Run Towards the Danger

Confrontations with a Body of Memory

By: Sarah Polley

Narrated by: Sarah Polley

“A visceral and incisive collection of six propulsive personal essays.” —Vanity Fair

*A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * Named a Most-Anticipated Book by Entertainment Weekly, Lit Hub, and AV Club * New York Times Paperback Row*

From the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Women Talking and the acclaimed director and actor Sarah Polley, Run Towards the Danger explores memory and the dialogue between her past and her present

These are the most dangerous stories of my life. The ones I have avoided, the ones I haven’t told, the ones that have kept me awake on countless nights. As these stories found echoes in my adult life, and then went another, better way than they did in childhood, they became lighter and easier to carry.

In this extraordinary book, Sarah Polley explores what it is to live in one’s body, in a constant state of becoming, learning, and changing. Each of these six essays captures a piece of Polley’s life as she remembers it, while at the same time examining the fallibility of memory, the mutability of reality in the mind, and the possibility of experiencing the past anew, as the person she is now but was not then. As Polley writes, the past and present are in a “reciprocal pressure dance.”

Polley contemplates stories from her own life ranging from stage fright to high-risk childbirth to endangerment and more. After struggling with the aftermath of a concussion, Polley met a specialist who gave her wholly new advice: to recover from a traumatic injury, she had to retrain her mind to strength by charging towards the very activities that triggered her symptoms. With riveting clarity, she shows the power of applying that same advice to other areas of her life in order to find a path forward, a way through. Rather than live in a protective crouch, she had to run towards the danger.

A must read!

Fantastic collection of essays. Love Sara’s inquisitive and rich writing! Don’t wanna give much away from it to not spoil it but this collection spanning stories from her childhood and adulthood are a must read! Love her style and cadence and her reading style was very enjoyable.

Exploring Sarah Polley

I was inspired by her film, Women Talking, to learn more about Sarah Polley and explore her works. Excellent book and inspiring person.

Sarah Polley deserves another award

I’m concerned about the rampant anxiety plaguing society which results in pervasive coddling with no apparent healing results. When discussing this issue a friend recommended RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER. I listened to it while commuting weekly to Long Island for work, which gave me extra time for the essays to percolate in my mind.
Sarah Polley’s stories are intensely rich in eloquent imagery which in my experience makes them more compelling than the average “then she said…”
Thank you, Sarah, especially for the last essay. I very much want my grown children to read this book and discuss it. Your courage comes straight from your heart. Brava!!

A powerful message; a guiding light-

This book was awesome. We loved every second. This book inspired us in many ways.
I loved your performance, Sarah Polley, and it was a very powerful experience.
To all just remember, to run toward the danger

Brilliant

In this book of essays, writer/director Sarah Polly excavates and comes to terms with some of the formative events of her life. She’s finally saying the things she’s never said before, and it is both riveting and cathartic. A fabulous storyteller and read.