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Fear: The Friend of Exceptional People
Don't let fear hold you back from achieving everything you want to - let Geoff Thompson, author of Watch My Back and The Elephant and the Twig, show you how to make fear your friend. Once a doorman at some of Britain's roughest nightclubs and now a world-renowned martial artist, Geoff has had more to be frightened of than most. Here he shares his secrets for overcoming your fears to help you live life to the max. From spiders to public speaking, job interviews to physical conflict, Geoff takes you through proven techniques of combating whatever it is you're afraid of. . Understand your physical reactions to fear and how they can be used to your advantage. . Overcome the negative feelings that make you think you can't succeed. . Learn methods to defeat your fears with Geoff's unique Fear Pyramid system.
93 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
28 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Geoff Thompson
133 books55 followersGeoff Thompson is a BAFTA-winning writer, filmmaker, spiritual teacher, and martial artist with a prolific career spanning multiple disciplines. He has authored books on self-help, spirituality, self-defense, and martial arts, while also writing for film and stage.
Beginning as a martial artist, Thompson specialized in reality-based self-defense, drawing from his experiences as a nightclub doorman. He co-founded the British Combat Association and taught seminars internationally, including for Chuck Norris. His self-defense innovations include "The Wall" and "The Fence," practical techniques for real-world confrontations.
His transition into filmmaking brought critical acclaim. His short film Bouncer (2002), starring Ray Winstone, earned a BAFTA nomination, and Brown Paper Bag (2003), inspired by his brother’s struggles with alcoholism, won the BAFTA for Best Short Film. He later wrote the feature Clubbed (2008), based on his autobiography Watch My Back, as well as The Pyramid Texts (2015) and Romans (2017), starring Orlando Bloom.
Beyond martial arts and filmmaking, Thompson has established himself as a spiritual teacher and self-help author. His works, including The Divine CEO and Live Your Dreams, focus on personal transformation and overcoming fear. He has delivered a TED Talk on conquering fear and hosted a popular podcast on spiritual growth.
In 2020, he released his autobiography Notes from a Factory Floor, chronicling his journey from factory worker to internationally recognized author and teacher. Through his writing, coaching, and filmmaking, Thompson continues to inspire others in the pursuit of self-improvement and personal mastery.
Beginning as a martial artist, Thompson specialized in reality-based self-defense, drawing from his experiences as a nightclub doorman. He co-founded the British Combat Association and taught seminars internationally, including for Chuck Norris. His self-defense innovations include "The Wall" and "The Fence," practical techniques for real-world confrontations.
His transition into filmmaking brought critical acclaim. His short film Bouncer (2002), starring Ray Winstone, earned a BAFTA nomination, and Brown Paper Bag (2003), inspired by his brother’s struggles with alcoholism, won the BAFTA for Best Short Film. He later wrote the feature Clubbed (2008), based on his autobiography Watch My Back, as well as The Pyramid Texts (2015) and Romans (2017), starring Orlando Bloom.
Beyond martial arts and filmmaking, Thompson has established himself as a spiritual teacher and self-help author. His works, including The Divine CEO and Live Your Dreams, focus on personal transformation and overcoming fear. He has delivered a TED Talk on conquering fear and hosted a popular podcast on spiritual growth.
In 2020, he released his autobiography Notes from a Factory Floor, chronicling his journey from factory worker to internationally recognized author and teacher. Through his writing, coaching, and filmmaking, Thompson continues to inspire others in the pursuit of self-improvement and personal mastery.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2017
Things I liked:
- Easy language, plenty of examples. Step models about breaking down fear seemed good.
Things I thought could be better:
- Sometimes seemed like he was trying to talk like a scientist (which I thought was weak) vs arguments based on his own experience and approaches (which I thought was stronger).
- I would have enjoyed more examples/interviews from the office-workplace vs physical-combat domain (and it's extensions like army, police etc).
