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Eye of the Hurricane: My Path from Darkness to Freedom
Eye of the My Path from Darkness to Freedom is a self-portrait of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a twentieth-century icon and controversial victim of the U.S. justice system turned spokesperson for the wrongfully convicted. In this moving narrative Dr. Carter tells of all the "prisons" he has survived--from his childhood through his wrongful incarceration and after. A spiritual as well as a factual autobiography, Eye of the Hurricane explores Carter's personal philosophy, born of the unimaginable duress of wrongful imprisonment and conceived through his defiance of the brutal institution of prison and ten years of solitary confinement. His is not a comfortable story or a comfortable philosophy, but it offers hope for those who have none and serves as a call to action for those who abhor injustice. Eye of the Hurricane may well change the way we view crime and punishment in the twenty-first century.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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406 people want to read
About the author
Rubin Carter
6 books20 followersRubin "Hurricane" Carter was an American middleweight boxer best known for having been wrongfully convicted for murder and later exonerated after spending 20 years in prison.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 28, 2023
I'm glad I read this book. It was in parts difficult to follow the point being made, there were some meandering thoughts that didn't seem to tie in, but eventually it came full circle. It saddens me to read of this case specifically, that went so horribly wrong. He was literally found guilty before trial. Which leads one to wonder how often this happens. The determination and grit which he showed, with help from others, is truly inspiring. That's the takeaway for me. Again, I walk away from this read with a broader understanding and a viewpoint that I once lacked.
October 1, 2012
Do you know the story of the Hurricane? I wish Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's book was anywhere close to as nifty as Bob Dylan's Song about "The Hurricane." This prize fighter was locked up as an innocent man for years, but Mr. Carter in his autobiography fails to tell an interesting narrative of what happened, what it was like to be in solitary confinement, what it was like to get out of prison. I wanted to here his compelling story..instead it seemed like an editorial on race and politics.
Just 1 star! Listen to Bob Dylan's song in 5 minutes and you will get a better story.
Pistols shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
She sees the bartender in a pool of blood
Cries out "My God they killed them all"
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For something that he never done
Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.
Three bodies lying there does Patty see
And another man named Bello moving around mysteriously
"I didn't do it" he says and he throws up his hands
"I was only robbing the register I hope you understand
I saw them leaving" he says and he stops
"One of us had better call up the cops"
And so Patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashing
In the hot New Jersey night.
Meanwhile far away in another part of town
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are driving around
Number one contender for the middleweight crown
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
Just like the time before and the time before that
In Patterson that's just the way things go
If you're black you might as well not shown up on the street
'Less you wanna draw the heat.
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the corps
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowling around
He said "I saw two men running out they looked like middleweights
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates"
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
Cop said "Wait a minute boys this one's not dead"
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him that he could identify the guilty men.
Four in the morning and they haul Rubin in
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
The wounded man looks up through his one dying eye
Says "Wha'd you bring him in here for ? He ain't the guy !"
Yes here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For something that he never done
Put in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world
Lyrics--by Bob Dylan
Just 1 star! Listen to Bob Dylan's song in 5 minutes and you will get a better story.
Pistols shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall
She sees the bartender in a pool of blood
Cries out "My God they killed them all"
Here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For something that he never done
Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.
Three bodies lying there does Patty see
And another man named Bello moving around mysteriously
"I didn't do it" he says and he throws up his hands
"I was only robbing the register I hope you understand
I saw them leaving" he says and he stops
"One of us had better call up the cops"
And so Patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashing
In the hot New Jersey night.
Meanwhile far away in another part of town
Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are driving around
Number one contender for the middleweight crown
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
Just like the time before and the time before that
In Patterson that's just the way things go
If you're black you might as well not shown up on the street
'Less you wanna draw the heat.
Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the corps
Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowling around
He said "I saw two men running out they looked like middleweights
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates"
And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head
Cop said "Wait a minute boys this one's not dead"
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him that he could identify the guilty men.
Four in the morning and they haul Rubin in
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs
The wounded man looks up through his one dying eye
Says "Wha'd you bring him in here for ? He ain't the guy !"
Yes here comes the story of the Hurricane
The man the authorities came to blame
For something that he never done
Put in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world
Lyrics--by Bob Dylan
October 15, 2013
The story Eye of the Hurricane: My path from darkness to freedom by Rubin Carter I thought was an over detailed story. I think this because the author spent too much time talking about his terrible childhood and not the main point of the story. Which was about him being falsely accused of murder and his journey through prison then finally getting out. Instead he spent the first six out of nine chapters talking about how terrible his childhood was.
When the author finally got to the story of him being falsely accused of murder and his journey throughout prison. He didn't go into much detail about it like he did his childhood. Rubin Carter, the author talked about in chapters seven through nine about how bad the justice system is.
