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Lessons from a Drug Lord: The Most Unexpected Life Lessons from the Most Unexpected Person
A self-help book like no other.
As seen worldwide on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up Abroad, Shaun Attwood moved from England to Arizona as a penniless graduate and made a fortune in the stock market. But he became greedy and lost sight of what was important. He threw raves and ran a multi-million-dollar Ecstasy ring in competition with the Mafia mass murderer "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, who put a contract on Shaun's head. In 2002, a SWAT team smashed Shaun's door down. After surviving 26 months in the insect-infested jail run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio - where gangs and even guards were murdering inmates - Shaun was sentenced to 9½ years.
Lessons from a Drug Lord includes what Shaun learned when he was forced to reappraise his life in the harsh reality Arizona's penal system, including supermaximum-security prison. The people imparting wisdom to Shaun range from his psychotherapist, Dr. Owen, and his meditation master, Andrew, to Two Tonys, a Mafia mass murderer serving 112 years for killing rival gangsters, and T-Bone, an ex-Marine using formidable fighting skills to stop prison rape.
These lessons - told via anecdotes and Socratic dialogue - will force you to re-examine your life and what is truly important. They
* Love the Right a dysfunctional relationship can derail everything you have worked for
* Take Time for the foundation for personal development is self-knowledge
* Identify and Overcome unacknowledged addictions can creep out of control and devastate your life
* Value Your make time for the people who love you unconditionally
* Make Slow and Careful shortcuts are tempting, but not worth the high price
As seen worldwide on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up Abroad, Shaun Attwood moved from England to Arizona as a penniless graduate and made a fortune in the stock market. But he became greedy and lost sight of what was important. He threw raves and ran a multi-million-dollar Ecstasy ring in competition with the Mafia mass murderer "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, who put a contract on Shaun's head. In 2002, a SWAT team smashed Shaun's door down. After surviving 26 months in the insect-infested jail run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio - where gangs and even guards were murdering inmates - Shaun was sentenced to 9½ years.
Lessons from a Drug Lord includes what Shaun learned when he was forced to reappraise his life in the harsh reality Arizona's penal system, including supermaximum-security prison. The people imparting wisdom to Shaun range from his psychotherapist, Dr. Owen, and his meditation master, Andrew, to Two Tonys, a Mafia mass murderer serving 112 years for killing rival gangsters, and T-Bone, an ex-Marine using formidable fighting skills to stop prison rape.
These lessons - told via anecdotes and Socratic dialogue - will force you to re-examine your life and what is truly important. They
* Love the Right a dysfunctional relationship can derail everything you have worked for
* Take Time for the foundation for personal development is self-knowledge
* Identify and Overcome unacknowledged addictions can creep out of control and devastate your life
* Value Your make time for the people who love you unconditionally
* Make Slow and Careful shortcuts are tempting, but not worth the high price
- GenresAudiobook
150 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2014
5 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Attwood
80 books363 followersIn prison, I read over 1000 books in just under six years, including many literary classics. Books were the lifeblood of my rehabilitation.
As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...
Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.
But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.
Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.
I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.
Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.
In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.
I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.
As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...
Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.
But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.
Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.
I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.
Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.
In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.
I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 17, 2014
First off the bat I must congratulate Mr Attwood on creating a quick, effortless read that was easy to digest and very enjoyable.
For those of us who are yet to come across Shaun’s work let me tell you, well paraphrase from his goodreads bio page, a little about him and his interesting background. Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, Shaun was the first from his family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, he took his business degree to Phoenix, and worked his way up to become a stock-market millionaire. But he also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, Shaun headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked his door down. He sentenced to 9½ years, and served almost 6. Shaun was released in December 2007, and continues to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He keeps Jon’s Jail Journal going by posting stories mailed to him by his prison friends. Shaun presently lives near London, and talks to student audiences across the UK and Europe about his jail experience and the consequences he faced from getting involved in drugs and crime.
I must admit I wasn’t expecting much when I first received this book in the post, after all this comes after a trilogy of his life and time in prison, that I am yet to read. But as I had won this copy in a competition run by Shaun on his twitter page I thought I should at least give it a go, and I must admit I am glad I did.
Shaun’s writing style is casual yet entertaining, he keeps you turning those pages without being sensationalist about the emotive subject covered.
I especially like the story of the relationship he formed with a charismatic mob hit man, known as ‘Two Tony’s’. Showing that although people in prison may have committed horrendous crimes they are still people and need to be helped not locked away. I found that man to be really deep and his story touching.
