The Flipside - by Michelle Mace Curran (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Michelle Curran can fly an F-16 fighter jet upside down, but she's afraid of spiders. And tight spaces, too. During high altitude chamber training, she wondered if her fellow airmen - and they were all men - could tell she was panicking under her oxygen mask. Yet she flew sorties in Afghanistan and served as Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds, performing in aerial showcases nationwide-often upside down. All this, while grappling with what was, to her, an even bigger opponent: imposter syndrome. In time, she learned how to transform fear into strength and self-doubt into confidence. Most of all, she learned how to make uncomfortable choices by flipping her perspective, like her jet, upside down. In THE FLIPSIDE, Michelle "MACE" Curran addresses how fear tends to force us back into our comfort zones and onto autopilot. She shares lessons she learned from high-stakes missions and life-defining moments, helping readers unlock their resilience to face life's challenges with courage and ultimately, rise above"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Former Thunderbird Lead Solo Michelle "MACE" Curran provides a blueprint for converting your fear into a strength based on the hard-earned lessons she learned in the cockpit and beyond.

Michelle Curran can fly an F-16 fighter jet upside down, but she's afraid of spiders. And tight spaces. During high altitude chamber training, she wondered if her fellow airmen--and they were all men--could tell she was panicking under her oxygen mask. Yet she flew sorties in Afghanistan and served as Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds, performing in aerial showcases nationwide--often upside down. All this, while grappling with what was, to her, an even bigger opponent: imposter syndrome. In time, she learned how to turn fear into strength and self-doubt into confidence. Most of all, she learned how to make uncomfortable choices by flipping her perspective, like her jet, upside down.

In The Flipside, Michelle "MACE" Curran addresses how fear tends to force us back into our comfort zones and onto autopilot. She shares lessons she learned from high-stakes missions and life-defining moments, helping readers unlock their resilience to face life's challenges with courage--and ultimately, rise above.

Review Quotes

"With the precision of a fighter pilot and the heart of a storyteller, Michelle Curran delivers a powerful, relatable roadmap for turning fear into fuel."--Norah O'Donnell, CBS News Senior Correspondent

"Michelle Curran takes you into the cockpit and into the heart of what it means to embrace fear, overcome doubt, and live boldly. The Flipside is a powerful reminder that confidence isn't something you're born with--it's built through small everyday actions."--Heather Monahan, Top 50 Keynote Speaker, Author and Podcast Host

"Strength isn't just physical--it comes from pushing past fear, embracing challenges, and staying disciplined. The Flipside is a powerful reminder that confidence is built through action, and anyone can develop the mindset of a champion." --Laila Ali, 4X Boxing Champion, TV Host and Founder of Laila Ali Lifestyle

About the Author

Michelle "MACE" Curran is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of F-16 flying time. She flew combat missions in Afghanistan and honed her skills across the globe, becoming the second woman in history to serve as the Lead Solo Pilot for the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's elite demonstration team. Known for her signature upside-down maneuvers, Mace performed for millions, inspiring audiences at airshows and flyovers like the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Indy 500. Today, she channels her unique perspective into relatable storytelling to empower others to make bold choices and find their inner courage.