Fearless Living: Live Without Excuses and Love Without Regret [Paperback]

Rhonda Britten (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 2, 2002

With her acclaimed Fearless Living program, Rhonda Britten has helped thousands of people let go of indecision, gain clarity of purpose, and take life-changing risks. With inspiring true stories, self-affirmations, and exercises, she exposes the roots of fear and gives the reader tools to move beyond them. The result is a practical step-by-step guide that gives the reader a world of unlimited possibilities.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There's no denying Britten's earnestness, evinced in the powerful example of her personal transformation, years after a singularly horrific experience: at age 14, she watched her father kill her mother, then himself. By her account, Britten drowned her grief in self-defeating behavior for 20 years until she decided to make herself whole by exploring how others overcame legacies of shame and fear. Her observations led her to create the Fearless Living program, in which she works as a life and career coach. Britten defines fear generally as a self-esteem problem the conviction that one is "not good enough" that results in a range of unpleasant or harmful behavior from addictions to people pleasing to negativity. Tackling the problem in a simplistic way not grounded in a psychological context, she offers a collection of well-meaning, possibly beneficial exercises for gaining assertiveness, taking positive action, determining what triggers fear, etc. While many strategies seem worthwhile (building strong support networks, fostering self-acceptance, avoiding toxic people), the work feels too gimmicky to be persuasive as a cohesive program. Though the writing is aimed at a mass audience, unfortunately, Britten profiles subjects whose stories are less compelling than her own. (Apr.) Forecast: Britten's feel-good advice pales in comparison to Don Greene's highly disciplined Fight Your Fear and Win (see review, p. 81), which analyzes the components of successful behavior and appeals more directly to those who want to improve performance. Britten's sales may suffer accordingly. Readers interested in getting in touch with their essential nature , meanwhile, will find more insight in the intelligently written Finding Your Own North Star (Forecasts, Feb. 5).
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Rhonda Britten has risen from the ashes of genuine catastrophe. She has seen the deepest darkness, and found her way beyond it...What she has accomplished within herself, and now helps others to accomplish as well, is nothing short of miraculous." —Marianne Williamson

"For those who haven't been truly educated and prepared for life, I suggest reading Fearless Living." —Bernie Siegel, M.D., author of Love, Medicine, Miracles and Prescription for Living

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade; Reprint edition (April 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399527532
• ISBN-13: 978-0399527531
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll Want to Buy Multiple Copies! May 10, 2002

By Susan Peterson

Format:Paperback

Wow! Having Fearless Living now in paperback is great. I have recommended this book to many people and I've had the opportunity to gift a number of these books to my friends and family while in hardback. When I first discovered Fearless Living, I was looking for resources to support my clients. As I began to read the book, I realized that is is a fabulous resource for all of us. It inspired me and it changed my life. It is reader friendly and filled with practical exercises that move the reader from fear to freedom. Rhonda Britten has put together a very proactive way of living a freer joy-filled life, that is do-able. So often, we read books that talk about living a better life, but they really never tell us "how to" in a practical way. Fearless Living is a "how to" book that works. I am a certified coach and licenced professional counselor and I highly recommend Fearless Living to all who breathe. It's a life changer.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! A Step by Step Process to Transform Your Life! April 20, 2001

By Ava Diamond

Format:Hardcover

Finally, a book that not only helped me envision how much more fabulous my life could be if I stepped boldly into living in freedom rather than in fear...but one that gave me a practical step by step process and set of tools to make that happen.

The exercises and processes outlined in the book enable you to recognize your patterns, replace them with positive, empowering actions, and to live the life you truly are meant to live.

It's practical, do-able, and will get results. There's even contact information in the back if you want private coaching.

If you're ready to live your life with more confidence, more joy, more peace of mind, more happiness, more passion...this could be just the springboard that will take you there.

