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Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life Audiobook
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(3.08) - 264 listener ratings
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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 figures both famous and obscure that he finds 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 figures, 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
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"As someone who wishes he had more courage, I am always interested in reading books on courage. This book had a different chapter on different people, and they all had a different type of courage. I particularly liked the story about the guy who won the Congressional Medal of Honor "becoming a Destroying Angel". I thought that was nice. And I loved the poem by the Israeli about "blessed is the Match that lights the fire"."
— Travis (4 out of 5 stars)
Why Courage Matters Listener Reviews
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" This is book that everyone should read. It is a collection of story of courage that chronicles not just the good but the cost that some people pay for leading a courageous life. I carry this book with me every where I happen to go. "
— William, 1/7/2014 -
" Stories of courage; analysis of virtue. "
— Johnvano, 12/25/2013 -
" McCain needs to hire a ghost writer. Seriously. "
— Christopher, 12/8/2013 -
" There are 4 or 5 great stories in this book (not necessarily about McCain) that make one want to live life in every breath. "
— Laura, 12/2/2013 -
" This is a great book by John McCain about what real courage means. "
— Devin, 11/30/2013 -
" I really loved this book and think every person should read this. It really allowed me to look at life differently and to be brave! "
— Casey, 11/28/2013 -
" I gave this book three stars because while I liked the stories of courage in the book, the definitions of courage and philosophical musings on courage by the author were clumsy and often incorrect, in my opinion. The different arguments for the meaning of courage weren't always congruent. "
— Ellis, 11/16/2013 -
" Good inspirational individual stories of courage interspersed with difficult to follow philosophical dialog. "
— Dennis, 11/2/2013 -
" This book had some amazing war stories by true American heroes. McCain's thoughts were a bit unorganized and scattered, but I was able to pull a few gems from the book nonetheless. A good read. Inspired me to be better. "
— Nor, 6/7/2013 -
" Not as good as Worth the Fighting For, but offers some remarkable stories of courage. "
— Thomas, 3/18/2013 -
" This was a wonderful, uplifting book. Everyone should read it! "
— Kim, 1/20/2013 -
" Makes you feel like a wussy. Sometimes it drug on a little bit, but it had some amazing stories of courage. It is pretty much entirely anecdotal. "
— Sharon, 1/17/2013 -
" I doubt anyone, even John McCain, can talk about something like courage without having the hollow ring of Hallmark platitudes...What sizzle that does exist in this book is the vividly told real-life stories of courage, generally in a framework of organized violence. "
— Tom, 10/24/2012 -
" Some good stories contained in the book that makes it interesting, but this is nothing special. "
— Jason, 6/5/2012 -
" Profiles in courage from "A Man Who Knows." "
— Lee, 12/30/2011 -
" I loved this book. It has a sense of reality that we don't think about too much these days. "
— Sharon, 7/17/2011 -
" I actually didn't finish this book, but it was due back to the library and I had gotten the gist of it. It wasn't super engaging, but it was interesting. And there were some great uplifting stories of courage. "
— AJ, 6/27/2011 -
" From a leader of the past and one of the future. "
— Jason, 6/27/2011 -
" This is book that everyone should read. It is a collection of story of courage that chronicles not just the good but the cost that some people pay for leading a courageous life. I carry this book with me every where I happen to go. "
— William, 8/8/2010 -
" McCain needs to hire a ghost writer. Seriously. "
— Christopher, 7/23/2010 -
" Profiles in courage from "A Man Who Knows." "
— Lee, 1/4/2010 -
" Good inspirational individual stories of courage interspersed with difficult to follow philosophical dialog. "
— Dennis, 9/10/2009 -
" I really loved this book and think every person should read this. It really allowed me to look at life differently and to be brave! "
— Casey, 3/28/2009 -
" This was a wonderful, uplifting book. Everyone should read it! "
— Kim, 3/3/2009 -
" Makes you feel like a wussy. Sometimes it drug on a little bit, but it had some amazing stories of courage. It is pretty much entirely anecdotal. "
— Golddigger1799, 1/17/2009 -
" From a leader of the past and one of the future. "
— Jason, 9/26/2008 -
" Not as good as Worth the Fighting For, but offers some remarkable stories of courage. "
— Thomas, 9/2/2008 -
" This book had some amazing war stories by true American heroes. McCain's thoughts were a bit unorganized and scattered, but I was able to pull a few gems from the book nonetheless. A good read. Inspired me to be better. "
— Nor, 8/14/2008 -
" I actually didn't finish this book, but it was due back to the library and I had gotten the gist of it. It wasn't super engaging, but it was interesting. And there were some great uplifting stories of courage. "
— AJ, 7/17/2008
About the Authors
John McCain (1936–2018) entered the Naval Academy in 1954 and served in the United States Navy until 1981. He was elected to the US House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 and to the Senate in 1986. He was the Republican Party’s nominee for president in the 2008 election. He is the author of numerous books, including Faith of My Fathers, Worth Fighting For, Why Courage Matters, Character Is Destiny, Thirteen Soldiers, and The Restless Wave.
Mark Salter is an author who collaborated with John McCain on all seven of their books, including The Restless Wave, Faith of My Fathers, Worth the Fighting For, Why Courage Matters, Character Is Destiny, Hard Call, and Thirteen Soldiers. He served on Senator McCain’s staff for eighteen years.
About Dan Cashman
Dan Cashman is an American television actor, producer, and audiobook narrator who has also appeared in many television movies such as Dangerous Women, The Invisible Man, and The Pretender.