I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone because the author Rubin Carter gave very biased opinions about the way he lived in the prisons. Also because he doesn't talk much about the plot of the story which is about him being imprisoned because he was falsely accused murder but instead focuses more on his terrible childhood throughout the story.
When the author finally got to the story of him being falsely accused of murder and his journey throughout prison. He didn't go into much detail about it like he did his childhood. Rubin Carter, the author talked about in chapters seven through nine about how bad the justice system is.
I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone because the author Rubin Carter gave very biased opinions about the way he lived in the prisons. Also because he doesn't talk much about the plot of the story which is about him being imprisoned because he was falsely accused murder but instead focuses more on his terrible childhood throughout the story.
July 22, 2019
I was a little disappointed with this book . After a long search , I finally found a used copy that I planned to give to a friend with late stage cancer . He ha s had issues with anger since well before I met him , and I thought Carter's path to redemption might encourage him .
Sadly , Carter seemed forgiving of the judge and jury that convicted him , but uses that experience as a
vehicle for diatribe against social injustice . My friend is not a big fan of Black Lives Matter , and this book smacked of their agenda .
I did like Hurricane as a boxer because he beat the pulp out of Emile Griffith , who had been the one responsible for the boxing death of Bennie 'Kid' Paret in the 60s. Enough of that , boxing is a brutal sport that should be outlawed .
Sadly , Carter seemed forgiving of the judge and jury that convicted him , but uses that experience as a
vehicle for diatribe against social injustice . My friend is not a big fan of Black Lives Matter , and this book smacked of their agenda .
I did like Hurricane as a boxer because he beat the pulp out of Emile Griffith , who had been the one responsible for the boxing death of Bennie 'Kid' Paret in the 60s. Enough of that , boxing is a brutal sport that should be outlawed .
July 28, 2017
I don't usually take the time to review books I enjoy, but in this case, I happily break that tradition. This book, in all honesty, is incredibly profound. It is a gift. I read a lot, yet I rarely encounter either the depth or the insights such as the ones that are found in this text. Dr. Carter's voice is as captivating and as compelling as it was in his memoir "The Sixteenth Round", but this book moves beyond the boundaries of his own story into the unexpected territory of personal transformation. It has inspired me to elevate my consciousness, become my fullest self, and continue to wake up.
March 25, 2019
Trust your government, or the sue anyone for anything society to find the actual facts of a case
After reading this book I trust both the government and society at large even less! Yes, there are many great police, prosecutors and US citizens. However, there are those which will hide evidence which does not match their convictions.
After reading this book I trust both the government and society at large even less! Yes, there are many great police, prosecutors and US citizens. However, there are those which will hide evidence which does not match their convictions.
April 5, 2024
The book jumped around some in terms of subjects, which confused me at first with the book's overall direction. However, the book represented stories that needed to be told, and I commend Dr. Carter for doing so. More importantly, thank you to him for sticking up for the voicless people in the world, who unfairly get railroaded in society's thrist for percieved justice.
February 11, 2020
Philosophical, deeply personal, and meaningful. "Zen and the Art of Heavyweight Fighting" meets racism in the United States of America.
December 27, 2015
A riveting account of Rubin’s path to justice and what inspired him to become the man he is today. There are many pearls of wisdom in this book, such as the following:
“What happens to us in life is less important than what we do with what happens to us” (Carter 11).
“We are flowers from the sun – seeds planted in organic life on earth, with the capacity and the ability to grow stronger, wiser, more intelligent, and more beautiful than anyone can imagine. We must try to become what we can be, and not just settle for what we are at the moment. That is the path for humanity if humanity is to evolve. If we fail to evolve and continue down the destructive path we are now headed, then we will simply disappear from this earth” (13).
“I have since rejected all forms of organized religion because, whatever they might preach and whatever good they might do, they have become agents of separation, even agents of violence and hatred” (19).
“Anger and the feeling of being victimized are conditioned responses we learn by watching and listening to the sleeping people around us” (22).
“I see family as an anchor. An anchor provides stability, but it can also be a weight around your neck, holding you down, keeping you from realizing your dreams. When the youthful hero of legend sets off on his journey, you don’t see his family tagging along” (44).
“Most people carry families on their backs long after the family has served its purpose. Psychiatrists make their millions based upon our past obsessions with family slights, with abuses, with insufficiencies. You might say that modern psychiatry and psychology have created a third science called “psycho-ceramics,” the study of cracked pots. That’s what we are: cracked pots” (45).
“What is so tragic about this is that our dysfunctional families can separate us not only from ourselves but also from other human beings. If there is love in your immediate family, by all means cherish it, but family love is in no way superior to any other kind of love in the human family” (45).
“The more laws we are under, the less free we are” (57).
“That’s what holidays are, mechanical alarm clocks. Christmas is coming, so we have to be nice to each other, and when it’s over, nothing has changed. Christmas is the mechanical alarm clock thrown into the lives of sleeping humanity to wake us up for a period of time before we fall back to sleep” (174).
