The Enduring Power of The Human Spirit A gravely ill former Army paratrooper who said no to a heart transplant, telling disbelieving doctors that his faith in God would heal him; the grieving retired supply sergeant who raises and breeds venomous snakes in honor of his dead teenaged son, who once shared the same passion for collecting reptiles; the Army brat turned free-spirited hippie who lost the love of his life and then his job, forcing him to move back in with his parents and re-examine everything at age 59. All these ordinary people who have done extraordinary things in their lifetimes. They are no different than the rest of us -- or are they? Would you have the courage to face and overcome similar obstacles? Stories of tragedy and triumph, highs and lows, hitting bottom and rising back to the top. Recovery, overcoming defeat to win again, redemption. When disaster strikes, it often brings out a strength you never knew you had. The stories in this book are no exception. But there are ordinary triumphs, too. Vietnam veterans rediscovering their dignity and coming to terms with a haunting past; father and son learning to communicate for the first time after years of estrangement; a radio disc jockey fired from his first job and rebounding to establish a Hall of Fame career. These things -- from the seemingly small to the overwhelming -- make up life as we know it. Exploring The Meaning Of Life Former newspaper reporter turned columnist John H. Clark has a gift for getting people to open up about their lives, and with this second round of personal profile stories, he's woven a compelling tapestry of American life in "Heroes: Inside the Lives of Ordinary Americans Doing Extraordinary Things." These remarkably candid, highly personal reflections lead the reader on a journey to the heart of what it means to be a human in today's increasingly troubled world. The stories range from heartwarming to heart-wrenching, and lead one to examine the biggest question of all -- what is the real meaning of life?