Heroes and Stories of Bravery

Join us in celebrating everyday heroes who risk their lives to help others and whose selfless acts and stories of bravery are sure to inspire.

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Inspiring Stories

Our everyday heroes risk their own lives to help people in trouble. They know that doing right by others is more rewarding than a big paycheck, and they do it without expectation of accolades or even a thank-you. That's part of what makes them so inspiring.

Meet Our Heroes

  1. November: Subway Rescue
  2. October: Braving the Inferno
  3. September: Hero on the Iowa River

Vote for Hero of the Year 2008


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A Legacy of Generosity
A Legacy of Generosity

Frugal farmers Ish and Arlene Hatch left behind a secret fortune -- and enriched their community forever.

Eight Celebrities Share What They've Learned
Eight Celebrities Share What They've Learned

Distinguished individuals reveal what they would like others to know.

Exculsive Extras: Wisdom of Celebrities Around the World
Exculsive Extras: Wisdom of Celebrities Around the World

Award-winning photographer Andrew Zuckerman traveled to seven countries, flew 65,000 miles, and drove 5,000 more, all in a quest to ask 50 distinguished individuals ages 65 years and older what they would like others to know.

  • The Latest in Heroes
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  • 1Help for Ethiopia's Children Must Read
    Watch a slide show of Dr. Rick Hodes in action and learn how to support his work.
  • 2Vote for Your 2008 Hero of the Year New
    This year, Reader's Digest celebrated 13 ordinary citizens who unexpectedly found themselves confronted with desperate situations--and acted. Their stories are retold here. Let us know who inspires you the most by voting in our Hero of the Year poll. Look for results online and in the April issue
  • 3Heroes: Subway Rescue Must Read
    With seconds separating them from an oncoming train, one man risked everything to save a woman he'd never met.
  • 4The Searcher: James Spring
    James Spring went looking for adventure. What he found: two little girls caught in a fractured family saga.
  • 5Heroes: Jim Grant Braves Inferno
    Jim Grant could have kept driving. Instead, he braved a burning building to save a family in danger.
  • 6Heroes of China's Earthquake
    On May 12, a major earthquake jolted southwestern China's Sichuan Province. Located 100 kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter, Juyuan Middle School collapsed immediately in its wake. See the school’s survivors and the heroes who risked everything to save them.

    To learn more and donate, visit the American Red Cross.
  • 7HEROES: Day-Care Drama
    A man with a gun, a roomful of screaming children—and a mom who wouldn't back down.
  • 8Out of the Wreckage
    A wave of tornadoes brings death, destruction—and selfless acts of bravery.
  • 9The Key Witness
    A cabdriver caught up in the Duke University rape case dares to tell the truth.

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Daily Tip

“ Colds and flu (along with most common infections) are caused by viruses, so antibiotics -- designed to kill bacteria -- won't do a thing. ”

Bonus Tip

“ When kids are sniffling, it's smart to keep common areas clean, but don't work too hard. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease found that rhinoviruses (cold germs) can only survive a maximum of three hours on inanimate objects and human skin. ”


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