The Gift of Fear

Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence

By: Gavin de Becker

Narrated by: Gavin de Becker

A special edition of The Gift of Fear, with a new foreword by the author.

A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers to help carry a woman's groceries. Is he a good Samaritan, or is he after something else? A fired employee says "You'll be sorry". Will he return with a gun? After their first date, a man tells a woman it is their "destiny" to be married. What will he do when she won't see him again? A mother has an uneasy feeling about the nice babysitter she's just hired. Should she not go to work today?

These days, no one in America feels immune to violence. But now, in this extraordinary, groundbreaking book, the nation's leading expert on predicting violent behavior unlocks the puzzle of human violence and shows that, like every creature on earth, we have within us the ability to predict the harm others might do us and get out of its way. Contrary to popular myth, human violence almost always has a discernible motive and is preceded by clear warning signs.

Through dozens of compelling examples from his own career, Gavin de Becker teaches us how to read the signs, using our most basic but often most discounted survival skill - our intuition. The Gift of Fear is a remarkable, unique combination of practical guidance on leading a safer life and profound insight into human behavior.

©1997 Gavin de Becker; 2021 Gavin de Becker (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Profoundly impactful

This book was mentioned in a true crime podcast that I had listened to: ‘Stalked’
Every woman should read / listen to this book. It changed my awareness of my senses. I am so much more attentive to the subtle nuances of potential danger, but also, it made me think about my unfounded fears in a clear sober way! Thank you Gavin de Becker!

Excellent content - this will save lives!

Even with pretty significant experience in the field, I can honestly say I learned a lot from this book and opened up to new perspectives. I realize the points about Gun safety in the epilogue may stir some emotions, but as a certified firearms instructor, having trained thousands of gun owners over many years, I can confidently say there are many gun owners out there that should not have access to firearms in any normative society. I also all heartedly agree with the points made about gun manufacturers product liability. All in all, highly recommended!

Every Woman should read!

I am not a woman, however, I can understand the vulnerability and fears they can have over a man. This book gives you an understanding of following your natural instinct in certain situations so as to best proactively protect yourself. He is a little antigun for my taste as I think a firearm is a woman's best defense, but overall the book is very interesting.

Chain breaker

First, teaching me that I didn’t need to be nice, that I could trust my instinct is a gift I would wish my parents could have taught me 50 years ago. Bring a preachers kids placed mer in hundreds of situations where my voice didn't matter, I needed to be nice. My first assault was at age 5. Four more different abusers had gotten to me by the time I reached 15.
If my parents would have known, they would have fought for me, but... It could have destroyed my Dad's ministry -or so I thought.
Reading the book, you have opened my eyes to trauma, I have experienced - caused by terrible men - and found a way to soften it, to understand what I could have done differently in childhood in my teen years and early adulthood.
I saw the warning signs, but did not heed to my intuition. Your book has removed the shame, from "my part", of what happened to me. Thank you. You have given me my power back in dealing with my greatest fear when it comes to an extortionist. Thank you. I too have decided to tell the one it would affect the most.
You have helped me to see fear from a totally different perspective, and the anxiety around it. I am more aware now than ever (trust me I've been on alert for years)... That doesn't feel fearful... That feels powerful. God bless you Sir. Out of the ashes we get to help others. That's the beauty from ashes the bible tells about.

Worth the credit !

Excellent book! I learned a lot! I am buying a copy for my daughter. I think every woman should read it!