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Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear Hardcover – April 14, 2020

by Eva Holland (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 189 ratings
See all formats and editions
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“In a plague year where our worst fears are real but unseen, possible but indefinable, this book could not be timelier.”―Rolling Stone

Frozen in terror during a mountain descent, award-winning journalist Eva Holland reaches her breaking point. Since childhood, she’s been gripped by two debilitating phobias: fear of losing her mother, and fear of heights. The worst has already happened: Eva’s mother died suddenly and unexpectedly in 2015. But now―after an arduous, embarrassing, and tearful finale to her ice-climbing expedition―Eva decides, enough. Fear may define her past, but she won’t let it dictate her future.

Thus begins Holland’s quest to renegotiate her inhibiting relationship with fear. In stirring, raw prose, she reveals what it’s like to live in the clutches of paralyzing dread. And with remarkable courage, she tests the limits of what one can do to live less fearfully―from engaging in daring adventure to cutting-edge research: She confronts her acrophobia by jumping out of an airplane, explores the lives of rare individuals who feel little or no fear, and meets with scientists working to eliminate phobias with a single pill.

Of course, one doesn’t have to go out of the way to face fear; by horrible coincidence, a series of freak accidents leaves Holland deeply shaken. Determined to stay the course, she seeks out a surprisingly effective treatment involving eye movement―to reckon with lingering trauma and anxiety to rid herself of intrusive memories and panics while driving.

Ultimately, Holland’s odyssey sheds light on universal questions: How do we feel fear, and why? Is fear necessary? Is it rooted in the body or the mind? And it brings her ever closer to knowing: Is there a better way to feel afraid? Finding the nerve to face down her fears, Holland not only shows us how to grapple with our own, but invites us to embrace them as a way to live happier and feel more alive.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    The Experiment
  4. Publication date
    April 14, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.8 x 1 x 8.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1615196005
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1615196005
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Nerve Paperback; Eva Holland

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A TIME Top 100 Must-Read Book of 2020
An International Bestseller

"An intimate and wide-ranging look at fears and how we overcome them."
― The New York Times

"Eva Holland survived her worst fear. Since childhood, she worried about losing her mother. But after her mother died and she endured the grief that followed, she also found new strength and hope―and decided to write a book about why fear takes such a hold of just about everyone."
― A TIME Top 100 Must-Read Book of 2020

"The publication of Nerve could be one of the most germane and significant books to help people navigate through our current dark and unfamiliar emotional and physical territory. With acuity of purpose, author Holland demonstrates to her audience that armed with a baseline of knowledge, fear is an emotion that can be experienced, examined, and conquered, thereby strengthening the human psyche and its ability to deal with future catastrophes."
― New York Journal of Books

"Brave and emboldening. Nerve exposes fear for what it really is: a flush of chemicals, an evolutionary instinct, a mirror to the self."
― Kate Harris, author of Lands of Lost Borders

"Eva Holland is afraid of many things [and] counter-intuitively, makes a living doing things that would scare the bejesus out of most people. . . A few years ago, Eva decided to find out what was at the root of all these fears."
― Noel King, NPR’s Morning Edition

"Nerve is brave and tender, and an example of why journalists treating themselves as guinea pigs should never completely go out of style."
― WIRED

"[Holland’s] comprehensive look at fear, sometimes as a test subject and other times as a critical observer, reframes the conversation of how we approach these often-paralyzing reactions that seem ingrained in our personalities."
― Discover Magazine

"Science and psychology inform the engaging memoir of an author on a self-help mission. . . . Her goal is not to eliminate fear, but to put it into perspective."
― Kirkus Reviews

"Combining anecdotes that document her personal vulnerabilities with tales of outdoor adventure and just enough scientific research, Holland crafts an engaging and unique memoir. Fans of the self-help genre and popular science in the style of Mary Roach will enjoy this debut title."
― Library Journal

"A readable overview of what happens when human beings lose their nerve, author Holland employs relatable life experiences to explore multiple facets of fear. . . . Readers share in the journey as Holland confronts her fears and comes to successfully manage them. . . . This might encourage readers to identify, examine, and tackle fears of their own."
― Booklist

