“Courage,” Winston Churchill explained, is “the first of human qualities . . . because it guarantees all the others.”...
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Oct 13, 2011
***Dave
rated it: 
(Original review graded on a score of 1-3)
Summary:
[3] McCain discusses what does, and doesn’t, constitute courage, as well as why it’s important, something we can all aspire to, but need to train ourselves toward. It lacks footnotes and bibliography, which would have been handy.
Entertainment:
[2] This is not a heavy, ponderous book, but, even amongst the examples provided and the lessons McCain draws from them, the reading is relatively quick. The main critique is More...
Summary:
[3] McCain discusses what does, and doesn’t, constitute courage, as well as why it’s important, something we can all aspire to, but need to train ourselves toward. It lacks footnotes and bibliography, which would have been handy.
Entertainment:
[2] This is not a heavy, ponderous book, but, even amongst the examples provided and the lessons McCain draws from them, the reading is relatively quick. The main critique is More...
Oct 23, 2009
Matt
rated it: 
The best thing about this book is the stories. They are of truly courageous people of whom I have not heard of before. McCain does a good job of reflecting and considering other veiwpoints on the meaning of each story and shows great humility, as we all should, in telling/hearing these courageous life stories. I don't agree with a lot of his viewpoints on courage in the beginning of the book but at the end he hits it dead on in my opinion (not sure if this was his writing strategy because the
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Sep 21, 2008
Malaga
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This is a short unsophisticated essay on courage that contains mostly opinion and indulgent tangents. The stories of courageous people are the saving grace of the book - probably because they are based on fact - everything else is opinion. John McCain is hell bent on distinguishing physical from mental or emotional courage; and examining courage from every imaginable (and imagined) angle. If John McCain had not had his war experiences what would he have to write about and on what authority? He h
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Feb 16, 2008
Richard
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This was a gift from my (conservative) father, before he realized mccain was a beltway insider (i warned him years ago). thought i'd go ahead and read it though since he's probably going to be president. this wasn't as bad as i thought it would be though since he stays away from politics and dissects 'courage' and how the word (or maybe it's the act) has been diluted in present-day whatever-the-subject-is discourse. i think it's just mccain's way of subliminally telling his constituents that he
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Aug 22, 2010
Marisela
rated it: 
Excellent book! I thought he would speak only of his capture, however, he spoke not only of his, but also the bravery of John Lewis, Navajo leaders Manuelito and Barboncito, Jewish freedom fighter Hannah Senesh and Burmese dissident (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) Aung San Suu Kyi.
I would read this book again.
I would read this book again.
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Jul 02, 2011
Tom
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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.
Aug 08, 2010
William
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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.
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Jan 17, 2009
Golddigger1799
rated it:
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.
Mar 28, 2009
Casey
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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!
Jan 29, 2012
Suzanne
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It doesn't matter what your politics are, this man is a hero. This book is filled with stories of men and women showing extraordinary courage. What does McCain see as the link between them all? Fear. Without fear there is no courage.
What do we owe Mitchell Redcloud, the man who was so injured that he could not stand and had his comrades tie him to a tree so that he could continue to fight for our freedom? We owe him a blood debt and we owe him to never forget his sacrifice.
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What do we owe Mitchell Redcloud, the man who was so injured that he could not stand and had his comrades tie him to a tree so that he could continue to fight for our freedom? We owe him a blood debt and we owe him to never forget his sacrifice.
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Dec 02, 2009
Just saw this book at the library. Seems interesting. Would like to read it eventually.
Mar 17, 2008
Sarah
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I read this book long before John McCain was running for president, and I really liked it... It is not a fast read, but you can definately jump around in it..."When your children see you choose, without hesitating, without remark, to value virtue more than security, to love more than you fear, they will learn what courage looks like, and what love it serves, and they will dread its absence."Just one of many good quotes from the book-it will make you want to try just a little harder to
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Jul 21, 2011
D.
rated it:
Not very flowing. Really talks about how to lead a couragous life. Goes off on tangents. Certain individuals through out history have exemplified, through their actions what courage is really about. Take Hannah Sanesh bright young Jewish girl. She could have gone to school with the other Christian girls but chose the British army instead. Read the book to find out more.
Tremendous book, This book got through the thick "drudge" of war. Must read if you are a military mem More...
Tremendous book, This book got through the thick "drudge" of war. Must read if you are a military mem More...
Nov 13, 2008
Andrew
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The book remains bipartisan, not leaning towards any political side. In fact, he does not address any policies at all.
Labeled as an inspirational book, it does just that. However, McCain/Salter seem to examine courage from a few perspectives (mostly military) and reiterate the same points, only with a different story or a rewording (sometimes the same sentences).
The book was very quick to read, and the stories are wonderful, but the real meat of the book was lacking.
Labeled as an inspirational book, it does just that. However, McCain/Salter seem to examine courage from a few perspectives (mostly military) and reiterate the same points, only with a different story or a rewording (sometimes the same sentences).
The book was very quick to read, and the stories are wonderful, but the real meat of the book was lacking.
Jun 03, 2009
Travis
rated it:
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".
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Jul 30, 2008
Kate
rated it:
While I am taken by the theme and the important message of this collection of stories, it was very difficult to complete (especially about midway through). I really became exhausted from the repetition and some sentences or paragraphs that seemed to never end. This book contains some great stories that I will remember for a long time and, I believe, good intentions, but at times, is very poorly engineered.
Jan 02, 2008
Ellis
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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.
Feb 07, 2010
Hillary
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Amazing book, no matter what your political views are!!
One of my favorite quotes is, "We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity for action despite our fears." Pretty much says it all right there.
One of my favorite quotes is, "We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity for action despite our fears." Pretty much says it all right there.
Aug 14, 2008
Nor
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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.
Aug 25, 2008
AJ
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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.
Mar 31, 2008
Laura
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There are 4 or 5 great stories in this book (not necessarily about McCain) that make one want to live life in every breath.
Feb 25, 2008
Sharon
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I loved this book. It has a sense of reality that we don't think about too much these days.
Nov 22, 2010
Thomas
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Not as good as Worth the Fighting For, but offers some remarkable stories of courage.
