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.
Thomas Aquinas is credited as one of the greatest proponents of natural law. During his time in Cologne he was taught by Albertus Magnus. Magnus used the teachings of Aristotle in his mentorship of Thomas Aquinas.
Samuel Adams believed in American Independence from Great Britain. He is one of the most well know Son's of Liberty. On August 1, 1776 he gave a speech to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
The Mount of Forty Springs, Zagros Mountains, Iran Saturday 11:30 PM
By the dim light of torches seven hooded figures made their ascent up the nearly invisible path. Thirty minutes had passed since they began hiking off the established trail. A person who had never traveled this path would not have been able to find it.
These men were not making their first journey. Each had traveled this path as part of a group and individually. Even without the torches each man would find the destination without difficulty. Some things could never be forgotten.
In silence they made their final steps. Amidst the juniper and oak trees stood a single cedar tree. They had arrived at their destination. Concealed amidst the undergrowth was a small cave. Sliding a large bolder away from the back of the cave revealed a secret stairwell.
The men could not be completely at ease yet, but the most physically demanding portion of their journey was over. From this point things would be more psychologically challenging and each man would handle those struggles...
