True fear is a survival signal that sounds only in the presence of danger yet unwarranted fear has assumed a power over us that it holds over no other creature on earth de becker lists two rules about fear and that if you accept them they can improve your use of fear reduce its frequency and transform your experience of life rule 1 the very fact you fear something is solid evidence that it is not happening. Intuition is always right in at least two important ways it is always in response to something it always has your best interest at heart gavin de becker the gift of fear survival signals that protect us from violence it is a great book and worth reading mr de becker teaches you about using your intuition to scope out dangerous situations. The gift of fear survival signals that protect us from violence is a nonfiction self help book written by gavin de becker the book demonstrates how every individual should learn to trust the inherent gift of their gut instinct by learning to recognize various warning signs and precursors to violence it becomes possible to avoid potential trauma and harm the gift of fear spent four months on the new york times bestseller list was a 1 national bestseller and has been . The gift of fear and other survival signals that protect us from violence mass market paperback may 11 1998 by gavin de becker author 47 out of 5 stars 5011 ratings