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

Christopher McDougall embarks on a journey to follow the footsteps of these men across Crete and to find out how they managed to escape from an all-powerful war machine, surviving under adverse conditions. Through his research into the lifestyle of the Cretans, he discovers ancient techniques of endurance, nutrition, and natural movement that survive to this day. His quest leads him to the rooftops of London and Brooklyn, ultimately ending on the beaches of Brazil and the streets of modern cities.

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