About the Author

Jaimal Yogis is an award-winning journalist who has written for ESPN The Magazine, The Washington Post, The Surfer's Journal, The Chicago Tribune, AFAR, San Francisco Magazine and many others. His critically acclaimed first book, Saltwater Buddha, is currently being adapted into a film. Jaimal is an avid surfer and lives in San Francisco with his wife and son.

Reviews

"There is a hell of a lot of fun packed between these two covers. Wonderfully reported, unflinchingly honest and definitely big-balled. If Jaimal Yogis' deep dive into fear doesn't make you want to go out and push your limits--well, you're probably already dead."--Steven Kotler, author of West of Jesus

"Nothing holds us back more in life than fear. Jaimal Yogis explores this primal emotion in depth from an evolutionary, neuropsychological, and philosophical perspective, all wrapped up in a highly engaging personal narrative. The Fear Project offers the keys to overcoming excuses and anxiety, and stepping into the life you've always dreamed of having." --MeiMei Fox, co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Fortytude "The Fear Project is an enchanting autobiographical journey. Yogis deftly explores our current scientific, religious and philosophical views on our most fundamental emotion, and the reward is as significant as it is palpable. I absolutely loved this book and will share it with everyone--in particular, high performance athletes." --Michael Lardon, author of Finding Your Zone "Jaimal Yogis weaves together neuroscience, dramatic true stories, and practical wisdom in a fascinating, important book that moves with the page-turning verve of a thriller." --Rick Hanson, author of The Buddha's Brain "Like a mammoth wave moving across the ocean, The Fear Project takes us on a wild ride into the heart of our deepest primordial fears and onto the shores of light." --Stuart Coleman, author of Eddie Would Go and Fierce Heart "From the first chapter about his swimming in the dark, shark-infested waters surrounding Alcatraz to stories of surfing 80-foot waves at Mavericks, this book is alive and pumping with adrenaline! It brings you to the edge of fear over and over again with a lasting lesson on confronting fear in ways that are healthy and powerful." --David Romanelli, author of Yeah Dave's Guide to Livin' the Moment "This book is worth the price of admission for the Maverick's chapter alone: the first and, as far as I know, only literary first-person account of riding one of the greatest big-wave breaks on Earth. Yogis is a man on an authentic mission--to face down his deepest fears and interrogate the deepest sources of meaning in every aspect of human life. From his Alcatraz swim to surfing Maverick's to that biggest challenge of all--fatherhood--Yogis writes with confidence, clarity, and brio. This is a heartfelt, hard-won, and utterly worthwhile book." --Dan Duane, author of How to Cook Like a Man "Jaimal Yogis combines harrowing personal experiences with cutting edge science to bring us remarkable insight into fear. The Fear Project will transform how you approach this primal emotion -- and your life." --David Agus, MD, author of the New York Times best-seller, The End of Illness "The Fear Project not only tells the riveting story of the science of fear, but helps us understand how we can deal with fear when it stands in our way. Effortlessly weaving together science and everyday life, this book gives you insight into your own fears such that you can face them head-on and perform at your best." --Sian Beilock, Ph.D., author of Choke "The true strength of The Fear Project is its versatility. Our fears are so personal and precise, but Yogis somehow manages to leave no stone unturned in looking at the full spectrum of fears, be they developmental, situational, comical, or extreme. He crafts a charming narrative based in accessible science reporting and his own experiences, and readers are certain to find echoes of their own fears and anxieties throughout the book. The Fear Project is smart, funny, and essential reading."--Mark Lukach, author of Where the Road Meets the Sun

"Honest memoir with thorough reporting on the things that scare us all... readers can use what [Yogis] learned embracing his deepest fears to dispel their own." --SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH MAGAZINE "The Fear Project is replete with practical advice (all backed by scientific research) like getting more exercise, using breathing techniques, finding time to meditate, thinking positively and facing your fears." --Monterey County "Yogs' descriptions of his inaugural Mavericks session make fear palpable." --OUTSIDE "An adventure-seeking surfer triumphs over his anxieties and proves you can, too." --O MAGAZINE "In Yogis' beautifully candid exploration of his own heart, our cerebral processes, and the way fear can debilitate and sometimes even motivate us, The Fear Project offers up the means to see between the folds of our grey matter...and make changes to how we perceive the inherent and inevitable trials and travails of life...This is a fascinating and sagely penned work that's full of ideas and philosophies" --EASTERN SURF MAGAZINE