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"Listening is An Act of Love — A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project," Edited by Dave Isay (The Penguin Press, 281 pages,

$25).

Have you ever heard the StoryCorps segments that have been broadcast on the National Public Radio program "Morning Edition" over the last few years?

The StoryCorps Project is the brainchild of radio producer David Isay. In 2003 Isay set up a recording booth at Grand Central Station in New York City. Ordinary people were invited to share their stories inside the booth.

A facilitator helps the people to make their recordings. We all have our stories to tell. The StoryCorps Project is preserving the unique stories of thousands of ordinary Americans.

Each session lasts 40 minutes. The participants receive copies of their recordings and if they agree to do so, a copy of their story is placed in the archives of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

In the past four years more than 10,000 recordings have been made. This milestone achievement is being observed with the publication of "Listening is An Act of Love —A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project."

The book contains a sampling of interviews that were made at Grand Central Station and in the mobile StoryCorps recording studios that traverse our nation's highways inside Airstream trailers.

These powerful stories were told by Americans from every imaginable background. Grandchildren interviewed their grandparents. Spouses interviewed one another. Friends had conversations about things they had never spoken about before. It is magical.

Some stories in the book are so poignant they brought me to tears. A grandson interviewed his grandmother about coming to live with her after his parents had abused him.

A son interviewed his birth mother about why she put him up for adoption when he was born. A retired NYPD detective explained why she left the force after 9/11. A woman described the experience of surviving a plane crash.

These are stories of love and loss and survival. They possess a majesty and a potency that goes right to the heart because they are so real.

Isay had idealistic motives for creating the StoryCorps Project. He believes "these interviews remind us that, contrary to what we might infer from the media, we are not just a nation of celebrity worship and consumption but, rather, a people defined by our character, courage and heart."

One man described his experience of escaping from the 105th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center after the first plane hit the North Tower.

These are stories that will stay with you forever. The storytellers aren't celebrities. They are just plain folks, people like you and me.

Isay tells the story of how StoryCorps was discovered by NPR. "Gary Covino, a producer from NPR ... happened to be driving through New York City and heard the piece. He called the station and picked it up for NPR's "All Things Considered."

Some of you might recall that many years ago Gary Covino worked for WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs. But that's a story for another time.

Book reviewer Vick Mickunas blogs daily about books at www.DaytonDailyNews.com/booknook . Contact him at vick@vickmickunas.com