In Character Is Destiny we meet:

- Pat Tillman, whose patriotism obliged him to leave the riches and celebrity of the NFL for a soldier's life in defense of his country
- Empress Theodora of Byzantium, whose courage shamed her husband and his court into defending their faith and civilization
- Winston Churchill, who, in a renowned eighteen-word remark, counseled schoolboys to "never give up"
- the Catholic priest in Auschwitz who offered to take a condemned man's place
- a nun, formerly a comfortable Beverly Hills housewife, who works with prisoners in Mexico's worst jails
- George Washington, whose wisdom and hard-earned self-control helped him survive the chaos of war.

These are just a few of the heroes of exemplary character whose portraits McCain offers here. With Character Is Destiny," John McCain" interprets Shakespeare's immortal advice, "To thine own self be true," as an eloquent restatement of the golden rule andthe very definition of integrity. The tributes he pays here to men and women who have lived truthfully will stir the hearts of young and old alike, and help prepare us for the hard work of choosing our destiny.