Remarkably poignant—and often poetic—reflections by Marlon Peterson on the cages we find ourselves in. The most obvious one he discusses is prison, as he spent 12 years in NY prisons for crimes he committed as a young man (and truth be told, Peterson is still a young man). But the heart of the book is in discussing the less obvious aspects of our society that hold people and groups prisoner. These include racism, toxic masculinity, sexism, political and cultural norms, and a whole host of others.

This book is packed with poignant, articulate quotes and points. Peterson also includes several poems he wrote and they are beautiful expressions of sorrow, hope, and self-reflection. And Peterson’s willingness to engage in deep, soul-searching self-reflection is something that most of us would do well to try; he acknowledges his past mistakes and current struggles frankly, without excuse, and with a determination to do better. As he states in his book, that allows us to say I’m better today than I was yesterday.

Peterson is unapologetically an abolitionist when it comes to prisons. And Peterson himself states that he is decidedly not proud of America because of all the ways that our country fails to live up to its ideals and meet the needs of various people and groups. Some may be taken aback by that. But when you read closely, it becomes apparent that Peterson’s criticisms in these regards stem from a belief that as a nation and people, we can be so much better than we are currently.

At the end of the day, this book is a wonderful reflection that inspires hope and improvement. It gives the reader a greater appreciation for freedom and inspires us all to tear down the various cages that hold us prisoner. Even if you may disagree with some of Peterson’s points, this book is well worth the read. ( )