< p> Today, fear affects even the strongest of us. Sometimes it's immediate, caused by a sense of imminent danger-the kind we felt after terrorists destroyed the magnificent World Trade Center, tore a giant wound in the Pentagon and killed thousands of people. But sometimes fear becomes a normal way of life.< /p> < p> In his best-selling memoir < i> October Sky< /i> (aka < i> Rocket Boys< /i> ), Hickam introduced us to the rugged town of his youth, Coalwood, West Virginia, and the people who took on the hazardous and often brutal enterprise of coal mining. To survive and prosper, these people relied on an approach to living that would get them through hard times with an almost unnatural resilience. Over a lifetime, they learned to take on these attitudes: < /p> < div align="center"> < ul> < li> We are proud of who we are.< /li> < li> We stand up for what we believe.< /li> < li> We keep our families together.< /li> < li> < div align="center"> We trust in God but rely on ourselves.< /div> < /li> < /ul> < /div> < div align="center"> < ul> < /ul> < /div> < p align="center"> These attitudes are summed up in the Coalwood Assumption: < /p> < div align="center"> < ul> < li> WE ARE NOT AFRAID< /li> < /ul> < /div> < ul> < /ul> < p align="left"> Through poignant memories of his youth, best selling author Homer Hickam helps lead you beyond fear to find the courage and strength to live more happily and look toward to future with optimism.< /p>
