding to God’s question, ‘Where are you?’ Adam says, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden and I was afraid’ (Genesis 3:10).” (Page 23)
“God commands us not to be afraid, not because there is nothing to fear but precisely because the world can be such a frightening place, and God realizes that we can never fulfill our potential as human beings if we are paralyzed by fear.” (Page 23)
“The commandment not to be afraid, is meant to keep us from missing out on many of the blessings of life that are accessible only to those who are able to face their fears, see them clearly, and stare them down. Don’t be afraid of being afraid. Our goal should never be the denial of fear but the mastery of fear, the refusal to let fear keep us from living fully and happily.” (Page 24)
July 13, 2022
This was a good book. It was well written, conversational, rooted in biblical texts as well as other pop-culture texts that deal with the theme of fear. Although the chapters were disparate and could each stand alone they were still connected by the thread of interrogating fear.
It’s written by a rabbi who does not practice orthodoxy and questions traditions in a way that is refreshing. As someone who was raised in a traditional evangelical Christian church it was really nice to see a religious leader consider all of the Abrahamic traditions and reference text from all of them. He also talked about real lived experiences that induced fear. He also offers a lot of commentary on the ways in which God as a concept and God as a way of life are used to induce fear in people.
Each chapter is centered around a common fear that he has noticed through his own life path and through the people that he cancels.
I particularly enjoyed the chapter about fear of Loss of job and loss of love. As someone who has just entered her 30s it put a lot into perspective for me about why feelings of self worth are tied so much to educational status or job titles or even relationships.
In the last chapter he ends with this which I think sums it all up really nicely: “I confront my fears with a knowledge that failure and rejection are not fatal, that the people who love me love me for who I am and for what I stand for at my best, not for what I achieve. And I keep reminding myself that hope and courage are the will of God.“
It’s written by a rabbi who does not practice orthodoxy and questions traditions in a way that is refreshing. As someone who was raised in a traditional evangelical Christian church it was really nice to see a religious leader consider all of the Abrahamic traditions and reference text from all of them. He also talked about real lived experiences that induced fear. He also offers a lot of commentary on the ways in which God as a concept and God as a way of life are used to induce fear in people.
Each chapter is centered around a common fear that he has noticed through his own life path and through the people that he cancels.
I particularly enjoyed the chapter about fear of Loss of job and loss of love. As someone who has just entered her 30s it put a lot into perspective for me about why feelings of self worth are tied so much to educational status or job titles or even relationships.
In the last chapter he ends with this which I think sums it all up really nicely: “I confront my fears with a knowledge that failure and rejection are not fatal, that the people who love me love me for who I am and for what I stand for at my best, not for what I achieve. And I keep reminding myself that hope and courage are the will of God.“
September 3, 2017
A wonderful book that really does allay ones fears. I found it fascinating that he was able to identify a person's most salient fears about life and death and so aptly address them in his usual wonderful prose. This book did help me and make me more "at ease" by infusing me with a different perspective on my life. However, I really think that Kushner is more a philosopher than a theologian. At the end of the day, in reading his books carefully, I really don't think Kushner believes in a traditional Judaeo- Christian deity (i.e. God). This does not discount the value of his counsel, but one should consider his advice more "spiritual" than "religious" similar to Wayne Dyer, Joel Olsteen, etc.
August 18, 2022
I can't believe that at age 70 I'm still reading books about fear. But I looked at my solitary, isolated stay-at-home life and thought probably I should.
It's a simple, yet profound little book. He takes on our fears one by one and addresses them logically and with excellent insight (as well as his wealth of experience). I especially like how he tackles the fear of death. We humans are the only species that experiences it. It is worse, in many ways, than death itself, and it is a choice--one we can just say NO to!
I recommend this book. It is not long, it is profound, and it is helpful. It has been a while since it was written, but some things never change.
It's a simple, yet profound little book. He takes on our fears one by one and addresses them logically and with excellent insight (as well as his wealth of experience). I especially like how he tackles the fear of death. We humans are the only species that experiences it. It is worse, in many ways, than death itself, and it is a choice--one we can just say NO to!
