Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk

by Ben Carson

Book Overview

By avoiding risk, are you also avoiding your life's full potential? Join acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson as he explores the life-changing power of taking the risk, even if you're afraid.

In our risk-avoidant culture, we place a high premium on safety. We insure our vacations. We check crash tests on cars. We extend the warranties on our appliances. But by insulating ourselves from the unknown--the natural risks of...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310259738
• ISBN13: 9780310259732
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A Book to Read and Share

Take the Risk by Dr Ben Carson There's no risk to picking up this book from Dr Carson. In clear, friendly prose he takes the reader through a look at our risk-adverse culture. Every story and chapter leads into his method of assessing the risk for a situation. The best/worst case analysis becomes one of those aha moments. I really like the way he talks about integrating his faith into what he does. There are many great tools and nuggets to take away from this book. You'll reach the end and want to go right back to the beginning just to make sure you didn't miss a thing.

The art of taking risk

As a CPA, Ph.D. and former auditor I have done risk assessment for more than 25 years and in my opinion Dr. Ben Carson's risk analysis framework is the best I have ever seen. It can be used from medicine to education to simple decisions to major life threatening issues. It is a great book to read as you are in awe of the choices he has had to make to the ones that changed his whole life. An excellent book for guiding people through decisions.

May his tribe increase!

Remarkable book on a remarkable human being. I was as fascinated reading about his mom as I was about him. Wish he would do a book honoring her further. Truly both are overcomers in a hostile, unfeeling world about them. Proof that the American Dream does still produce those willing to first, dream it, then DO IT! John McCullough

Great Book -- Highly Recommended

Ben Carson's life is such an inspiration. This book lets us in on some of the reasons for his professional and personal success. We all have to take risks and Dr. Carson takes plenty of them in his career as well as living as black man in a culture and in an area where it can't be easy! I found this book to be very challenging and inspirational. I also found it to be very informative -- like sitting at a kitchen table and learning from the master. Carson and Lewis' books are always entralling -- I can't put them down. I read them straight through at one sitting. I find the stories absolutely captivating and Carson's character comes through in such an authentic way -- no preaching and no patronizing, just a clear view of the man behind the incredible career and fascinating life. I recommend the book without hesitation. It is the kind of book people ought to buy for their kids -- to show the vast possibilities for meaningful personal and professional accomplishment when you apply yourself and trust God to lead and direct your life.

Dr. Ben Carson discusses taking appropriate risk

Dr. Carson has written many books, but his recent book (2008) "Take The Risk" is a page turner. Once you open this book it is difficult to put it down. I enjoyed this book immensely. It is the best book Dr. Carson has written. His comprehensive analysis of risks, Best/Worst Analysis,(B/WA) is thorough yet simple. I highly recommend this book. His description of his experiences with Laleh and Ladan Bijani, 21-year-old twins that were conjoined at the back of the head, were very moving, and it showed that he takes appropriate risks everyday in his profession as a pediatric neurosurgeon, and we should too. He described how to determine whether to take the risk, or play it safe. For example, on pages 188-189, he described how he used his analysis to determine what to do about his youngest son's driving habits. His son had crashed the car twice. He said "But if ever a situation required some careful risk analysis, this was it. So Candy and I discussed the issue thoroughly." They did a B/WA on this topic, something that many people can relate to. In the end, they decided that he was responsible for getting himself to and from wherever he wanted to go, but his son decided that he would get a ride from a sibling or friend. Dr. Carson, thank you for the gift of this book and for sharing your wisdom with us. Jonece Layne, Carson Scholar - Beltsville, Maryland