Not All Heroes Wear Capes by Ben Brooks is a book that shines a light on other people and their achievements, while simultaneously nudging the reader along in their thinking – what can you do? Show
As the title suggests, this is not a book about superheroes, though comparisons are made, nor is it (necessarily) a book about famous people, though they are mentioned. We are brought the stories of people like Ellen McArthur, Sir Captain Tom Moore, and Ivan Fernandez Anaya, who may be more well known, and we learn about lesser-known names who have made a difference. These short biographies are presented in a comic book style, making their stories accessible and engaging. Throughout the book, readers are asked to think about themselves, such as making a list of their dreams. We are asked: what are you already good at? What are you grateful for? Who are you grateful to? What are your strengths? All of this is geared at helping us become more aware of what heroism could be – making a difference. The book is not preachy but encouraging. It emphasises the twin powers of knowledge and kindness. If we can promote just those two things, we are doing well. Not All Heroes Wear Capes would be an excellent book to use in PSHE sessions, enabling children to think positively about themselves and what they can achieve. The gentle questions and prompts throughout will help them (and all of us) to realise that to be a hero, we do not have to change the whole world, but if we can change our little part of it, be that a home or a classroom, or a community, we are doing something worthwhile. This review was written by Stephen Connor  When not reading, I will be running, or walking around the Lake District. Copyright: Just Imagine Story Centre Ltd 2012-2022. All rights reserved. Spder-man, Deadpool, Captain America and Iron ManSajid Khan Sajid KhanConsultant Occupational PhysicianPublished May 17, 2021 There is a common meme that states "Not all heroes wear capes" to highlight the fantastic work carried out by certain people e.g. acts of charity, healthcare workers or those fighting an illness. This short article is not to take anything away from those groups or the sentiment, but to question the basis of using bad science and non facts to form our opinions. The principle of the meme relies on all Superheroes wearing capes, they have to, otherwise the statement is really just repeating an obvious fact. However, the reality is that cape wearers are the minority of superheroes, one online investigation actually calculated it at roughly 25%. I have given examples from Marvel to keep it simple, but DC has a very similar proportion. It is certainly not a figure that you can use as your foundation to then talk about the surprising heroics of non-cape wearers. But the meme works because when you think of a superhero, you think of cape wearers like Superman or Batman and those examples completely skew our focus. Having a couple of prominent examples should not lead us to making anything a rule. If your basis is not solid then everything built on top, including every opinion and assumption, will sit on a sugar pedestal. It is as true in medicine as it is in life. We have seen this on both sides of the Covid debates, from those peddling fear and those peddling conspiracy theories. If you want to see fear outgrow science, just watch someone wearing a facemask in their own car or on Zoom (I have had two virtual consultations with people wearing facemasks, on their own, in a room). People talk about doing things with evidence as justification or "evidence based practice", but in life very few people use evidence unless it suits their view. Humans, in the main, are just not cut out to be "evidence based". This includes people of "science" and people of "faith". I do wonder if scientists are the new priests, where people stop questioning and thinking for themselves, simply relying on the appointed ones being right because we are not worthy? Let me give an example of someone with a very different background to me, but whose quest for evidence I have to admire. I have never had an affinity for Theology, (despite a former Archbishop of Canterbury being a friend), no surprise there, but my favourite YouTube channel has become Blogging Theology. Who knew? In it Paul Williams, a Theology graduate and Christian scholar, examines Theological subjects and controversies but uses the basis of strongest evidence. It is fascinating to watch him in action. I don't have to agree with everything he says to appreciate his willingness to base his opinions on the most solid evidence and change his opinion if required. Plus, he has a wonderful calming academic nature about him. We all love to think that the medical world is similarly evidence based, but just looking at the resistance to debate and resistance to changing perceived wisdom, suggests doctors are no different to anyone else. Some will be evidence based at all times, but I am not sure they are the majority. To disprove the original point further, there are probably a similar proportion of Super-villains as there are Superheroes who wear capes, compared to non-cape wearers. Making the wearing of a cape completely unrelated to heroism. I have not studied the figures in enough detail to give you the true positive predictive value of wearing a cape and being a hero, but roughly if cape wearing is the Test and being a hero is the Outcome, then the PPV of a cape wearer being a hero is 50%, with a sensitivity of 25%, i.e. the chances of a hero being a cape wearer. So remember, Not all Heroes Wear Capes. In fact, only a few do, and lots of villains do too. ps left to right is Dr Doom, Magneto, Mysterio and Loki
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