As an 8 year old McRaven was in New York City with his dad. During their trip McRaven continually looked to the sky hoping to see Superman. His dad asked him if what he was looking for and McRaven finally admitted that he wanted to see Superman. His dad pointed out a police officer and stated that was a hero.
McRaven notes “If you can have an epiphany at eight years old, well then, this was mine. If Superman wasn’t real, then who was going to save the world? If Superman or Batman or Spider-Man weren’t coming, then how would we stop the criminals, the Nazis, the Soviets, the aliens from outer space, and all the violence and destruction? The answer was clear. It was up to us.”
McRaven became a navy seal and spent 37 years in the Navy. He states: “ I came to realize that there is a hero in all of us. There is an innate code that has been there since the birth of mankind. It is written in our DNA.” He notes that each of us can work on developing our character so that we can develop the attributes that heroes have.
The book is a series of short stories that highlight each attribute in the hero code. This is a quick read and can be finished in day. The goal of the book is to encourage each of us to be better than we are today.
Some of the attributes that make up the hero code are courage, integrity, compassion, hope, and forgiveness. Here is one line of the hero code: “I will learn to SACRIFICE by giving a little of my time, my talent, and my treasure to those in need.”
Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
For 45 minutes Alexander rode in a helicopter while receiving a crash course on the historic sites of New York City. The ability to hover in the air while moving 110 miles per hour was surreal. He began to wonder if perhaps he had died on the battlefield and was now in some level of the afterlife. Everything was too extraordinary to believe.
As they were nearing the conclusion of their flight Alexander examined the topography below with a general’s eye.
“Where are your city’s defenses?”
“What are you talking about?” Sammy responded.
“What would prevent an invading army from laying siege to your city?”
“No one would ever invade us.”
“Such hubris makes it likely at some point.”
“The oceans protect us from our enemies and Canada is our ally. It would never happen.”
“Fascinating. I bet I would find a way to do it.”
“But why would you want to.”
“It is my destiny to create empires. This city would have to be conquered and rolled into my empire.”
“The United States Army is too powerful. You would never stand a chance.”
A half dozen battle plans were floating through his mind.
“I think I could do it.”
“Who are you?” Sammy asked.
“I already told you. I am the great king ...
