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An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son
A “powerful and insightful” (Cyntoia Brown-Long, author of Free Cyntoia) memoir in the vein of Just Mercy and The Sum of Us that upends our understanding about the future of policing in the United States and explores how we can begin healing from systemic injustice.
In 2012, nineteen-year-old Leon Ford was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer during a racially charged traffic stop stemming from a case of mistaken identity. When he woke up in the hospital, he was faced with two life-changing realities: he was a new father, and he was paralyzed from the waist down. Leon found the only way to move forward was to let go of his bitterness and learn to practice forgiveness.
Now, in this memoir and manifesto, Leon illustrates how this harrowing experience has inspired a deep reckoning with the issues his community is facing, not only with police brutality, but also an epidemic of street violence, toxic masculinity and its impact on Black fatherhood, and the lack of disability rights and mental health access in disenfranchised communities. In the wake of countless similar shootings across the country, Leon details how he turned towards social activism, dedicating himself to bridging the gap between the police and the communities they are supposed to serve.
With a voice filled with “healing, triumph, and resilience” (Shaka Senghor, bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs), Ford offers fresh, counterintuitive ways we can effect social change. Leon shows us how, together, we can move away from retribution and towards transformative justice in order to end police brutality and heal as a country. As he once said, “Lead with love. Start compassionate conversations even with individuals and systems that have caused you pain. I know from experience that you can make your pain purposeful.”
In 2012, nineteen-year-old Leon Ford was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer during a racially charged traffic stop stemming from a case of mistaken identity. When he woke up in the hospital, he was faced with two life-changing realities: he was a new father, and he was paralyzed from the waist down. Leon found the only way to move forward was to let go of his bitterness and learn to practice forgiveness.
Now, in this memoir and manifesto, Leon illustrates how this harrowing experience has inspired a deep reckoning with the issues his community is facing, not only with police brutality, but also an epidemic of street violence, toxic masculinity and its impact on Black fatherhood, and the lack of disability rights and mental health access in disenfranchised communities. In the wake of countless similar shootings across the country, Leon details how he turned towards social activism, dedicating himself to bridging the gap between the police and the communities they are supposed to serve.
With a voice filled with “healing, triumph, and resilience” (Shaka Senghor, bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs), Ford offers fresh, counterintuitive ways we can effect social change. Leon shows us how, together, we can move away from retribution and towards transformative justice in order to end police brutality and heal as a country. As he once said, “Lead with love. Start compassionate conversations even with individuals and systems that have caused you pain. I know from experience that you can make your pain purposeful.”
Audiobook
First published May 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 3, 2024
Wow, what a deep but meaningful story. I loved how he triumphed over something so terrible yet didn't let it change him for the bad. He's truly a remarkable person and inspiring. I enjoyed all of this. I shed so many tears for him while reading this. He is truly inspiring and courageous not to let that type of incident turn him into something bad and teaching wonderful things to his son in the midst of all of it. I truly think this is something a lot of people should read. It's raw, deep, and eye-opening. This truly was remarkable and left me speechless! I'm in awe!
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
November 11, 2023
As a Black American woman, mother, and diversity practitioner, this is THE most important book I’ve read for the times we’re living in.
In November 11, 2012, 19 year old Leon Ford was pulled over by police. In a case of mistaken identity, Leon ended up being shot 5 times, leaving him paralyzed.
The embodiment of love, humility, empowerment, authenticity, and more, Leon walks readers through his life story in a way that’s raw, unapologetic, insightful, and deeply emotional.
A phoenix personified, Leon is changing lives, changing communities for the better. There are books that forever change you on the deepest level. I felt myself transform with every word. Some moments I felt affirmed; other moments I felt I was being challenged, and I loved every minute of it!
I finished this book on what’s know in Pittsburgh as Leon Ford Day. This is the leader that I’ve connected with the most in the 21st century. His approach, philosophy, and story is inspiring to me in more ways than I can express. This book belongs in the hands of as many people as possible. Please read and support The Hear Foundation!
In November 11, 2012, 19 year old Leon Ford was pulled over by police. In a case of mistaken identity, Leon ended up being shot 5 times, leaving him paralyzed.
