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Path to Freedom: My Story of Perseverance
“Conrad- I finished reading your manuscript, it was riveting! I think it should be made into a movie. You provided me with an enlightening look into a country I knew very little about, and into a fellow West Pointer who, after reading his work, I feel I could call a friend and a compatriot.” - Kevin Mckeown, West Point Class of 1977
Little about Conrad Taylor’s primitive upbringing, in a remote mining town carved into the upper reaches of the Amazon jungle, prepared him for a first-of-a-kind scholarship to the United States Military Academy. Merely an extraordinary opportunity for most Americans, it was a life-changer for him. Culture shock hardened the ensuing West Point Experience. Third World politics tested it - severely.
“Path to Freedom” is an inspirational memoir. It charts a sometimes-humorous journey of perseverance, resilience, hope, survival, and love, as its author traverses between Guyana and the highly-regimented United States Military Academy – at the height of the Vietnam War. It has a simple proposition - fly-or-die. The narrative sums up rude awakenings, especially after West Point - because of West Point.
The book describes what happened upon the author’s return in 1973 to a government turned repressive, anti-American, and paranoid - overnight. The Soviet-leaning, Cold-War-era dictatorship feared regime change. Its leaders obsessed about him being in cahoots with the United States. His was the impossible task of proving that he was not – or else!
Taylor’s journey forged a unique prism through which aficionados of true stories could get a peek at the cultural trauma of emigration, the personal side of Cold-War-era geopolitics, and the mayhem of Third World politics. The view will be nostalgic for some, shocking for many, and enlightening for others.
Like Chris Gardner’s “Pursuit of Happyness,” which is the basis of a blockbuster film starring Will Smith, “Path to Freedom” has cinematic potential. Its backdrop, which is an underdeveloped Amazonian region of South America and the wind-swept plains of West Point, will enchant - at the very least. Its subtly-threaded love story sets it apart.
More than a memoir, the book’s travelogue element - exotic ecology, culture, politics, history, and geography - is captivating. The truth-is-stranger-than-fiction arc of the historically-accurate “Path to Freedom” and its unsophisticated, naive foreigner-at-West Point aspect is riveting.
“Path to Freedom” reads like a novel.
Little about Conrad Taylor’s primitive upbringing, in a remote mining town carved into the upper reaches of the Amazon jungle, prepared him for a first-of-a-kind scholarship to the United States Military Academy. Merely an extraordinary opportunity for most Americans, it was a life-changer for him. Culture shock hardened the ensuing West Point Experience. Third World politics tested it - severely.
“Path to Freedom” is an inspirational memoir. It charts a sometimes-humorous journey of perseverance, resilience, hope, survival, and love, as its author traverses between Guyana and the highly-regimented United States Military Academy – at the height of the Vietnam War. It has a simple proposition - fly-or-die. The narrative sums up rude awakenings, especially after West Point - because of West Point.
The book describes what happened upon the author’s return in 1973 to a government turned repressive, anti-American, and paranoid - overnight. The Soviet-leaning, Cold-War-era dictatorship feared regime change. Its leaders obsessed about him being in cahoots with the United States. His was the impossible task of proving that he was not – or else!
Taylor’s journey forged a unique prism through which aficionados of true stories could get a peek at the cultural trauma of emigration, the personal side of Cold-War-era geopolitics, and the mayhem of Third World politics. The view will be nostalgic for some, shocking for many, and enlightening for others.
Like Chris Gardner’s “Pursuit of Happyness,” which is the basis of a blockbuster film starring Will Smith, “Path to Freedom” has cinematic potential. Its backdrop, which is an underdeveloped Amazonian region of South America and the wind-swept plains of West Point, will enchant - at the very least. Its subtly-threaded love story sets it apart.
More than a memoir, the book’s travelogue element - exotic ecology, culture, politics, history, and geography - is captivating. The truth-is-stranger-than-fiction arc of the historically-accurate “Path to Freedom” and its unsophisticated, naive foreigner-at-West Point aspect is riveting.
