Courage Is Contagious

{{Short description|1998 book by John Kasich}}{{Infobox book

| image = CourageIsContagious.jpg

| author = John Kasich

| pub_date = 1998

| publisher = Doubleday

}}

{{italic title}}

Courage Is Contagious is a 1998 book by Ohio Governor (then-Representative) John Kasich.

Courage Is Contagious is often compared to the 1957 book Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy, then a United States Senator planning to run for president, profiled acts of political heroism by eight United States Senators.{{cite news|last1=Squitieri|first1=Tom|title=The courage of their convictions 'Quiet heroes' roll up their sleeves and set an example (book review)|work=USA Today|date=28 January 1999}} Kasich wrote Courage Is Contagious as a United States Representative contemplating running for the Presidency, which he did in the early Republican Party presidential primaries, 2000.{{cite news|last1=Connolly|first1=Ceci|title=Kasich Launches Exploratory Panel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/kasich011499.htm|accessdate=20 January 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=14 January 1999}} In contrast with Kennedy's book, Kasich's book describes the lives of ordinary Americans who perform extraordinary feats of public service.

Kasich says that he wrote the book after being asked by a conservative think tank to write a book about government budgets but decided to write a more inspirational book instead.{{cite news|last1=Lowe|first1=Roger|title=Kasich Book Highlights Heroes|publisher=Columbus Dispatch|date=26 October 1998}} The book highlights the surging popularity of volunteering in charitable and civic improvement activities of all kinds.{{cite news|last1=Crowley|first1=Elizabeth|title=More Young People Turn Away From Politics And Concentrate Instead on Community Service|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=16 June 1999}}{{cite news|last1=Harwood|first1=John|title=Rep. Kasich, Changing Gears After Budget Pact, Struggles to Define a New 'Mission' for the GOP|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=26 November 1997}}

Royalties from the book were donated to fund the work of the men and women who Kasich had profiled.{{cite news|last1=owe|first1=Roger|title=Kasich's Heros Begin Getting Royalties Profiles in Giving|publisher=Columbus Dispatch|date=4 July 2000}}

Courage Is Contagious was a New York Times bestseller in November and December 1998.{{cite news|title=Hardcover Independents & Chains Bestsellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/22/bsp/nonfictioncompare.html|accessdate=20 January 2016|work=The New York Times|date=22 November 1998}}{{cite news|title=Hardcover Bestsellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/98/12/06/bsp/besthardnonfiction.html|accessdate=20 January 2016|work=The New York Times|date=6 December 1998}}{{cite news|title=Hardcover Bestsellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/22/bsp/besthardnonfiction.html|accessdate=20 January 2016|work=The New York Times|date=22 November 1998}}{{cite news|title=Kasich Set to Speak Trade Conference|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=13 December 2005}}