From Thug to Scholar: An Odyssey to Unmask My True Potential - Paperback

by James Arthur Williams (Author), Amy Shelby (Editor)

This is an odyssey about failure, rejection, redemption, and triumph where I had to rise above religion and embrace God's true gift, a relationship. My path might be different than yours, but our barriers are all the same. I chased successes that were based off of manmade ideals, so I sought money, fame, acceptance, love, and respect from others; instead of probing inward and seeing my hidden self. This is a book about our odyssey to unmask to our true potentials, so we can express godly love and die to categorical (i.e., race, income-level, sexual preferences, age, and etc.) beliefs. My categorical death aroused me to unmask from a confused thug to an enlightened scholar. "Dr. Williams is most certainly a teacher. I think his story and the messages throughout this book have something to teach everyone. Specifically, Williams writes his life story with an instructional, yet emotional tone that compels the reader to empathize with struggling youth. I can feel his passion to liberate young people who are on the good boy vs. bad boy fence from subcultural bondage. I found myself fascinated with William's childhood antics, which probably seemed simple to adults but were intensely complicated and profound for Williams and his peers. Young Williams lived a parallel existence that was sad, inspiring, hopeful, and humorous at times. I'm so thankful he survived and thrived and has articulated his discoveries and evolution toward peace in this thoughful book. Every teacher, every parent, every pastor, and every youth counselor should read this true life account of one man's contemporary "odyssey" toward fulfillment " Jody Cantrell Dyer, author of The Eye of Adoption