By Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons, Viva Editions, $15.95, 240 pages

10With this Portland rain we all hold on to the hope that the sun will soon appear to lift our spirits. Before that sun arrives there is a way to provide your spirit with the infusion it needs. Read the book The Courage Companion: How to Live Life with True Power. A handy, compact book whose size belies the big impact its many stories hold within. These true stories of ordinary people who have acted with extraordinary courage encourage you to act with the same kind of strength. Each chapter begins with an inspiring quote that gives a brief preview to the 2-3 such stories to follow. These are examples of individuals who embody the word ‘courage.’ Discussed are individuals who have faced adversity with surprising resilience, have transformed hardships into admirable action, and have bravely left their comfort zones and risked moving into the unknown not to improve things for themselves but to improve the circumstances of others and the human condition in general.

This book would make a wonderful gift and would be easy to strongly encourage reading. This is a book that can be easily toted about for a quick excursion into encouragement. The stories can be read consecutively or contemplated on individually. This is a book that impacted me and I am quite certain it will do the same for you.

Reviewed by Rene Smith Sumpter