As a Tool fan the section where Shaun talks to his Yoga instructor who metaphorically describes the subconscious as a spiral to be explored and expanded really sat well with me.
Alternatively the only downside to the book I could find was that the advice given by the yoga teacher sounded like pop psychology mixed with spiritualism, but seemed to be passed on like it was sound psychological advice.
Overall a great book and Shaun should be really proud of both the book and how he has changed his life. I will now have to get the first three books so I can learn more about his story. That is unless he wants to send me a copy and I will review them on here for him.
Overall I will give it 5 out of 5
For those of us who are yet to come across Shaun’s work let me tell you, well paraphrase from his goodreads bio page, a little about him and his interesting background. Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, Shaun was the first from his family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, he took his business degree to Phoenix, and worked his way up to become a stock-market millionaire. But he also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, Shaun headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked his door down. He sentenced to 9½ years, and served almost 6. Shaun was released in December 2007, and continues to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He keeps Jon’s Jail Journal going by posting stories mailed to him by his prison friends. Shaun presently lives near London, and talks to student audiences across the UK and Europe about his jail experience and the consequences he faced from getting involved in drugs and crime.
I must admit I wasn’t expecting much when I first received this book in the post, after all this comes after a trilogy of his life and time in prison, that I am yet to read. But as I had won this copy in a competition run by Shaun on his twitter page I thought I should at least give it a go, and I must admit I am glad I did.
Shaun’s writing style is casual yet entertaining, he keeps you turning those pages without being sensationalist about the emotive subject covered.
I especially like the story of the relationship he formed with a charismatic mob hit man, known as ‘Two Tony’s’. Showing that although people in prison may have committed horrendous crimes they are still people and need to be helped not locked away. I found that man to be really deep and his story touching.
As a Tool fan the section where Shaun talks to his Yoga instructor who metaphorically describes the subconscious as a spiral to be explored and expanded really sat well with me.
Alternatively the only downside to the book I could find was that the advice given by the yoga teacher sounded like pop psychology mixed with spiritualism, but seemed to be passed on like it was sound psychological advice.
Overall a great book and Shaun should be really proud of both the book and how he has changed his life. I will now have to get the first three books so I can learn more about his story. That is unless he wants to send me a copy and I will review them on here for him.
Overall I will give it 5 out of 5
September 15, 2021
1.5 Stars. This book was all over the map. 85% self-help malarkey. I thought the book would be a detailed account of a supposed big time ecstacy dealer and his run ins with Sammy The Bull Gravano and his time in jail. The book was very light on that. In fact that was a small portion of the book. It was mostly him talking about yoga and his bogus mcdojo taking karate classes and all the spiritual enlightenment he had from that. The author is trying to be a motivational self-help writer/speaker or something bc this was the majority of the book. I couldn't wait to finish. I almost didn't but I have this thing I have to finish what I start and it was short. Thankfully I was smart enough (or dumb enough) to audiobook it bc if I was reading it I wouldn't have gotten 30% into it. Pass on this book. There are far better accounts of a caught drug dealer and their time in the slammer. The parts of the book that were about his accounts in prison were just ok so the book is somewhere inbetween It sucked and it was ok. Pass. Not worth it. Thankfully I didn't pay for the audiobook. I'd be mad if I did.
January 29, 2021
1. Make slow and careful progress
Success is a function of effort and perseverance.
Build life on a solid platform by taking time and persevering in the face of numerous setbacks.
2. Help Others
Giving is good.
Every new crisis isa’ good suffering’ which is necessary for our learning.
3. Value your family
Forgiveness comes easy to family, forgetting is far more difficult.
4. Identify and overcome addictions
Rule your desires unless your desires rule you - Publilius Syrus
To accomplish positive things I can’t screw up my decision making processes.
You need to be willing to accept who you are. Don’t always want to be better, or new and improved.
Overcoming any addiction is a a case of channelling your energy elsewhere.
5. Learn from setbacks
Use negative experiences as a transformative experience and not repress them
What’s the lesson Iv learnt from this?
Why did I have this experience?
What did it teach me about myself?
Why am I being hurt emotionally?
What am I attached to?
You have to acknowledge the contents of the subconscience because if you suppress them they are going to express themselves somehow. If you keep running away from the contents of your subconscious these are your fears.
By not holding it in I am unburdening myself.
Being able to see and acknowledge the dark weaknesses within you makes you a complete person. You use these experiences to inform yourself about the contents of your subconscious. You’re not a full person until you see, acknowledge and accept all aspects of your character both good and bad.
