CIJD Book Review | NNN

UAM Participant - Summer 2025

This book? It didn’t just speak to me, it called to me.

And not like some trendy self-help fluff.

Crime Is Just Dumb cracked open deep ancestral grief and raw, hard truths about prison, trauma, and survival truths that ripple far beyond the pages, into our communities and our spirits.

Tony’s stories of Whopper, the relentless grind of Texas State Reformatory, and the soul-crushing isolation of “The Hole” broke down the harsh reality that crime doesn’t just ruin one life it fractures families, poisons communities, and traps spirits in cycles of pain.

But it’s not just a story about despair it’s a wake-up call. It reminds us that every decision matters. The consequences and ramifications ripple outward, echoing through generations.

And yet, it also lights a path to hope.

I deeply agree with Tony’s message about taking the time today to create real change to stay disciplined, to guard our minds against negative thoughts, and to step away from toxic people. This is not just advice; it’s a spiritual practice, a way to honor ourselves and those who came before us.

This book is a guide for those who want to break the cycle to rise above the weight of trauma and systemic violence, to claim their freedom not just in body, but in mind and spirit.

If you listen carefully, it’s a call to choose life . . .

Choose love . . .

Choose community . . .

Choose to be the change-maker . . .

In a world that desperately needs healing.

Nothing changes the fact that one bad decision . . .

can take away . . .

H E A L I N G!

Jump to Book Reviews

Jump to Home Page