The embodiment of love, humility, empowerment, authenticity, and more, Leon walks readers through his life story in a way that’s raw, unapologetic, insightful, and deeply emotional.
A phoenix personified, Leon is changing lives, changing communities for the better. There are books that forever change you on the deepest level. I felt myself transform with every word. Some moments I felt affirmed; other moments I felt I was being challenged, and I loved every minute of it!
I finished this book on what’s know in Pittsburgh as Leon Ford Day. This is the leader that I’ve connected with the most in the 21st century. His approach, philosophy, and story is inspiring to me in more ways than I can express. This book belongs in the hands of as many people as possible. Please read and support The Hear Foundation!
June 19, 2023
An Unspeakable hope by Leon Ford is inspiring, raw, heartfelt, overcoming adversity and creating real change.
"My advice to Activists: prioritize family, prioritize children."
"My advice to Activists: prioritize family, prioritize children."
June 1, 2024
Leon Ford tells his devastating personal story of police brutality and how he chose to rebuild his life. His life is certainly an inspiration and a wonderful example he's setting for his young son. The ideas centered around transformative justice are worthy of everyone's attention. Ford admits that his financial situation put him at an advantage with some of the work he was able to do, but there are take-aways for every reader, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The narration is open and honest, but seems quite disjointed in the mechanics of the writing. It wasn't clear to me if this was an editorial weakness or an effort to reflect Ford existing in different worlds, but it never quite felt like the language of one story teller.
Overall, a worthy read for anyone who is interested in shaping change in the justice system.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Overall, a worthy read for anyone who is interested in shaping change in the justice system.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
January 17, 2024
Leon Ford’s story and subsequent influence in Pittsburgh are moving and powerful! I do not agree that turning the other cheek is passive, and I do not agree that if we do enough introspection (and thereby, reconciliation with others) we will self actualize and heal the world, even though those are definitely worthy pursuits. It feels like by believing everything, we actually believe nothing? Who knows. Not agreeing with those premises made it harder for me to appreciate everything said in the book. Regardless, I am thankful for the opportunity to have read Leon’s story.
February 21, 2024
This memoir is the story of Leon Ford, a 19 year old man who was pulled over while driving then, in a case of mistaken identity, was shot five times which results in paraplegia. I listened to the audio of this book, read by the author. Mr. Ford is a inspiration. He tells his story in an honest, unflinching and unapologetic way. He does not hide his flaws, and does not put himself on a pedestal. His growth after learning he would never walk again was difficult and fascinating. As President Obama said of Mr Ford, he is "a Phoenix." Leon Ford has gone to great lengths to make a difference in his community and is to be commended for his dedication to Pittsburgh and to his family. I aspire to be more like Leon Ford in many ways.
July 24, 2023
I enjoy hearing how candid and genuine Ford is.. While the last 100 pages felt like a motivational message, the overall book carries an eye opening narrative that will spark conversations and relationship building.
August 8, 2024
An incredible story about what reconciliation could look like in America from a man who has done much to make it happen. I am inspired by Leon Ford’s courage, forgiveness, and strength and believe that we all have much to learn from him.
May 13, 2023
"Each day that we are alive offers us the opportunity to give something positive to the world."
I try not to rate memoirs because who am I to judge someones life experience?
But this one. WOW. It is such a powerful story of one man's attempt at healing, forgiveness, and purpose as he wrestles with the events leading up to and the aftermath of a police shooting leaves him in a wheelchair.
"I'm living proof that change is possible. We can all be reborn. We can all discover the true self within. I'm not defined by the five bullets that entered my body. I'm not defined by being in a wheelchair. I'm defined by my humanity in the way that I engage with other human beings."
I love how this isn't just about the "what came next" in his story. This book fleshes out his background, his thought process, and his history that led him to that fateful day. We get a fully fleshed out story.
He goes through all the feelings - questioning, anger, resentment, acceptance, hope. And we follow his journey as he grows into the man, and father, he is today.
"Fathering has reinforced my belief that parents should expose their children to the world as it its and tell their children the truth."
And even after he becomes a champion for social justice, he still wrestles with demons. But through it all he chooses hope. He chooses forgiveness. He chooses building relationships.
