COURAGE in the FACE of CRUELTY: MY TWENTY-EIGHT YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM

This is a very compelling and inspirational story of how a good man's unfortunate mistake led to many years in prison and how he made the very best out of a terrible situation. Even when all hope seemed lost, and the odds were stacked against him, he persevered. He could have easily turned very negative and bitter, but instead he chose to be resilient and walked the path of light. He took every opportunity to improve himself and found the greatest joy in serving others. His experience in the prison system is also very enlightening to what goes on behind the scenes with prisoners, correctional officers, politically, and for money. One understands that treating prisoners like animals is only going to make them behave like animals and make them worse. Since most prisoners will eventually be released, it's better that they be rehabilitated for the sake of society.

Reading James’ book was rewarding on several levels. Firstly, although we’ve been good friends of James for 22 years, it filled in some of the blanks in his history. I am usually comfortable not knowing details. But now that he has opened the door on his journey, I’m grateful to have been invited in, and to learn more about the harrowing obstacles he overcame before and during his imprisonment. We are great fans of James, and our admiration has only deepened through reading his well-written book. I imagine he suffered a great deal of pain, as he re-lived the moments of his crime, and the cruel treatment he suffered at the hands of some inmates and correctional officers, and from the governor who denied his release three times, not to mention the California criminal just system itself. And yet by persevering in writing his book, James has been rewarded many times over with a victorious sense of accomplishment, and knowing the beauty of his courageous spirit is deep and real.Now the journey of his amazing life continues. We stand back and observe, in awe of his resilience, his faithfulness in continuing to grow, and his desire to help the less fortunate. Where once we were models for James, he has assumed the mantle of teacher and guide, showing us always the benefits to be reaped by living a life of service and compassion.Well done, dear friend.

This book is not only James' personal account of the atrocities that he suffered while in prison, but it is also an indictment against supposedly one of the world most "civilized" countries in allowing human beings to be treated in the most inhuman ways. I have worked with inmates and have seen the despair and felt their pain from living in a volatile environment without hope for improvement because of the corruption that controls the prison system. I applaud James and the many courageous volunteers who give of their time and service to encourage inmates to not give up on themselves by remaining pawns in a system that pits inmates against each other through the promotion of disdain and disrespect .This book is also a testimony of what the power of LOVE can do even in the most hostile and despicable environment. It is no wonder that James' transformation took place. Because those who supported him kept loving him and when he surrendered to love, he was able to let go of expectations, outcomes, and personal desires. He became committed to helping other and expressing the love that is in his heart.

James Alexander’s moving retelling of 28 years inside California prisons gives us the human story behind the terrible statistics of U.S. mass incarceration. In spite of violence, overcrowding, arbitrary punishments, official corruption, and disregard for the humanity, dignity, and positive efforts of the inmates, Alexander manages to excel as a model prisoner. Yet he cannot get released.Though the author doesn’t belabor the point, the decisions keeping him behind bars are based in money, power, and politics. Gov. Schwarzenegger, whose concern was to maintain his “tough on crime” image, repeatedly reversed decisions by the parole board and even the courts. In the end, we don’t know if it was the high-priced lawyer (paid by donations from friends) or the change of governors that led to his release.Free of polemic or ill-will, Alexander illustrates through his memoir what the society at large is coming to understand, namely that the prison system is not about justice or rehabilitation. The continued use of solitary confinement, in fact, is now understood by many scholars and psychologists as within the definition of torture. Yet the practice continues.His reflection on all of this is eloquent. “What happens to the human spirit and sanity when squeezed and bludgeoned in such crucibles under such conditions? Where’s the money to study that? These behaviors are all sanctioned by “civilized” society as retribution for past misdeeds. I believe we humans lose our moral compass when we mistreat or allow the mistreatment of other humans for the sole purpose of punishment or revenge.”Even though I know the author and how the story ends, Alexander’s descriptive clarity and his candid portrayal of his emotional responses to the spirit-crushing events of those years, drew me into every scene.Anybody who survives such an ordeal with their sanity intact is a hero. Anyone emerging from that hell with love in their heart is a saint. Alexander is both, in my estimation and apparently that of the Dalai Lama. This book will open your eyes and move your heart. It is both a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit and a call to action—a must read for anyone concerned about the “moral compass” of our society.

I have known and worked with James at Sonoma County Behavioral Health for a few years now but I never knew his story. In fact it is his story, but I am sure there are so many lives that have had parallel journeys until his release. This book is an easy read, hard to put down, informative piece of literature that I am pleased to say I have read. James I have always admired you and now my admiration has only grown. Thank you for sharing your story, allowing the world to see the justice system in California for what it is, and teaching all that have the pleasure of reading your work what true love is.