This is a book to read more than once!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Stories, Mediocre Advice May 14, 2005

By Stefanie N. Carano

Format:Paperback

What really captivated me in this book was the stories of both Britten and people she came across as a life coach. How Britten and others were distorted in thinking and action and how they rose above it was truly inspiring.

The advice was okay, not as solid as I'd hoped. Some lessons I was already WAY past or they just didn't apply to me at all, others were right on the mark.

HOWEVER, I also want to say I completely disagree with the review written by Publishers Weekly. They basically used their review of Britten to advertise a book they thought was better- mainly because it is geared towards men and not women. That is completely unfair and not very professional of the publication.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fearless Living March 29, 2001

By Josie Sullivan

Format:Hardcover

I am compelled to write a review of Fearless Living because my experience of its content has absolutely rocked my world and changed my life! I have only found a very few books that have affected me in such a strong way. It's not just about releasing fear, it's about true freedom from old cycles. Moving up...moving on! The words are to be savored and the exercises experienced! I am just beginning to read the book all over again and have ordered 3 more copies for my family. Thanks for this one Amazon and tell Rhonda Britten Thank You!

44 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Truly Delivers July 22, 2002

By C. Cunningham VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Finally, a book that speaks the bare-naked truth in a manner that is not sugarcoated in the usual literary rhetoric.

This book exposes the bondage of fear that most of us live through on a daily basis, sometimes without conscious awareness of its existence. It is chock full of information and exercises that force you to really look at your limiting habits and deal with them. When you're through with this book you will learn how to identify and prevent even the very thoughts that give birth to fear, as well as the rising tide of fearful living you may have practiced in the past.

Rhonda Britten is a woman who walks her talk. Her methodology is exact, and her sources come from her own life experience, as well as her work as one of the premier life coaches in practice today. I personally felt a jolt of conviction and exhilaration as I read chapter after chapter into the wee hours of the morning. I then picked up the book again the next day and took two weeks to work through all the exercises. This was truly an amazing experience. The most riveting chapter for me? The Wheel of Fear...I never realized how I innocently allow fear to creep into my life, and how my own solutions to my problems were actually creating more problems! It's like I've spent years unconsciously treating the symptom and not the cure. This one chapter alone was worth the price of the book.

This is one not to be missed.

5 Stars +. Rhonda is a rare find indeed.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical guidance from an infinitely credible source. September 7, 2001

By Tw Rutledge

Format:Hardcover

Someone once said, "Fear is the only thing that gets smaller as you approach it." Rhonda Britten's first book is a top-notch guide to not only approaching fear, but also to understanding our relationship to fear in a whole new way.(I don't think most of us will ever be "rid of fear," but we can learn how to tell it to sit down and shut up.)

As a psychotherapist, as an author, and mostly as a human being with fear, I always appreciate someone who is willing to be this honest with me. Fearless Living is the book for you especially if you like a clear frame of reference, and tangible direction toward accomplishing your goals.

Last but not least, this young woman knows of what she speaks. Listen to her.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves more stars June 17, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

In a crowded field of self-help books, this one stands out above all else. It is written from the soul from a woman who has experienced real pain. Yet, unlike some other testimonial type books, it is filled with concrete advice and a definite action plan. It touches the soul, heart, and head. After applying her teachings for a month or so, I felt a lightness to my life that I can't even explain. I've read other self-help books and they all seemed to be about the person I should be and not the person I am. Rhonda helps you accept who you really are-- when you have that acceptance, you feel a sense of adventure and courage and you move toward your goals and dreams. Six months after completing this book, I am living less in my head, imagining what I might achieve, and actually feeling the joy of accomplishment. My business has picked up a lot, I've lost 10 pounds in a healthy way, and my family life is great. Moreover, I'm able to enjoy my life and not feel guilty when I indulge. Ii feel centered and peaceful and it is showing on the outside, with my accomplishments and attitude, and on the inside, with my feelings of peace. Buy it! Rhonda, I hope you read these reviews. You've taken the pain from your own life and turned it into a gift. God bless you and give you all the wonderful things you deserve!