"We can change the world through dialogue and collaboration. Nobody is coming to save us. We must engage in progressive conversations and find common ground. Noone can afford to turn a blind eye to public safety or politics."
This is an incredible journey that will inspire you and make you want to do better. For yourself, for your neighborhood, for your kids.
Thank you Atria books for sending this ARC my way!
If you want to see more of what I'm reading each day, follow me on Instagram
To watch my monthly updates and author chats, check out my Book Tube channel
To read my in depth reviews and see author Q&A's, head to my blog
All audio books are from Libro FM to support my local bookstore, Boulder Bookstore.
I try not to rate memoirs because who am I to judge someones life experience?
But this one. WOW. It is such a powerful story of one man's attempt at healing, forgiveness, and purpose as he wrestles with the events leading up to and the aftermath of a police shooting leaves him in a wheelchair.
"I'm living proof that change is possible. We can all be reborn. We can all discover the true self within. I'm not defined by the five bullets that entered my body. I'm not defined by being in a wheelchair. I'm defined by my humanity in the way that I engage with other human beings."
I love how this isn't just about the "what came next" in his story. This book fleshes out his background, his thought process, and his history that led him to that fateful day. We get a fully fleshed out story.
He goes through all the feelings - questioning, anger, resentment, acceptance, hope. And we follow his journey as he grows into the man, and father, he is today.
"Fathering has reinforced my belief that parents should expose their children to the world as it its and tell their children the truth."
And even after he becomes a champion for social justice, he still wrestles with demons. But through it all he chooses hope. He chooses forgiveness. He chooses building relationships.
"We can change the world through dialogue and collaboration. Nobody is coming to save us. We must engage in progressive conversations and find common ground. Noone can afford to turn a blind eye to public safety or politics."
This is an incredible journey that will inspire you and make you want to do better. For yourself, for your neighborhood, for your kids.
Thank you Atria books for sending this ARC my way!
If you want to see more of what I'm reading each day, follow me on Instagram
To watch my monthly updates and author chats, check out my Book Tube channel
To read my in depth reviews and see author Q&A's, head to my blog
All audio books are from Libro FM to support my local bookstore, Boulder Bookstore.
June 7, 2023
I have the great fortune of knowing and working with Leon Ford here in Pittsburgh. We hang out, eat tacos and generally crack each other up with all types of bad jokes. If you’ve ever seen him speak either live and in person or on the internet you already know what a dynamic orator he is, just an outstanding storyteller. His skill with words translates well to the page. This book left me first devastated by the various tragedies that his family has suffered and then inspired by how he is dealing with it.
Leon is all about family. His mother radiates love from her welcoming eyes, his father is hilarious, and his son LJ is simply amazing. A beautiful and deeply human family, without even mentioning his sister, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandfather and grandmother. There certainly are a lot of them and I’m not even sure how many of them are really related, but that’s probably the point; they bring you in and make you part of the family.
That’s sort of what Leon does with this book. He’s been closely watching his family, his community, his city since he was a very small boy, figuring how everything works, how all the pieces go together. He shares these stories in a way that allows you to sort out how and why everything happened the way it did, he welcomes you to the family. Then he lays out the details of his journey so far and offers the outline of how we all, people with divergent perspectives from various groups, can move forward together. We have to sit down and talk, resist judging each other, find common ground and build the sort of world our children deserve. That might sound overly simplistic, but coming from a man who was able to meet and talk openly with the police officer that shot him, it is an incredible challenge to join the family. I hope we can live up to it.
Leon is all about family. His mother radiates love from her welcoming eyes, his father is hilarious, and his son LJ is simply amazing. A beautiful and deeply human family, without even mentioning his sister, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandfather and grandmother. There certainly are a lot of them and I’m not even sure how many of them are really related, but that’s probably the point; they bring you in and make you part of the family.
That’s sort of what Leon does with this book. He’s been closely watching his family, his community, his city since he was a very small boy, figuring how everything works, how all the pieces go together. He shares these stories in a way that allows you to sort out how and why everything happened the way it did, he welcomes you to the family. Then he lays out the details of his journey so far and offers the outline of how we all, people with divergent perspectives from various groups, can move forward together. We have to sit down and talk, resist judging each other, find common ground and build the sort of world our children deserve. That might sound overly simplistic, but coming from a man who was able to meet and talk openly with the police officer that shot him, it is an incredible challenge to join the family. I hope we can live up to it.
