During World War II, a diverse group of resistance fighters, led by British author and philhellene Patrick Leigh Fermor, achieves something unthinkable in Crete: they kidnap the German General Kreipe, shattering his image as the "Butcher of Crete," the "Wolf of Hitler," and his murderous staff.

Christopher MacDougall embarks on a journey to follow in the footsteps of these men throughout Crete and discover how they managed to escape from a powerful war machine, surviving in adverse conditions. Through his research into the Cretan way of life, he uncovers ancient techniques of resilience, nutrition, and physical movement that still survive to this day. His quest leads him to the rooftops of London and Brooklyn, and to the beaches of Brazil and the streets of modern cities.

Drawing from the example of the brave fighters of Crete, the "Born Heroes" will inspire you to reconsider what you believed about physical and mental resilience - they will motivate you to run, climb, swim, and discover the hero within you.