This book was given to me to read by a fellow inmate at camp. The book is a recount of experiences dating back to 2012 when the author, Craig Stanland, made the choice to exploit warranty policies of tech equipment from a large tech company over the course of a year until the FBI knocked at his door. Craig was subsequently arrested and eventually sentenced to 24 month in Federal Prison Camp in Otisville, NY followed by 3 years probation and was ordered to pay over $800,000 in restitution. In the wake of this, Craig lost his wife, his homes, his cars, his career and even his identity, and own self worth. After hitting rock bottom while in incarceration Craig was forced to make a choice: give up, and commit suicide or rebuild. Through the painful, terrifying process of starting over, Craig ultimately discovers that when you have nothing, you really have everything and anything becomes possible. He battles not loving himself for what he did, and how it affected those closest to him, and because he doesn’t love himself, he cannot forgive himself. Ultimately trapped by shame and the inability to forgive himself.
Today Craig is an author, speaker and reinvention architect who specializes in working with people whose lives have fallen apart, helping them reinvent themselves by showing them how to rebuild their self worth and create extraordinary lives free of fear, and pushing through those “doors”.
This book is not an exact recount of my story, but it does have a lot of similarities beginning with the initial FBI raid, sentencing and incarceration. So because of that it brings up some very real and raw emotions, such as saying good bye to loved ones upon self surrender, the violated feeling of the FBI raid and questioning, the experience and finality of the sentencing in a good and bad way and navigating through your first few days of camp life and trying to establish a new routine and rhythm while sharing a cube with a new bunkie. As far as Craig discussing his transition back into civilian life through the halfway house and ankle monitor, I have not experienced that yet unfortunately, but it does stimulate some thoughts about the process back into reintegration.
I do feel sorry for the author from my faith perspective and the struggles that he deals with through the process. For me personally, knowing that God gave His only son so that my sins have/are forgiven and that He could have a relationship with me, gives me an appreciation for how much He loves and values me. And furthermore, He has forgiven me for all my sins, even pertaining to my case, through the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross, which gives me tremendous freedom. So my heart breaks that Craig doesn’t, to my knowledge, know my Lord and Saviour.
In my opinion, I thought the book fell short in giving really good practical advice about how to reinvent your life after prison. Maybe this was done intentionally to use as a teaser for the reader to engage and follow his website or social media for further coaching details…?
