When Love Meets Fear: How to Become Defense-Less and Resource-Full (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Our major fears are the fear of loss and change, i.e., letting go and going on, the fear of self-disclosure, the fear of other people,..." (more)
Key Phrases: Emily Dickinson, Joseph Campbell

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Examines the deepest roots of fear and how it limits our ability to act and fulfill our greatest potential.

About the Author

David Richo is a psychotherapist in private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology from Sierra University in Santa Monica. Dr. Richo has been a teacher at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. He has also written How to Be an Adult (Paulist Press).

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080913702X
• ISBN-13: 978-0809137022
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,386 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #38 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestantism > Self Help
  #73 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Emotions

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you live in fear order this today!, June 18, 2004

By	2mal (Los Altos, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I have tried a lot of self-help techniques but the ones contained in this book are unlike any I've encountered.

The biggest lesson I got out of this book is that so many of our problems nowadays occur because we had painful experiences earlier in life but instead of facing them and accepting the ramifications - we chose to lie to ourselves instead. Richo explains the most common lies: life is just, suffering is avoidable, things don't change, etc.

I understand from this book that it is much better to just experience those original painful feelings instead of spending your life overanalyzing every minute of every day trying to make the world something it is not.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The key to life., December 16, 2003

By A Customer

This book simply explains the key to happiness. It is to let go of our fears, which is at the root of unhappiness, hate, aggression, apathy, and everything negative in the world. Once we are able to do that, we can open our hearts and embrace each other with love, respect, empathy, hope and forgiveness. It is a simple idea but something very difficult to do because our fears run very very deep within us all. Once we are able to do this to some extent, we try to help others do the same. It is simply the mission of all of our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. When you think about it, nothing else really matters as much. This is what this book tries to help us understand. It is a wonderful message! In another excellent book called "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato, the author explains how this works in relation to human development and evolution. It shows us how we consciously begin living this life when we are naturally ready for it. These books are absolutely exquisite!

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richo's best book, November 26, 2006

By	Tony "tonyw1538" (Puyallup, Washington USA) - See all my reviews

Having first read Richo's "How to be an Adult," calling When Love Meets Fear: How to Become Defense-Less and Resource-Full his "best book" is quite a statement. The former is a wonderful and life changing tome that teaches the keys to meaningful relationships with others.

When Love Meets Fear builds on that message with a book expressly on the subject of fear. The root of anger, frustration and stonewalling in relationships, understanding and accepting our fear is our greatest journey in life.

One caution: This book takes many sittings to read properly. I was able to read only a few pages then I needed to put the book down and spend a day or two thinking about what I had just read. Almost like magic, I found myself time and again reading just the few pages I most needed to hear as I worked my way through.