Customer Reviews

Redemption

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I do not believe I am in a position to decide if Mr. Williams' life should have been spared. As a teacher, however, I believe this book is a must read for all at risk teenagers. I have contact with 150 low level, at risk teens daily. It is difficult to get them interested in literature or to truly consider words of wisdom from an adult. This book, however, did both. My students were highly interested, and it provided a platform from which to discuss how youthful activities, affiliations, and choices impact one's future dramatically. I am grateful Mr. Williams has helped me reach my students who may be on a similar destructive life course.

I see many people writing a review on the man himself....how about a review about the BOOK? Very interesting read, well written, and truthful. The book was "look at me, I'm Tookie!", that's what a autobiography is all about....the author. If that's full of himself then I guess that's what it was, "full of himself" = "Autobiography!" Just because his life was full of violence, drugs, and other non-sense doesn't take away from the words, message, and premise of the book. He wrote the book to tell others about his life and how following in his footsteps will lead one to death row and eventually DEATH. I give the book 5 stars for it's honesty, message, and style that was, imo, very engaging.

I would recommend this story for any parent who has a child. This is an excellent story of
growing up, being in the gang life, and turning one's life around.

I just purchased several additional copies of this book for my nephews. This book (and everying written by Mr. Williams) is a primer for anyone trying to make it with children in an urban area. Getting a first hand perspective of gang life and its consequences certainly opened the eyes of this white suburban female. While I do not condone his actions his efforts to try to keep others from ending up where he did should be applauded. God bless you Stanley "Tookie" Williams and may you rest in peace with the angels.

This book was garbage. All he did was brag and boast about his life of crime; then, he had the audacity to venerate the Crips. Stanley should have changed his middle name from Tookie to Dookie and should have changed the name of the Crips to the Craps, because that is all this book is.

Being born and raised in LA proper, and not too far from where Mr. Williams grew up, I am amazed, intrigued and enlightened.

Stanley Tookie Williams accepted the consequences of his life as a gangster, and while he wanted to live, he met his death straight on. I do not idolize Williams, but I also do not think the world is better off with him gone. Gang membership and violence has increased tenfold and that will continue long after Tookie's death. There was social value to keeping him alive, and a resource for us to draw from to help combat this terrible problem. That was important. Tookie owed society an incredible debt for the lives that he took, and alive, he could have continued to pay that debt. Dead, he serves no purpose.

There are many many Stanley Tookie Williams on the streets, and many people who will meet them in the dark of the night, and in the light of day. We have to examine the disease, the river of darkness that pulls our children into this lifestyle and costs them their lives and the lives of innocents.

You do not fight anger with anger, nor violence with violence and win. The only outcome of that is more anger and more violence.

There is value in redemption. Remember that.

I've read so many opinions on redemption - I wonder if we really think unbiased about this topic prior to understanding it; because we need to. Redemption is something we strive for every day of our lives....and Stanley Tookie Williams was no exception - he was striving for redemption twofold - to redeem himself from the gangsta affiliation, which he achieved whilst in "the hole," and the striving towards redemption so long as we live and sin. He is truly redeemed now sitting at the right hand side of the Father; he completed his mission on earth; and that's what I focussed on when he was executed - murdered by the State of California - Tookie was set free!!

Two months after his execution, and I grieve for someone who could have set a lot of our chlldren and teens on the right path...it is great to see his son, Travon, continue the work of encouraging peace between gangs.....Barbara Becnel, Tookie's greatest supporter, mentor and advocate - all those who fought for clemency for Tookie - you are beautiful people, and this world needs you!! You can be sure Tookie is with you all.....

May God keep you in the palm of His Hands Tookie.

His life should have been spared, plain and simple. He did more good than most of those who wanted him dead, EVER will. Read the book again, but this time, free your mind first!

I think that all of his books are good and if everyone looks past what the media puts in their head and really read the book they will find that it can be an inspiration to many youth in the inner city.

I feel that Mr. Williams has the right to say he is not guilty if he really feels that he is not guilty. If no one wants to re-open the case then he has the right to stay by what he believe. It seems like if the media says one is guilty getting flawed evidence from the court system he should admit his guilt to all of us. But the truth remains no real proof and their might have been a chance that he was not guilty.

I feel like this will be an excellent book and legacy to pass on because no one can tell an inner city gang member how to change like Mr. Williams could have. He knows the life, the struggle, the current struggle, and what it is like to have no one belive you based on your past. He also shows that even though one has to pay for their crimes, their life is not over when they go to prison. They can still change their life, reform and reach out to other youth in the struggle and tell them they don't have to go that route.
You can have all the sports players, and non-profit people in the world come to the schools but if these kids feel like, they have no hope and now they see the death of Mr. Williams they are going to kill and kill harder because now the know that they have nothing to lose. No one cares No one Believes and live by the crips commandment "If one kills you or someone close to you, kill them back"

Get the book, it is great for the children this Christmas season