by Janice Dean
First published 2023
New York Times bestselling author Janice Dean examines what drives regular people to take on seemingly impossible fights. After her own battle with Governor Andrew Cuomo led to his resignation, Dean wondered what fuels the resolve to challenge powerful opponents. She profiles individuals who chose courage over comfort: a California chef who fought government restrictions to help restaurants, an American hockey team that defeated Soviet champions, a mother battling the opioid crisis after losing her daughter, a gymnast working to reform an abusive system, and a southern nurse who traveled to New York City during the pandemic's peak. Dean also shares stories of permanent loss, including a veteran who lost his hearing and sight to an IED and a Minnesota mother who joined the fight against opioids after her daughter's death. Through these accounts, Dean reveals what it takes for ordinary people to weather life's storms and shows that hope, resilience, and perseverance can emerge even from the darkest seasons.
Genres: american, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, true-story
Setting: New York, California
Period: 21st Century
257 pages · Kindle Edition · Harper