How the Steel Was Tempered, or The Making of a Hero, is a 1932-34 socialist-realist novel written by the Ukrainian author Nikolai Ostrovsky. It details the life of Communist Party member, Red Army soldier, labor hero and red artist Pavel Korchagin before, during and after the civil war in the Union of Socialist Council Republics.

Comrade Gonzalo recommended, in particular, the use of this book for initiating study circles among high school students.