There is an element within you that makes you behave in a certain way - what caused me to behave in that way? What does that inform me about myself? Where do my weaknesses lie?
Every setback is an opportunity for self development if we allow it to be.
6. Cherish life and the small things
See the magic in the ordinary
Learning to put our difficulties into perspective prevents self induced stress
To be at peace with reality
Happiness is just a state of mind
7. Learn a relaxation technique
The regular employment of such a technique actually changes how the brain reacts to stress. We become less prone to emotional outbursts and the reactions that we do have are shorter. Relaxation techniques counteract the unhealthy chemicals our brains release during stress, boost our immune system and we live happier and longer.
8. Let go of fear and anxiety
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
The effect of the ego is to create duality -
In our natural state we are connected to everything but our ego wants to remain separate. If you remain in the present moment you remain connected to everything. Ego uses fear to detach us from universality. It takes us out of the present and creates a false universe. By creating fiction ego ensured we remain detached from true self. You’re detached from achieving anything out of fear that something will happen.
The creation of a false scenario is the bottom line when it comes to fear and anxiety
In order for there to be personal growth there has to be some kind of pain - emotional, psychology...
If you’re going to expand as a person you’ve got to move outside of the world of the ego; the things you are attached to, desires, hopes...
9. Learn to love the right person
10. Take time for introspection
The greatest purpose is spiritual growth
What is the value of this knowledge and information?
Success is a function of effort and perseverance.
Build life on a solid platform by taking time and persevering in the face of numerous setbacks.
2. Help Others
Giving is good.
Every new crisis isa’ good suffering’ which is necessary for our learning.
3. Value your family
Forgiveness comes easy to family, forgetting is far more difficult.
4. Identify and overcome addictions
Rule your desires unless your desires rule you - Publilius Syrus
To accomplish positive things I can’t screw up my decision making processes.
You need to be willing to accept who you are. Don’t always want to be better, or new and improved.
Overcoming any addiction is a a case of channelling your energy elsewhere.
5. Learn from setbacks
Use negative experiences as a transformative experience and not repress them
What’s the lesson Iv learnt from this?
Why did I have this experience?
What did it teach me about myself?
Why am I being hurt emotionally?
What am I attached to?
You have to acknowledge the contents of the subconscience because if you suppress them they are going to express themselves somehow. If you keep running away from the contents of your subconscious these are your fears.
By not holding it in I am unburdening myself.
Being able to see and acknowledge the dark weaknesses within you makes you a complete person. You use these experiences to inform yourself about the contents of your subconscious. You’re not a full person until you see, acknowledge and accept all aspects of your character both good and bad.
There is an element within you that makes you behave in a certain way - what caused me to behave in that way? What does that inform me about myself? Where do my weaknesses lie?
Every setback is an opportunity for self development if we allow it to be.
6. Cherish life and the small things
See the magic in the ordinary
Learning to put our difficulties into perspective prevents self induced stress
To be at peace with reality
Happiness is just a state of mind
7. Learn a relaxation technique
The regular employment of such a technique actually changes how the brain reacts to stress. We become less prone to emotional outbursts and the reactions that we do have are shorter. Relaxation techniques counteract the unhealthy chemicals our brains release during stress, boost our immune system and we live happier and longer.
8. Let go of fear and anxiety
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
The effect of the ego is to create duality -
In our natural state we are connected to everything but our ego wants to remain separate. If you remain in the present moment you remain connected to everything. Ego uses fear to detach us from universality. It takes us out of the present and creates a false universe. By creating fiction ego ensured we remain detached from true self. You’re detached from achieving anything out of fear that something will happen.
The creation of a false scenario is the bottom line when it comes to fear and anxiety
In order for there to be personal growth there has to be some kind of pain - emotional, psychology...
If you’re going to expand as a person you’ve got to move outside of the world of the ego; the things you are attached to, desires, hopes...
9. Learn to love the right person
10. Take time for introspection
The greatest purpose is spiritual growth
What is the value of this knowledge and information?
December 17, 2018
I didn't enjoy this one as much as Attwood's first book, which detailed his stay in the Phoenix awaiting his dilemma to play out. I will read Attwood's other title as well, as he is a great story teller and has some quality stories to share.
March 4, 2017
Wicked little book, easy to read, well written with some interesting and thought-provoking lessons... will definitely be reading more from Shaun - congrats Sir!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews