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Yusef Salaam
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Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice Kindle Edition

by Yusef Salaam (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 400 ratings
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Named a Best Book of 2021 by NPR

This inspirational memoir serves as a call to action from prison reform activist Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated Five, that will inspire us all to turn our stories into tools for change in the pursuit of racial justice.

They didn't know who they had.

So begins Yusef Salaam telling his story. No one's life is the sum of the worst things that happened to them, and during Yusef Salaam's seven years of wrongful incarceration as one of the Central Park Five, he grew from child to man, and gained a spiritual perspective on life. Yusef learned that we're all "born on purpose, with a purpose." Despite having confronted the racist heart of America while being "run over by the spiked wheels of injustice," Yusef channeled his energy and pain into something positive, not just for himself but for other marginalized people and communities.

Better Not Bitter is the first time that one of the now Exonerated Five is telling his individual story, in his own words. Yusef writes his narrative: growing up Black in central Harlem in the '80s, being raised by a strong, fierce mother and grandmother, his years of incarceration, his reentry, and exoneration. Yusef connects these stories to lessons and principles he learned that gave him the power to survive through the worst of life's experiences. He inspires readers to accept their own path, to understand their own sense of purpose. With his intimate personal insights, Yusef unpacks the systems built and designed for profit and the oppression of Black and Brown people. He inspires readers to channel their fury into action, and through the spiritual, to turn that anger and trauma into a constructive force that lives alongside accountability and mobilizes change.

This memoir is an inspiring story that grew out of one of the gravest miscarriages of justice, one that not only speaks to a moment in time or the rage-filled present, but reflects a 400-year history of a nation's inability to be held accountable for its sins. Yusef Salaam's message is vital for our times, a motivating resource for enacting change. Better, Not Bitter has the power to soothe, inspire and transform. It is a galvanizing call to action.
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  1. Print length
    305 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  5. Publication date
    May 18, 2021
  6. File size
    36274 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

better not bitter, yusef salaam

better not bitter, yusef salaam

better not bitter, yusef salaam

better not bitter, yusef salaam

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Salaam's compelling memoir is one of astounding warmth…This book should be read by anyone who wants to hear the story of the Exonerated Five directly from one of its members.”―NPR

"An important memoir and call to action that sheds light on the personal injustices of mass incarceration."―Library Journal

“Warm, generous, and inspirational: a book for everyone.”

―Kirkus

“An uplifting and hopeful book.”

―Booklist

"Better Not Bitter is equal parts, a luminous journey of awakening, and an indictment of a system that swallows boys and girls whole, only to spit out their broken bones. It is an urgent and poetic treatise on the human spirit’s ability to make itself whole again over and over. I cried for the little boy who was imprisoned, and rejoiced for the man who emerged years later as a battle tested warrior for justice.”

―Shaka Senghor, New York Times bestselling author of Writing my Wrongs

"Punching the Air is the profound sound of humanity in verse... Utterly indispensable."―Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author (Praise for Punching the Air)

"Zoboi and Salaam have created nothing short of a masterwork of humanity, with lyrical arms big enough to cradle the oppressed, and metaphoric teeth sharp enough to chomp on the bitter bones of racism. This is more than a story. This is a necessary exploration of anger, and a radical reflection of love, which ultimately makes for an honest depiction of what it means to be young and Black in America." ―Jason Reynolds, NYT bestselling author of Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You: A Remix (Praise for Punching the Air)

About the Author

Dr. Yusef Salaam was just fifteen years old when his life was upended after being wrongly convicted in the Central Park jogger case, along with four other boys who are now known as the Exonerated Five. In 2002, after the young men spent between seven and thirteen years of their lives behind bars, their sentences were overturned, and they were fully exonerated. Their story has been documented in the award-winning film The Central Park Five by documentarians Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon and in Ava DuVernays highly acclaimed series When They See Us, one of Netflixs most-watched original series of all time. Yusef is now a poet, activist, and inspirational speaker who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama, among other honors. You can find him online at www.yusefspeaks.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08K8PRVXX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (May 18, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 18, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 36274 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 400 ratings

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Yusef Salaam

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
We don’t use a simple average to calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star. Our system gives more weight to certain factors—including how recent the review is and if the reviewer bought it on Amazon. Learn more
400 global ratings
Tears and Knowledge
5 Stars
Tears and Knowledge
Not only this book brought tears to my eyes, but it fed me knowledge and wisdom as well. I hope I will get to shake hands with this amazing man someday, and I want to say Thank You Yusef Salaam for sharing your story and your experience and much love to you and your family. I feel everyone should read this book especially teenagers and young adults.
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Top reviews from the United States

Lesia C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
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Great information for everyday use
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2023
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I love how positive Yusef is and have learned a lot from him by reading this book. I would recommend this book to anyone, young or old, who feels like their life is in a rut and is feeling sorry for themselves. This book will inspire you to want to do better. When I see Yusef, I see that there is a God.
3 people found this helpful
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Sylvinie
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
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Exceptionally inspiring, engaging and very well written!
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ShaSeli
5.0 out of 5 stars From prison industrial complex to alchemist
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2021
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This summer I have read a number of biography/memoir/life story books, but this book is by far the best I have read. As an American Government teacher of color in a majority white suburban high school in 1989 this case was of particular interest to me. Watching the NY injustice system at work was a challenge. After the exoneration in 2002 it was refreshing, but bittersweet. Reading the challenges faced by Mr. Salaam post incarceration and how his faith has sustained him was just what I needed in these times.
7 people found this helpful
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K. Spangler
4.0 out of 5 stars There's a lot to admire here.
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2021
Yusef and four friends were accused of a horrible crime that put them in jail for many years. After they all served their prison sentences, it was proven that another man actually committed the crime. Mr. Salaam wrote this book to discuss his experiences in jail, and how he was able to stay focused on becoming more than the criminal justice system expected him to be. I didn't agree with every assessment the author made about white supremacy, but the book was very eye opening. It was a good read and made me want to watch the Netflix series they made about his story.

"If I believe in God's omniscience and the presence of free will, then I can reconcile that God knew I would be placed in the crosshairs of the system and, because of man's free will, He didn't stop it. But He did soften the blow. Not only that, God ordained that I would not only survive this experience, but I would also live fully in spite of it."
3 people found this helpful
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Brenda
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a story of strength
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
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Mr. Salaam and the other children known as The Central Park Five” all have a unique place in American history. He recently won an election to public office and what he said touched my heart. He inspired me to think beyond the pain of being falsely accused and rise above. I recommend this book to everyone, but to anyone who’s ever been falsely accused and had their world turned upside-down, I especially recommend this book.
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Mz. Philly
5.0 out of 5 stars Own Your Truth
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2021
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First, I must admit that I put my son in his place which allowed me to have so much empathy for Mr. Yusef. Secondly, I took away nuggets to use in my life. The book was so inspiring. This should be a read for middle school young men. The uplifting as well as rawness made this a read I will always remember.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Framework for Enacting Justice
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2023
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I liked how Yusef Salaam not only walks us through his battles for Justice, but also challenges the reader to face their pursuit of Justice as well. The necessity to fight as individuals in unison. I can take this framework and apply it to the the monstrosities I’ve endured albeit mine might not reach the same level of insanity that Yusef’s did.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Joseph
5.0 out of 5 stars Empowering book
Reviewed in Canada on August 13, 2023
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I ordered the book on Amazon, once I got it I couldn't put it down. The story of the Exonerated Five opens your eyes to the injustices in the judiciary system. Yusef Salaam story is very empowering.
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