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Young Offender
- My Life from Armed Robber to Local Hero
- Narrated by: Michael Maisey
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime
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Summary
Michael Maisey was excited the day he was locked up in the notorious Feltham Young Offenders Institute. He was going to be a legend to all his mates. The 16 year old was in for attempted murder. He was innocent of this particular crime but amongst the violent and dangerous young men on his wing he was about to learn exactly how far he’d go to survive.
In Young Offender we see what turned a good kid into a wanted criminal. Abused by his uncle, bullied at school, at the age of 12 he found the safety he craved in the ranks of a local gang in West London. He graduated from shoplifting to armed robbery and for five years Michael was in and out of Feltham, on a downward spiral of crime and drug and alcohol addiction. At rock bottom, he began attending AA meetings. But the road to recovery would mean changing himself in the deepest possible ways. Could Michael finally learn what it meant to be a good man?
Honest and inspiring, this is a powerful story of redemption. Today Michael is a successful businessman and a loving father who spends time helping others find their way.
Critic reviews
"Courageous and brutally honest." (Ollie Ollerton, ex-Special Forces soldier)
"A memoir to shine a light in the darkest of nights...a story of redemption." (Journalist Tony Parsons)
What listeners say about Young Offender
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- SheRed
- 06-07-20
There's a reason why this book has 5 star reviews
Michael gives an honest account of his life and struggles he faced before becoming a better person. I have never felt so frustrated when listening to how time and time again Michael would fall off the wagon, however, this book gives you insight as to why this happens, and demonstrates that a person not only has to be ready themselves but has to surrounded by people who will support them 100%.
A truly inspiring book and I urge everyone to read/listen to the book. It will give hope to addicts and it will open the eyes of judgemental people.
3 people found this helpful
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- yellow top
- 17-07-19
Highly Recommend
Even just as a listener I feel so proud of Michael, there are some similarities between our upbringings, so I can truly appreciate what an extraordinary man he is. Well written, well narrated. Great value for money, I highly recommend this audiobook.
3 people found this helpful
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- Kevin Bennison
- 02-02-21
Moving and Inspiring
What this man has been through - largely with the battles with his own demons - and still come out the other side is astonishing!
Anyone who has genuinely battled with patterns of self-sabotage will get some sense of how difficult it must’ve been for Michael to turn his life around.
Listening to his book makes me think ‘if he can do it from the circumstances he’s been in, I’m sure I must be able to!’
It’s truly wonderful to see people like Michael go beyond the darkness and have a positive impact upon others trying to do the same.
Thanks Brother! 🙌
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr S Johnson
- 04-07-22
Fantastic listen!!
What a lad! I couldn’t stop listening. Micheal you are an inspiration mate. Keep up the good work!! Brilliant x
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- Eva Davison
- 27-06-22
unforgettable honesty.
The exceptional honesty of this book has made me revise my feelings of sympathy towards people who, because of their circumstances , have ended up in prison and have ruined their lives because of their addictions.
My feelings now go deeper than that. Because of Michael Maisey's tragic story I now have greater empathy for these poor souls that life has dealt such a bad hand. I sincerely view them as life's victims and realise that they need help. Unfortunately with our present system and shortage of man power this help is so rarely given to them. This makes me feel both angry and sad. Our government has to realise that investing in helping people instead of punishing them, should be the way forward.
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- Anonymous User
- 14-06-22
Really enjoyable read
Everything about this book was told from the heart. it was difficult and troubling to hear in parts, but necessary to listen to to understand Michaels life. im so glad i downloaded it.
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- Georgina Hill
- 29-05-22
Will be one of those books I’ll always remember as my life goes by…
What Michael has been through in his life and how he’s come out the other side is the most inspirational story I’ve probably ever heard and ever will.
What an incredible human being to survive what he has and write about it in such detail. I was hooked and while packing to move house listened to this on audio and hid away from the children just to find out how his life turned out.
Thank you Michael wishing you all the best in Devon.
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- nicki
- 02-05-22
A true story of per ardua
Lots missed out or skimmed over in the book. A good read plus not too much on his up bringing but enough so you know where he’s coming from. With the stories about Jamaica I was cringing before the end cause you knew where it was heading.
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- jonathan herd
- 08-04-22
Inspirational and brilliant
Honest, heartfelt and powerfully vulnerable account. Michael's life story is heart rending, poignant and inspirational. Due anyone stifling with addiction it provides a real source of hope.
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- francesca Principe
- 10-03-22
Brilliant. Raw. Heartbreaking.
Living in the same area as Michael was the first reason I wanted to read this book.
Reading about Michael’s struggles and extremely dark times in his life, was the reason I continued to read the book.
Through this well written real life story, it is a reminder to everyone out there with addictions; broken families; lack of education and lack of positive role models that there is in fact always hope. Hope for us all.
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- Timothy Hill
- 11-07-19
Simply powerful!
I’ve spent the last 8 hours reading this book both on the Kindle and on Audible. It is truly powerful and inspiring to absorb how a troubled young boy and teenager who went through unimaginable turmoil has pulled himself together and turned his life into a success story.
Most of all, I respect Michael’s honestly. This book is unlike the dozens of similar “zero to hero” books, many of which are righteous and self-promoting. This piece of work is as authentic as it gets and the Michael you get to know throughout the journey of his book is the same Michael in real life... honest and genuine.
Buy it for you and for friends and family!