Beyond The Bars: From Prison To The Podium

by Chris "tatted Strength" Luera, Michael Oropollo

Beyond the Bars is the riveting story of how one man rose from the depths of “the hole” in prison, to the highs of the championship podium. As a young gang member Chris Luera was looking for a life of success and glory. He found near death experiences, and solitary confinement. In taut, dramatic prose he tells his story of life as a lost youth, who didn’t fit in, to finding his tribe on the gym floor, and becoming a champion. The family Chris Luera was born into was destroyed by drugs, alcohol and mysterious death. The family he was adopted into gave him love, a work ethic, and belief in his potential. Then came his third family. The calisthenics family helped him rebuild his life and his body, and set him on a new course of personal growth, success and seeing the world. In Beyond The Bars he shares how he was lost, and then found, through grace, grit and giving back.

218 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2018

Reviews

[Dennis]

I liked this book. An inspirational story about a man who has turned his life into a downward spiral and made it out of that alive. Even more so, he managed to find his passion, become one of the best in it and turn his life around. Also, this story has a truthful ring to it. It doesn't seem exaggerated or overly dramatized.

[Reem Hk]

My background in calisthenics is what drove me towards this book, and I'm glad I got a chance to read Chris' story. It reads like a podcast, with a very nice and simple flow, and the level of detail is just right for this kind of story.