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I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility
A timeless, “triumphant” ( Entertainment Weekly ) story of healing and recovery from the victim of a crime that shocked the the Central Park Jogger.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. on April 19, 1989, a young woman jogs alone near 102nd Street in New York City's Central Park. She is attacked, raped, savagely beaten, and left for dead. Hours later she arrives at the emergency room—comatose—she has lost so much blood that her doctors believe it’s a miracle she's still alive. Meet Trisha Meili, the Central Park Jogger.
I Am the Central Park Jogger recounts the mesmerizing, inspiring, often wrenching story of human strength and transcendent recovery. Called “Hero of the Month” by Glamour magazine, Meili tells us who she was before the attack—a young Wall Street professional with a promising future—and who she has a woman who learned how to read, write, walk, talk, and love again...and turn horrifying violence and certain death into extraordinary healing and victorious life. With “moments of unexpected grace and insights into life’s challenges….Meili’s story—the story the public never knew—is unforgettable” ( The Buffalo News ).
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. on April 19, 1989, a young woman jogs alone near 102nd Street in New York City's Central Park. She is attacked, raped, savagely beaten, and left for dead. Hours later she arrives at the emergency room—comatose—she has lost so much blood that her doctors believe it’s a miracle she's still alive. Meet Trisha Meili, the Central Park Jogger.
I Am the Central Park Jogger recounts the mesmerizing, inspiring, often wrenching story of human strength and transcendent recovery. Called “Hero of the Month” by Glamour magazine, Meili tells us who she was before the attack—a young Wall Street professional with a promising future—and who she has a woman who learned how to read, write, walk, talk, and love again...and turn horrifying violence and certain death into extraordinary healing and victorious life. With “moments of unexpected grace and insights into life’s challenges….Meili’s story—the story the public never knew—is unforgettable” ( The Buffalo News ).
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2003
54 people are currently reading
1214 people want to read
About the author
Trisha Meili
2 books11 followersTrisha Meili was known to the world as "The Central Park Jogger". Her life was violently interrupted on April 19, 1985 in Central Park. Her brutal attack was one of the most widely publicized crimes of the 1980's. She spent 12 weeks in a coma. Remarkably, she largely recovered, with some lingering disabilities.
Currently Meili is as an inspirational speaker. She also works with victims of sexual assault and brain injury in the Mount Sinai sexual assault and violence intervention program.
Currently Meili is as an inspirational speaker. She also works with victims of sexual assault and brain injury in the Mount Sinai sexual assault and violence intervention program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
April 6, 2025
I cannot get behind this at all. No one is denying that what happened to this woman was wrong, and that she went through an ordeal. It is always a good and inspiring thing when one is able to rise above such circumstances. But those five teenage boys also went through an ordeal, one that cost them their innocence, their childhoods, their standing in society. Their lives were destroyed, and the worst part is that people still refuse to apologize, offer sympathy to them and their families, or admit that what happened to them was wrong. Meili does not acknowledge the racial firestorm that the case ignited, which I cannot comprehend. I doubt if the author realizes her sense of privilege, which not only allowed her to be successful before the attack, but also allowed her to pen this book. But perhaps the most troubling aspect of the book is that Meili, as a victim, shows no sense of concern or compassion for the young men who were also victimized. No "I'm sorry that this happened to you." No speaking out in campaigns on their behalf, or encouraging others to view them differently as a part of her tours on the lecture circuit. I'm not saying that the justice system and its affiliates (police officers, prosecutors), certain individuals, (cough, Donald Trump, Ed Koch, cough), and the media should not be held accountable for their actions. But as the catalyst in this case, one would expect more from her, as well. The fact that it is not here speaks volumes about how she feels and where she is now, and the result is disconcerting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2021
I was interested in reading this book after watching the Netflix series ‘When They See Us’. Trisha Meili (28 years at the time), was attacked in Central Park, NY in 1989 as she went jogging around 9 pm. A brutal attack – she was raped, beaten and left for dead. It is a miracle she survived and her story of recovery is an inspiring one. This sad episode however created more victims than just her – five youngsters (African American & Hispanic) between 14-16 years of age were picked up, allegedly coerced to confessing and then sentenced to prison terms for a crime which later Matias Reyes, a convicted serial rapist and murderer confessed to.
