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@Troy , What's revealed in this book relates more to courage. In the examples you mentioned, the risk taker has already made the decision . There's nothing to fear when you're in control. For example, no one forced you to bungee jump, skydive or perform thousand of somersaults. you made the decision. But God forbid, you ended up a quadriplegic (God forbid) - now you're no longer in control of your body - so how you continue through life displays your ability to be fearless/fearful. That's the book's motif - how we deal with the hand we're dealt. There are people who take those risk but crushed by the results. They display their fear in various ways that appear normal to the onlooker. It looks like self-sabotage. For example, a man who had one bad heartbreak but is now fearful to let himself be open to love is a display of fear. There are people who appear fearless but have a safety net to count on when walking the tight rope. Fear is very nuanced but both Greene and Fiddy tackle as many scenarios to make the point and arrive at the books intriguing conclusion. Even though I took a lot of notes I may want to revisit it again. (smile) You and Greene appear to agree. He said that he wants to punch folks in the face that say fear is innate. He seems to believe its a only a starting point or a fleeting emotion that anyone can overcome.

Not necessarily in the order given, the following books are the most valuable information, I think, because of the real world issues they discuss or their metaphorical message(s) by both Black and White authors. Souls of Black Folk Up From Slavery The Fire Next Time Sharing Wisdom Metamorphosis The Great Gatsby To Kill a Mocking Bird If Americans Knew Critical Issues in Policing The Republic

Alabama Election Night,Democrat Who Won Prosecuted The Klan,Members That Bombed The Alabama Church In 1963..Last,Night One Of The Four Girls That Died When The Church Was Bombed ,Her Sister Was On The News Last Night. Denise Mcnair's Sister. She Voted For Doug Jones....News Big,Black Voting Turn Out,,Help Doug Jones Win..News ,Talk Show Host,Tavis Smiley ,PBS Suspends His Show Because Of ,Misconduct Allegations..Seems Each Week Somebody Is,Resigning,Or A High Up Man ,Is Accused... Black Talkers On The,News Talking About Women Disrespected. NAACP,--Not,Explaining Why A Black Woman Not President Of The,NAACP....

Sister Cynique, I just noticed you’re from Illinois, great!! “What’s up homegirl?” I am originally from Chicago, born and reared. I attended St Joseph's elementary and Holy Trinity High. My mother, a historian, attended UC. It is a pleasure to (virtually) meet you. I attended UCLA, UAA and currently on extended stay here in the Holy Land, Jerusalem Israel (Palestine actually) for five years now; learning the holy languages while in the process of writing several books. I do look forward extensive dialogue with you. Please have a great day!!

cool, i will share

@Pioneer1, everything you wrote in your last post illustrates my point about the absurdity of race. I understand you can't see that, but I have nothing to add that would make the case stronger.

Thank you, Troy!

Obama is fione, from a woman's perspective, I believe because of his power, intelligence, and how they perceive his personality. Obviously, he is it average looking guy not ugly or strikingly handsome. I do however think after seeing Hillary fail to command the female vote, that women simply prefer men to lead.

Well said, Mel Hopkins! To take your explanation a step further, fear as an emotion is indeed, a subjective innate response to any stimuli experienced by every human being. An infant existing the wound into a world of noise, light, and life may experience (still debatable) fear from the stimuli. Like other mammals, human fear is only different because we respond from a place of reason rather than instinct. Most mammals would probably not fight to the death for any reason whereas humans may resolve to fight to the death, not out of fearlessness but out of reason. The fear is still there. I'm inclined to think that any subjective emotion is a display of intelligence. Like people who say they "have a Constitutional right' to live, go and do as they please is probably more foolish than fearless. Although it is their Constitutional right. So the next time someone says "I can stand in the middle of the road if I want," prompt remind them a motorist' fear of being late may very well rob him/her of all rights!!

It goes without saying; white American's are the main ones who do not take responsibility for their actions. Where do I start; the mass murders, the drug and domestic abuse and terrorism, the welfare abuse and fraud, or the wealth and economic inequality gap? They cheat in everything from wage earning to college entrance exams, to voting and generational privilege. They had a 400-plus year head start on all people of color who they have kept back three grades in life, oppressed and literally abused, threatened and mistreated for the simple reason of arrogance and privilege. They are violent while calling others terrorist and criminals. They are cruel from the heart of humanity while lying about the character of Black men, women and children....Read More

