Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life (Abridged)

by John McCain, Mark Salter Narrated by John McCain

Overview

NEW YORK TIMES*BESTSELLER*¿*In this inspiring meditation on courage, Senator John McCain shares his most cherished stories of ordinary individuals who have risked everything to defend the people and principles they hold most dear.

“We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite our fears,” McCain reminds us, as a way of introducing the stories of ¿gures both famous and obscure that he ¿nds most compelling-from the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to Sgt. Roy Benavidez, who ignored his own well-being to rescue eight of his men from an ambush in the Vietnam jungle; from 1960s civil rights leader John Lewis, who wrote, “When I care about something, I'm prepared to take the long, hard road,” to Hannah Senesh, who, in protecting her comrades in the Hungarian resistance against Hitler's SS, chose a martyr's death over a despot's mercy.

These are some of the examples McCain turns to for inspiration and offers to others to help them summon the resolve to be both good and great. He explains the value of courage in both everyday actions and extraordinary feats. We learn why moral principles and physical courage are often not distinct quantities but two sides of the same coin. Most of all, readers discover how sometimes simply setting the right example can be the ultimate act of courage.

Written by one of our most respected public ¿gures, Why Courage Matters is that rare book with a message both timely and timeless. This is a work for anyone seeking to understand how the mystery and gift of courage can empower us and change our lives.

Praise for Why Courage Matters

“[John] McCain the man remains one of the most inspiring public figures of his generation.”-The Washington Post Book World

“Thrilling . . . John McCain's profiles in courage offer inspiration. . . . A marvelous collection of stories featuring honest-to-God heroes.”-Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Extraordinary . . . McCain proves how courage can change lives and improve the world.”-New York*Daily News

“[McCain] is open and candid, a refuge from spin and arrogance.”-The Washington Post

“Wise words from a man who personifies courage.”-The Sunday Oklahoman

Editorial Reviews

AUG/SEP 04 - AudioFile

A surprisingly good narrator, the famous senator has two previous bestselling audios--WORTH FIGHTING FOR and FAITH OF OUR FATHERS. In this one, his well-known emotional depth and stony convictions are put to good use talking about a bedrock quality of the well-lived life: courage. “Courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite our fears,” he says, while sharing stories of ordinary people who risked everything to help others or to honor a principle. McCain’s writing is personal--it’s unusually touching for that of a political figure. The audio is inspiring without being sentimental or sensational. A satisfying character lesson will make you want to hear more about this man’s life and thoughts. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

AUG/SEP 04 - AudioFile

A surprisingly good narrator, the famous senator has two previous bestselling audios--WORTH FIGHTING FOR and FAITH OF OUR FATHERS. In this one, his well-known emotional depth and stony convictions are put to good use talking about a bedrock quality of the well-lived life: courage. “Courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite our fears,” he says, while sharing stories of ordinary people who risked everything to help others or to honor a principle. McCain’s writing is personal--it’s unusually touching for that of a political figure. The audio is inspiring without being sentimental or sensational. A satisfying character lesson will make you want to hear more about this man’s life and thoughts. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171905743
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	04/13/2004
Edition description:	Abridged

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