Heroes, Legends, Champions

Why Heroism Matters

By: Andrew Bernstein

Narrated by: Sean Saulsbury

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

This is not a self-help book. Its purpose is not to tell us how to apply the lessons of a hero's life in our own. Rather, it is a theoretical book, explaining what heroes are and why mankind needs them.

Before we can emulate heroes, we must properly identify them. We must understand who and what they are...and what they are not. This is a matter of life and death. Some persons, for example, at various times have considered Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, and Osama bin Laden as heroes. If we are to promote human life, it is necessary for us to clearly understand that and why mass murderers are definitively excluded from the echelon of heroes.

Chapters one, two, and three focus on the nature and definition of a hero, and provide a method for distinguishing a hero from non-heroes. Chapter four raises the question of whether, under appropriate circumstances, everyman and everywoman can rise to heroic heights - and answers in the affirmative. Chapters five, six, and seven dispute the time-honored notion that heroism involves self-sacrifice and demonstrate, rather, that heroism, properly understood, involves actions self-fulfilling; heroism and self-sacrifice are, in fact, moral antipodes. Chapter eight discusses an appropriate response to morally flawed heroes - and chapter nine explains the errors of the modern antihero mentality. Finally, chapter ten tells us about the life-giving importance of hero worship. The two appendices validate philosophic principles that underlie the theory of heroes elucidated here: Human life is the standard of moral value and human beings possess free will.

This book does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of a hero's nature. Presumably, there is more to be said. But it is a provocative first step toward understanding the nature of heroes, one that will hopefully spark a lively 21st-century debate of this important subject.

©2019 Andrew Bernstein (P)2020 Andrew Bernstein

Heroic

This is a much needed start to understanding what heroism is and its importance to the quality of our lives. Th time spent dstinguishing between heroism and both anti-heros and villains helps bring the definition of heroism into sharper contrast. Additionally, the treatment of flawed heroes is critical to placing the title of hero in context without ignoring any significant detracting factors.

By identifying what heroism is, we can then assess or reassess both one's self and others (actual people or fictional characters). Then make course corrections in our own lives to be more heroic and to properly acknowledge that heroism in others.

I loved reading this book as much as I enjoyed the Audible. This is the first book in a long time that I wanted to rush out and buy more copies to share with friends, family and co-workers.

A great overview of real heroism

As this book correctly identifies, real heroism is about remaining true to one's absolute ethical values in the face of opposition from the environment.