@TSegal, those are some views you got there, brother! However, this mess goes a lot deeper than most people realize. For the sake of this discussion let’s say that instead of 400+ years for European White folks to get it together; they had over 1000+ years of planning. I must use caution here as all I say must be accurate, though ever so unpopular. Allegations of ‘anti-semitism’ holds must greater penalties than violations of civil rights. Here we go! Since before the Roman empire was established, Jews who separated from other European Whites were prosecuted by virtually every society on earth, they got tired and got smart. Really evil smart. More than 1000+ years developing the theory of ‘double entry (modern-day accounting); 1000+ years studying (sizing-up their enemies) habits, likes and dislikes; 1000+ years stealing (plagiarizing) ideas, philosophies, science, ways of ruling a nation, and medicine from Black Africa (there were more than 2000 Black/Muslim universities in Africa) while infiltrating the very government they were subject to. Gaining trust, even marrying into families of their taskmasters. How astute would that group be after 1000+ years trial and error, and what would they do to the people who looked down upon them? Yes, it has always been White on White crime before the phrase was invented. Never forget for one moment, or underestimate the resolve of greed and power, and how even innocent children are fair game in the name of maintaining that power and feeding that greed. NO! No sir, White folks are not hypocrites, they not fools; they have always practiced what they preach. What they preach are all lies, contrary to the theologian riddled metaphor “mixing lies with the truth.” They always lie and cause us to think it’s the truth. I’ll prove it to you, right here and now! How often do we hear Blacks (you and me) asset that we are entitled to the same rights as White folks? What are those rights, I might ask? Freedom of life liberty and pursuit of happiness. Freedom for White folks is ethnocentric related (right to marginalize anyone different from them), kill whoever they want whenever they want and; freedom to follow the hegemony, their own. SORRY, but I am not entitled to, nor want that kind of freedom. Happiness for White is living perversely. I don’t to be a pervert. Just look at the most basic insignificant ways of living in modern society today, from the substance to subsistence, from what is acceptable to what is looked down upon. What rules and social values would you ordain right and wrong? All on the one hand. On the other hand, it does cause one to think (again), and reconsider principles of theology, all of them, excluding none. You’re on the right track, brother, keep up the question asking!!

It is exactly what you posted up there... being courageous and the many ways we fail ourselves by being fearful. But wait I wrote a review when I finished reading it. From 2011 - https://melhopkins.com/2011/04/11/the-50th-law-thou-shall-not-fear-2/ Since finishing The 50th Law by Curtis “50-Cent” Jackson and Robert Greene, I’ve been feeling some type of way. If I had to identify the feeling, it would be an emotion ranging from vindication as in “I knew it” to one of frustration as in “when did I forget what I knew?” I'm jumping ahead of myself. The 50th Law is a multi-genre book. Its 304 pages (although my copy only had 291 pages) is divided up into genres of 1/4 history, 1/4 leadership, 1/4 self-help, and 1/4 memoir. If I were to summarize the content, it would be "Fearless-to-Free to be You and Me.” The latter being the title from the 70s soundtrack, telecast, and movement, which sought to do away with traditional gender roles. Almost 40 years later, the message resurfaces. Although it doesn’t promote gender neutrality, it is just as empowering. The 50th Law seeks to have us embrace our individuality to be the best we can be. This message is driven home by author Robert Greene providing an intimate look into the lives of historical figures and celebrities including 50 Cent. Greene illustrates how these iconoclasts embraced their individuality early on and without apology, which contributed to their professional and personal success. Embracing your individuality seems easy enough, right? It is if you don’t mind separating yourself from the crowd, standing out and apart. If it is easy why would the majority of humans spend their entire lives trying to fit? According to 50-Cent and Robert Greene “Fear” is why we so desperately cling to each other like sheep. And while “Fear” is the usual suspect, it is their answer to the “Fear of What” and the resulting solution that separates their thesis from those of modern-day philosophers. The answer is so thought-provoking it will have other readers “feeling some kind of way” long after they put the book down. I highly recommend “The 50th Law” to those who are ready to break away from “the herd.” Copyright (c) 2011 MH

Hey @Kalexander2, thanks for that thoughtful post. You may be right about Black folks, in general pursuing, material wealth. But this is the American culture. Our peculiar brand of capitalism is dependent upon this. But from my vantage point, I find it difficult to see it that way. Most of the people I surround myself don't operate that way. Nobody I know, who sells books, does it to get rich. So I appreciate I may be in a bubble. I feel more people are starting to realize that the practice of acquiring of more and newer things is simply unfulfilling. I don't know who said this first, but you can never get enough of what you don't need. It seems to me people are becoming more interested in expanding their minds, than getting the newest iphone. But again that could be because I surround myself by readers...

Thank you! I really appreciate the exposure since I've decided to keep my books and short stories contained on my website.

before I was a male or female, or american. I was Black.