Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) was an American author and public speaker widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern self-help writing on fear and confidence. Born in New York, she held a PhD in psychology from Columbia University and worked in counseling and academia before turning her attention to writing for a general audience. She rose to international acclaim with her bestselling book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, followed by works including End the Struggle and Dance with Life and Embracing Uncertainty, books that offered readers practical, empowering tools for overcoming fear and building genuine confidence in the face of life's uncertainties. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway became a global phenomenon, selling millions of copies and being translated into dozens of languages, and its title has since become a widely recognized catchphrase for confronting fear head-on. Drawing on both her academic training and years of hands-on work with clients, she developed accessible techniques for reframing fear not as something to eliminate, but as something to move through in pursuit of a fuller life. Known for her warm, encouraging voice and unflinching focus on courage and self-empowerment, Jeffers's work continues to shape modern self-help writing and inspire readers across the world.