Courage Is Contagious [Hardcover]

John Kasich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 1998

Like Profiles in Courage, written some forty years ago, Courage is Contagious is a remarkable book about everyday Americans helping to reshape America.  As a result of in-depth interviews conducted with people across the country, Congressman John Kasich profiles some twenty individuals who, through their own courage, resolve, and generous hearts, are working daily to improve the lives of their fellow neighbors and citizens.  They are, in Congressman Kasich's words, heroes for our time.  The sense of community and commitment they exhibit reflects the values we as a nation need to encourage and support if we are to end our country's divisiveness and fulfill her glorious promise.

Among the people we meet in the book are Eric and Bobby Krenzke, two young boys who, though diagnosed with a fatal hereditary illness, display the kind of courage, humor, and determination in the face of death that is nothing short of miraculous; Cheryl Krueger, who started a successful cookie company in Ohio that puts people ahead of profits by employing women who might not be given a chance by other companies; and Dr.  Jack McConnell, who, shocked by the poverty outside his Hilton Head community, organized over one hundred retired doctors, nurses, and dentists to start a free health clinic that now serves over ten thousand people and has inspired similar volunteer programs in other states.

As Congressman Kasich makes clear, the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make a difference are without number--the people he writes about in the book are just a few of those he personally has come to meet and know.

A beacon of light in a world too often pessimistic and distrustful, Courage is Contagious offers hope and inspiration to all who read it.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the opening story of Representative John Kasich's Courage Is Contagious, in which he discusses his friendship with Bobby and Eric Krenzke, two preadolescent boys whose lives were cut short by the rare neurological order dystonia, but who always faced their fates with dignity and calm. "Seeing Bobby was never a matter of sympathy or doing him a favor," writes the Republican representative from Ohio. "It was one of friendship. If any favors were done, in fact, he did them for me. In Washington, I inhabit a world of compromise; back home, Bobby reminded me what real courage is." Kasich also writes about the Krenzke brothers in order to spotlight the efforts of the Special Wish Foundation, and in the other 16 profiles in this book he focuses on other people who are making a difference in the lives of fellow human beings because they sincerely believe it's the right thing to do. From Amber Coffman, a teenage girl who organized a program to provide the homeless with sandwiches, to Albert Lexie, a shoeshine man who has worked his trade at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh two days a week for nearly 20 years and donated almost $40,000 in the tips he's made there), the accounts in Courage Is Contagious are a uniformly inspiring work of human-interest journalism.

Review

This book is about some of my heroes--

These heroes don't hold public office.  In most cases, they're not well known outside the communities where they live and work.

They are people who bring life and hope to the aged, the homeless, the helpless, the sick and dying.  They do God's work on this earth--

At heart, this book is a celebration, not only of the people I write about, but of millions of others who are doing good work.  But we must not just sit back and applaud these heroes.  We need to join them--

If we want a better America we have to roll up our sleeves and make it happen.  This book is about people who are doing that, setting a standard, showing us the way.  I hope you enjoy meeting them.  More importantly, I hope they move you to action.  We can all be heroes if we only have the courage to try.
--John Kasich

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (October 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385491476
• ISBN-13: 978-0385491471
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,893,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The son of a mailman, John Kasich (rhymes with Basic) grew up in a blue collar neighborhood in McKee's Rocks, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. Like many Americans his values were shaped by a childhood rooted in faith, family, community and common sense.

At age 18 John chose to move 180 miles to the west to attend The Ohio State University, and after graduating he chose to make his mark in Ohio.

Known for his straightforward style and boundless energy, John was elected to the Ohio State Senate at the age of 26 and to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 30.

As a nine-term Congressman, John played major leadership roles in a variety of groundbreaking achievements. Driven by a belief that government shouldn't live beyond its means, John worked as Chairman of the House Budget Committee to construct the plan that balanced the federal budget for the first time since man first walked on the moon. At first the naysayers said it couldn't be done, then they said it shouldn't be done, then they said it wouldn't be done. But John, working with a team of other leaders, proved them all wrong. Together they balanced the budget, provided for the largest government surplus our country has ever seen, and opened the door for an era of tremendous job growth and prosperity.

An advocate of personal responsibility, John chaired the historic congressional conference committee that overhauled the welfare system. Building on his commitment to limited government, John also championed defense reform and the elimination of wasteful government spending by effectively building coalitions with members on both sides of the aisle.

