From Cory Booker's fire rescue to Lena Dunham's nude scenes, moments of courage from members of our annual list
See The Atlantic's complete 2012 Brave Thinkers list.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.
Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, a former senior editor at The Atlantic, is now a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.