June 12, 2023
An Unspeakable Hope was a very difficult book to read. Leon Ford's life and circumstances are very different from my own and yet, as he concludes, we, as people, have certain things in common. The book is written as if the author were speaking. For me, that sometimes made it hard to follow; the timeline shifts and there are so many people mentioned. (I think that the written word should be more formal.) It might be more difficult for someone not from Pittsburgh to understand the many references to places. Yet, this was a book that I stayed up late reading and I am still thinking about Leon and his goals. I truly hope that he succeeds in making a better world for his son and everyone else.
"I realized that I lived in two worlds. In one, Black people created their own culture as a means of survival, while in the other white people condemned that culture - even though their dark history played a key role in creating the world where we were forced to struggle to survive." (26)
"I recognized that I was intelligent, driven, and ambitious, but I had nobody in my life who could show me how to use my talents and energy in positive ways." (91)
An interesting part of the story is that Leon spent time in Europe, thinking about moving overseas. He started in Split, Croatia.
"Black people were noticeably absent from the city. Little did that matter to me. Being there, the weight of America was lifted. . .Wealth had given me the opportunity to travel, just as wealth has cushioned me somewhat from everyday racism." (229)
"To my way of thinking, when we have conversations as individuals, our differences don't matter." (244)
"I realized that I lived in two worlds. In one, Black people created their own culture as a means of survival, while in the other white people condemned that culture - even though their dark history played a key role in creating the world where we were forced to struggle to survive." (26)
"I recognized that I was intelligent, driven, and ambitious, but I had nobody in my life who could show me how to use my talents and energy in positive ways." (91)
An interesting part of the story is that Leon spent time in Europe, thinking about moving overseas. He started in Split, Croatia.
"Black people were noticeably absent from the city. Little did that matter to me. Being there, the weight of America was lifted. . .Wealth had given me the opportunity to travel, just as wealth has cushioned me somewhat from everyday racism." (229)
"To my way of thinking, when we have conversations as individuals, our differences don't matter." (244)
December 1, 2023
In 2012, nineteen-year-old Leon Ford was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer during a racially charged traffic stop stemming from a case of mistaken identity. When he woke up in the hospital, he was faced with two life-changing realities: he was a new father, and he was paralyzed from the waist down. Leon found the only way to move forward was to let go of his bitterness and learn to practice forgiveness.
Now, in this memoir and manifesto, Leon illustrates how this harrowing experience has inspired a deep reckoning with the issues his community is facing, not only with police brutality, but also an epidemic of street violence, toxic masculinity and its impact on Black fatherhood, and the lack of disability rights and mental health access in disenfranchised communities. In the wake of countless similar shootings across the country, Leon details how he turned towards social activism, dedicating himself to bridging the gap between the police and the communities they are supposed to serve.
With searing vulnerability and insight, Leon Ford reveals his compelling life story, reminding us that the gift of hope often comes in not-so-pretty wrappings of pain, loss, and forgiveness. An Unspeakable Hope illuminates Leon's inspiring journey as a Black man, a father, and a community leader, transforming his story of tragedy and injustice into a triumphant invitation for America's racial healing and repair. Read it and you'll certainly reap from Leon's unflinching love and light
Now, in this memoir and manifesto, Leon illustrates how this harrowing experience has inspired a deep reckoning with the issues his community is facing, not only with police brutality, but also an epidemic of street violence, toxic masculinity and its impact on Black fatherhood, and the lack of disability rights and mental health access in disenfranchised communities. In the wake of countless similar shootings across the country, Leon details how he turned towards social activism, dedicating himself to bridging the gap between the police and the communities they are supposed to serve.
With searing vulnerability and insight, Leon Ford reveals his compelling life story, reminding us that the gift of hope often comes in not-so-pretty wrappings of pain, loss, and forgiveness. An Unspeakable Hope illuminates Leon's inspiring journey as a Black man, a father, and a community leader, transforming his story of tragedy and injustice into a triumphant invitation for America's racial healing and repair. Read it and you'll certainly reap from Leon's unflinching love and light
June 28, 2024
This is one of my top reads of the year. This is a must-read for anyone looking to learn about racism, police brutality, or restorative justice.
