Phobias are irrational fears that affect  people, causing many to experience panic attacks and similar debilitating conditions. Through objective overviews, primary sources, and full color illustrations this title examines What are Phobias? What Causes Phobias? How Do Phobias Affect People? and Can People Overcome Phobias?

Many of Lowndes's potential readers may "shy" away from her relentlessly perky, exclamatory tone and use of terms like Shys (for shy folks) and Sures (for extroverts). Which is too bad, because much of her advice is sensible and based on desensitization techniques, or graduated exposure, therapists use in treating shyness and social phobia. The book is a mixture of confessional by a formerly shy author (How to Make Anyone Fall in Love with You) and no-nonsense guide.