{"product_id":"fear-lessisbn-9780143130277","title":"Fear Less","description":"\u003cb\u003eLess Fear, More Life—a Practical Guide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eThese days there’s so much fear in the air, you can almost taste it—along with all the varieties of anxiety, anger, and addiction that grow out of it. How can you navigate your way through the fear and confusion, and find your way to peace?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eFear Less\u003c\/i\u003e, acclaimed teacher and award-winning author Dean Sluyter shows how to use simple meditative techniques and subtle tweaks of body, mind, and breath to open your life to deep, relaxed confidence. Drawing on ancient enlightenment teachings as well as contemporary research, he lays out practical, easy-to-follow steps for addressing such issues as:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• letting go of compulsive overthinking\u003cbr\u003e • loosening the bonds of addiction (including smartphone addiction)\u003cbr\u003e • overcoming the fear of death\u003cbr\u003e • finding meditative stillness in the thick of activity\"Trying to be fearless often becomes yet another thing to fail at, but if you can just \u003ci\u003efear less\u003c\/i\u003e, peace is well within reach. This book\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eis your best guide for achieving that. Dean Sluyter’s kind, accessible tone talks \u003ci\u003ewith\u003c\/i\u003e you, so you always feel he is by your side as you make the journey.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Mark Goulston, M.D., author of \u003ci\u003eGet Out of Your Own Way\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eJust Listen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\"Om\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eWheeeeeee!\u003c\/i\u003e Sluyter careens merrily from the Buddha to Willie Nelson, from prison stories to \u003ci\u003eThe Wizard of Oz\u003c\/i\u003e, but it all leads us—step by practical, loving step—toward a life of peace. Who knew that learning how not to be freaked out could be so much fun?\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Michael Kane, author of \u003ci\u003eHeal Your Broken Heart\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\"As a recovering alcoholic and not-so-recovered depressed person, I’ve long been aware that mindfulness would be helpful to my life, but it’s just so \u003ci\u003eintimidating\u003c\/i\u003e. Not so with Sluyter, who pairs concrete suggestions with a no-pressure attitude that makes this book feel like it’s written by a really smart friend. He also shows how to incorporate the techniques into other programs of recovery—a rare but crucially important component. You’ll want to revisit Sluyter’s wisdom again and again.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Katie MacBride, journalist, author of “Ask Katie” recovery advice column\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"In his friendly, easygoing style, Dean Sluyter shows how to surf even the biggest waves of powerful emotions. A delightful and necessary guide to staying sane in these 'interesting times.'\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Lyn Genelli, marriage and family therapist, author of\u003ci\u003e Death at the Movies\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\"Dean Sluyter has written a beautiful book that shows us how to navigate the free-floating anxiety of everyday fears. He shows us, with insight and humor, how to access the deep silence that is available to everyone. \u003ci\u003eFear Less\u003c\/i\u003e is rich with inspiration and practices that lead to a more unobstructed view of reality. It is a book to be enjoyed over and over again.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Edward Viljoen, author of \u003ci\u003eOrdinary Goodness\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Power of Meditation\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I especially like the lessons Dean draws from his experiences teaching in prison. I’ve had the privilege of going behind bars with him and have witnessed his transformative work there. If those men can come out of fear and rage, anyone can.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Lama Willa Miller, Ph.D., founder of Natural Dharma Fellowship, author of \u003ci\u003eEveryday Dharma\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\"Dean Sluyter wields his pithy wit and profound wisdom like a laser light, pointing directly to the truth we need to embrace: fear doesn’t have to own us any longer. Using various forms of exquisitely simple meditation techniques, the author doesn’t just point the way—he takes our hand and gently leads us. Dean equips us with the tools necessary to slay the tyrant that holds us captive in the dungeon of our own making. The dungeon is our mind and the tyrant is fear. Read \u003ci\u003eFear Less\u003c\/i\u003e—it will help you set yourself free!\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Dennis Merritt Jones, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Uncertainty\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eYour ReDefining Moments\u003c\/i\u003e, and\u003ci\u003e The Art of Abundance \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eDean Sluyter\u003c\/b\u003e (pronounced “slighter”) has taught natural methods of meditation and awakening throughout the U.S. and beyond since 1970, from colleges and yoga studios to corporate offices and maximum-security prisons. Dean is known for his warm, funny, down-to-earth style, and for making authentic, life-transforming teachings accessible and easy.  His previous books include \u003ci\u003eThe Zen Commandments\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNatural Meditation\u003c\/i\u003e. Dean lives in Southern California.Chapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Monster Under the Bed\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I was scared of the ball.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They called it a softball, but it seemed plenty hard to me: I had      felt it sting my fingers, smack my chest. As it shot toward me, my      whole body flinched-that is, when it came toward me at all, as I      stood exiled in far right field, where the team hoped I would do      the least damage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I was the skinny, uncoordinated kid: the spaz, in the fifth-grade      playground lingo of the day. The only game I was good at was      dodgeball-not hurling the ball at others, but jumping out of its      way. That made perfect sense to me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Every recess started with the mortifying ritual of choosing teams.      The two captains-big Chuck and quick, wiry Ricky-picked boys from      best to worst till they finally came to the slow, heavy kid and      me, the dreaded dregs. After much disgusted stalling, one captain      would sigh dramatically and say, \"OK . . . we'll take Fats if you      take Spaz.