Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far

When her mother, Sarah Palin, became the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008, Bristol Palin was instantly propelled into the national spotlight, becoming the focus of intense public and national media scrutiny at the age of seventeen. In Not Afraid of Life, she shares with readers for the first time ever personal moments from her life—from her Alaskan roots to her pregnancy and single motherhood to her star turn on TV’s enormously popular Dancing with the Stars. This candid memoir is a heartfelt true story of a woman who is centered by her strong Christian faith and is Not Afraid of Life.

This is the true story of a young woman finding her way in the middle of a political firestorm.

• Life in the Spotlight: Discover what it was really like to be thrust into the center of a presidential campaign at seventeen, facing down a media frenzy with the world watching.
• Teen Pregnancy and Faith: A raw and honest account of her pregnancy, her relationship with Levi Johnston, and how her Christian faith became her anchor through it all.
• A Story of Resilience: From the fishing boats of Alaska to the ballroom of Dancing with the Stars, Bristol shares her journey of growing up, making mistakes, and finding the courage to face any challenge.
• The Palin Family Unfiltered: Go beyond the soundbites for a heartfelt look at the private life of Sarah Palin's family, told from a daughter's unique perspective.

Bristol Palin lived the life of an average American teen. She loved being outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and focusing on schoolwork and sports. But when her mother became the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008, Bristol’s world would change forever. She was instantly propelled into the national spotlight, becoming the focus of intense public and national media scrutiny at the age of seventeen.

In the pages of this personal memoir, Bristol opens up for the first time ever, taking readers behind the scenes of her life, from growing up in Alaska to coming of age amid the media and political frenzy surrounding her mother’s political rise; from becoming a single mother while still a teenager to coping as her relationship with the baby’s father crumbled publicly—not once, but twice. Through all of these ups and downs, Bristol learned how to face her challenges head-on with courage and grace, traits she put to good use as a contestant and finalist on Dancing with the Stars.

In Not Afraid of Life, Bristol speaks candidly of her aspirations and of the deep religious faith that gives her strength and inspiration. Plainspoken and disarmingly down-to-earth, Bristol offers new insight and understanding of who she is and what she values most.

“She writes convincingly, and humbly, of how she was able to move beyond her feelings of shame and Hester Prynne-like social ostracism.” - Washington Post