Afraid Understanding the purpose of fear and harnessing the power of anxiety

Review by Choice Review

Afraid is an approachable text for a wide variety of readers. Written by Javanbakht (Wayne State Univ.), a psychiatrist and researcher, this book reviews the most important fundamentals of anxiety--where it comes from, how it impacts people, and what sufferers can do when it goes awry. The author opts for a conversational approach to writing despite his extensive knowledge in anxiety research. There are no in-text citations, which can be an understandable barrier to readers outside of academia; references are included at the end. Ideally, the portion on treatment could use some additional information, as it is important to highlight which treatment approaches are more rigorously supported by research (e.g., exposure therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy). Though the author discusses the pitfalls of how fear, which is at the root of anxiety, is used politically to stoke hate and violence, cultural differences--based on gender, race/ethnicity, etc.--do exist and impact experiences of anxiety and the effectiveness of certain treatment approaches. Overall, this book takes a pragmatic approach that will leave readers with concrete takeaways they can use in their own lives. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Anahvia T Moody, independent scholar

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

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Review by Booklist Review

According to Javanbakht, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and founder of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic at Wayne State University, fear is a biological mechanism that has served to protect humanity for centuries. But these days, with few dinosaurs and saber-toothed tigers attacking, our fears and accompanying anxiety are often detrimental rather than helpful. (He considers, especially, how social media and targeted news reports can stoke fear.) Using research findings, patient cases, news stories, and personal experiences, Javanbakht examines the roots of our fears and possible solutions for reigning them in. He delves into different types of fears and anxieties, describing the criteria that divide clinical cases from normal reactions, and suggests therapies to ease symptoms. None of this is in the service of eliminating fear entirely. Adequately harnessed, fear can help us beat procrastination, increase bonding, and spur creativity. In the end, Javanbakht urges readers to keep their fears and anxieties in perspective and face their lives with awareness.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Library Journal Review

This in-depth title on fear from psychiatrist and neuroscientist Javanbakht (director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic, Wayne State Univ. Sch. of Medicine) discusses complicated medical terminology but also makes it understandable for laypeople. Packed with information on the history of evolved fear and how it impacts situations in the present, the title also discusses how others use fear to manipulate situations, and even the advantages of having a healthy, protective amount of fear. There are only a few pictures or illustrations to break up the text, but it is still a digestible academic read. It would have been handy to have citations listed within the text, but there's a bibliography broken down by chapter at the end of the book, as well as an index. VERDICT A must-read for those diagnosed with anxiety, OCD, and PTSD to better understand themselves and how their brains behave. The book is also helpful for a general audience looking to learn more about how fear can influence their lives. A valuable acquisition for undergraduate academic libraries with psychology programs.--Elizabeth Chandler

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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