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Changin' Your Game Plan! How to Use Incarceration as a Stepping Stone for Success
CHANGIN YOUR GAME PLAN is about the journey of change one must embark upon while incarcerated or living a destructive street lifestyle that will lead to a positive, productive and successful life. This book is the blueprint for that success. For those incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, Changin Your Game Plan offers hope that one can in fact turn their life around and go on to live a positive life after prison. For those living the street life, thug life, and gang life' Changin Your Game Plan is a warning signal on a road to self-destruction. BE WARNED! THIS IS NOT A GAME! By using my experiences before, during, and after my incarceration I hope anyone who reads this book will see the possibilities that exist CHANGIN YOUR GAME PLAN
239 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 16, 2022
LV/ENG
Jā, es neesmu grāmatas mērķgrupa, bet, kad uzzināju par šo darbu, sapratu, ka tur varētu atrast šo to vērtīgu manām brīvprātīgā darba gaitām Liepājas cietumā.
Patiesībā tas ir diezgan brīnumaini, ka šī grāmata vispār līdz manīm ir nonākusi. Mana draudzene devās uz Ņujorku, kur uz ielas viņa satika šīs grāmatas autoru tirgojam savus darbus. Un man patiešām liekas, ka Kīrsa kunga sasniegumi ir apbrīnojami.
Kas man šajā grāmatā patika:
+ pieredzes stāsti. Tiem ir daudz lielāka ietekme nekā autora filozofiskajām pardomām par to, kā cilvēkiem vajadzētu dzīvot;
+ filozofiskās pārdomas. Tur jau laikam arī slēpjas visas grāmatas nozīme. Un patiesībā autora dotie padomi ir lieliski;
+ ieskats ASV ieslodzījuma vietu sistēmā. Tā ir ļoti atšķirīga no Latvijas cietumu sistēmas, līdz ar to daudzi no padomiem šeit var nestrādāt, tomēr ASV sistēmas apraksts bija pietiekami spēcīgs, pat biedējošs. ASV ir cietumu karaļvalsts. Un skumji noraudzīties, ka tur ieslodzījums ir galvenokārt par sodu un mazāk par taisnīguma atjaunošanu, kas, atgriežoties brīvībā, palīdzētu cilvēkiem neatgriezties kriminālajā pasaulē. Un, protams, tas ir arī stāsts par sistemātisko rasismu.
Tie laikam arī ir visi mani komplimenti.
Kas bremzēja lasīšanas gaitu:
- trūkst teksta sakārtotības. Lai arī informācija tika sagrupēta nelielās, viegli uztveramās nodaļās, es novērtētu nedaudz loģiskāku secību un, iespējams, arī dažu nodaļu apvienošanu, jo
- atkāŗtošanās. Vairākas reizes mani pārņēma sajūta, ka šo es jau tikko biju lasījusi. Pieļauju, ka grāmatas mērķgrupa - cilvēki ieslodzījumā vai arī tie, kuri nesen iznākuši brīvībā, vairāk novērtētu šādu, atgādinājumiem pilnu pieeju;
- grāmatas garums. Skatīt iepriekšējo punktu.
Tātad šī nav mana iecienītākā literatūra, bet pavisam noteikti svētīgs lasāmais. Un es ceru, ka tas aizsniedzas līdz tiem, kam šādi padomi/atgādinājumi/pagrieziena punkti ir nepieciešami (tai skaitā cilvēkiem, kas nav iesaistīti ieslodzījuma vietu sistēmā).
Pārāk bieži apkārtējā vide ietekmē puišus tik daudz, ka viņi paši kļūst par šo apkārtējo vidi.
Svarīgākais jautājums nav - ko tu darīsi, kad iznāksi no cietuma. Svarīgākais jautājums ir - ko tu dari, kamēr tu atrodies cietumā?
Lai arī cik ilgi tev būtu jāsēž, tas ir tavs laiks. Laiks ir tava dzīve, un tas, kā tu to pavadi pašlaik, atspoguļo to, kā tu gribi pavadīt savu atlikušo dzīvi. Neļauj, lai laiks aizplūst tikai tādēļ, ka pašreizējā situācija tev liekas bezcerīga. Tavs laiks ir tāds, kādu tu pats to padari un ko tu no tā paņem.
