Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Book Review: The Hero Handbook, Liz Stillwaggon Swan

Heroism Science

The Hero Handbook, authored by Matt Langdon, offers an informative and practical guide for heroism for both preadolescent readers and adults. The book includes numerous personal anecdotes from his own hero journey and countless references to children’s literature. Each chapter includes “Check Out the Science!” insets written by psychologist Brian Riches, who explains in simple terms the neuroscience underlying various concepts related to heroism. Topics include the hero’s journey, bullying and anti-bullying, the active bystander, and the science of becoming a hero.