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the classroom, I had no fear. I cheerfully took over      discussions, settling back in my seat and enjoying a chummy      tte-ˆ-tte with the teacher, only dimly aware of the restless      fidgeting going on all around me. Eventually I noticed Chuck, in      the back corner near the door, self-exiled to his own right field,      head down, trying for once to be small. Hmmmmm . . . a history      question shooting toward him threatened as much danger and      humiliation as a softball did for me. Different people, different      situations, same feeling. Interesting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Cold War was on. In social studies we watched black-and-white      propaganda films about communism, with grim narrators and the      crablike hammer and sickle squatting over the map of Europe,      sprouting evil tentacles of world domination. From time to time,      in the middle of a math or geography lesson, the teacher would      suddenly shout, \"Drop!\" We'd fall to our knees and duck and cover      under our desks, waiting for an A-bomb to come hurtling      toward Woodlake Avenue Elementary School, wondering just how      effectively our wooden desktops would shield us from the      thermonuclear fireball. Hmmmmm . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now we're grownups. Terrorists have replaced Communists, and we've      graduated from the playground to other grounds for fear: the      office, the boardroom, the bedroom, the barroom. And the newsroom.      The last presidential election was fueled by fear, and it's been a      white-knuckle ride ever since, with spiking anxiety levels      reported by psychologists nationwide. The political is personal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But no matter who's elected today or impeached tomorrow, our      deepest fears persist:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of pain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of confusion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear that things will never change, that this is all there is.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of responsibility.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of aging and illness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of loss, bereavement, abandonment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear that the good times are over, that joy has fled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of boredom, loneliness, intimacy, violation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of failure, rejection, humiliation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of others' opinions, of our own feelings, of being fooled, of      blowing it onstage, of being exposed as a bewildered child among      the confident adults.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear for the planet. We look to the world our children will      inherit and wonder if it will be The Jetsons or Mad Max.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Fear of missing out. For years I was haunted by my high school      English teacher's story of his father, who traveled the world, saw      the sights, had more adventures than the next ten men, but died      screaming-screaming-because he felt that, whatever life was all      about, he had missed it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Our fears may be rooted in big traumas haunting the past or big      challenges looming in the future, but they cast their shadow over      the smallest moments of everyday life right now. We're afraid of      wearing the wrong outfit to the party, of sounding stupid if we      speak up in the meeting, of getting lost if we take the scenic      route. Choices must be made, and we long for the time when we      chose out of joy (Should I play on the slide or the jungle gym?)      rather than fear (Will it be worse if I tell my partner how I feel      or keep it to myself?).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese and the other afflictive emotions-grief, loneliness, guilt,      jealousy, confusion, shame, disappointment, resentment, greed,      self-righteousness, exasperation, despair-are all deeply      connected. Whether they're boiling over into crisis or simmering      toxically on a back burner, they're all brewed from fear. They all      make us feel unfree and alone. Whether I'm playing my eleventh      game of Candy Crush and trying to forget I have a term paper to      write, or I'm off in a corner with my spoon and my quart of      chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, I feel like I'm all alone      and no one must know, even when everyone knows.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Of course, this isn't the whole picture. If you're lucky and      you're paying attention, life offers any number of joys and      wonders. Many of us manage to sidestep the most destructive habits      and scenarios, and to lead reasonably sane, progressive lives. But      even in your happiest moments (playing with your healthy, laughing      kids), even in your most sublime moments (lost, lost in the      music), even in your most thrilling moments (merging in ecstasy      with the lover you were born for)-even then, hovering in some dim      corner that we try our best to ignore, is the final, definitive      fear: your eventual annihilation and that of everything and      everyone you love. All this must end. Nevermore, game over,      buh-bye, here's your hat, no refunds, no apologies, no exceptions.      Death is in the house and demands to be fed. He'll eat you and      your little dog too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And Yet . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And yet perhaps you've known people for whom this is all somehow      different-who seem to have some deep wisdom, some internal      gyroscope that keeps them balanced, some inner silence that      inoculates them against the standard craziness and panic. Maybe it      was an uncle or aunt, a wise teacher or professor, the nice lady      at the corner store, the plumber. Maybe your most inspiring      exemplars were movie characters: Yoda or Obi-Wan Kenobi, Aslan,      Gandalf, Mary Poppins, Glinda the Good Witch. But you're at least      vaguely aware that there are supposed to have been real people who      have embodied that silent wisdom fully-enlightened people,      awakened ones, sages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There are.","brand":"TarcherPerigee","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302668128485,"sku":"NP9780143130277","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780143130277.jpg?v=1730751695","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/fear-lessisbn-9780143130277","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}