Take the Risk

Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk

By: Ben Carson M.D., Gregg Lewis

Narrated by: Ben Carson M.D.

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

No risk, pay the cost. Know risk, reap the rewards. In our risk-avoidance culture, we place a high premium on safety. We insure our vacations. We check crash tests on cars. We extend the warranties on our appliances. But by insulating ourselves from the unknown - the risks of life - we miss the great adventure of living our lives to their full potential.

Ben Carson spent his childhood as an at-risk child on the streets of Detroit, and today he takes daily risks in performing complex surgeries on the brain and the spinal cord. Now, offering inspiring personal examples, Dr. Carson invites us to embrace risk in our own lives. From a man whose life dramatically portrays the connection between great risks and greater successes, here are insights that will help you dispel your fear of risk so you can dream big, aim high, move with confidence, and reap rewards you've never imagined.

By avoiding risk, are you also avoiding the full potential of your life?

The surgery was as risky as anything Dr. Ben Carson had seen. The Bijani sisters - conjoined twins - shared part of a skull, brain tissue, and crucial blood flow. One or both of them could die during the operation. But the women wanted separate lives. And they were willing to accept the risk to reach the goal, even against the advice of their doctors.... As a child on the dangerous streets of Detroit, and as a surgeon in operating theaters around the world, Dr. Ben Carson has learned all about risk - he faces it on a daily basis. Out of his perilous childhood, a world-class surgeon emerged precisely because of the risks Dr. Carson was willing to take.

In his compelling new book, he examines our safety-at-all-costs culture and the meaning of risk and security in our lives. In our 21st-century world, we insulate ourselves with safety. We insure everything from vacations to cell phones. We go on low-cholesterol diets and buy low-risk mutual funds. But in the end, everyone faces risk, like the Bijani twins did with their brave decision. Even if our choices are not so dramatic or the outcome so heartbreaking, what does it mean if we back away instead of move forward? Have we so muffled our hearts and minds that we fail to reach for all that life can offer us - and all that we can offer life?

Take the Risk guides the listener through an examination of risk, including:

• A short review of risk-taking in history.
• An assessment of the real costs and rewards of risk.
• Learning how to assess and accept risks.
• Understanding how risk reveals the purpose of your lives.

©2007 Ben Carson (P)2007 Zondervan

Ben Carson is a brilliant man, but....

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes and no. I would love to have given this book a 5 out of 5, but I, as well as a few friends of mine that read this book for a college psychology class, found that the first 10 chapters could have been of the book could have been done well without. Ben Carson spends FAR too much time in the mode of autobiography writing with near to no association with the concept of the the book "Take the risk". I constantly found myself asking, "why is this book called 'take the risk' again??" There were a couple other issues I had with it as well. That being said, after chapter 10, the book finally takes off and is actually really really good! I loved chapter 14 and I love what Ben has to say about faith and religion. Also, I find myself using the B/W A method fairly frequently.
So......is the book worth reading? I would say definitely YES....but...just start on chapter 11. Haha.

If you’ve listened to books by Ben Carson and Gregg Lewis before, how does this one compare?

I have listened to any others

Which character – as performed by Ben Carson – was your favorite?

Ben Carson himself of course

Did Take the Risk inspire you to do anything?

Absolutely. The B/W A method, it furthered my perspective on being outgoing as always being worth it and definitely inspired me in prosocial behaviors, and also there were religious and faith aspects that have given me new perspectives and further knowledge toward bettering my life and the lives of others.

Alright

I've never read a Ben Carson book before, but saw this book featured on C-SPAN's book TV. I thought I would give it a shot. I was a little disappointed. It was Ben Carson retelling many of his experiences, which are no doubt interesting, but it seemed a stretch to talk about them in light of risk. If you want to read about the author's experiences, this is a good book, but if you want a book talking about risk, look elsewere.

RICH WITH INSPIRATION - LOVED IT

Would you consider the audio edition of Take the Risk to be better than the print version?

DON'T KNOW

What was one of the most memorable moments of Take the Risk?

overcome being called dummy in class; learning from the lawyer twins that died

Would you listen to another book narrated by Ben Carson?

ABSOLUTELY!

What did you learn from Take the Risk that you would use in your daily life?

I ASK MYSELF HIS 4 QUESTIONS

Any additional comments?

THIS BOOK HAS HELPED GIVE ME CONFIDENCE TO RISK FOLLOWING PURPOSE GORY LIFE!

Listen to the Sample

I agree that Dr. Carson is not a professional voice actor or reader, but I enjoyed this audiobook in spite of that face. Maybe even because of it. The content of this book is mostly great (I think the author gets a little preachy at the end) but it's still good stuff.

It's also personal stuff. I think that's why the lack of a professional reader is okay. Dr. Carson is telling you about HIS life and HIS experiences in HIS words with HIS voice. Check out the sample provided by Audible and see what you think.

Overall, this is a good book.

Glad I came across this one

It was a bit wordy and lost my interest towards the end, but the meat & potatoes of this are valuable. It's nice to hear how someone in the medical field handles risk analysis.

Why not use a professional narrator?

As an Audiobook this book fails, not due to the content (that is great) but due to the very poor narration by its author. It's very hard to stay with the narrator as it feels like a race to see who falls asleep first, the narrator or the listener. It's a real shame that a professional narrator wasn't used to bring the great content across.

Wonderful book about something scary

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes this book is a good way to get a realistic view of fear.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Take the Risk?

The danger of coffee compare to other risks.

Which scene was your favorite?

The list of funny laws to avoid danger.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The almost car accident.

This helped in my recent time of decision

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have been making life decision lately what a blessing this book was.

What did you learn from Take the Risk that you would use in your daily life?

BW risk assessment tool really works

Inspiring

Would you consider the audio edition of Take the Risk to be better than the print version?

Yes, absolutely. I run long distances and love listening to books rather than music most of the time. I'm amazed at how Dr. Carson started to realize at such a young age that he had anger issues and began developing the ability to harness that energy for more positive results. Took me until my late 20s. Don't run for political office Dr. Carson, politics is for hacks and you are much more valuable to nation in the private sector.

What other book might you compare Take the Risk to and why?

An American Son

What does Ben Carson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A subtle emotion.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me want to work even harder at what I do.

Any additional comments?

The only thing that could be cleaned up is that the volume changes throughout the presentation.

This man has the wisdom of Solomon.

What did you love best about Take the Risk?

Dr. Carson's protocol for risk assessment has helped me make smarter decisions with less anxiety.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dr. Carson has so inspired me that every time I read one of his books I find myself accomplishing things that I thought I could not do.

What about Ben Carson’s performance did you like?

He has a calming voice and pleasant voice. This is a case in which the author should always read his own books.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Wisdom of Solomon