Review of Fear To Freedom
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Glory Balo
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Review of Fear To Freedom
[Following is a volunteer review of "Fear To Freedom" by Dr Keith L Marshall, PsyD, MHD.]
“Fear to Freedom” can be referred to as a self-help book, but it does not fall into the conventional definition of this genre. It is really a moving autobiography of Dr. Keith L. Marshall, a gentleman who rose from the rank of a nobody to the peak of his profession. Dr. Marshall leads you through his youth in West Philadelphia, a dangerous area with an atmosphere of violence and poverty. He speaks of a childhood of fear—of being ridiculed and being beaten for wetting the bed, which were common during his early years. These fears were reinforced after the author's mother divorced his father and married an abusive man. The author's experiences in West Philadelphia were a mix of fear and confusion.
The fighting scenes are not as frequent, but the author does not hush over the gloomy parts. Dr. Marshall gives an account of his fight with addiction, whereby he has been to rehabilitation centers and had near-death experiences. He was very liberal, revealing his destructive way of life, driven by the compulsion of wanting to be accepted and the need to forget his suffering past. Addiction is very well depicted; the terrible impacts that it has on a person and those close to them are also portrayed.
However, the overall narrative of “Fear to Freedom," which is truly inspiring, is a combination of the two. It is a heart-touching true story about the life of a man who did not bow down to fate. The book reveals Dr. Marshall’s struggle with his beliefs and the difficult journey out of alcohol dependency. It is hard not to feel sympathy for his character, but his struggle seems familiar and closely connected to the constant inner search for salvation present in many people. This book makes people recall the fact that in every difficult period of life, it is possible to make a change if people believe in themselves and have faith.
I truly cannot find fault with this book; I don’t mean that there is not much to criticize, but that it is so good that there is nothing wrong with it that one could dislike. It’s a highly insightful and emotional read with a strong call to action. Though Dr. Marshall does not sermonize with readers, he narrates his story with humility and provides light to the viewers, especially those going through such hardships. The book's writing and editing were professionally done, with only a few errors found.
This work can be regarded as one of the most inspiring and, at the same time, shocking books, as the title of the book suggests: “Fear to Freedom." The family's sparse candid photos throughout the book also give a more realistic feel to his account and the weight of his battles and victories. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever wanted to quit life, contemplating that all is useless. I fully loved every bit of it, thereby giving it a solid five out of five stars.
******
Fear To Freedom
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Fear to Freedom” can be referred to as a self-help book, but it does not fall into the conventional definition of this genre. It is really a moving autobiography of Dr. Keith L. Marshall, a gentleman who rose from the rank of a nobody to the peak of his profession. Dr. Marshall leads you through his youth in West Philadelphia, a dangerous area with an atmosphere of violence and poverty. He speaks of a childhood of fear—of being ridiculed and being beaten for wetting the bed, which were common during his early years. These fears were reinforced after the author's mother divorced his father and married an abusive man. The author's experiences in West Philadelphia were a mix of fear and confusion.
The fighting scenes are not as frequent, but the author does not hush over the gloomy parts. Dr. Marshall gives an account of his fight with addiction, whereby he has been to rehabilitation centers and had near-death experiences. He was very liberal, revealing his destructive way of life, driven by the compulsion of wanting to be accepted and the need to forget his suffering past. Addiction is very well depicted; the terrible impacts that it has on a person and those close to them are also portrayed.
However, the overall narrative of “Fear to Freedom," which is truly inspiring, is a combination of the two. It is a heart-touching true story about the life of a man who did not bow down to fate. The book reveals Dr. Marshall’s struggle with his beliefs and the difficult journey out of alcohol dependency. It is hard not to feel sympathy for his character, but his struggle seems familiar and closely connected to the constant inner search for salvation present in many people. This book makes people recall the fact that in every difficult period of life, it is possible to make a change if people believe in themselves and have faith.
I truly cannot find fault with this book; I don’t mean that there is not much to criticize, but that it is so good that there is nothing wrong with it that one could dislike. It’s a highly insightful and emotional read with a strong call to action. Though Dr. Marshall does not sermonize with readers, he narrates his story with humility and provides light to the viewers, especially those going through such hardships. The book's writing and editing were professionally done, with only a few errors found.
This work can be regarded as one of the most inspiring and, at the same time, shocking books, as the title of the book suggests: “Fear to Freedom." The family's sparse candid photos throughout the book also give a more realistic feel to his account and the weight of his battles and victories. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever wanted to quit life, contemplating that all is useless. I fully loved every bit of it, thereby giving it a solid five out of five stars.
******
Fear To Freedom
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Debt Cleanse by Jorge P. Newbery