**************
ENG
Yes, I am not the target group of the book, but as a volunteer in a prison I thought I might find something useful for my workshops there.
First of all it's quite a thing that I even got this book. My friend went to New York (from Latvia) and on the streets she met the author selling his books. I think it's quite epic what Mr. Kearse has achieved.
What I liked about the book:
+ experience stories. They work much more than just philosophical reflections on how one should live;
+the philosophical reflections. I guess that's the whole point, isn't it. And the advice author is giving, is actually great;
+ an insight in the prison system of USA. It's completely different than here in LV, therefore not all of the advice could work here, still quite a scary insight. USA is like a kingdom of prisons. It's sad to see that it's all about punishment and not so much about restoring the justice and helping the people not to take the criminal path after returning to freedom.
Oh well, I guess that's about it.
What slowed down my reading:
- some organization is lacking. Although the information was presented in small, easy-to-take-in chapters, I would have appreciated a bit more logic and maybe merging some of them because of
- repetition. Quite a few times I had a sense that I just read it a few chapters ago. I'm considering that maybe the target group - people in prisons or those recently returning to freedom, maybe they would appreciate this reminding approach more;
- the lengths. See previous point.
So not my favorite read but a blessing one. And I hope it would reach the ones in need of these advice/reminders/turning points (also people outside of prison system):
Too many times guys are influenced by their surroundings to the point that they become a part of the same surroundings.
The big question isn't always what are you gonna do when you get out of prison. The big question is, what are you doing while you're in prison.
Whatever time you're doing, no matter how long, it's your time. The time is your life and how you spend that time reflects how you want to spend the rest of your life. Don't let time pass you by because you think your current situation is hopeless. The time is what you make it and what you take from it.
Jā, es neesmu grāmatas mērķgrupa, bet, kad uzzināju par šo darbu, sapratu, ka tur varētu atrast šo to vērtīgu manām brīvprātīgā darba gaitām Liepājas cietumā.
Patiesībā tas ir diezgan brīnumaini, ka šī grāmata vispār līdz manīm ir nonākusi. Mana draudzene devās uz Ņujorku, kur uz ielas viņa satika šīs grāmatas autoru tirgojam savus darbus. Un man patiešām liekas, ka Kīrsa kunga sasniegumi ir apbrīnojami.
Kas man šajā grāmatā patika:
+ pieredzes stāsti. Tiem ir daudz lielāka ietekme nekā autora filozofiskajām pardomām par to, kā cilvēkiem vajadzētu dzīvot;
+ filozofiskās pārdomas. Tur jau laikam arī slēpjas visas grāmatas nozīme. Un patiesībā autora dotie padomi ir lieliski;
+ ieskats ASV ieslodzījuma vietu sistēmā. Tā ir ļoti atšķirīga no Latvijas cietumu sistēmas, līdz ar to daudzi no padomiem šeit var nestrādāt, tomēr ASV sistēmas apraksts bija pietiekami spēcīgs, pat biedējošs. ASV ir cietumu karaļvalsts. Un skumji noraudzīties, ka tur ieslodzījums ir galvenokārt par sodu un mazāk par taisnīguma atjaunošanu, kas, atgriežoties brīvībā, palīdzētu cilvēkiem neatgriezties kriminālajā pasaulē. Un, protams, tas ir arī stāsts par sistemātisko rasismu.
Tie laikam arī ir visi mani komplimenti.
Kas bremzēja lasīšanas gaitu:
- trūkst teksta sakārtotības. Lai arī informācija tika sagrupēta nelielās, viegli uztveramās nodaļās, es novērtētu nedaudz loģiskāku secību un, iespējams, arī dažu nodaļu apvienošanu, jo
- atkāŗtošanās. Vairākas reizes mani pārņēma sajūta, ka šo es jau tikko biju lasījusi. Pieļauju, ka grāmatas mērķgrupa - cilvēki ieslodzījumā vai arī tie, kuri nesen iznākuši brīvībā, vairāk novērtētu šādu, atgādinājumiem pilnu pieeju;
- grāmatas garums. Skatīt iepriekšējo punktu.
