Product Description

In Character is Destiny, McCain tells the stories of celebrated historical figures and lesser-known heroes whose values exemplify the best of the human spirit. He illustrates these qualities with moving stories of triumph against the odds, righteousness in the face of iniquity, hope in adversity, and sacrifices for a cause greater than self-interest. The tributes he pays here to men and women who have lived truthfully will stir the hearts of young and old alike, and help prepare us for the hard work of choosing our destiny.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #423990 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-25
• Released on: 2005-10-25
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 9.53" h x 1.13" w x 8.24" l, 1.66 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. As in last year's Why Courage Matters, McCain's latest volume uses biography as an illustration of virtue, but this time the senator broadens his palette significantly, telling 34 stories of heroes whose lives embody qualities ranging from honesty and loyalty to curiosity and enthusiasm. At the root of them all, he says, is a willingness to stay true to one's conscience against all challenges. Thus martyrs appear prominently, from Thomas More and Joan of Arc to Edith Cavell and Father Maximilian Kolbe, as do military heroes, including Pat Tillman, the pro football player whose love of country led him to enlist in the army shortly after 9/11. But the pantheon is inclusive enough to hold Aung San Suu Kyi and Gandhi alongside Churchill and Eisenhower. Although he is reaching out to a younger readership, McCain's plain but sincere language does not condescend to his audience. He makes occasional oblique references to his experiences as a prisoner of war—describing, for example, how they reinforce his understanding of Victor Frankl's concept of dignity—but the only chapter centered on his ordeal highlights a furtive moment of kindness from a Vietnamese soldier. Amid much speculation concerning his plans for 2008, McCain has made a declaration of values that liberals can embrace as readily as conservatives.
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From AudioFile
Here is a series of stories that illuminate such virtues as courage, integrity, enthusiasm, and loyalty. A person who epitomizes each virtue is profiled, and his or her story is told. McCain's narration, although a bit didactic in tone, has a grandfatherly quality, and if listeners are ready to learn the moral, they'll be treated to a well-told story. Pat Tillman's, Mother Teresa's, and Oseola McCarty's are a few stories that are told. McCain speaks from experience when he tells his own story and urges listeners to use these people as models for character and follow their paths. Young adults are encouraged to listen; however, adults will be more receptive. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About the Author
After a career in the U.S. Navy and two terms as a U.S. representative, John McCain was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and reelected in 1992 and
1998. He and his wife, Cindy, reside in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mark Salter has worked on Senator McCain's staff for more than 15 years. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, Diane, and their two daughters.