Running from safety is not only the title of the book, but it is also a main theme in the book. Bad things happen in everybody's life, but aside from his brother's death, Richard seems to live a good life. His parents care about him, although he does not appreciate the way they deal with his brother's death. They do not give him any warning and keep his brother's illness a secret from him. They do not talk about Bobby's dying, even after he is gone. Richard decides never to be like them at that point. After his brother's death, he has friends, he has good self-esteem and he has a beautiful and caring wife.