by John Kasich
First published 1999
Congressman John Kasich presents twenty Americans who demonstrate extraordinary courage in helping their communities. The book showcases individuals like Cheryl Krueger, who built a cookie company that hires women other employers overlook, prioritizing people over profits. Dr. Jack McConnell appears as another example, a physician who witnessed poverty in his South Carolina community and responded by recruiting over one hundred retired medical professionals to establish a free clinic. This facility now serves more than ten thousand patients in the Hilton Head region and has sparked similar volunteer initiatives across the country. Kasich argues these individuals embody the values America needs to overcome national divisions and achieve its potential. The book serves as a contemporary version of Profiles in Courage, focusing on ordinary citizens whose determination and generous spirits drive them to improve conditions for others. Through these stories, Kasich delivers an optimistic perspective that counters growing societal distrust, offering readers both hope and inspiration.
Genres: american, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspiring-stories, real-life-heroes
Setting: South Carolina, Hilton Head
Period: 21st Century
272 pages · Paperback · Crown