“Path to Freedom” reads like a novel.
- GenresMemoir
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2011
2 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Conrad Taylor
4 books7 followersConrad Taylor is a multiple-award-winning author, West Point graduate, former Guyana Defence Force officer, and expert advisor to upper management executives. His military memoir, PATH to FREEDOM: My Story of Perseverance, has won in international competition with traditionally and independently published authors. The paperback edition is on display at the Anacostia Museum Library of The Smithsonian Institute as a reference on the history and culture of black people in the Western Hemisphere.
Among Conrad's awards is an "Honorable Mention" in the Non-Fiction Military category of the Readers' Favorite 2014 International Book Awards Contest. The citation is pictured below.
In addition to winning the Honorable Mention, Conrad has also won a:
- Readers' Favorite 5-Star Seal
- B.R.A.G. MedallionTM Honoree Seal
- Royal Palm Literary Award Silver Seal
Conrad grew up in Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America. He holds a Bachelor's in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master's in Management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, and an Executive Program Certification from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. He is an avid soccer fan, played for ARMY in three NCAA playoffs, and assisted in coaching four youth teams to Illinois State Soccer Championships. All systems worked well in those days.
Among Conrad's awards is an "Honorable Mention" in the Non-Fiction Military category of the Readers' Favorite 2014 International Book Awards Contest. The citation is pictured below.
In addition to winning the Honorable Mention, Conrad has also won a:
- Readers' Favorite 5-Star Seal
- B.R.A.G. MedallionTM Honoree Seal
- Royal Palm Literary Award Silver Seal
Conrad grew up in Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America. He holds a Bachelor's in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master's in Management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, and an Executive Program Certification from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. He is an avid soccer fan, played for ARMY in three NCAA playoffs, and assisted in coaching four youth teams to Illinois State Soccer Championships. All systems worked well in those days.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The author, Conrad Taylor, was one my classmates at West Point. He and I were in the same New Cadet Company (Beast Barracks) our first summer. Conrad was one of several international students...he was from Guayana. Being from a rural, farming town (population 187), I didn't know exactly where Guayana was but I WAS pretty sure it wasn't one of the lower, continental United States. I have two distinct memories that involve Conrad that summer:
1. We were standing in line to get vaccinations and he asked me, "What are 'shots?'" I told him he would find out soon enough and try not to flinch since they were using one of those new, air guns. Afterward, as we were hustling back to our barracks, I told him "Welcome to America."
2. About once every two weeks, one person from each squad (8-10 people) would be allowed to make a "boodle" run. (Think candy, cookies, treats, etc.) I was representing my squad and Conrad was representing his squad. I saw him wandering around the "Boodlers." He asked me, "What are 'candy bars?'"
Conrad could have been the only person that summer in greater culture shock than this farm boy from Idaho. He does a terrific job in the book of describing West Point and his transition to a totally different life style. One cute observation he makes is that he really hadn't understood that the "Military" in the US Military Academy indicated he would be undertaking a strict, disciplined, demanding lifestyle. Prior to getting there, he thought he was just going to college on a scholarship.
One touching experience tore at my heart. Like most of us, he was seriously questioning whether or not he had made the right decision during those first 8 weeks. After about a month, we were allowed a little time off and could find a place to call home. Conrad called a neighbor's house (collect) since his parents didn't have a phone. He talked for quite awhile with his mother who listened and tried not to be judgmental. In the book, he tells us that call cost his family two month's of his father's salary! However, it was a turning point for Conrad and he never again thought of leaving. When considered in that light, it was a terrific investment!
This is a wonderful, true story about one person's maturation and ultimately, his escape from a homeland that had become dictatorial. Nicely done, Conrad!
1. We were standing in line to get vaccinations and he asked me, "What are 'shots?'" I told him he would find out soon enough and try not to flinch since they were using one of those new, air guns. Afterward, as we were hustling back to our barracks, I told him "Welcome to America."
2. About once every two weeks, one person from each squad (8-10 people) would be allowed to make a "boodle" run. (Think candy, cookies, treats, etc.) I was representing my squad and Conrad was representing his squad. I saw him wandering around the "Boodlers." He asked me, "What are 'candy bars?'"
Conrad could have been the only person that summer in greater culture shock than this farm boy from Idaho. He does a terrific job in the book of describing West Point and his transition to a totally different life style. One cute observation he makes is that he really hadn't understood that the "Military" in the US Military Academy indicated he would be undertaking a strict, disciplined, demanding lifestyle. Prior to getting there, he thought he was just going to college on a scholarship.
One touching experience tore at my heart. Like most of us, he was seriously questioning whether or not he had made the right decision during those first 8 weeks. After about a month, we were allowed a little time off and could find a place to call home. Conrad called a neighbor's house (collect) since his parents didn't have a phone. He talked for quite awhile with his mother who listened and tried not to be judgmental. In the book, he tells us that call cost his family two month's of his father's salary! However, it was a turning point for Conrad and he never again thought of leaving. When considered in that light, it was a terrific investment!
This is a wonderful, true story about one person's maturation and ultimately, his escape from a homeland that had become dictatorial. Nicely done, Conrad!
October 14, 2021
I worked for Conrad early on in my career in marketing while working for a start up water filtration company. His leadership and way of treating everyone with respect no matter their position impressed me greatly then and has stayed with me to this day some 25+ years later. I found his memoir very interesting.
June 24, 2016
WordsAPlenty received from the author a copy of Path to Freedom: My Story of Perseverance by Conrad Taylor in exchange for an honest review.
Path to Freedom: My Story of Perseverance written by Conrad Taylor is an exciting memoir of his life during a difficult and violent time. Taylor grew up in a small mining town in Guyana, South America and one of two young men selected to attend West Point Military Academy. The culture shock was enough to send Taylor spinning but then adding the demanding life of a West Point cadet, it is surprising he survived the experience as balanced as he did.
The stipulations of attending the West Point Military Academy required he return to Guyana to fulfill the conditions of his scholarship. Naïvely, Taylor went back expecting a high paying job within the government only to discover the Guyana he once knew was no more. Instead a dictatorship with a strong relationship with the Soviet Union was at odds with the US. The power-hungry, greed driven leadership trusted no one, especially the two West Point graduates. Taylor and his friend Chait had to prove they were no traitors or spies pigeon-holing the two young men into career and life choices that make their continued existence questionable.
“Unhappily, Prime Minster Burnham and other power brokers peered at me through a curtain of self-induced paranoia that clouded their judgment. They saw me more as a liability than asset and as a problem to be solved rather than a resource to be fully utilized. They placed personal wants and their desire for unfettered power ahead of national needs. Personal ambitions subordinated national interests all too often.”
Taylor does an outstanding job of making the story flow between accurate historical accounts and his own personal experiences during this difficult time of the Cold-War Era. He communicates clearly with his words the fears and frustrations he and his family experienced both in the US and home in Guyana. One would expect the massive amount of historical information would be boring or overwhelming and sound text bookish; Taylor is an exceptional story teller. He makes the connections between historical information and his experiences blend together seamlessly.
Although most people know of the unrest during this period, I would venture a guess that what Taylor reveals would be considered unthinkable and appalling to most back then and today. I read this book over several days, far longer than I would normally have taken because it was heart wrenching. Taylor made me feel his pain and frustration, the unfairness of being hazed and a foreigner as well as being home and isolated because of politics. This book covers a wide berth of emotions, history and humanness. I was left asking myself how anyone could survive and still be strong emotionally and mentally to carry on with life. Some of his experiences seem almost “made for the movies” with sneaking, hiding in plain sight and so on.
