The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose / Chris Wilson

RATINGS

Overall: 4/ 5 stars

Text Level: Easy

Entertainment: Medium

Self-Help: Medium

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, African American, Social Justice

Page Count: 424

Is this book right for me and my inmate?

Inmates wanting to learn goal setting techniques for future success inside and outside of jail will find this book useful.

Buy on: Amazon

Review By: Blackbird (Inmate)

A true story of planning to spend life in prison, to planning a life of success.

It doesn't matter what they have done to us. It doesn't matter what they do. We can change ourselves. We can break the cycle. All we need is a chance."

Summary/review: Reading this book I was struck by the idea of what I would do if I was given a life sentence and where I would try to go mentally from there. I think anyone serving a long prison sentence has probably experienced very similar feelings to the author of this book who found himself serving life of a murder he committed as a teenager. Do you give up? Do you try to make something out of the years you have, even if they will all be probably behind bars. The urge to give up and lose hope for a successful future is something we must all choose not to take.

Author Chris Wilson shares his story of being sentenced to life in prison for murder to being realised and building a lasting organization that works to give back to the communities he once harmed. He talks openly about his master plan to findings success and hopefully fulfillment as a key factor for his growth as a man. His plan is a mix of spiritual, educational, emotional, person and professional goals. One important factor I noticed as I read this book and his list of goals was that much of his plan were ideas and things anyone could strive for even if they are not currently incarcerated.

An important part of the goal lists he shares are how they evolve and adapt as life changes. His earlier plans from years ago show how he was driven by materialism and items that led him to prison in the first place. The more he has matured and grown as a man the more his plan for success has adapted to meeting the needs of all those around him as well. This really spoke to me. For a very long time so many of my own goals were driven by selfish materialistic needs that even if achieved I felt unfulfilled. Once I began to better understand myself my plans for a future that I believe is successful has come into view. This book was a great reminder of the journey we are all on and the reflection needed to meet goals. I would give this book yo anyone wanting a great story of hope and planning key areas of life to build a future.

Book Quotes

"It's the action, not just the reward. It's being the artist, not just admiring this view. That's the endgame."