I Dare You!

This book should be a MUST READ for every school age child in America! It's a clearly defined road map for good, successful linving! Adults will benefit just as much. Common sense!

This book was given to me as an achievment award. That was almost 20 years ago. I could not tell you how many time I have read and re-read the pages of this book. Mr. Danforth's message is just as valuable today as it was 20 years ago, actually more because I appricate the things he says so much more today. I have taken his dare to live my life with the ballance he suggest and I am a better person because of it. In my opinnion this book is a classic in motivation and success that ranks right up there among such titles as "Think and Grow Rich", by N. Hill, "How to Win Friends and Influence People", by D. Carnegie, "The Power of Positive Thinking", by N. V. Peal, and "The Geatest Salesman in the World" by O. Mandino. These books will build a foundation that you can build a trmendous life upon if you will read them and take their lessons to heart. Of these books, "I Dare You" is my favorite because of it's simple but effective message. This is truly a message that is just as valuable today as it was the day it was writen. If I could only own one book other than the Bible this would be the one book I would own. This is not a book that should be read once an put on a shelf it should be read over and over and passed around to friends and loved ones.

This is not merely a book - this is a clarion call to those who truly desire to be Achievers in Life - those who decide that they shall rank among the few who declare: Life doesn't happen to Me; I Happen to It! I intend to read this book again and again, until I too have joined those ranks, and I invite (in fact, I DARE) You to come along for the ride of Your Life

In 1984, an old rundown copy of this book fell into my hands. I was then a 12 year old geeky bookworm who was interested in reading anything, from the moslem holy book, the Koran, to National Geographic, to Playboy. Although my most precious books then were political, yet there was something about William H. Danforth's I Dare You that was unique and mysterious. It was unique because it was the only English-language book that I was seriously trying to read, when my "anglo-exposure" paled compared to my native Arabic and Urdu. And it was mysterious. I had found the book wrapped up under piles of personal effects of a British-born eccentric uncle of mine, who came to stay with my family in Kuwait in the late 1970s, and then disappeared mysteriously during a short vacation in London. Apart from the "I" and the "You", I had never heard of the word "Dare". Understanding what it meant marked the launch of a personal crusade to master the English language. Five years later, I was able to read the book with deep understanding and contemplation. Since then (I'm 27 now), I have read scores of books, mostly in theology, politics and history, in both English and Arabic. But this book proved to be different. It's core subject was the individual reader. It does not talk about the author, or about some self-improvement philosophy that he had developed. It's a warm and simple rendition on living a healthy life and making the most out of it. And it's about what I would call a mental dissection of the human soul, separating mind from body, to understand where the self exists. A man who can dare others to achieve greatness has to be great himself. Mr. Danforth, while devoting his long life to study man, meanwhile worked up the corporate ladder at the General Motors Company. At the sunset of his life, he devoted his time and energy to the Y.M.C.A., and, finally, wrote a book that did not earn him million dollar sign-ups, but changed (this I can bet my life) someone's life forever.

When I graduated High School over 20 years ago my Aunt Mari gave me this book as a gift. I have been carrying on the tradition only becacause of the positive impact it continues to have on my life.The first thing William H. Danforth does is to challenge the reader to finish the book before they go to sleep that night. Well if you do just that, you can barely sleep! (By the way, every year I read it, I make sure to meet that challenge!) You want to jump up and get those exercises in with the air rushing in your chest and swelling you up with pride. This is one of the most energizing books you will ever read. It illustrates and talks about the 4 components of life and how we must keep them balanced to be able to do anything we want to do.When I finished reading it, I checked when it was written and found out it was early this century. However, it far outdoes the self-help books that flood the market today.I will be giving this book to three neices and nephews this graduation and challenging them to read it once a year for the next four years because I know what it did for me during college and what it can do for them.This is one of the least expensive gifts you can give someone, but it will help them Create their lives vs. simply living their lives. Even though it's on backorder, place an order and you won't be disappointed when you receive it!!!Joe Martin