"A fascinating book . . . Much of the enjoyment of Nerve involves rooting for Holland as she attempts to wrestle her own fears to the ground, and to report on the outcome of that effort would spoil that pleasure. It’s enough to say that by the end of this account, her relationship to fear has changed, something that may well happen to the readers of her engaging book."
― Shelf Awareness

"[A] courageous chronicle of many fraught years facing down two debilitating phobias. . . Poignant and humorous, Holland’s demon-chasing journey is an inspiration."
― Foreword Reviews

"Holland delves into gene theory, evolutionary biology, and psychoanalysis looking for answers to why we fear the way we do, but ultimately, scientific knowledge can only take her so far; gradually, she comes to accept herself and her complicated relations"
― Sierra Club Magazine

"An enlightening intellectual road trip . . . Holland is an ideal companion―warm and intelligent, open-hearted and clear-eyed. . . . [She] has felt, and conquered―and then captured and made sense of―fears so intense that they made me wince just reading about them."
― Rob Moor, author of On Trails

"I really enjoyed Nerve―Holland perfectly balances her personal story with actual science, and I appreciated the clarity with which she describes her experiences. It gave me a lot to think about."
― Alex Honnold, rock climber and author of Alone on the Wall

About the Author

Eva Holland is a correspondent for Outside magazine, and a former editor at Up Here, the magazine of Canada’s far north. Her work has also appeared in Esquire, Wired, Bloomberg, Pacific Standard, AFAR, Smithsonian, Grantland, Seattle Met, National Geographic News, and many other outlets. Her work has been nominated for a Canadian National Magazine Award, anthologized in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The Best Women’s Travel Writing, and Best Canadian Sports Writing, and listed among the notable selections in multiple editions of The Best American Essays, The Best American Sports Writing, and The Best American Travel Writing. She lives in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Experiment (April 14, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1615196005
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615196005
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.8 x 1 x 8.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 189 ratings

About the author

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Eva Holland

Eva Holland

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Eva Holland is a correspondent for Outside magazine, and a former editor at Up Here, the magazine of Canada's Far North. Her work has been nominated for a Canadian National Magazine Award, anthologized in The Best Women's Travel Writing and The Best Canadian Sports Writing, and listed among the notable selections in multiple editions of The Best American Essays, The Best American Sports Writing, and The Best American Travel Writing. She lives in the Yukon Territory.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
189 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the narrative relatable and engaging. They describe the book as a wonderful, compelling read that is easy to understand. The author explores the psychology behind fear and provides an insightful study of case studies.

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Narrative styleReadabilityThought provoking
20 customers mention "Narrative style"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative style relatable and interesting. They appreciate the author's weaving of personal experiences and science. The way she freely narrates her raw emotion is inspiring.

"...us on her journey with emotional storytelling, detailed information about the science behind fear, different approaches to fear using science, and..." Read more

"...a book that takes a closer look at the concept of fear this text is a great choice...." Read more

"...It's not a bad book. The writing is ok. It's just not the adventures in the science of fear." Read more

"...combining her experiences and scientific research, she develops a very personal and relatable piece of writing...." Read more

19 customers mention "Readability"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They say it's a good starting point for new readers, and that it's interesting and educational.

"Good read" Read more

"...It's not a bad book. The writing is ok. It's just not the adventures in the science of fear." Read more

"Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear by Eve Holland is an excellent read for those who are on a journey to understanding their current..." Read more

"...Whether you are looking for an interesting read or just wanting to know more about fear, the effects it has on you, and the possible treatment..." Read more

14 customers mention "Thought provoking"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and interesting. They appreciate the author's exploration of psychology and case studies. The book integrates real science into its narrative, providing an insightful perspective.

