Alienation and disconnection from a sense of community can be a way of life for denizens of big cities. We cultivate isolation as self-preservation amidst the throng. The helping of others is largely left to professionals and institutions. Identification with community is through pseudo-bonding at entertainment or professional sports events. One wonders what became of the rural and small-town values that once informed our lives.

It was a happy revelation, then, to discover that Hometown Heroes - A Celebration of Community Spirit is full of stories of "regular folks" on a Puget Sound island who in largely unassuming and unsung ways have made their community a better place to live. The book tells the stories of 51 people who, young or old, conservative or progressive, affluent or impecunious, educated or self-taught, Whidbey lifers or urban refugees, have contributed of themselves to elevate the lives of those around them. 

I am ordinarily dubious about books featuring collections of local luminaries because they are sometimes glorified vanity press or simply drumbeats for boosterism. There is nothing of that in this book. From the former lawyer who lives in an old train caboose as the "conductor of fun" to the guy who runs his hardware store like a social agency to the couple—he a retired symphonic violinist who uses his woodworking skills for the benefit of the local arts center and she who uses her organizing skills to protect the local environment and to advocate for the downtrodden—these are real people doing real good.

Hometown Heroes assigns its subjects into one of six categories: family, friends, leaders, neighbors, protectors, and teachers. I read about one person every day and found that it gave me a feeling of community that I don't ordinarily experience. I am not in the people-are-basically-good camp, but reading this book affirmed my belief that it's the many good people in the world who keep it habitable. The book is written well and the layout makes it easy and pleasant to read, I could tell you more about this non-profit effort of chronicling everyday heroes, but you could buy the book and get the good feelings first-hand.

Minnesota resident who purchased book online