I Dare You! [Paperback]

William H. Danforth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003

Fourfold development. Think tall, stand tall, smile tall, live tall. I Dare You; You can be bigger than your are; Are you one of the priceless few? I dare you to adventure; I dare you to do things; Now for the start; I dare you to be strong, think creatively, develop a magnetic personality, build character, to share; Launch out into the deep; I dare and share.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William H. Danforth founded the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri. He co-founded the American Youth Foundation (AYF) to train young men and women in Christian ideals and help them prepare for a life of responsibility and leadership. As president of the American Youth Foundation, Mr. Danforth helped establish Camp Miniwanca, a 300-acre campsite near Shelby, Michigan

that he established while he was president of AYF for the purpose of helping young people. For more than 30 years, up to the time of his death, Mr. Danforth spent his summers at Camp Miniwanca where he met, counseled and inspired thousands of young men and women. He also established the Danforth Foundation as a national educational philanthropy.

His passion for helping individuals to fulfill destiny stirred him to write I Dare You. The dominant message of the book proposes that, for an individual to be healthy, the four key components in life need to be in balance at all times Physical, Mental, Social, and Religious. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing, LLC (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766127869
• ISBN-13: 978-0766127869
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every child should have this book!, March 11, 2005

By 

Tom Potter (Beijing, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Dare You! (Paperback)

This book encourages young readers to "dare" themselves to do things they should be doing, but fear or dislike doing. Things like getting up in the morning, doing their homework, trying out for the team, going to the dentist, etc. It had a powerful on my life, and I am sure on all the children who ever read it. It is a powerful ( And very positive) form of self-hypnosis or "Yoga" for children, as children are highly motivated by "dares".
Get this book for ALL of the children you love.
I dare you!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sitting on your talents?, August 14, 2007

By 

Esmerelda Jones "www.esmereldajones.com" (Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Dare You! (Paperback)

The "I Dare You plan," first published in 1938 for the young and young at heart, is brightly authored by William H. Danforth, founder of the Purina Company. Written in scoutmaster style, this little gem will have you saluting to adventure. It is precise, simple, and uplifting.

"That is the first principle that I want thoroughly to fix in your mind--that life is a four-sided affair--that your daring program is going to lead you into physical adventures, mental adventures, social adventures, spiritual adventures. You have not one, but four lives to live--a four-fold opportunity to grow. A body, a brain, a heart, and a soul--these are our living tools. To use them is not a task. It is a golden opportunity. To find new capacities within you is not robbing you of any pleasure. It is bringing new treasures into every waking hour. It is helping you touch life at all angles, absorb strength from all contacts, pour out power on all fronts." Danforth adds "How dare you have within yourself these four-fold capacities and not use them?"

Like to be riveted into action? This book will do it. You will also feel rather selfish after the first reading (for witholding your dynamite). Go over it again several times. Mine is highlighted at every point (and there are many). I suggest you study I Dare You! along with the vintage movie "Fighting Father Dunne" (1948).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What makes leadership, May 31, 2007

By 

Paul T. Jackson "Information Researcher" (Enumclaw, Wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Dare You! (Paperback)

As one of the other reviewers noted, I too read this original book from my father's library when I was [...], in the 50s. Although almost forgotten, when I was writing articles on leadership, I realized this may have been the single most important book I had read...and used throughout life, becoming a leader in every...yes every...organization I belonged to, from high school Senior class President, college fraternity President, Band president(s), VP-Pres. elect of a national association, President of a state-wide organization, to Editor of a writers Quarterly and business owner. Now at 71, and looking back, "I Dare You" is quite possibly the only book necessary for directions in life. It's not about "success" or "money," it's about being your best and being the best FOR everyone around you.