Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and the Redemption in an American Prison

Now in paperback, the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling story of a man who went from being a convicted murderer to becoming a lecturer at the University of Michigan, a mentor and motivational speaker at conferences like TED and Aspen Ideas, a leading voice for criminal justice reform, and an inspiration to thousands.

Shaka Senghor was raised in Detroit during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic. An honour roll student and a natural leader, he had dreams of becoming a doctor–but at age 11, his parents’ marriage began to unravel and the beatings from his mother worsened, sending him on a downward spiral that saw him end up in prison for murder at the age of 19, fuming with anger and despair.

Writing My Wrongs is the story of what came next. During his 19-year incarceration, 7 of which were spent in solitary confinement, Senghor discovered literature, meditation, and self-examination, tools that he used to confront the demons of his past, forgive the people who hurt him, and begin atoning for the wrongs he had committed. Upon his release at age 38, Senghor became an activist and mentor to young men and women facing circumstances like his. In equal parts, Writing My Wrongs is a page-turning portrait of life in the shadow of violence and fear; an unforgettable redemption story, reminding us that our worst deeds don’t define us; and a compelling witness to our country’s need for change in how it approaches crime, prison, and the men and women who are sent there.