Ambitions in scope, American Heroes details the earliest terrorism faced by the United States in the 1800s at the hands of the Barbary Pirates, the major terrorist group developments of the 1970s and 80s, and, most vividly, the post-9/11 Iraq War era. Most inspiringly, North's up-close field notes highlight the core values of today's American soldier in relation to the fight at hand.

First Sgt. Charles Monroe King keeps a journal for his newborn son while stationed overseas. His wife, the senior editor for the New York Times, relates the story of their relationship to their son as he grows up.