Book excerpt: Heroes are people who are bigger than life. They are the men and women of action, with great thoughts, nerves of steel and have made personal sacrifices to initiate change. Heroes are the models we put up to our children as the people to be like and act like. The definition of a modern hero is not just some great general or statesman (although they certainly are part of our contemporary pantheon) but also men and women who have influenced society, changed its views, sought to make the world a better place, entertained us or made us laugh and even, gave their lives for their ideals and their values. Our heroes are men and women from all walks of life, from around the world, who through science, politics, war, letters, music, sports and the media stood above even the best of us. They often speak to us directly and indirectly about the things that are most important in our lives and they challenge us to be like them, to follow them, to act like them and ultimately to respect them-even if we do not always agree with them. Many of the heroes in this book are household names, some are from other generations, but without them, our lives would be significantly different.