American Spirit: Profiles in Resilience, Courage, and Faith

By Taya Kyle and Jim DeFelice

The "American Sniper" legacy continues: Taya Kyle celebrates the American Spirit in her inspiring new book

Life leads us through difficult terrain. But what happens if you use challenge as an opportunity to discover your PURPOSE? These Americans did and are changing the world. 

After losing her husband, "American Sniper" Chris Kyle, bestselling author Taya Kyle entered a period of deep grief. And yet the experience served as a catalyst for profound growth. Taya found her own reserve of strength with the help of the generous love and support of family and friends—and also many strangers across America, who selflessly shared their own stories of suffering, survival, and triumph. Inspired by her experience, Taya discovered her calling: spreading a message of how love, passion, and service can combine to help us persevere over personal pain and heal our communities.

Working with trusted collaborator Jim DeFelice (coauthor of American Sniper and American Wife), Taya tells her own story, as well as those of other Americans who have built extraordinary lives after traveling down life’s most difficult roads—through loss, illness, all manner of setback. They embody the “American spirit” of resilience, faith, togetherness that has built the nation.

American Spirit profiles more than 30 individuals, young and old, rich and not-so-rich, famous and unknown, who have overcome hardship and done extraordinary things for their communities and for the nation at large. The 9/11 survivor, badly burned over 60% of his body, who asked himself What debt do I owe to God? And to my fellow human beings? What am I supposed to do with this miracle of survival? The man with the hole in his heart who runs ultramarathons. The young cancer victim whose lemonade stand inspired a revolutionary new model for fighting cancer. The blind cyclist; the pastor who became an undercover investigator, and more.

In the end, these stories teach us how to find purpose and heal the world, no matter the difficulty. “Every action, big or small,” Taya writes, “has the potential to spark someone else’s movement.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Apr 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9780062683731

Taya Kyle

Taya Kyle is executive director of the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation. Chris and Taya’s story was the subject of Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster film American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. She is a featured speaker on the Patriot Tour, with Marcus Luttrell, David Goggins, and Chad Fleming. Taya is the New York Times bestselling author of American Wife. She lives in Texas.

Reviews for American Spirit

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was supposed to be read and reviewed as part of the Early Reviewers program. However, I never received a copy of this book to review. I have read and enjoyed "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle and "American Wife" by his wife Taya Kyle so I really wanted to read this one as well. I found it through my public library and am very glad I made the effort to do so. This book introduces the reader to more than thirty people who have done so much for their communities, both local and worldwide. Their stories are inspirational, truly encompassing the "American Spirit," the title of this book. This is the perfect book for those of us tiring of all of the negative news on TV and want something positive to counterbalance it. This is the perfect book for school libraries due to the positive role models featured. After the loss of her husband, Taya Kyle continues to do wonderful things.