This book has Trisha telling her story – her rising career at Salomon Brothers, an Investment Bank rudely interrupted by the attack, and her subsequent recovery. Initially, seeing her condition – she had severe injuries and blood loss, the chances of survival were rated low. Subsequently, it appeared that she might not regain her cognitive abilities. The incident was so shocking that lots of people rallied behind her - praying & sending their wishes. She had to have multiple procedures and surgeries, and was later moved to long term care. During this period, her family, friends and work colleagues stood by her. Her young age, fitness and top-notch medical care contributed to her making a remarkable recovery. She continues to have some minor impairments though and has no recollection of the incident itself. Her determination to get on with her life is an inspiring read. I especially liked the last section on how she finds love, leaves her job and teams up with Jon Kabat Zin to help others deal with trauma & stress.
Trisha decides to tell her story many years after the incident which tragically changed her forever. As she mentions at the start and in some notes intermittently, a lot had changed in what was known of the incident – the conviction was overturned and the five accused of the crime received settlements. This book covers the first victim – Trisha Meilli, and not the others, and that is understandable as she can only tell her own story well. The responsibility of miscarriage of justice rests with law enforcement & the judicial process (as also the frenzy fed by a reckless advertisement). However, in the light of subsequent events – there are sections of the book which should have been definitely rewritten (her deposition at the trial, the accused, the confessions, the conduct of the prosecution team).
This book has Trisha telling her story – her rising career at Salomon Brothers, an Investment Bank rudely interrupted by the attack, and her subsequent recovery. Initially, seeing her condition – she had severe injuries and blood loss, the chances of survival were rated low. Subsequently, it appeared that she might not regain her cognitive abilities. The incident was so shocking that lots of people rallied behind her - praying & sending their wishes. She had to have multiple procedures and surgeries, and was later moved to long term care. During this period, her family, friends and work colleagues stood by her. Her young age, fitness and top-notch medical care contributed to her making a remarkable recovery. She continues to have some minor impairments though and has no recollection of the incident itself. Her determination to get on with her life is an inspiring read. I especially liked the last section on how she finds love, leaves her job and teams up with Jon Kabat Zin to help others deal with trauma & stress.
Trisha decides to tell her story many years after the incident which tragically changed her forever. As she mentions at the start and in some notes intermittently, a lot had changed in what was known of the incident – the conviction was overturned and the five accused of the crime received settlements. This book covers the first victim – Trisha Meilli, and not the others, and that is understandable as she can only tell her own story well. The responsibility of miscarriage of justice rests with law enforcement & the judicial process (as also the frenzy fed by a reckless advertisement). However, in the light of subsequent events – there are sections of the book which should have been definitely rewritten (her deposition at the trial, the accused, the confessions, the conduct of the prosecution team).
April 7, 2011
Trisha Meili is called the Central Park Jogger. She was attacked, raped, sodomized, savagely beaten and dumped for dead in a ravine in Central Park on April 19, 1989. She was 29 years old, a fast rising career woman in Wall Street. During her trial, the New Yorkers as well as the whole nation, awaited and followed her stories normally found on the front page of New York Times with simply “JOGGER” as the header every time something juicy about her and the case had happened.
Incidents like this happen anywhere. True. But this case was different. Trisha is a graduate of Yale. She was there in Central Park to get exercise and make sure that her body got some respite from her backbreaking career. What added to the controversy was that she was allegedly raped by very young Black and Hispanic men aged 14-16. Those made a lot of difference from what they, and even me here in the Philippines, would probably been seeing in the dailies. And of course, this happened in America. In New York, said to be the capital of the world.