Lessons learned
- Adrenaline is often misinterpreted as 'fear' when in fact it is just a biological sub process that alerts us to an active context for fight/flight.
- Take action to mitigate the impact of fear.
- Action vs 'right action', don't get sucked into analysis/paralysis.
Questions
- How to take action in a non-combat scenario (easy, low impact actions to take).
- OODA Loops (Observe Orient Decide Act).
- Easy language, plenty of examples. Step models about breaking down fear seemed good.
Things I thought could be better:
- Sometimes seemed like he was trying to talk like a scientist (which I thought was weak) vs arguments based on his own experience and approaches (which I thought was stronger).
- I would have enjoyed more examples/interviews from the office-workplace vs physical-combat domain (and it's extensions like army, police etc).
Lessons learned
- Adrenaline is often misinterpreted as 'fear' when in fact it is just a biological sub process that alerts us to an active context for fight/flight.
- Take action to mitigate the impact of fear.
- Action vs 'right action', don't get sucked into analysis/paralysis.
Questions
- How to take action in a non-combat scenario (easy, low impact actions to take).
- OODA Loops (Observe Orient Decide Act).
October 2, 2021
This book is full of commonplace. I can summarise it in one phrase "Be brave!". If you are person who needs to be reminded that sometimes you need to overcome your fears - then you might find this book useful. I don't find it useful. Other than that, it may appel to those who likes "The Secret" pseudo-documentary.
December 4, 2015
Besides the powerful quotes, I really liked the fear pyramid concept for conquering your fears by setting gradual steps to desensitize yourself. It's worth reading many a time.
November 7, 2016
Written by a fighter, this is mostly about fear of a physical attack so was not relevant to me. Some interesting thoughts on adrenaline though
March 25, 2022
This book by former martial artist and bouncer turned writer Geoff Thompson attempts to help us deal with and overcome fear first by recognising that fear and adrenaline are the same thing then provides different approaches at accepting and dealing with fear.
The fear pyramid is a useful tool which will help you to conquer your fear at different levels of intensity with the aim of desensitisation to said fear.
The book finishes with interviews with former boxers and ex servicemen with the aim of providing insight into the way they deal with fear.
An interesting useful read although a little repetitive at times.
The fear pyramid is a useful tool which will help you to conquer your fear at different levels of intensity with the aim of desensitisation to said fear.
The book finishes with interviews with former boxers and ex servicemen with the aim of providing insight into the way they deal with fear.
An interesting useful read although a little repetitive at times.
August 3, 2011
This is a good book, well worth reading. Explains what fear is in a physical and psychological sense, why it manifests as, and when, it does, and how to cope with it. Deals with the reasons why we live with our fears, the difficulties in overcoming them and of course encouragement and tips on how to do so.
My only real problem with this book is that if you have read Mr Thompson's 'Dead Or Alive: Your Choice' you will have read the essence of this book's content. Like many authors that write a book that is almost ground-breaking in it's angle contant and scope, Mr Thompson's many other books (aside from the biographical ones) are mainly a detailed fleshing out of topics already covered in this book, albeit in less detail. I consequently havn't read many of his others; but it would seem, The Fence and Sniper Option may be worth looking at still.
My only real problem with this book is that if you have read Mr Thompson's 'Dead Or Alive: Your Choice' you will have read the essence of this book's content. Like many authors that write a book that is almost ground-breaking in it's angle contant and scope, Mr Thompson's many other books (aside from the biographical ones) are mainly a detailed fleshing out of topics already covered in this book, albeit in less detail. I consequently havn't read many of his others; but it would seem, The Fence and Sniper Option may be worth looking at still.
August 29, 2013
A great book by Geoff Thompson. The Fear Pyramid alone was worth the cost of the book
November 25, 2013
This book changed my life. It says nothing new but it gave me a new perspective. It is simple and direct. Approach with an open mind ready for self reflection and a genuine want to change.
January 22, 2015
I found this book actually giving me more than I expected. Will have to re-read it with more concentration and thought.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews