What Would You Do If You Had No Fear? Living Your Dreams While Quakin' in Your Boots

by Conway, Diane; Lamott, Anne

• ISBN13: 9781930722422
• ISBN10: 1930722427
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781577318187
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-09
• Publisher: New World Library
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Author Diane Conway has a gift: she disarms people with a combination of raw emotional honesty and outrageous, heartfelt humor. Using this gift, asking, "What would you do if you had no fear?" Conway approaches the police officer, the waitress, the politician, the lawyer, the cab driver. They tell her their secrets, their long-hidden dreams and fears. Chronicled in her book, these people's stories are inspiring, surprising, crazy, and sometimes breathtaking. We all dream of what we would do if....we quit soul-numbing jobs, applied to medical school, bought tickets to South America, found true love, quit drinking, or had an affair with a dangerous European. Conway's fresh voice and Studs Terkel-in-drag personna will open your heart and challenge you to live the life you were meant to live.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." --Helen Keller

Author Biography

Diane Conway is a speaker and workshop leader who lives her dreams while quaking in her boots. She's the author of The Fairy Godmother's Guide to Dating and Mating. She lives on a houseboat in Sausalito, California with her husband, Brian, and their two dogs, Lily and Mollie.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Anne Lamott	xi
Introduction: Take the Dare!	xv
PART 1 What Would You Do?
CHAPTER 1 Who Would You Be?	5	(14)
Freedom to Choose	6	(5)
While Alive, Live!	11	(2)
I Wish...	13	(6)
CHAPTER 2 Where Would You Go?	19	(26)
Say "Yes"	20	(6)
Purple Bandanna	26	(5)
Far-Away Places with Strange-Sounding Names	31	(3)
Foreign Affair	34	(3)
The World Awaits You	37	(8)
CHAPTER 3 How Would You Live?	45	(16)
Mistress of the Rancho Esperanza	46	(6)
A Safe Haven	52	(5)
Airstream Dream	57	(4)
CHAPTER 4 What Can You Survive?	61	(22)
Escape to Freedom	62	(8)
Facing the Fire	70	(4)
Dancing with Death	74	(9)
PART 2 Living Your Dreams (Quaking or Not)
CHAPTER 5 Breaking Through the Fear	83	(20)
One City Block	84	(4)
Seminary Stephen	88	(3)
Driving Force	91	(3)
Baby Steps	94	(4)
Dream Up a New Life	98	(5)
CHAPTER 6 Be Bold	103	(20)
Be Real	104	(5)
Movie Star Moxie	109	(5)
The Butterfly Farm	114	(4)
Roll Call	118	(5)
CHAPTER 7 Take a Chance	123	(16)
Permission Slips	124	(3)
The Citizen	127	(5)
Alternative Medicine	132	(3)
Passion Defeats Fear	135	(4)
CHAPTER 8 Begin Again	139	(22)
Sick and Tired	140	(4)
A Reborn Virgin	144	(4)
One Step at a Time	148	(4)
Wakeup Calls	152	(3)
Never Give Up	155	(6)
PART 3 Living the Fearless Life
CHAPTER 9 Facing Our Fears	161	(22)
Fear of Rejection	162	(3)
Fear of Heartbreak	165	(2)
Fear of Looking Bad	167	(4)
Terror of the What Ifs	171	(4)
Fear of the Future and Uncertainty about Tomorrow	175	(4)
Fear Fighters	179	(4)
CHAPTER 10 Moving On	183	(10)
Laugh Out Loud	184	(2)
Hit the Road	186	(2)
Have a Grateful Heart	188	(2)
Open the Door	190	(3)
Begin the Journey	193	(2)
Acknowledgments	195	(2)
About the Author	197