For a country that prides itself on technology and cutting edge advancements in the medical field, it is somewhat surprising that the thing that most catches our attention is not innovation, rather it is the sacrifices of the few for the betterment of the many. These Modern Day Heroes are so much more than dates and events, they are men and women with lifelong stories. A hero is not defined by one single action; rather a hero is forged by his character that triumphs at a definitive moment in time. Heroes that have given their lives in service to this country have given us more than we can ever repay. These heroes are men and women with fathers and mothers, husbands and wives; they have families that they loved and families that loved them. They are more than a heroic instance, they are the culmination of lives lived with purpose. These are the stories of the medic and the lieutenant, the police officer and the fighter pilot; these are the stories of fathers, sons, mothers, and daughters; indeed these are the stories of dedicated, hard-working Americans. The stories of these Modern Day Heroes are the stories of American sacrifice, often paid in blood, that have been made directly and indirectly on our behalf. When the story of a hero is told, people often pause at the dynamism of the story or the virtues made manifest by the hero. The reasons for this pause are as myriad as the individuals who listen to the stories. However, on the most basic level all of us pause out of the simple feeling of pride we get from hearing of great deeds done by our fellow countrymen. These Modern Day Heroes give us confidence that with all of the uncertainty in the world, American will continue to stand strong. God bless our nation's heroes, and God bless the U.S.A!

A Hero Like You looks at everyday heroes and highlights qualities such as loyalty, compassion, resourcefulness, justice, and courage. The lyrical rhyme and relatable illustrations remind us that we all have the opportunity to be a hero by helping others, doing right and making the world a better place. "What the world needs is a hero like you!"

Heroes are people who are bigger than life. They are the men and women of action, with great thoughts, nerves of steel and have made personal sacrifices to initiate change. Heroes are the models we put up to our children as the people to be like and act like. The definition of a modern hero is not just some great general or statesman (although they certainly are part of our contemporary pantheon) but also men and women who have influenced society, changed its views, sought to make the world a better place, entertained us or made us laugh and even, gave their lives for their ideals and their values. Our heroes are men and women from all walks of life, from around the world, who through science, politics, war, letters, music, sports and the media stood above even the best of us. They often speak to us directly and indirectly about the things that are most important in our lives and they challenge us to be like them, to follow them, to act like them and ultimately to respect them-even if we do not always agree with them. Many of the heroes in this book are household names, some are from other generations, but without them, our lives would be significantly different.

In the tradition of his own bestselling masterpieces The Story of Civilization and The Lessons of History, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Will Durant traces the lives and ideas of those who have helped to define civilization, from its dawn to the beginning of the modern world. Heroes of History is a book of life-enhancing wisdom and optimism, complete with Durant's wit, knowledge, and unique ability to explain events and ideas in simple, exciting terms. It is the lessons of our heritage passed on for the edification and benefit of future generations—a fitting legacy from America's most beloved historian and philosopher. Will Durant's popularity as America's favorite teacher of history and philosophy remains undiminished by time. His books are accessible to readers of every kind, and his unique ability to compress complicated ideas and events into a few pages without ever "talking down" to the reader, enhanced by his memorable wit and a razor-sharp judgment about men and their motives, made all of his books huge bestsellers. Heroes of History carries on this tradition of making scholarship and philosophy understandable to the general reader, and making them good reading, as well. At the dawn of a new millennium and the beginning of a new century, nothing could be more appropriate than this brilliant book that examines the meaning of human civilization and history and draws from the experience of the past the lessons we need to know to put the future into context and live in confidence, rather than fear and ignorance.

Epic battles, hideous monsters and a host of petty gods--the world of Classical mythology continues to fascinate and inspire. Heroes like Herakles, Achilles and Perseus have influenced Western art and literature for centuries, and today are reinvented in the modern superhero. What does Iron Man have to do with the Homeric hero Odysseus? How does the African warrior Memnon compare with Marvel's Black Panther? Do DC's Wonder Woman and Xena the Warrior Princess reflect the tradition of Amazon women such as Penthesileia? How does the modern superhero's journey echo that of the epic warrior? With fresh insight into ancient Greek texts and historical art, this book examines modern superhero archetypes and iconography in comics and film as the crystallization of the hero's journey in the modern imagination.

The captivating story of an ordinary bartender who's changing the world through clean water. Doc Hendley never set out to be a hero. In 2004, Hendley-a small- town bartender- launched a series of wine-tasting events to raise funds for clean-water projects and to bring awareness to the world's freshwater crisis. He planned to donate the proceeds through traditional channels, but instead found himself traveling to one of the world's most dangerous hot spots: Darfur, Sudan. There, Doc witnessed a government-sponsored genocide where the number-one weapon wasn't bullets-it was water. The Janjaweed terrorists had figured out that shooting up a bladder containing 10,000 liters of water, or dumping rotting corpses into a primary water source is remarkably efficient for the purposes of mass extermination. With limited funds, Doc realized that he couldn't build new wells costing $10,000 a pop, but he could hire local workers to restore a damaged well for a mere $50 each. He'd found his mission. Today, Doc and Wine to Water continue to help stricken peoples repair and maintain water- containment systems in places like Darfur, Cambodia, Uganda, and Haiti. Doc is a regular, rough-and-tumble guy who loves booze, music, and his Harley- but he also wanted to help. Wine to Water is a gripping story about braving tribal warfare and natural disasters and encountering fascinating characters in far-flung regions of the world. It is also an authoritative account of a global crisis and an inspirational tale that proves how ordinary people can improve the world.

A study of one of popular culture's superstars whose enchanting mystique pervades the modern world