Extraordinary People Library

Captain Courageous
Michael Perham has done something that no other 14-year-old has ever done. He has single-handedly sailed a boat across the Atlantic Ocean. The entire trip took about six weeks. Find out all about it.
A BRICK Awards Special
The BRICK Awards - dubbed the Oscars® of youth service awards by CNN - honor, fund and celebrate young people who are working to make our world a better place. Check out this year's winners and find out the amazing things they've done to help people all around the globe.
Marshall Brain: HowStuffWorks-er
He writes many of the articles you read here and online at the Express Web site and the HowStuffWorks Web site. In fact, you see his face on page three of every issue of Express. And you might have even seen him appearing on television on CNN Headline News, Modern Marvels, the National Geographic Channel and Oprah. But why is that? Find out more about Marshall Brain.
Eco-adventurer
Imagine hitting the road for an eight-month adventure in search of gas alternatives and the cool vehicles that use them. Shaun Murphy did just that and he documented it all in the exciting TV show, "Cool Fuel Roadtrip." Learn more from Shaun's interview.
Math Musician
Graphs are great at making difficult concepts easier to understand. To do this, they communicate information visually. But not everyone can see a graph. Dr. Robert Shelton has solved this dilemma with MathTrax. Find out how.
All Hands on Deck: Phil Black
Who would ever think that an impromptu card game could lead to an incredibly fun, yet viable fitness program? Phil Black, that's who. Find out how this former Navy SEAL added "inventor" to his list of accomplishments by developing FitDeck® and FitDeck Jr.® Find out more about Phil Black.
Ben's Game
When the Make-A-Wish Foundation® approached Ben Duskin about granting his wish, he was thinking of more than just his own wishes. He wanted to help other kids with cancer, too. Find out how Ben, with the help of Eric Johnston, created "Ben’s Game."
Katie Koczynski
A commercial for luge tryouts during the 1994 Winter Olympic Games changed Katie’s life. Already an avid athlete -– having participated in soccer, lacrosse, track and ice-skating –- Katie decided to try luge. From there she quickly found her way to the sport of skeleton. Find out more about Katie's story.
George Pocheptsov
A vivid imagination can be incredible inspiration. It’s obvious that George Pocheptsov’s imagination inspires his artwork. Filled with bold, bright colors, people, animals, angels and even monsters, George’s paintings seem to celebrate family, relationships, nature and life in general.
Adam Ernst
Face it, school is a lot of work – for you and your teacher! All of the class work, homework, quizzes and tests you work on has to be planned, created, given and then graded by the teacher. See how Adam Ernst is helping ease some teacher’s workloads all around the world.
Andrea Richards
The last time you were hunkered down in front of the big screen, maybe you were thinking, "Wow, I wish I could make a movie!" If so, you’re in luck. Andrea Richards tells you how to do just that in her book, Girl Director: A How-To Guide for the First-Time Flat-Broke Film Maker.
Gregory Smith
The name Gregory Smith sounds ordinary, but as it turns out, Gregory Smith is anything but ordinary. With three Nobel Peace Prize nominations and the National Caring Award under his belt, we think Mr. Smith is quite extraordinary.
Stephen Hillenburg
Who lives with his wife and son who’s also a fan? Artistic, happy and talented is this clever man! If a successful and fun life is something you seek, read about how Stephen Hillenburg did it and study hard every week!
Brittany Clifford
At the young age of 11, Brittany Clifford founded a charitable organization called "Fuzzy Feet." Since then, she's brought comfort in the form of fun, fuzzy slippers to thousands of children. We talked to Brittany about her inspiring story.
Erik Weihenmayer
Eric Weihenmayer has climbed seven of the highest mountains on Earth, raced across Antarctica and earned a number of awards for athletic achievement. We took a look at his incredible story.
Kathy Conlan
Have you ever put on a mask and looked beneath the surface of the ocean? If so, you've had a tiny taste of what Kathy Conlan experiences when she goes for a dive in the iciest waters on Earth. Find out about this underwater explorer.
Roy Chapman Andrews
He was an adventurer in a hat trotting the globe looking for treasure in the first half of the 20th century. Sound familiar? Get the story of the real Indiana Jones.
Tim Berners-Lee
You probably haven't heard of Tim Berners-Lee, but you have undoubtedly heard of one of his creations: He helped invent the World Wide Web. Learn all about this remarkable mastermind.
Dr. Clarence Ellis
Clarence "Skip" Ellis grew up poor, in the tough neighborhoods of south Chicago. He went on to become the first African-American to hold a Ph.D. in computer science. Find out how this remarkable thinker made his dreams come true.
Julia Morgan
In a time when women of the upper class were expected to marry young and join "High Society," Julia Morgan studied civil engineering. She went on to become one of the most important women architects in history. Learn all about her fascinating life.