When we face challenges, it’s common to overlook the power of continuous learning. But I’ve learned that reading books intentionally, and then writing book reports, creates a deliberate path to growth. This practice builds self-confidence. It shows commitment to personal development. By documenting what we learn, we create evidence of our mindset shifts. This evidence can influence stakeholders, like judges, probation officers, or employers. In prison, book reports helped me turn isolation into preparation. They became tools to measure progress and advocate for better opportunities.
I always encourage people to write book reports after finishing a book. Reading isn’t busywork, but a strategy to internalize lessons and apply them to real life. When writing a book report:
- Start by describing why you chose the book.
- Then, share what you learned from reading the book.
- Finally, explain how those lessons will contribute to your success upon release or in the future.
Publishing these reports on a profile at PrisonProfessorsTalent.com memorializes your journey. It showcases self-directed learning. It attracts support from those who value intentional growth.
I still follow this practice today. Even after my release in 2013, I read or listen to books regularly. I write reports to track how they influence my decisions. Recently, I finished listening to the audiobook of The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods. Below, I’ll share my book report as an example. This demonstrates how the process works. It ties into my ongoing commitment to learning, which sustains Prison Professors’ mission of providing free resources to empower others.
My Recent Book Report: The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods
I chose to listen to The AI-Driven Leader because I wanted to develop better techniques for using artificial intelligence. As the founder of Prison Professors, I rely on AI tools to create content, analyze data, and scale our free courses. But I knew my approach was basic. I aspired to use AI more strategically. This would help me make faster decisions in my investments and advocacy work. Geoff Woods, with his background in business coaching, seemed like a leader who could teach practical ways to integrate AI into leadership. His book promised frameworks for turning AI into a “thought partner,” not just a tool. On July 13, 2025, as I continue building resources for our community, improving my AI skills felt essential to staying effective.
From the book, I learned several key strategies for leveraging AI in leadership. Woods emphasizes shifting from operational overwhelm to strategic thinking. He describes AI as a collaborator that helps leaders ask better questions, analyze options, and simulate outcomes. One core framework is the “AI Thought Partner” model. This involves prompting AI with specific scenarios to brainstorm ideas, evaluate risks, and refine plans. For example, Woods shares case studies of executives using AI to cut decision-making time in half by generating multiple perspectives quickly. He warns against over-reliance, stressing the need for human judgment to guide AI outputs. Another lesson is building “AI rituals”—daily habits like starting meetings with AI-generated insights or using it for reflection. Woods also covers ethical considerations, like ensuring AI aligns with personal values to avoid biases. Overall, the book teaches that AI amplifies human potential when used intentionally, turning leaders from reactive to proactive.
These lessons will contribute to my prospects for success in several ways. First, better AI techniques will enhance my content creation at Prison Professors. I can generate more tailored lessons for our free courses, reaching even more people in custody. This supports our goal of promoting merit-based reforms and safer communities. Second, in my investments, simulating scenarios with AI will help me make informed trades, sustaining the financial independence that funds our nonprofit. No one pays for our resources, so efficiency matters. Finally, applying AI as a thought partner aligns with my CEO mindset—defining success through deliberate choices. It will help me minimize risks, like market volatility, while focusing on long-term growth. Upon reflection, these skills would have been invaluable during my imprisonment. They could have accelerated my advocacy, like drafting more effective administrative remedies. For anyone preparing for release, mastering AI opens doors to jobs in tech-driven fields, boosting employability and reducing recidivism.
This book report shows others that I read intentionally. Each book furthers my commitment to self-improvement and personal growth, which is the larger strategy.
Teachable Points: How to Write and Use Book Reports for Growth
Book reports turn reading into action. They create accountability. They build a portfolio of learning that stakeholders can see. Here are teachable points in a step-by-step approach to get started:
- Choose Books Deliberately: Select titles that align with your goals. If preparing for release, pick books on skills like finance or leadership. Describe your reason in the report to show intentionality.
- Summarize Key Lessons: Note what stood out—frameworks, stories, or ideas. Be specific. Explain how the content challenged your thinking or provided new tools.
- Apply to Your Life: Connect lessons to future success. How will they help in job searches, relationships, or avoiding old patterns? This turns knowledge into practical steps.
- Publish and Review: Share on a platform like PrisonProfessorsTalent.com. Review reports monthly to track patterns in your growth. Adjust reading choices based on what advances your vision.
- Make It a Habit: Commit to one report per book. This builds discipline, just as daily logging did for me in prison.
These points come from my experiences. In high-security settings like Atlanta, I focused on success by choosing books that minimized my exposure to negativity. I read to build knowledge. This deliberate approach created opportunities, like earning degrees despite obstacles.
As Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” But reading accelerates that experience by learning from others’ journeys. His words remind us to document what we gain, turning insights into our own wisdom.
At Prison Professors, we see book reports transform participants. They become evidence for clemency petitions or job applications. Our free courses guide this process, empowering self-directed learning without cost. Regardless of challenges, intentional reading today leads to brighter outcomes tomorrow.
What book will you read next? Don’t just consume knowledge—memorialize your journey by building and developing a profile on PrisonProfessorsTalent.com. Publish your book reports there to showcase commitment, attract support, and unlock possibilities. We built that platform to help people learn. What step will you take today?