I recommend this book. It is not long, it is profound, and it is helpful. It has been a while since it was written, but some things never change.
January 15, 2019
Meh.
I read this book because it was recommended by a good friend.
I don't like Kushner as a general rule. He's condescending on too many topics and has to show his liberal bonafides all the time. I have no issues with being a liberal, but this is supposed to be a book on religious answers to dealing with fear, not a polemic about how traditional Jewish interpretations are bad. Which is what it comes across as.
I gave it two stars, because the chapter on Work and Love is the only redeeming part of the book.
Don't bother, there are better options.
I read this book because it was recommended by a good friend.
I don't like Kushner as a general rule. He's condescending on too many topics and has to show his liberal bonafides all the time. I have no issues with being a liberal, but this is supposed to be a book on religious answers to dealing with fear, not a polemic about how traditional Jewish interpretations are bad. Which is what it comes across as.
I gave it two stars, because the chapter on Work and Love is the only redeeming part of the book.
Don't bother, there are better options.
January 6, 2021
I love to read and reread Harold ‘s books. This time is not exceptional. The book covers all kinds of fear that we face everyday, every scenario from minor to big like from darkness to terrorism, natural disaster , of mundane like fear of rapid change in life, of rejection, of growing old, of death, of humanity destroy. Harold discussed each topic with stories and many very interesting views and encourage Courage of us. Everyone should have this book
in bag all time.
in bag all time.
December 29, 2017
There is fear of death, but there is fear of life, too!
Never one to shrink from the big issues (itself a kind of spiritual fearlessness), Rabbi Kushner explores our 'big' fears and our possible responses. Somewhere between denial and rescue fantasy, we can have faith that God is with us in our struggles, and in that way, open the door to experience and growth.
Never one to shrink from the big issues (itself a kind of spiritual fearlessness), Rabbi Kushner explores our 'big' fears and our possible responses. Somewhere between denial and rescue fantasy, we can have faith that God is with us in our struggles, and in that way, open the door to experience and growth.
June 12, 2020
Living on the precipice of fear is an enormous disservice a man can ever do unto himself, it shatters the hidden gem and extinguishes the great fires of self-actualization. Conquering fear delivers the ingredients in a secular way for living courageously through uncertain times, and it acted as one of the catalysts for pulling me through my dark and winding tunnels of fear.
November 2, 2023
Kushner's words are timeless. Despite being written in 2008, his comments regarding terrorism and the need to keep living hold true even now in the wake of the October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas. His style is direct and unafraid to touch on uncomfortable truths.
My favorite quote was "Fear casts out love as surely as love casts out fear."
My favorite quote was "Fear casts out love as surely as love casts out fear."
January 22, 2019
Favorite part was the ask in regards to electoral campaigns:
"Take note of what a candidate says is a promise of the good things they would do and how much is a warning of the terrible things that will happen if their opponent is elected."
"Take note of what a candidate says is a promise of the good things they would do and how much is a warning of the terrible things that will happen if their opponent is elected."
May 10, 2020
As will all of his books, this is meant to provide hope to people who are going through a crisis or worrying about a future crisis. While it is moving, it's message is so much like his other works that it is not particularly memorable.
November 25, 2020
Overall, it was a good book tackling basic fears (natural disasters, loss, death, etc). Lots of biblical references and just some down to earth, practical advice and logic for facing and dealing with common fears.
November 6, 2017
Started out a little bland, but he got into some great topics and dissected anxiety we all face.
March 24, 2018
A little religious for my taste...but some good stuff too.
February 17, 2019
Another gem rich in insight and eloquence. Kushner never puts a wrong literary foot forward.
April 6, 2019
It goes on a bit, but it has its moments. Audiobook version seems a bit more engaging.
April 8, 2019
Good book would recommended
August 5, 2019
Too preachy for me and therefore not really helpful. I’m really looking for a book that doesn’t “help” by saying: trust my god and all will be well.
Read
August 25, 2019Helpful I think. Will revisit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews