Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women
Winner of the 2017 Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice
“Valuable . . . [like Michelle] Alexander's The New Jim Crow.”
―Los Angeles Review of Books
“Susan Burton is a national treasure . . . her life story is testimony to the human capacity for resilience and recovery . . . [Becoming Ms. Burton is] a stunning memoir.”
―Nicholas Kristof, in The New York Times
Winner of the prestigious NAACP Image Award, a uniquely American story of trauma, incarceration, and "the breathtaking resilience of the human spirit" (Michelle Alexander)
Widely hailed as a stunning memoir, Becoming Ms. Burton is the remarkable life story of the renowned activist Susan Burton.
In this "stirring and moving tour-de-force" (John Legend), Susan Burton movingly recounts her own journey through the criminal justice system and her transformation into a life of advocacy. After a childhood of immense pain, poverty, and abuse in Los Angeles, the tragic loss of her son led her into addiction, which in turn led to arrests and incarceration. During the War on Drugs, Burton was arrested and would cycle in and out of prison for more than fifteen years. When, by chance, she finally received treatment, her political awakening began and she became a powerful advocate for "a more humane justice system guided by compassion and dignity" (Booklist, starred review). Her award-winning organization, A New Way of Life, has transformed the lives of more than one thousand formerly incarcerated women and is an international model for a less punitive and more effective approach to rehabilitation and reentry.
Winner of an NAACP Image Award and named a "Best Book of 2017" by the Chicago Public Library, here is an unforgettable book about "the breathtaking resilience of the human spirit" (Michelle Alexander).
Reviews (101)
Eye opening and very moving
Nikolas Kristoff recommended this in the NYTimes, and no wonder. Gosh, where to start. It's the story of a remarkable woman who overcame sexual abuse as a young girl, drugs, and multiple incarcerations to create an organization called A New Way of Life that helps women leaving prison get their life back together. Even that description doesn't cover the depth of the book. Underlying all of this is a vicious cycle of drugs and prison that is extremely difficult to escape. Somehow Sue Burton managed it. It's a very engaging read. Well written, although the subject matter is tough in places. I gained an understanding of what many young girls are subjected to and from which there is little hope of escaping. I learned of the inequities of the judicial system and the prison system. Sometimes it was mindboggling how unjust politicians were, but fortunately in several cases Mrs. Burton prevailed. She is an astonishing woman. Thank you for opening my eyes.
An Exceptional Memoir. A Book Club Must-Read!
I am so thrilled with this book. Susan Burton's story about her childhood, the death of her son, her descent into addiction, and her emergence as one of the country's leading voices for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people is inspirational, painful, and enlightening. It's a must-read for anyone concerned about women, prisons, poverty, addiction, and sexual abuse -- issues that intersected for the author and intersect for many women who end up in America's jails and prisons.
One of the most moving books I have ever read!
A remarkable story -- and a book you will never forget. Becoming Ms. Burton is an ideal companion to Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow and every American should read it in order to understand the terrible human cost that the war on drugs and mass incarceration have had on our society -- a cost felt way, way disproportionately by people of color -- and to appreciate the nearly impossible odds people face when they get out of prison after ostensibly having paid their dues. Susan Burton got lucky by getting treatment and help but there are thousands upon thousands like her whose lives have effectively been destroyed. The book is particularly good at describing how children whose parents get caught up in the criminal justice system (often for minor drug offenses for which middle-class white parents would get community service or probation) are treated like criminals themselves and how insanely unfair and inhumane our criminal justice system is. Some of the statistics in the book are really shocking but despite the subject matter, there is nothing dreary about the book: in the first half Burton chronicles her difficult childhood but in the second half the book soars as Burton describes developing an understanding of what happened to her and her family and points the way toward what can be done. It is also a thrilling recovery story that people will find enthralling and inspiring. This is one of the most moving books I have ever read.
This book was so riveting, so honest and raw ...
This book was so riveting, so honest and raw. I couldn't put it down. I cried because I could feel her pain through her writing. In reading this memoir, I could imagine Susan Burton's childhood, the music of that era, the roughness of her brothers, her pain that caused her descent into addiction - then on to overcoming her addiction to becoming the voice and help for hundreds of women and children affected by drugs and societal inflictions of all the problems - I admire her SO much. This book is a must-read! Velma Jenkins Miami, Florida
Beautiful
I work in the criminal justice system and found the story compelling. I know all too well how we do far too little for those who need mental health and substance abuse treatment. Her story is like so many I've seen before. She has, however, made something beautiful out of her tragedies. Except, Ms. Burton, if you read this, there are many judges and prosecutors out there who also are passionate about change and reform but are crushed by caseloads and feel as though they are but a cog in that machine as well.
Simply Amazing
Becoming Ms. Burton is an incredible story about how unhealed trauma led to addiction and ultimately led to recovery and transformation. Susan Burton is an angel among women. She not only overcame abuse, addiction and incarceration, she went back to save other women who are suffering as well. This book is extremely readable. I read it in a single day. This book has inspired me to do more in my life to help those that are suffering. Once you read this book you will not soon forget Ms. Burton.
I chose to read this book to not only help understand my students but to help them become better individuals. After reading this book I plan on ...
Becoming Ms. Burton is an incredible story about the average person in America that has struggled with addiction and is caught up in the judicial system. Ms. Burton goes through her childhood, the death of her son, her addiction, and her success in becoming one of the country's leading voices for the formerly incarcerated. Her story is very touching although is not one of a kind. She makes a point in the book to explain that every life has a value and a meaning. Ms. Burton defied the odds of a repeated offender not only to turn her life around but to help others. Ms. Burton’s calling of life was truly to live the life she did, so she help make a difference and give opportunities to others. She created a foundation called A New Way of Life, this foundation has been successful in helping others turn their life’s around. I am a Teacher that works inside the prison system. I chose to read this book to not only help understand my students but to help them become better individuals. After reading this book I plan on sharing Ms. Burton story with them. Sometimes I feel that it takes a good success story to give incarcerated individuals the drive to better themselves. Ms. Burton has done a great good telling her life story and delivering the message in this Book A++++.
Couldn't put this book down...
This book was an amazing eye opener into inequalities in our justice system especially in terms of race and wealth. Ms. Burton's compelling life story is inspirational in how the first half of her life was full of turmoil and incarceration and now she is a leader in prison reform. This autobiographical story had me in tears of anger, frustration, sadness, and eventually joy. I recommend this book to everyone.
Inspiring and informative true story
Every person with no experience with the inside of the criminal justice system should read this book. Susan Burton’s story is inspiring. She’s overcome tremendous trauma and adversity. Her book also sheds light on the inequities of a system that treats trauma, grief and addiction in people of color with incarceration and demeaning conditions. Ms. Burton sheds light on these inequities and then she does things to change the outcomes and life experiences of other people. Big things!
A heroic life calls us for action. So much is possible!
This book is a complete page-turner and a much needed first-person voice in the realms of courageous, resilient lives who heal and overcome tremendous challenges. Ms. Burton's life is big because of her outstanding living, big risks, big healing, and big movement building. She exposes how systems intertwine in the lives of Black and Brown people in our country an how essential it is for us to build a movement, to demand more of ourselves, our own lives, and most importantly our institutions. Even so, even if you put the book down half-way through you'd knwo what an extraordinary woman this is. Read it all, and claim more for your own life, too! Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work with this motivating, inspiring, call to action!
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