We Are Not Afraid: Strength and Courage from the Town That Inspired the #1 Bestseller and Award-Winning Movie

by Homer Hickam

Today, fear affects even the strongest of us. Sometimes it's immediate, caused by a sense of imminent danger--the kind we felt after terrorists destroyed the magnificent World Trade Center, tore a giant wound in the Pentagon and killed thousands of people. But sometimes fear becomes a normal way of life.

In his best-selling memoir October Sky (aka Rocket Boys), Hickam introduced us to the rugged town of his youth, Coalwood, West...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 075730012X
• ISBN13: 9780757300127
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Health Communications
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Filled with the wit is small town America

Written as a response to the cruelty of 9/11, Hickam explains the wisdom that his hometown used to combat fear.

Fear diminishes the quality of life.........Don't let it!!

We Are Not Afraid is a very inspiring book about strength and courage in perilous times. I think everyone who reads this will come away a stronger individual for it. If you have children, sons, daughters, nieces or nephews I think it is even more important to read this!!! The book was just such a "thinker". It is only 213 pages, it reads quickly but it lasts long after you close the cover.While it is a collection of stories about growing up in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia it makes you stop and think hard about what really should be important in life, the values, the morals, the spirit, all the things that went into creating our great Nation. Mr. Hickam points out that yes times are perilous, but that there have been many perilous times and many hardships and challenges and being afraid is not a way to meet these. He pulls no punches when he discusses the United States of America. He dismisses those who want to focus on our failures as a Nation and fail to acknowledge our ability to correct our errors and move forward as a whole. This book is a life lesson on how not to live your life in fear, and how to overcome and surmount obstacles in your way. This is not accomplished by promising "pie-in-the-sky" but by learning from the examples of others ways to be strong and have courage and face life with your head up. This revolves around four important attitudes. #1 We are proud of who we are. #2 We stand up for what we believe. #3 We keep our families together. #4 We trust in God but rely on ourselves. These may sound simplistic to many people, but when they are broken down and explained you will know that it is possible to live a good purposeful life and not be diminished by fear and to pass this on to those around you.

Great advice for a weary world

The advice I found in this book has changed my life, too. Somebody told me I should read this when they caught be dragging around filled with worry. What can a little book do to change that I asked and they said well, just read it and see. The insights in this book have been just amazing. Homer teaches through stories that are fun to read but after you're done, you just sit back and go I really see that. I really, really do. Honestly, I've spent money on a lot of these selfhelp do better kind of books but the way Homer does it, I think I really got my money's worth this time.

Such a Great Writer

In my opinion Homer Hickam is one of the most well written authors of our time. He writes in a way that is interesting and personal. I recommend all of his books, but this one is GREAT. He really hit me close to home with this one.

It made me cry with tears of joy

I love all of Homer's books. With Rocket Boys, Coalwood Way, and Sky of Stone, it was as if I was living right there with the people of his little mining town. This book is the same although much different. Rather than a story that goes from beginning to the end, it is filled with the wisdom of a "people who always lived in perilous times." I didn't realize it but I am also a victim of long-term fear. Something always seemed to be holding me back from going to college, now that my children are out of the house. No more. Homer has shown me how to over come everything that has been keeping me from doing what I should, to really enjoy life. I am proud of who I am. I stand up for what I believe. I will keep my family together. I trust God but will rely on my self. I cried tears of joy reading this book, laughed out loud in so many places. It is a treasure of a book that you will never regret reading, learning, savoring for all the days of your life.

An antidote for being afraid

There are so many self-help books out there that just give you a lot of mush and feel-good words that don't add up to something. This book actually tells you real stuff. It helped me understand how being afraid is more than what we usually think of as fear. It's what keeps us from being successful, or happy. Unless you understand what Homer calls long-term fear, you can't break out of it. I love the little stories Homer tells about the people back in Coalwood. They make you laugh and then they make you think and you realize you've learned something really good! Of all the self-help, inspirational books out there, this one will really help you to break loose from what's been holding you back even when you didn't realize it. And, folks, if you've got something scary to do, like flying on a plane for a long trip or something and you've been dreading it, read this book and I'll guarantee you that you won't be afraid. It's really kind of a miracle read.