Excerpt: 'Heroes Among Us'

Dec. 30, 2008— -- In his new book, ABC News anchor John Quinones challenges readers to recognize the heroic work of ordinary Americans.

Read an excerpt of the book below.

Chapter Three

What Makes a Hero?

We're in the midst of a bad case of hero confusion. Sometimes it seems as if we worship people who haven't done much with their lives besides make themselves famous or rich or both. Entire magazines are devoted to fatuousness. Generally, the only heroes you read about are the ones who make the big plays.

The opposite is also true. There's a tendency these days to label everyone from the person who picks up after his dog to the mail carrier who arrives on time as a hero. The everyday heroes who take big risks get lost in the shuffle. I t happens a lot these days. But these special people deserve more.

There are plenty of ordinary folks doing extraordinary things. I n fact, today heroes are more likely to have committed small acts of kindness and selflessness. In many cases, the larger heroes of the past have failed us in the present.

There's a fascinating book titled The Hero, American Style, by a historian named Marshall Fishwick. I n it, he analyzes the different types of heroes Americans are drawn to. And he makes this insightful observation: "The hero is always a barometer to the national climate of opinion. Every hero mirrors the time and place in which he lives. He must reflect men's innermost hopes and beliefs in a public way."

Today, that reflection is not of amazing leaders and far-thinking businesspeople. There are few billionaires doing great works these days—although I want to give a loud shoutout to Bill Gates and his efforts to improve the lives of millions through disease prevention and improved schooling.But the reflection we see now is of everyday heroes. Having "smaller" heroes—people that you and I can relate to in a true way -- is not a bad thing. It's a good thing. A sign of how well our culture adapts.

We live in a time where huge institutions have lost their center. The government seems out of control. Our wars seem endless. T he corporations we once relied on for stability and a safe avenue into the future now change names and services in a heartbeat. Institutional loyalty seems like a thing from a fairy tale.