John's leadership, accomplishments and vision for America led Newsweek magazine to name him one of its "100 people for the 21st century" But instead of seeking a 10th congressional term, John decided to remain in Westerville with his wife Karen and twin daughters Emma and Reese, and has pursued new challenges and experiences outside of Washington.

As a business leader John has worked to understand what makes businesses successful, and has helped companies in a wide variety of industries nationwide to grow, invest for the future and create jobs.

His leadership in Washington and his ability to communicate powerfully and effectively have given John a broad platform to shape public opinion as a commentator, appearing on virtually every major network and cable news show. He has also hosted a national weekly news show called "Heartland with John Kasich," which allowed him to provide a uniquely Midwestern perspective to news from around the nation and world.

John has lectured on college campuses across the country, challenging students with a message that emphasizes the importance of hard work, ethics and values.

Currently, John is a running to become Ohio's next Governor.

Additionally, John is a two-time New York Times bestselling author. Most recently, he penned Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul. Praised by the likes of Bono, George Stephanopoulos and Elie Wiesel, Stand for Something directly addresses how we can overcome the erosion of the long-standing, hard-earned values upon which our nation is built. John has also authored Courage is Contagious, a book which highlights the stories of ordinary Americans who have taken amazing measures to make a difference for their communities and our country.

Like the people John writes about, his entire career has been about making a difference.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrating Everyday American Heroes, December 4, 2000

By 

MICHAEL L. OBRIEN (Greater Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courage Is Contagious (Hardcover)

In "Courage is Contagious," Republican Ohio Congressman - and author - John Kasich presents short stories of U.S. citizens who have performed extraordinarily to improve their communities and the lives of others. As Kasich says, "The most wonderful thing about the heroes in this book is that they are really just ordinary people who one day decided to act."

Congressman Kasich devotes sixteen chapters in his book to stories celebrating everyday American heroes. The book contains narratives aided with in-depth interviews that make the material lively and compelling.

Here are a few excerpts from the book's short story chapters: A selfless Maryland mother and daughter feed scores of homeless people each week in "The Happy Helpers."

"Something Had To Be Done" chronicles the story of a compassionate woman in New York who works to save the lives of children born with AIDS.

In "A Lump in the Throat," a restless retired physician recruits other medical professionals to treat people who do not have health insurance coverage.

Set in World War II Poland, "A Whisper From Above," recounts the courage of a teenage Polish Catholic girl (now an American citizen) who faced the horrors of the Nazis, and saved some lives of Jewish people.

"Courage is Contagious - Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the Face of America" is motivational, inspirational, and thought provoking. The book is relevant for everyone to learn what we can achieve as individuals in helping others and reshaping our communities.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Kasich answers the question "What can one person do?", April 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Courage Is Contagious (Hardcover)

In Courage is Contagious, John Kasich answers the age old question - "What can one person do to make a difference?" In each chapter, John talks about a person who "dreamed things that never were and said 'Why not?'" Each chapter tells about someone who felt they could no longer let things stay as they are. That person went out and did something to make a difference. It doesn't matter if it was Albert Lexie donating over $40,000 worth of tips from shining shoes to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh's Free Care Fund or Irene Gut Opdyke's saving Jews during the Holocaust. In each case, one person decided they could not accept things as they were and they did all they could to change our society for the better.

John Kasich shows just how much we all could do if we just tried.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to make our world just a little better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Book About Extraordinary People, August 18, 2000

By 

Erin O. (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Courage Is Contagious (Hardcover)

"This book is about heroes..." That is how Congressman John Kasich begins his book "Courage is Contagious" Indeed Kasich's book is filled with profiles of extraordinary Americans who take it upon themselves to help others. The Americans profiled in Kasich's easy reading book could be your neighbor, co-worker, or even you. Their profiles tell the stories of everyday people who take the time to help others, display unquestionable amounts of courage, and provide an inspiration to those who meet them.

Kasich's profiles include stories of Geoffrey Canada (author of Fist Stick Knife Gun) who crusades against violence, brothers Eric and Bobby Krenzke who suffer from a hereditary illness yet triumph in their life, a young girl who provides lunches for the homeless, a retired doctor who provides medical services to people who otherwise could not afford medical care, a holocaust survivor shares with younger generations the tragedy of World War II, and many other stories of courage that will hopefully inspire and make you want to share this book with others.

If you enjoyed this book "Heroes After Hours" written by David C. Forward is another excellent book profiling volunteers and programs that seem to succeed.