I am not sure I have much to add to the conversation around this book, but what I can say is this: Leon Ford's story is important. Despite what he's been through, he's humble but self-assured in his message. He embraces his rough edges and owns his mistakes. He calls out performative activism and the tendency of the media/anti-racism advocacy crowd to try to clean up/white wash narratives of victims of racism and police brutality. No one should have to be perfect to be worthy of not being shot. He may not have been doing anything wrong at the time he was shot (in fact, he wasn't), but even if he had, the point is that his life would still matter and so do those of other people of color.
I also appreciated his words on knowing his limits. His whole life isn't what happened to him. He doesn't want to have to talk about his story everywhere he goes. He talks about being used by anti-racist advocates who don't care about him beyond what he can do to gather their attention. He talks about being used by lawyers to make a buck. While others have wanted him to enter politics, he's realized that he's more interested in building community than presiding over one. The work he's doing in his community is a model for what can be accomplished when love and respect are afforded even when perhaps they aren't earned.
Don't get me wrong—this book is a challenge and a call to action. It's also a call to accountability. But more than anything, it's a call to walk the walk (with practical examples) rather than JUST talk the talk.
I am not sure I have much to add to the conversation around this book, but what I can say is this: Leon Ford's story is important. Despite what he's been through, he's humble but self-assured in his message. He embraces his rough edges and owns his mistakes. He calls out performative activism and the tendency of the media/anti-racism advocacy crowd to try to clean up/white wash narratives of victims of racism and police brutality. No one should have to be perfect to be worthy of not being shot. He may not have been doing anything wrong at the time he was shot (in fact, he wasn't), but even if he had, the point is that his life would still matter and so do those of other people of color.
I also appreciated his words on knowing his limits. His whole life isn't what happened to him. He doesn't want to have to talk about his story everywhere he goes. He talks about being used by anti-racist advocates who don't care about him beyond what he can do to gather their attention. He talks about being used by lawyers to make a buck. While others have wanted him to enter politics, he's realized that he's more interested in building community than presiding over one. The work he's doing in his community is a model for what can be accomplished when love and respect are afforded even when perhaps they aren't earned.
Don't get me wrong—this book is a challenge and a call to action. It's also a call to accountability. But more than anything, it's a call to walk the walk (with practical examples) rather than JUST talk the talk.
April 27, 2023
Leon Ford's story is an inspiring and thought-provoking memoir that captivates readers from start to finish. From the very beginning, Ford's honesty and vulnerability about the challenges he has faced in his life draw readers in, and his story of resilience and determination is truly remarkable.
Throughout the book, Ford shares his experiences growing up in a difficult environment and the obstacles he faced on his journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur and community leader. He discusses the challenges he faced in the aftermath of being shot by police during a traffic stop, and how he turned that experience into a catalyst for change and advocacy.
What sets Ford's story apart is not just his personal journey, but also his commitment to uplifting and empowering others. He shares insights on building a successful business, and how to use one's platform and influence to create positive change in the community.
Overall, Leon Ford's story is a must-read for anyone looking for inspiration, motivation, and a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. His insights and experiences are sure to resonate with readers from all walks of life, and leave them feeling inspired to pursue their own dreams and make a positive impact on the world.
Throughout the book, Ford shares his experiences growing up in a difficult environment and the obstacles he faced on his journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur and community leader. He discusses the challenges he faced in the aftermath of being shot by police during a traffic stop, and how he turned that experience into a catalyst for change and advocacy.
What sets Ford's story apart is not just his personal journey, but also his commitment to uplifting and empowering others. He shares insights on building a successful business, and how to use one's platform and influence to create positive change in the community.
Overall, Leon Ford's story is a must-read for anyone looking for inspiration, motivation, and a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. His insights and experiences are sure to resonate with readers from all walks of life, and leave them feeling inspired to pursue their own dreams and make a positive impact on the world.