Tātad šī nav mana iecienītākā literatūra, bet pavisam noteikti svētīgs lasāmais. Un es ceru, ka tas aizsniedzas līdz tiem, kam šādi padomi/atgādinājumi/pagrieziena punkti ir nepieciešami (tai skaitā cilvēkiem, kas nav iesaistīti ieslodzījuma vietu sistēmā).
Pārāk bieži apkārtējā vide ietekmē puišus tik daudz, ka viņi paši kļūst par šo apkārtējo vidi.
Svarīgākais jautājums nav - ko tu darīsi, kad iznāksi no cietuma. Svarīgākais jautājums ir - ko tu dari, kamēr tu atrodies cietumā?
Lai arī cik ilgi tev būtu jāsēž, tas ir tavs laiks. Laiks ir tava dzīve, un tas, kā tu to pavadi pašlaik, atspoguļo to, kā tu gribi pavadīt savu atlikušo dzīvi. Neļauj, lai laiks aizplūst tikai tādēļ, ka pašreizējā situācija tev liekas bezcerīga. Tavs laiks ir tāds, kādu tu pats to padari un ko tu no tā paņem.
**************
ENG
Yes, I am not the target group of the book, but as a volunteer in a prison I thought I might find something useful for my workshops there.
First of all it's quite a thing that I even got this book. My friend went to New York (from Latvia) and on the streets she met the author selling his books. I think it's quite epic what Mr. Kearse has achieved.
What I liked about the book:
+ experience stories. They work much more than just philosophical reflections on how one should live;
+the philosophical reflections. I guess that's the whole point, isn't it. And the advice author is giving, is actually great;
+ an insight in the prison system of USA. It's completely different than here in LV, therefore not all of the advice could work here, still quite a scary insight. USA is like a kingdom of prisons. It's sad to see that it's all about punishment and not so much about restoring the justice and helping the people not to take the criminal path after returning to freedom.
Oh well, I guess that's about it.
What slowed down my reading:
- some organization is lacking. Although the information was presented in small, easy-to-take-in chapters, I would have appreciated a bit more logic and maybe merging some of them because of
- repetition. Quite a few times I had a sense that I just read it a few chapters ago. I'm considering that maybe the target group - people in prisons or those recently returning to freedom, maybe they would appreciate this reminding approach more;
- the lengths. See previous point.
So not my favorite read but a blessing one. And I hope it would reach the ones in need of these advice/reminders/turning points (also people outside of prison system):
Too many times guys are influenced by their surroundings to the point that they become a part of the same surroundings.
The big question isn't always what are you gonna do when you get out of prison. The big question is, what are you doing while you're in prison.
Whatever time you're doing, no matter how long, it's your time. The time is your life and how you spend that time reflects how you want to spend the rest of your life. Don't let time pass you by because you think your current situation is hopeless. The time is what you make it and what you take from it.
January 4, 2009
This book is more than a five star read. It's about having the courage to overcome adversity and facing the challenge to change. So many young men and women find themselves on the wrong side of right, and what this book proves is that, one's past does not have to dictate one's future.
I wrote this book from personal experience. Having spent 13 years, 6 months and 2 days in Federal prison, I set out to prove that success is attainable after incarceration.
Changin' Your Game Plan isn't just for those how are, used to be or might find themselves behind those cold stell doors of prison one day, but it's for anyone that likes to celebrate the strength of the human spirit.
I wrote this book from personal experience. Having spent 13 years, 6 months and 2 days in Federal prison, I set out to prove that success is attainable after incarceration.
Changin' Your Game Plan isn't just for those how are, used to be or might find themselves behind those cold stell doors of prison one day, but it's for anyone that likes to celebrate the strength of the human spirit.
January 4, 2009
An excellent book! It's the kind of book that is a self help guide to everyday living. After reading this book you can truly apply the lessons that Randy learned to your personal life. It's the book that will lead you back on track if your in need of some direction. This book reminds me more of a self motivational guide. Anyone can get some guidance from reading this book. It's not just for the incarcerated inmate, but for anyone that wants to get a game plan for life. Truly an great read, cant wait to get my copy of part II!
January 5, 2009
Changing can lead to growth in any situation, if the change is positicve...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews