Better, Not Bitter

Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice

By: Yusef Salaam

Narrated by: Yusef Salaam

Named a Best Book of 2021 by NPR

This inspirational memoir serves as a call to action from prison reform activist Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated Five, to turn our stories into tools for change in the pursuit of racial justice.

They didn't know who they had. So begins Yusef Salaam telling his story. No one's life is the sum of the worst things that happened to them, and during Yusef Salaam's seven years of wrongful incarceration as one of the Central Park Five, he grew from child to man, and gained a spiritual perspective on life. Yusef learned that we're all "born on purpose, with a purpose."

Despite having confronted the racist heart of America while being "run over by the spiked wheels of injustice," Yusef channeled his energy and pain into something positive, not just for himself but for other marginalized people and communities. Better Not Bitter is the first time that one of the now Exonerated Five is telling his individual story, in his own words. Yusef writes about growing up Black in central Harlem in the '80s, being raised by a strong, fierce mother and grandmother, his years of incarceration, his reentry, and exoneration. Yusef connects these stories to lessons and principles he learned that gave him the power to survive through the worst of life's experiences. He inspires readers to accept their own path, and to understand their own sense of purpose.

With his intimate personal insights, Yusef unpacks the systems built and designed for profit and the oppression of Black and Brown people. He inspires readers to channel their fury into action, and through the spiritual, to turn that anger and trauma into a constructive force that lives alongside accountability and mobilizes change.

Yusef Salaam's message is vital for our times. Better, Not Bitter has the power to soothe, inspire and transform. It is a galvanizing call to action.

"Salaam's compelling memoir is one of astounding warmth ... This book should be read by anyone who wants to hear the story of the Exonerated Five directly from one of its members.” ―NPR

"An important memoir and call to action that sheds light on the personal injustices of mass incarceration." ―Library Journal

“Warm, generous, and inspirational: a book for everyone.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Inspiring and Powerful

This book tells a magnificent story of someone who was treated very unfairly but instead a bitterness chose instead to perform actions that were more conducive to his own personal spiritual growth and inspire others to do the same while telling his story.

Destiny was coming no matter what !

The only way to explain how he can bounce back from all the cruel and unfair treatment is to have faith discipline and a great support like this amazing man and the other I'm so grateful and blessed to hear the faith and determination in his voice .

Powerfully Motivating

This book is a must read for young men and women trying to find their purpose in life. Yusef shows how to use your mind to overcome harsh advertises.

Absolutely a must read/listen

This book is so inspiring! The performance by its author is simply outstanding… one of these books that stays with you…

Better and Certainly NOT Bitter

I first became interested in the Central Park Five's story (now the Exonerated Five ) when I saw Matias Reyes confessed to the rape on the New York Nightly News. I remember the five youthful boys who were my age when they got arrested and wrongfully convicted. I could not imagine what my life would have been like had I been them. My heart immediately felt for their innocence. In this book, we are brought into the psyche of an intelligent and gifted teenage boy who turns into a mature and spiritual man...thanks to his doting mother.

Unlike the other wrongfully accused, Yusef was able to escape prison mentally by engaging deeper into his faith. A faith that protected him and prevented him from serving a very long time in prison. A faith that saved him from receiving harsher cruelties from inmates as did his fellow friend, Korey Wise. Once released, Yusef faced a hard reality that even his mother couldn't protect him from. A reality that life on the outside meant it was time to become a man.

At times, the book does get a little preachy, but it wasn't so bad that it made me stop reading. Overall, I would recommend this book as required reading. I think it would be helpful to our youth and college students. It's quite engaging.