Courage: Powerful Lessons in Leadership, Strength, and the Will to Succeed

by John Sperzel

With his heart, and his world, on the brink of stopping, John Sperzel’s prognosis was he had a rare condition diagnosed fewer than 300 times in medical history —typically during autopsies. Sperzel needed a heart transplant. Yesterday. Courage , part captivating memoir, part inspirational call to action, begins with Sperzel’s gripping account of his extraordinary battle through multiple surgeries, his agonizing wait for a donor heart, and the “kiss of death” that almost ended it all. Throughout his emotional journey, he grappled with knowing that his life depended on someone else’s loss. He vowed that if given a second chance, he would pay it forward any way he could. Following a period of deep introspection, Sperzel identified the factors that had contributed to his miraculous recovery (and other successes in life):


Courage compellingly explores the positive impacts of cultivating and embodying these traits, and offers a duplicatable method to guide readers along their own paths toward fulfillment. Ultimately, Sperzel hopes that by sharing his H.E.A.R.T. , he can inspire others to follow their passions to their true purposes, and live life as the incredible gift it truly is.

162 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

Reviews

[Patricia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, incredible memoir and tribute. It tells the story of what it means to be fighting for your life, and to be given the gift of an organ donation. John Sperzel tells his story with such amazing truth and compassion. He articulates the profound and unique clash of feelings that come with the knowledge that his life is saved at the same time that another life is lost. He explores the deep meaning of reaching out to the family who lost their loved one, and he establishes a real connection with that family as he learns about the person who gave him the ultimate gift of life.

[Bryan Loo · Rating 5 out of 5]

High recommend read: Courage

Powerful and a tremendous pleasure to read. Thought revoking. Useful and most relevant for leadership and life. Thank you John and Alex’s family for sharing!