Mentoring Teenage Heroes The Hero's Journey of Adolescence

Matthew P. Winkler's viral TED-Ed lesson "What Makes a Hero?" introduced the Hero's Journey to millions of viewers. His debut book guides parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults toward a fresh understanding of adolescence as a heroic quest - a rite of passage as old as the ancient myths that metaphorically describe it. Those myths echo through contemporary books and movies and the real-world experience of growing up. For most adults, daily life is a routine grind. For teenagers, it’s an epic struggle for identity

Matthew P. Winkler has taught and mentored teenagers at middle schools, high schools, and colleges in New York, New England, China, and Japan. His TED-Ed video "What Makes a Hero?" snowballed into his first book Mentoring Teenage Heroes: The Hero's Journey of Adolescence. He currently leads workshops and gives presentations to students and adults all over the world. His work in the public and private sectors led to his podcast and forthcoming book The Cave You Fear.