The Flipside by Michelle Curran

THE FLIPSIDE by Michelle "MACE" Curran explains “How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower.” As the publisher says, this former Air Force fighter pilot “channels her unique perspective into relatable storytelling to empower others to make bold choices and find their inner courage.” Curran describes her decision to become a pilot and discusses silencing one’s inner critic, noting that she “eventually saw that avoiding discomfort came at a higher cost than facing it head-on because it forces us back into our comfort zones, which stunts our growth and keeps us emotionally, spiritually, and personally small.” Another section looks at the differences between reacting and responding and her stories about relying on her training to land safely are memorable. Overall, Curran combines her personal experiences with research and the varied perspectives of others; slightly less than ten percent of the book is devoted to endnotes. While readers may not agree with all of her suggestions (e.g., the timeframes seem too short in one minute to pause, one hour to analyze; and one month to transform), THE FLIPSIDE will encourage readers to reflect on their habits and mindsets. This made me think of other related texts like Be Fearless by Case or Resilient by Hanson.