CAN understanding how fear works make it easier to manage? Jeff Wise, an outdoor adventurer and science writer, believes it can. He uses stories of real people - like Sue Yellowtail, who found herself alone with a hungry mountain lion, and Ian Thomas, who defended his house against a raging forest fire - to explore how we react to terrifying situations. Juxtaposed with these tales are explanations of what is going on in our brains and bodies when we are afraid.
Wise is a good writer and his anecdotes are arresting, if a bit cursory. His blurring of the line between "fear" and "stress" is unfortunate, but overall his message is hopeful: fear can be tamed, whether by skill or habituation. It doesn't always work that way, though. Wannabe scuba divers who are naturally anxious should accept that reality and keep their heads above water.
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