From the bestselling author of Mozart's brain and the fighter pilot comes an in-depth look at the science of anxiety and some essential guidelines for dealing with it. Bombarded by a constant media feed about global terrorism, war, and rising unemployment rates, and by a mind-numbing array of ads that urge us to "ask our doctor" about the newest anti-anxiety medication, it feels as if this country is having a collective anxiety attack. In fact, anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems in America. Poe's heart and the mountain climber tackles this disorder head-on, with a fresh perspective and a straightforward approach to understanding our anxiety before it paralyzes us. The message is vital and empowering: Anxiety is not a mental illness that must require medication, but often a normal, biological response to stress.