I have never been to New York and have been seeing Central Park only in movies. I will always remember Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali McGraw) watching Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) skates in the 1970 movie, Love Story.. Or Thomas "Babe" Levy (Dustin Hoffman) jogging in the 1976 thriller film Marathon Man. Or the initial mass suicide scene in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2008 science fiction thriller film, The Happening. Those movies with scenes taken in Central Park are enough to make me dream of going to New York and see and be in that park at least once in my life. Well, I have been to Columbus, Ohio five times in the past and some of my colleagues have gone to New York by riding a train in the morning of Saturday then spent the whole evening roaming New York including Central Park. No sleep whatsoever. They boarded the same train back to Ohio the following day. Got a good night’s sleep and be in the office, fresh and rested on Monday morning. When I heard about this, I thought I could do the same the next time I go to Ohio and that next time will probably be sometime this year *hoping*. But, is this overnight quick visit to New York, safe? So, when I saw this book I am the Central Park Jogger, I bought this and read right away.
If a native American jogging at 9:00 p.m. in Central Park could be attacked and dumped as dead in the ravine (huh? there is a ravine there? I thought it is just about this huge skating rink, jogging path and the usual benches and trees), how could an Asian middle age first-timer survive New York? Oh well, maybe Trishia’s fate has shaken up the consciousness of the NYPD so that the park is now, more than 10 years after, safer for promenading peace-loving tourists. No, the book did not mention this. I only invented this. What the book mentioned was the healing of Trishia’s heart and body and she was able to rebound whole and in one piece and at peace with herself despite her horrifying ordeals and harrowing court trial.
I am rating this book with 3 stars (I-liked-it book) but I am rating Trishia Meili with 5 stars (amazing lady). She says that the book is not only to impart what she went through so that people learn from it but more importantly for people to be inspired to heal themselves. She has already forgiven her attackers (no issue who they were and how many, whether 1 or more). That healing is not only a function of medicine but more importantly, a function of the heart.
Incidents like this happen anywhere. True. But this case was different. Trisha is a graduate of Yale. She was there in Central Park to get exercise and make sure that her body got some respite from her backbreaking career. What added to the controversy was that she was allegedly raped by very young Black and Hispanic men aged 14-16. Those made a lot of difference from what they, and even me here in the Philippines, would probably been seeing in the dailies. And of course, this happened in America. In New York, said to be the capital of the world.
I have never been to New York and have been seeing Central Park only in movies. I will always remember Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali McGraw) watching Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) skates in the 1970 movie, Love Story.. Or Thomas "Babe" Levy (Dustin Hoffman) jogging in the 1976 thriller film Marathon Man. Or the initial mass suicide scene in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2008 science fiction thriller film, The Happening. Those movies with scenes taken in Central Park are enough to make me dream of going to New York and see and be in that park at least once in my life. Well, I have been to Columbus, Ohio five times in the past and some of my colleagues have gone to New York by riding a train in the morning of Saturday then spent the whole evening roaming New York including Central Park. No sleep whatsoever. They boarded the same train back to Ohio the following day. Got a good night’s sleep and be in the office, fresh and rested on Monday morning. When I heard about this, I thought I could do the same the next time I go to Ohio and that next time will probably be sometime this year *hoping*. But, is this overnight quick visit to New York, safe? So, when I saw this book I am the Central Park Jogger, I bought this and read right away.
If a native American jogging at 9:00 p.m. in Central Park could be attacked and dumped as dead in the ravine (huh? there is a ravine there? I thought it is just about this huge skating rink, jogging path and the usual benches and trees), how could an Asian middle age first-timer survive New York? Oh well, maybe Trishia’s fate has shaken up the consciousness of the NYPD so that the park is now, more than 10 years after, safer for promenading peace-loving tourists. No, the book did not mention this. I only invented this. What the book mentioned was the healing of Trishia’s heart and body and she was able to rebound whole and in one piece and at peace with herself despite her horrifying ordeals and harrowing court trial.
I am rating this book with 3 stars (I-liked-it book) but I am rating Trishia Meili with 5 stars (amazing lady). She says that the book is not only to impart what she went through so that people learn from it but more importantly for people to be inspired to heal themselves. She has already forgiven her attackers (no issue who they were and how many, whether 1 or more). That healing is not only a function of medicine but more importantly, a function of the heart.
June 26, 2015
Another book toward my ASR mini-goal count. I forgot to point out the second one, but oh well.