“Mayo drove my family and me to Timehri International Airport. Navigating Timehri and taking off, successfully, promised to be the trickiest in the last stage of the clandestine emigration process. The “last mile” required the utmost caution.”
Taylor is masterful at crafting the story. His words are clear and the image he wishes to project is powerful. With a large number of memoirs it is an opportunity to share a story with a narrow focus; Taylor shares so much more in his memoir. This is one of those books that evokes thought and questions.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is powerful, historically accurate, and insightful.
WordsAPlenty gives this book a well-deserved 5 star rating.
Path to Freedom: My Story of Perseverance written by Conrad Taylor is an exciting memoir of his life during a difficult and violent time. Taylor grew up in a small mining town in Guyana, South America and one of two young men selected to attend West Point Military Academy. The culture shock was enough to send Taylor spinning but then adding the demanding life of a West Point cadet, it is surprising he survived the experience as balanced as he did.
The stipulations of attending the West Point Military Academy required he return to Guyana to fulfill the conditions of his scholarship. Naïvely, Taylor went back expecting a high paying job within the government only to discover the Guyana he once knew was no more. Instead a dictatorship with a strong relationship with the Soviet Union was at odds with the US. The power-hungry, greed driven leadership trusted no one, especially the two West Point graduates. Taylor and his friend Chait had to prove they were no traitors or spies pigeon-holing the two young men into career and life choices that make their continued existence questionable.
“Unhappily, Prime Minster Burnham and other power brokers peered at me through a curtain of self-induced paranoia that clouded their judgment. They saw me more as a liability than asset and as a problem to be solved rather than a resource to be fully utilized. They placed personal wants and their desire for unfettered power ahead of national needs. Personal ambitions subordinated national interests all too often.”
Taylor does an outstanding job of making the story flow between accurate historical accounts and his own personal experiences during this difficult time of the Cold-War Era. He communicates clearly with his words the fears and frustrations he and his family experienced both in the US and home in Guyana. One would expect the massive amount of historical information would be boring or overwhelming and sound text bookish; Taylor is an exceptional story teller. He makes the connections between historical information and his experiences blend together seamlessly.
Although most people know of the unrest during this period, I would venture a guess that what Taylor reveals would be considered unthinkable and appalling to most back then and today. I read this book over several days, far longer than I would normally have taken because it was heart wrenching. Taylor made me feel his pain and frustration, the unfairness of being hazed and a foreigner as well as being home and isolated because of politics. This book covers a wide berth of emotions, history and humanness. I was left asking myself how anyone could survive and still be strong emotionally and mentally to carry on with life. Some of his experiences seem almost “made for the movies” with sneaking, hiding in plain sight and so on.
“Mayo drove my family and me to Timehri International Airport. Navigating Timehri and taking off, successfully, promised to be the trickiest in the last stage of the clandestine emigration process. The “last mile” required the utmost caution.”
Taylor is masterful at crafting the story. His words are clear and the image he wishes to project is powerful. With a large number of memoirs it is an opportunity to share a story with a narrow focus; Taylor shares so much more in his memoir. This is one of those books that evokes thought and questions.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is powerful, historically accurate, and insightful.
WordsAPlenty gives this book a well-deserved 5 star rating.
October 19, 2014
**I received this book from the author to read and review**
Original review posted here: http://superbookgrl13.blogspot.com/20...
I was asked to read and review this book from the author. This is a coming of age auto biographical book, that follows the author through some main points of his young life up living in Guyana South America, follows him through his scholarship to West Point, then after he went back to Guyana, where is government thinks he's a spy for America.
My favorite part of the entire book was the beginning. The author clearly loves where he grew up his description of the beautiful of Guyana, and the waterfalls, and wild life and trees, I really need to add this place to my bucketlist to go see all of it, especially the waterfall. I've never heard of Guyana before, but the description made me feel like I was there.