"...Holland takes all of us on her journey with emotional storytelling, detailed information about the science behind fear, different approaches to fear..." Read more

"...Not only does it provide the reader with a helpful understanding of fear, it is also very relatable...." Read more

"...She also integrates studies from experts that have helped her better understand what exactly the human mind and body go through when experiencing..." Read more

"...She not only takes us through her emotions but also has scientific methods on her process. This book is relatable and thought provoking...." Read more

A book about the courage to face one's own fears
5 out of 5 stars
A book about the courage to face one's own fears
How wonderful and liberating can the realization be that something you feared for a long time has no longer power over you! This is exactly the outcome of Holland’s experimentation with fear as she sets out to conquer them after many accumulated sequences in her life causing strong emotional turmoil and uncertainty. She concludes her book by saying: “I know now that I don’t need to make my world smaller – I don’t have to allow fear to shrink the boundaries of the life that I live”(224), a feeling and realization everybody, who experienced strong fear in their lives, wishes to be able to achieve. This book is an excellent example of a personal journey and triumph not only over fear but over a complaisant life with limitations too. An excellent motivation for all those who are about to embark on their own journey of becoming the masters of their own lives.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Aubri
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Story About Resilience
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Eva Holland's work on Nerve is based on identifying, learning about, and conquering fear. Holland takes all of us on her journey with emotional storytelling, detailed information about the science behind fear, different approaches to fear using science, and her wrap-up of how she is now. Eva stressed in the beginning that she did not want to live her life in fear, and the positive message has been present throughout the entire book, leaving us all in awe. The story gives an excellent insight into different case studies done that can interest certain readers and have them explore the science and back stories of the individuals mentioned, just like Eva did. This is a book you would want to read if you would like a new perspective on fear and how one decides where fear belongs in one’s life.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Christopher J. Potter
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Good read
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  • Fab
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you're looking for a book that takes a closer look at the concept of fear this text is a great choice. Not only does it provide the reader with a helpful understanding of fear, it is also very relatable. The author, Eva Holland walks her audience through her journey of conquering what scares her most in life. I would have to say seeing Holland be vulnerable by opening up about topics such as fear is very brave and can be a huge help to someone who finds themselves in difficult times. So I would have to recommend this book to anyone seeking to comprehend what provokes our fears and how to create a healthy relationship with fear.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer, New York
    3.0 out of 5 stars This books is not a science book about fear but a personal story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The premise and the "Science" in the name of the book made me expect more scientific material about fear. But it's actually a person story of the author with 25% of some facts and info related to fear. It's not a bad book. The writing is ok. It's just not the adventures in the science of fear.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey Towards Understanding Emotions
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear by Eve Holland is an excellent read for those who are on a journey to understanding their current relationship with their emotions. Holland recounts events that have affected her life enormously and the different methods she tries in hopes of lessening their effects on her well-being. She also integrates studies from experts that have helped her better understand what exactly the human mind and body go through when experiencing trauma and its effects of it. By combining her experiences and scientific research, she develops a very personal and relatable piece of writing. A memoir that can inspire an individual to accept their emotions for what they are and grow from them.
    One person found this helpful
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  • R Blair
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Nerve is a book written on fear, something everyone has felt at one time or another. From the start, Nerve draws you in making it a hard book to put down. Not only does Holland share intriguing personal stories of her own but she also gets into the science behind fear. Fear being something we all experience this book is very easy to relate to and more importantly learn from. Whether you are looking for an interesting read or just wanting to know more about fear, the effects it has on you, and the possible treatment options this is the book for you. Holland first-hand tests out several different methods of treatment and gives incredible insight on what it looks like and whether they were effective for her. Nerve is a book I will be recommending to family and friends as it’s a book I think everyone should read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Isabella
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fear and Growth
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Eva Holland creates a wonderful personal narrative about her life. She takes us through a journey of her life, where she learns to overcome her fear through different methods. Eva writes about anxieties and phobias helps you relate to the story in a meaningful way and helps create a connection with her on a deeper level. She not only takes us through her emotions but also has scientific methods on her process. This book is relatable and thought provoking. Overall it was a good read and recommend it to others.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Denise Hill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great to over come fears
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I was assigned to read this book for class and was not expecting to learn a lot about myself just through the authors own personal experience. Holland goes through a lot in her life and she learns to conquer her fears scientifically and psychologically. I would recommend to read if you feel lost or are going through a challenge in life.
    3 people found this helpful
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