SOME NERVE

Patty Chang Anker grew up eager to please and afraid to fail. But after thirty-nine years, she decided it was time to stop being a chicken. Motivated initially to become a better role model for her two young daughters, she vowed to master the fears that seemed to have taken root like weeds, choking the fun and spontaneity out of life. She learned to dive into a swimming pool, ride a bike, do a handstand, and surf.

As she shared her experiences, she discovered that most people suffer from their own secret terrors—of driving and flying, heights, public speaking, and more. It became her mission to help others do what they thought they couldn’t and to experience for themselves the incomparable joy and aliveness that is the true reward of becoming brave.

Inspired and inspiring, SOME NERVE draws on Anker’s interviews with teachers, therapists, coaches, and clergy to convey both practical advice and profound wisdom. Through her own journey and the stories of dozens of others who have triumphed over common fears, she conveys with grace, disarming humor, and infectious exhilaration the most vital lesson of all: Fear isn’t the end point to life, but rather the point of entry. Patty Chang Anker is the creator of the award-winning blog “Facing Forty Upside Down.” She has also been a professional publicist, a yoga instructor, and an advisor on children with special needs.