There were a few points through the book that I wish were elaborated on, because the briefest mention was made, but then nothing beyond that, curious minds need to know ALL. The memories and culture shock of arriving in America were interesting to read, I wish there were more mention, if he had problems as far as racism or anything like that, There were a lot of hazing and seemingly awful memories of West Point, I kind of wondered if there were many good memories, and wish I had gotten to read some of those. I'm walking away from this book with the thoughts of bullying and WP being awful, there didn't seem to be any happiness except for when there were more freedom allowed to go visit Ona (girlfriend at the time). Oh and why after marrying Ona did he go back but she stay in the US? I was confused at that part.
It was an easy read, though filled with lots of facts and details about political things going on at the time, both in Guyana and West Point. The author is very articulate and well written, and it was obvious he went through so much, and it was obviously painful to go through that, when he the place where he was born. Good book!
Original review posted here: http://superbookgrl13.blogspot.com/20...
I was asked to read and review this book from the author. This is a coming of age auto biographical book, that follows the author through some main points of his young life up living in Guyana South America, follows him through his scholarship to West Point, then after he went back to Guyana, where is government thinks he's a spy for America.
My favorite part of the entire book was the beginning. The author clearly loves where he grew up his description of the beautiful of Guyana, and the waterfalls, and wild life and trees, I really need to add this place to my bucketlist to go see all of it, especially the waterfall. I've never heard of Guyana before, but the description made me feel like I was there.
There were a few points through the book that I wish were elaborated on, because the briefest mention was made, but then nothing beyond that, curious minds need to know ALL. The memories and culture shock of arriving in America were interesting to read, I wish there were more mention, if he had problems as far as racism or anything like that, There were a lot of hazing and seemingly awful memories of West Point, I kind of wondered if there were many good memories, and wish I had gotten to read some of those. I'm walking away from this book with the thoughts of bullying and WP being awful, there didn't seem to be any happiness except for when there were more freedom allowed to go visit Ona (girlfriend at the time). Oh and why after marrying Ona did he go back but she stay in the US? I was confused at that part.
It was an easy read, though filled with lots of facts and details about political things going on at the time, both in Guyana and West Point. The author is very articulate and well written, and it was obvious he went through so much, and it was obviously painful to go through that, when he the place where he was born. Good book!
October 22, 2014
Conrad Taylor's memoir Path to Freedom tells a unique life story that at times is stranger and creepier than fiction. Taylor, one of the two first Guyanese citizens to receive appointments to West Point, returns to Guyana with all of the enthusiasm and idealism that could be expected from a new graduate. But Taylor is greeted by a country he almost no longer recognizes, one sliding toward totalitarianism under the paranoid Prime Minister Forbes Burnham. Taylor's West Point background ironically makes him the target of harassment and surveillance by own country's secret police. Yet that same background is the one that gives him a foundation to persevere, survive, and ultimately triumph - sometimes by "playing along", and sometimes by taking bold steps to chart his own future at considerable risk to him and his family. Taylor often blames himself for misguided optimism in returning to Guyana, but it can be safely stated that most West Pointers would want to similarly step up to enormous challenges to help their country. Unfortunately Taylor's country didn't step up to help him when he needed it the most. A great read and inspiring story.
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May 30, 2019
Path to Freedom is an extremely interesting read, thanks to Taylor’s talent for illustrating his life’s journey in such a fascinating way that I found this book difficult to put down until the end. - Excerpt from Readers' Favorite 2014 International Book Awards Review
October 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. First of all my brother went to West Point with Conrad Taylor. Second, I'm a sucker for good memoirs and this one was not a disappointment. It was interesting to read about the history of Guyana and it's government. I just marvel people like Conrad and their drive to get to their "Path to Freedom".
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May 7, 2024
It is a very good read. It was a little confusing with all the different people and their government positions, but I would say that the story-telling was entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good memoir.
October 18, 2015
Absolutely love this book!
January 22, 2015
Review available here: https://booksandbrooches.wordpress.co...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews