The Nimitz List

On September 11, 2001, half a million people had to be evacuated from the island of Lower Manhattan by boats operated by civilians. This short film tells the true story of people rising up in the face of fear and uncertainty to come to the aid of others. It is freely available online. 

Noah’s autobiography details his life as a mixed race child in apartheid South Africa. He develops social and mental agility, using his fluency in languages to break down the barriers to his acceptance in a segregated society. This book is available in Nimitz Library.

This emotional true story exemplifies virtues including duty, honor, loyalty and courage. It tells the story of Ensign Jesse Brown, the first African American to graduate from Navy flight training. In the racially divided 1950s, Brown befriends a white fellow pilot, Thomas Hudner, and the pair's close relationship is tested by fire when Jesse's plane is shot down during the Korean War. This book is available in Nimitz Library, and a film adaptation is coming soon.

Senator Tammy Duckworth’s memoir tells of the many obstacles she has overcome. She shares the story of her life, from dodging bullets while evacuating Phnom Penh, through childhood hardship as a poor mixed race child in the U.S., to surviving the catastrophic RPG attack that ended her career as a helicopter pilot. This book is available in Nimitz Library.

Malala Yousafzai was a 15 year old girl living in Pakistan when she was shot in the face by the Taliban for standing up for her right to an education. In her memoir, Malala details her history, the attack and recovery, and how she was inspired by her experiences to become a globally recognized human rights activist fighting for women's education. This book is available in Nimitz Library. 

This classic and solemn epitome of holocaust education details the experience of Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist who survived several Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz. The book describes his experience, and also examines the collective psychological experiences shared by concentration camp prisoners. He argues that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to face and find meaning in it. This book is available in Nimitz Library.

This novel paints a powerful picture of the experiences of young Marines in Vietnam and the challenges of fighting a war they don't completely understand. This book is available in Nimitz Library. 

In this TED Talk, Dweck describes her concept of the “growth mindset," in which one believes talent can be developed, and takes on challenges and learns from them. She discusses her research, and the ways that her findings can be applied in real life. This video is freely available online.

In this recorded talk, Angela Duckworth describes her work on grit and self-control – why they’re important, how they develop over the lifespan, and how to build them. It is freely available online. 

This thrilling biography of Olympic track star and World War II veteran Louis Zamperini is an inspirational story that demonstrates the triumph of human will over inconceivable difficulties. Zamperini endures a prolonged period stranded at sea after his military aircraft crashes, only to be taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army and sent to a prison mine. Both the book and the 2014 film adaptation are available through Nimitz Library. 

Egan’s historical reporting focuses on the stories of a dozen families who lived in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. The book describes how they endured natural disasters, food shortages, and the loss of loved ones. It is available in Nimitz Library.