The Fear Cure: Cultivating Courage as Medicine for the Body, Mind, and Soul

I don't take pleasure in criticizing other people's hard work. I have respect for Lissa Rankin as a person, and for her efforts here... but this book feels like a never-ending, babbling, self-promoting blog post. There's no flow or artistry to the writing. It's packed with rambling, disjointed stories and statistics that DON'T actually leave the reader feeling good or empowered. I wish I could erase some of those awful stories from my memory. And it feels like a regurgitation of dozens of other books I've read. (She is open about having sourced a lot of her inspiration from other authors, and even lists the books on page 249... most of which I have actually already read. Perhaps if I hadn't, this book would have felt more fresh.)Also, it seems like she misunderstood her target audience. This book could have been split in two. I'm not sure why she ever thought it would be valuable to devote a huge chuck of the beginning of the book telling multiple stories about how people have literally dropped dead and gotten seriously ill due to fear. People who struggle with anxiety and fear (presumably those interested by the title of this book) DO NOT need to flood their consciousness with stories and stats like that. We know full well that fear wreaks havoc on our bodies. Her logic for including it was almost laughable. That type of writing may have been more helpful or useful for doctors, or for people who don't actually struggle with fear, but care about people who do, and want to cultivate some understanding and compassion. Just saying.I'm about to leave this book in the free little library on my street corner and forget it. As another reviewer said, I wouldn't even think about giving it to a friend.

Worst book I’ve read in years.After introduction I was hopeful this book would be interesting and full of research on how “Fear” and health are related and how to reduce any fears I have; but after each subsequent chapter I grew more disappointed in the content. It’s a very self serving book, where the author just loves to talk about herself, and her online classes, and resources on her website. She also repeats herself a lot. She is up front that she’s not a psychiatrist and didn’t formally study any of the topics she is pushing— which is very evident. She basically curated a bunch of articles that support her theories and sums up interviews she had with random people who had unique experiences that also support her view. By the end she’s basically telling people to pay attention to whispers from the universe and lists things like Tarot cards and noticing a clock says 11:11 among her suggestions for understanding your place in the world. She says you can reduce your fears by listening to your “inner pilot light” instead of your fear mongering “small self.” You apparently do this by writing letters from your pilot light to your small self.I read this for a book club, and everyone agreed that this book was just terrible. The common complaint was that she never really provides any sound advice on how to reduce your fears, though she says repeatedly that your fears are definitely killing you.She also spends a lot of pages defending research “proving” that ESP is real. All I could think of when she described the studies is how in the movie Ghostbusters they used the same cards that she referenced. Wavy lines. A star. A circle...If you prefer real research and facts and experts providing info and advice, don’t buy this book!!

If you're into faith (of any religion), the Secret, "everything happens for a reason", and the mysteries of the Universe, this book will strongly appeal to you. If you like hard data and well-performed clinical studies that discuss neuroplasticity and the connectivity of emotional and immune areas of the brain, this isn't your book. Great anecdotes and worthwhile life advice, but if you'd like more scientific explanations and data under a similar theme (pain and illness arising from the mind-body connection) try David Butler/Lorimer Moseley's Explain Pain or Howard Schubiner's Unlearn Your Pain.

Am I the only person that struggled with chapter 2 where the author gives an over the top litany of the many ways that fear can kill you?! Great detail on the subject of literally being "scared to death". I don't know about the rest of you but, if you are already struggling with debiltating fear, about the last thing that you want to have pounded into your head is how dangeroud fear can be! It set me back for a week! Having said that, I did really like chapter 1, and will muster up the courage to move on to chapter 3. I recommend skipping chapter 2. I already know first hand what fear can do.

I wish there was a book like this when I was growing up. With the perfect blend of scientific knowledge, spiritual wisdom and personal story, Lissa teaches us how to live a healthier and happier life. Her Four Fearful Assumptions are spot on in our world today and are countered perfectly with her Four Courage Cultivating Truths. Even though I have been working diligently at understanding my own limiting beliefs for a number of years now, there was more to learn and a deeper dive for me to take as I absorbed the wisdom of Lissa's work. Thank goodness there are people like Lissa out there with the courage to not only call it as she sees it, but to take the journey too, so that we can feel supported in our own journeys. This is stuff we should all be teaching our kids so that future generations don't have to battle the same limiting beliefs that we did.

I read this book as soon as it came out....It has been a lifesaver for me in MANY ways!! I was diagnosed w PTSD from a battle w cancer, now healthy, but was left w the fear, PTSD. It has helped me get my whole life back :) I have this book in hardcover and listen on my Ipod as well!! I also have read her book "Mind over Medicine", another great read.

This book was bought for my partner; The review not mine. I have not read it.Partner's review.You can only admire this Dr. who has served her time in service to people. She still cares for others in another way, offering hope advice and is devoted in her quest. I got this book as I am experiencing fear because of a health issue. It has made me depressed too. So I have bought one or two self help books. Fear is the crux of anxiety and depression. So I bought this as it said The Fear Cure. I took advantage of the add audio book too. I found that irritating at times. It goes at such a pace packing in so much information. What I didn't really want to know is how many people died of fear pre and post 9/11 !! nor hear the stories of others that had died from fear. I am in my own bubble of fear (as frightened people are) I don't need more to fear ! I am British and 71, so I also don't like spermy and eggy !!! I hadn't a clue what that was. This is a very American market book as far as I'm concerned, another language. Less is more and I think the author could have given less and told us much more. Saying all this I found I still learned things. Some of them old lessons I had forgotten. I also liked some of the quotes from the authors friends. She celebrates these people and shares them. The book was worth it as I did find add on ideas to help. The best help so far however has been'Pass Through Panic' the late Dr. Claire Weeks. Old fashioned but a classic and I have noticed many in the Anxiety field use a lot of what she advised.

There is a soul energy in Lissa Rankin that comes through to me in her writing. I feel a connection and sometimes a clarification of my own incohate thoughts. This is very important to me. I am not being bullied into receiving the wisdom of another, but led, by a connection, or identification, to a clarification of what already existed within me. I found the exercises useful and growth producing. Thank you Lissa Rankin

This book is a must read, it is easy to understand, is very informative and of benefit to everyone who is fearful!Thank you Lissa.P.S. Lissa's other book 'Mind over Medicine' is also a must read and worth every penny........

Whatever fears you are facing, or working through, this is your guide. As you read, it feels like Lissa gently, but firmly, coaches you to take that important, scary next step. Best investment I've made this year. Thank you, Lissa

Purchased as a gift for someone who reads at 3am when he can’t sleep