“What happens to us in life is less important than what we do with what happens to us” (Carter 11).
“We are flowers from the sun – seeds planted in organic life on earth, with the capacity and the ability to grow stronger, wiser, more intelligent, and more beautiful than anyone can imagine. We must try to become what we can be, and not just settle for what we are at the moment. That is the path for humanity if humanity is to evolve. If we fail to evolve and continue down the destructive path we are now headed, then we will simply disappear from this earth” (13).
“I have since rejected all forms of organized religion because, whatever they might preach and whatever good they might do, they have become agents of separation, even agents of violence and hatred” (19).
“Anger and the feeling of being victimized are conditioned responses we learn by watching and listening to the sleeping people around us” (22).
“I see family as an anchor. An anchor provides stability, but it can also be a weight around your neck, holding you down, keeping you from realizing your dreams. When the youthful hero of legend sets off on his journey, you don’t see his family tagging along” (44).
“Most people carry families on their backs long after the family has served its purpose. Psychiatrists make their millions based upon our past obsessions with family slights, with abuses, with insufficiencies. You might say that modern psychiatry and psychology have created a third science called “psycho-ceramics,” the study of cracked pots. That’s what we are: cracked pots” (45).
“What is so tragic about this is that our dysfunctional families can separate us not only from ourselves but also from other human beings. If there is love in your immediate family, by all means cherish it, but family love is in no way superior to any other kind of love in the human family” (45).
“The more laws we are under, the less free we are” (57).
“That’s what holidays are, mechanical alarm clocks. Christmas is coming, so we have to be nice to each other, and when it’s over, nothing has changed. Christmas is the mechanical alarm clock thrown into the lives of sleeping humanity to wake us up for a period of time before we fall back to sleep” (174).
April 23, 2011
An interesting read, having seen the film about the process of freeing him, and I regret I cannot recall the name of the film, the book is filled with tons of philosophym obviously first had experiences he encountered while in jail, his view on what jail time can do to any person, but much more so to a person who is innocent. Dr Carter came to Canada created AIDWYC, was its head for many years, but resigned due to the fact that the then Ontario's recently elected Attorney General Michael Bryant, (who recently killed a bicycle rider in Toronto, and walked free) decided to appoint Susan MacLean who had been involved in the Morin case, which eventually turned out to be a wrong conviction
The book is heavy at times, however Dr Carter is to be admired to be were he is today, considering were he came from, there are some interesting quotes on the justice system, and how we are like sheep follow religious doctrine, the other day I attended a burial service of one of my dear friends who had died from cancer, there was a part in the mass which states "Lord I am not worthy to receive you" only say the word and I shall be healed, so in one segment we are told we are created in the image of god, which to my way of thinking is to be perfect then to state we are not worthy is truly a pile of b.s. and creates persons who do not realize much of life's healing lives in our bodies, we do not need to get wrapped up in this dependency on whatever religion.
The book is heavy at times, however Dr Carter is to be admired to be were he is today, considering were he came from, there are some interesting quotes on the justice system, and how we are like sheep follow religious doctrine, the other day I attended a burial service of one of my dear friends who had died from cancer, there was a part in the mass which states "Lord I am not worthy to receive you" only say the word and I shall be healed, so in one segment we are told we are created in the image of god, which to my way of thinking is to be perfect then to state we are not worthy is truly a pile of b.s. and creates persons who do not realize much of life's healing lives in our bodies, we do not need to get wrapped up in this dependency on whatever religion.
April 17, 2014
Still not 100% sure what Carter means when he says we are sleeping, nonetheless he has a powerful message here about the fact that our Canadian justice system is a mess along side of the American one. I am appalled by the fact that convicting someone, anyone, for a crime is more important than convicting the person(s) who actually committed the crime!
When I think about all the criminals who have done horrendous wrongs to people and their families, like bernardo/homolka, pickton, fisher (raped & murdered Gail Fisher, for which David Milgaard spent 23 years in prison because the Canadian legal system fucked up!),olson, and the cowards gill (Dawson College shooting) & lapine (École Polytechnique) who shot themselves after wreaking havoc across generations, williams, and this list could go on and on, I wonder about our justice system, after all homolka is free, living & enjoying her life now, but I don't know what the answer is to make these people accountable for their actions.
Carter focuses on the wrongfully convicted and not on fixing the broken justice system, as well he should. I found Carter's focus on the "Truth" detracted from his task of helping the wrongfully convicted, and I still don't understand what he means by "Truth."
An interesting read, but found at times it dragged, and I wasn't certain what I should be gleaning from what I was reading. Pushed through and appreciate all Carter has done.
When I think about all the criminals who have done horrendous wrongs to people and their families, like bernardo/homolka, pickton, fisher (raped & murdered Gail Fisher, for which David Milgaard spent 23 years in prison because the Canadian legal system fucked up!),olson, and the cowards gill (Dawson College shooting) & lapine (École Polytechnique) who shot themselves after wreaking havoc across generations, williams, and this list could go on and on, I wonder about our justice system, after all homolka is free, living & enjoying her life now, but I don't know what the answer is to make these people accountable for their actions.
Carter focuses on the wrongfully convicted and not on fixing the broken justice system, as well he should. I found Carter's focus on the "Truth" detracted from his task of helping the wrongfully convicted, and I still don't understand what he means by "Truth."
An interesting read, but found at times it dragged, and I wasn't certain what I should be gleaning from what I was reading. Pushed through and appreciate all Carter has done.
October 13, 2015
This book is extremely powerful. Rubin Carter is a philosopher and a great thinker who has the kind of wisdom, patience and insight that can only be gained by surviving unspeakable hardship.
He chooses every word so carefully and puts his heart into every phrase he writes. Although this book felt more like a stream of thoughts instead of an autobiography, I appreciated the way he shared his views on the world and the need for all of humanity to wake up.
Carter proved to be many things in this book; writer, poet, leader, human rights advocate- but despite what happened to him, he never once allowed himself to be seen as a victim.
Rubin Carter is nothing less than a hero. He is a man who rose out of the depths of hell and devoted his life to helping others out too. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about his life, their own lives, the justice system or the history of wrongful convictions in Canada and the U.S.
He chooses every word so carefully and puts his heart into every phrase he writes. Although this book felt more like a stream of thoughts instead of an autobiography, I appreciated the way he shared his views on the world and the need for all of humanity to wake up.
Carter proved to be many things in this book; writer, poet, leader, human rights advocate- but despite what happened to him, he never once allowed himself to be seen as a victim.
Rubin Carter is nothing less than a hero. He is a man who rose out of the depths of hell and devoted his life to helping others out too. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about his life, their own lives, the justice system or the history of wrongful convictions in Canada and the U.S.
September 5, 2014
Hard decision whether to put this book as a 3 or 4 star. On one hand I wanted more autobiographical content but I suppose Reuben had been out of jail for a long time when this was written and had other things to say, I'll read "the sixteenth round" for that. I found some of his spiritual insights a little hard to grasp and the "sleeping people" analogy was monotonous at times. However I did enjoy much of the content on wrongful convictions and ended the book feeling that Mr Carter is an admirable character in an admirable vocation. After watching the film and reading another biography on Reuben Carter this was just another step in understanding a very interesting character and I feel he has surely proved his good nature and maybe his disgraceful wrongful imprisonment was a blessing in disguise as he has gone on to help many in the same position he once was.
February 7, 2017
This book is basically a sequel to The sixteenth round. While the latter was written as a cry for help, a "letter in a bottle", as Rubin Carter calls it, this one is designed to help us, the reader, to "wake up", while witnessing the life of Rubin Carter after his release from prison.
While it is a beautiful book and it's stunning to read the transformation Rubin Carter has gone through and the means through which he accomplished it, the book has the same problem most authobiographies have: It's less entertaining than, say, a fictional story. Even so, Rubin Carters writing and his sharp critic of the judical and political system of the USA and Canada make reading this book quite worthwhile.
While it is a beautiful book and it's stunning to read the transformation Rubin Carter has gone through and the means through which he accomplished it, the book has the same problem most authobiographies have: It's less entertaining than, say, a fictional story. Even so, Rubin Carters writing and his sharp critic of the judical and political system of the USA and Canada make reading this book quite worthwhile.
April 3, 2014
I found this book to be really important. I was left feeling that I had learned a lot from Rubin Carter in this book. His knowledge of the law and the tragic injustices that take place far too often opened my eyes to the people who suffer from these injustices. This book completely changed my view on prison systems, the death penalty and the victims of wrongful convictions. Rubin Carter has fought his entire life and I found him to be truly inspiring and powerful in his writing.
March 20, 2016
I found this book interesting, though not spell-binding. Alternates his amazing story of wrong conviction and the subsequent long prison sentence with his personal transformation via the writings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky.
A bit metaphysical for me at times, but nonetheless a triumph of the human spirit and if metaphysics was what he needed to survive until he was ultimately released from gaol, then so be it.
A bit metaphysical for me at times, but nonetheless a triumph of the human spirit and if metaphysics was what he needed to survive until he was ultimately released from gaol, then so be it.
Want to read
January 19, 2011my girl Caitlin just did an interview with The Hurricane a few weeks ago, check it out!!: http://www.baystatebanner.com/natl18-...
January 31, 2016
Read this for a university law class. It was a great book and gives you a real understanding an the importance of not judging people and never leaving a stone unturned. #FreeStevenAvery
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