[]
Some Nerve
  • Published: 7 October 2014
  • ISBN: 9781594632846
  • Imprint: Riverhead
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 432
  • RRP: $32.99

Some Nerve

Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave

Formats & editions
EBook
10 Oct 2013
Paperback
7 Oct 2014
Buy from…
Amazon Booktopia Dymocks QBD Readings Your Bookstore Abbeys Boomerang Find local retailers Find local retailers Collins Fishpond Gleebooks Harry Hartog Kinokuniya Robinsons The Nile Mighty Ape

One woman's quest to conquer her fears and embrace life--and to inspire others to do the same.

“A compelling story of everyday courage” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
 
Patty Chang Anker grew up eager to please and afraid to fail. But after thirty-nine years, she decided it was time to stop being a chicken. Motivated initially to become a better role model for her two kids, she vowed to master the fears that were choking the fun and spontaneity out of life. She learned to dive into a swimming pool, ride a bike, do a handstand, and surf. As she shared her experiences, she discovered that most people suffer from their own secret terrors—of flying, driving, heights, public speaking, and more. It became her mission to help others do what they thought they couldn’t and to experience the joy and aliveness that is the true reward of becoming brave. 
 
Inspired and inspiring, this book draws on Anker’s interviews with teachers, therapists, coaches, and clergy to convey both practical advice and profound wisdom. Through her own journey and the stories of others, she conveys with grace and infectious exhilaration the most vital lesson of all: Fear isn’t the end point to life, but the point of entry.
  • Published: 7 October 2014
  • ISBN: 9781594632846
  • Imprint: Riverhead
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 432
  • RRP: $32.99
Categories:

Praise for Some Nerve

"Downright inspiring." Oprah.com (featured Book That Will Make You More Confident, Happy and Spontaneous)

"Patty Chang Anker['s]... first book blends memoir and journalism in her quest to understand and conquer fear... Anker grounds her observations in her own generous, warm world view. She's at her wisest, funniest best when describing conversations with her two daughters, capturing both their fears and their fierce, childish courage." Boston Globe

"A hilarious and instructive romp sure to inspire the most faint of heart to venture forth and discover what it is to be truly alive." American Way

"This warm memoir is not a traditional self-help book, yet the joy that Anker and her peers feel when they allow themselves to be beginners--even after the age of 40--will be motivation enough for can't-do readers to take steps toward making their lives a little bigger and better." Publishers Weekly

"[A] humorous account of how [Anker] transcended her 'nervous nature... bookish upbringing and midlife responsibilities' to discover her courage... inspiring." Kirkus Reviews

"With humor, humility and (most of all) self-compassion, Anker tells a compelling story of everyday courage--one that is sure to touch and help countless other people like her, like me, like all of us who have made worry into an art form. She proves that it's not too late, that we can truly change ourselves and enlarge our worlds as a result." Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

"Not everyone experiences the fear of flying, or water, or sharks, or the dark, but everyone understands what it is like to be afraid. Happily, everyone can give themselves the joyous gift of Patty Chang Anker's insightful, funny, and brave book." Josh Hanagarne, author of The World's Strongest Librarian

"This book is for anyone who needs to be reminded that it is possible to conquer our greatest fears at any age, and in the process learn more about what it feels like to really live." Lee Woodruff, co-author of In an Instant