All her life, Susan Schorn had wrestled with fear and anxiety. When she took up karate at a women-only dojo in Austin, Tex., she discovered not only a way to address her fears and defend herself against potential attackers, but an entirely new framework for life. Amid learning complicated pose sequences, breaking boards and studying for multiple belt tests, Schorn also learned how to say no, set boundaries and face her fears. In the smart, witty Smile at Strangers, she shares the wisdom gained during 15 years in the dojo.
Each chapter is headed by a kowa, a pithy, often paradoxical statement inspired by the Zen tradition that undergirds karate. These pieces of advice--some traditional Japanese proverbs, some composed by Schorn--encapsulate the lessons she has learned from karate: "Fall down seven times, get up eight." "You're doing it all wrong. And that's perfect." "Everybody wants to have adventures. Whether they know it or not."
Schorn's adventures often take place in the realm of daily life: raising two children, remodeling a house, navigating the obstacle course of office politics. But karate also led her to take on previously unimagined challenges, such as teaching an impromptu self-defense workshop to a roomful of Girl Scout troop leaders, passing her double black belt test and eventually becoming a regular teacher at her dojo. Tracing her journey with wry humor, Schorn mixes personal anecdotes with practical self-defense tips and witty, relatable advice on pursuing a less fearful life. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams