MALVERN, Pa. -- Christopher McDougall, the international best-selling author of “Born to Run,” will discuss his latest book “Natural Born Heroes: How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16 in Musser Auditorium, Conference Center Building, at Penn State Great Valley. Just as “Born to Run” inspired readers to get off the treadmill, out of their shoes, and into the natural world, “Natural Born Heroes” will inspire them to leave the gym and take their fitness routine to nature — to climb, swim, skip, throw and jump their way to their own heroic feats.

In this inspirational talk, McDougall will describe how after running an ultramarathon through the Copper Canyons of Mexico he became fascinated by an amazing story set in the mountains of Crete, where a band of resistance fighters in World War II plotted the daring abduction of a German general from the heart of the Nazi occupation. He will describe how, at the birthplace of classical Greek heroism, he discovered the tools of the hero-natural movement, extraordinary endurance, and efficient nutrition. All of these skills, McDougall learns, are still practiced in far-flung pockets throughout the world today. More than a mystery of remarkable people and cunning schemes, “Natural Born Heroes” is a fascinating investigation into the lost art of the hero, taking us from the streets of London at midnight to the beaches of Brazil at dawn; from the mountains of Colorado to McDougall's own backyard in Pennsylvania — all places where modern-day athletes are honing ancient skills so they're ready for anything.Trained as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, McDougall covered wars in Rwanda and Angola before writing “Born to Run.” His fascination with the limits of human potential led him to create the Outside magazine web series, "Art of the Hero." “Born to Run” is currently being made into a feature film starring Matthew McConaughey.Copies of “Natural Born Heroes” will be available for sale and signing at the event.

Although free and open to the public, tickets are required to attend the event and can be obtained at http://heroespsgv.eventbrite.com.