April 27, 2023
Leon Ford's story is a powerful and inspiring tale of resilience, perseverance, and hope. In his book, Ford shares his personal journey of overcoming adversity and navigating the complex issues of race, class, and police brutality in America.
Through his eloquent and heartfelt writing, Ford takes readers on a deeply personal journey, recounting his experiences with the justice system and the physical and emotional trauma he endured after being shot and paralyzed by a police officer during a routine traffic stop.
Despite the immense challenges he faced, Ford never gave up. He remained committed to fighting for justice and using his experience to inspire others to do the same. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
Overall, Leon Ford's story is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and insight into the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in America. His courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to his cause make him a true hero and a beacon of hope for us all.
Through his eloquent and heartfelt writing, Ford takes readers on a deeply personal journey, recounting his experiences with the justice system and the physical and emotional trauma he endured after being shot and paralyzed by a police officer during a routine traffic stop.
Despite the immense challenges he faced, Ford never gave up. He remained committed to fighting for justice and using his experience to inspire others to do the same. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
Overall, Leon Ford's story is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and insight into the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in America. His courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to his cause make him a true hero and a beacon of hope for us all.
April 28, 2023
The thread that weaves through An Unspeakable Hope is love. Love of family and love of community. Leon Ford tells his story in a painfully honest way. He isn't afraid to show every bit of his human experience and because of this, I was hooked from page one.
I found it inspiring that Leon let himself feel his initial anger and grief but didn't let that stop him from creating real change, in his community and within himself. Leon transformed that anger into something bigger and pushed through every challenge thrown at him in the hopes for a better world for his community and his family.
Leon is an incredible example of overcoming adversity. He has a refreshing and inspiring view on what we can do for social change in this country and even more important, what we can do in our own neighborhoods. I feel that we could all benefit from hearing Leon Ford's voice. I highly recommend to anyone looking for an inspiring, raw, and heartfelt read.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
I found it inspiring that Leon let himself feel his initial anger and grief but didn't let that stop him from creating real change, in his community and within himself. Leon transformed that anger into something bigger and pushed through every challenge thrown at him in the hopes for a better world for his community and his family.
Leon is an incredible example of overcoming adversity. He has a refreshing and inspiring view on what we can do for social change in this country and even more important, what we can do in our own neighborhoods. I feel that we could all benefit from hearing Leon Ford's voice. I highly recommend to anyone looking for an inspiring, raw, and heartfelt read.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
April 27, 2023
A boy becomes a man. I found myself wanting to savor this book. Reading An Unspeakable Hope took me thru an emotional roller coaster I didn’t want to depart from. Not only was it thought provoking, but I felt myself challenged in ways I never imagined exploring the importance of soul searching, unity, sole perseverance and the necessity of core values. A friendly reminder never to give up isn’t a bad message to be left with and that’s something I didn’t know I so badly needed to hear until I was front row—center in this compilation undoubtedly left feeling inspired. Leon did that. He created a safe space for betterment. Reading and learning about Leon Ford’s story felt like an excellent life choice. His vulnerability and courage kept me captivated. I recommended all my family and friends partake so they too could endure the possibility of ascension as I had from reading the book.
March 9, 2025
Made me cry. Twice.
Ford’s story is truly incredible, but I’m frustrated at how surface level this memoir is. His descriptions and storytelling in early chapters when discussing his father and friends were fantastic. Then everything fell apart. He went through an incredible physical and emotional transformation and the reader doesn’t get access to any of that. He tells us how he viewed things then versus now, but never how that view changed or why.
A lot of his sentiments appeared mature but were actually quite demeaning (see “evolving from an ACAB mentality” and how much misogyny is in the book but never addressed or resolved… don’t get me started on how he questioned ever being able to trust women again when he discovers his friends have crushes on the girlfriends Ford himself is cheating on).
Ford’s story is truly incredible, but I’m frustrated at how surface level this memoir is. His descriptions and storytelling in early chapters when discussing his father and friends were fantastic. Then everything fell apart. He went through an incredible physical and emotional transformation and the reader doesn’t get access to any of that. He tells us how he viewed things then versus now, but never how that view changed or why.
A lot of his sentiments appeared mature but were actually quite demeaning (see “evolving from an ACAB mentality” and how much misogyny is in the book but never addressed or resolved… don’t get me started on how he questioned ever being able to trust women again when he discovers his friends have crushes on the girlfriends Ford himself is cheating on).
April 28, 2023
An unspeakable Hope is one that truly resonated with me. From the moment I began reading about Leon’s life, I was captivated by his journey and the obstacles he has overcome.
What makes his story so compelling is not only the adversity he faced, but the resilience and strength he demonstrated in the face of it all.
Throughout the pages of this memoir, you are taken on a powerful and emotional journey. Leon's ability to share his experiences with honesty and vulnerability is truly commendable. He has a unique way of drawing readers in, allowing them to feel like they are right there with him as he navigates the ups and downs of his life.
Overall, I would highly recommend An Unspeakable Hope to anyone looking for a powerful, moving read.
What makes his story so compelling is not only the adversity he faced, but the resilience and strength he demonstrated in the face of it all.
Throughout the pages of this memoir, you are taken on a powerful and emotional journey. Leon's ability to share his experiences with honesty and vulnerability is truly commendable. He has a unique way of drawing readers in, allowing them to feel like they are right there with him as he navigates the ups and downs of his life.
Overall, I would highly recommend An Unspeakable Hope to anyone looking for a powerful, moving read.
July 26, 2023
I’m glad that Leon Ford wrote this book. It was eye opening to me. I appreciated his honesty and bringing me into a world that I haven’t experienced. Leon was 19 years old when the police pulled him over and he ended up being shot five times and paralyzed from the waist down. It was interesting reading about his father, who adored and loved Leon, but who was a kingpin and sent to prison for many years. I’m glad that Ford was able to work on healing from the trauma of being shot and also working on advocating and making a better world.
This book has the F word frequently.
This book has the F word frequently.
April 27, 2023
I read an Unspeakable Hope in one day. An extremely powerful story of a young man who had a calling on his life at a young age. The story takes you on a powerful journey of love, hope, resilience, and the choice to turn pain into purpose. This book is great for anyone at any age because it shows the power of forgiveness and how forgiveness can change your life. We all can live better lives by reading great books like an Unspeakable Hope.
October 10, 2023
This book is not easy. And it’s not elegant literary prose nor does it pretend to be. It’s going to unsettle you, and that’s a gift. It might reveal parts of you that don’t feel that way when you are sitting with your own judgements and assumptions. It’s sad. It’s hopeful. And it’s disturbingly honest. But it’s a story that NEEDS to be told, and heard, and appreciated for all that it graciously shares with you.
March 26, 2024
An honest, vulnerable telling of Leon's life, pre and post Leon getting shot and paralyzed by a Pittsburgh police officer. He includes details about his mental state at various points, and discusses the need for mental health treatment, specifically the lack of available treatment to the Black community.
July 6, 2024
This book is an excellent, eye-opening memoir. It's superb when it's focused on Leon's story. I lost interest in the last 10% when it shifted to talking about his foundation. Nothing wrong with the message there, but I didn't find it as compelling. I listened to the audiobook which is read by Leon. Highly recommend
May 18, 2023
Although I don’t agree with all of his politics (i.e., working alongside police officers), I was awed by Leon’s honesty, compassion, and emphasis on healing and common humanity. An excellent memoir. There are no perfect victims.
July 10, 2023
As a phoenix rises from the ashes, so does Leon Ford. “Unspeakable Hope” is a powerful testimony of resilience, forgiveness, and restoration from a man who experienced a devastation that upended his world. “Unspeakable Hope” will give you something to think about.
August 25, 2023
Ford’s story is only partly written. He still has much left to do. I am thankful for what he has shared because it is a window into another world - actually several other worlds. Much for me to contemplate.
October 25, 2023
Very well written. I'm inspired! I don't think I could be as forgiving as Mr. Ford, but kudos to him for doing so. There was a reason why he survived and this book and the many other things he has done and continues to do is proof! I highly recommend!!!
April 27, 2023
Finished this book in a day! Could not put it down. Each chapter left you wondering what happens next.
April 28, 2023
What an amazing book! Sent chills down my spine as j read about this amazing young man !!! It’s a must read !
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