I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it WAS very inspiring to read of Meili's amazing comeback. On the other hand -- and this says more about me than the book -- I kept reading it with an eye to the fact that she had a strong family, access to excellent medical care, financial resources, etc. I'm glad she got well, I thought she was brave, and I wondered whether we, as a society, would care if the Central Park Jogger had been a victim in very different circumstances.
So I had to keep dragging myself back to the pov at hand. It made me uncomfortable. I had a hard time concentrating on Meili's journey because I kept comparing it to other people's journeys, and comparisons are not fair. I will definitely be reading the Joan Didion essay about this crime (as recommended by a friend) and The Central Park Five, which tells the story of the boys who were accused of the crime, and how their convictions were later vacated when a lone attacker confessed and his DNA matched the crime scene evidence.
If nothing else, this memoir will definitely give hope to other people who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Recommended for people who want a heartwarming story, but don't need or want the panoramic view of the issue.
I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it WAS very inspiring to read of Meili's amazing comeback. On the other hand -- and this says more about me than the book -- I kept reading it with an eye to the fact that she had a strong family, access to excellent medical care, financial resources, etc. I'm glad she got well, I thought she was brave, and I wondered whether we, as a society, would care if the Central Park Jogger had been a victim in very different circumstances.
So I had to keep dragging myself back to the pov at hand. It made me uncomfortable. I had a hard time concentrating on Meili's journey because I kept comparing it to other people's journeys, and comparisons are not fair. I will definitely be reading the Joan Didion essay about this crime (as recommended by a friend) and The Central Park Five, which tells the story of the boys who were accused of the crime, and how their convictions were later vacated when a lone attacker confessed and his DNA matched the crime scene evidence.
If nothing else, this memoir will definitely give hope to other people who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Recommended for people who want a heartwarming story, but don't need or want the panoramic view of the issue.
June 23, 2019
Meili copped a lot of flak for failing to address the false conviction of 5 teens. I have no problem with this, this book is her memoir, about her experiences, not theirs. Theirs is not her cross to bear, she has a heavy enough cross, as it is. The prose is matter-of-fact, optimistic, pacy. Meili is as tough as they come. What's certainly has helped her, is having no memory of her attack. This lends the memoir an interesting flavour - how does one pick themselves up, after waking up completely disabled (unable to walk, talk, eat), yet having no memory whatsoever of what happened in the interim? Meili speaks without self-pity, none whatsoever. Her accounts of family, colleagues and friends' reactions and response to the attack, intrigued me. It was uplifting, observing her forge ahead with her life, eventually returning to work as an investment banker, and getting married. The memoir is thin on details though, there's insufficient exploration of her inner thoughts; she races too quickly through the decade following her attack; and there's little exploration of the woman she was prior the attack. That said, this is a powerful testimony to the human spirit.
June 12, 2019
You don’t get to write a book about a tragedy you cannot even remember, while actively participating in the wrongful imprisonment of CHILDREN. I’m sorry for what you’ve had to endure in the process of recovery, but YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
May 15, 2018
I feel bad for not liking this book more than I did. I felt awful for her while reading it, but this seemed to be a book more for her own therapy than anyone else reading it. Which is great, I hope she's doing better, but it wasn't an overly enjoyable read. Usually with books like this there are cowriters or ghost writers since the person involved isn't a writer themselves, but I believe she wrote this. It's a cohesive story, but the writing itself was incredibly bland and basic.
One thing that did make me uncomfortable is that she wrote this basically ignoring the fact that the five boys who were convicted of her rape had their convictions overturned. She did include a few bits that looked more like a lawyer covering so she couldn't be sued, but that was it. She also said that it wasn't about racism, since this is a case that had garnered much attention in the media. That seemed incredibly dismissive. No, it wasn't about racism for her. Her getting raped wasn't about racism. But for the five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of her rape and assault, it was very much about racism.
I didn't really gain anything from this book and it's probably only rated as high as it is because I'd feel too bad to rate it any lower.
One thing that did make me uncomfortable is that she wrote this basically ignoring the fact that the five boys who were convicted of her rape had their convictions overturned. She did include a few bits that looked more like a lawyer covering so she couldn't be sued, but that was it. She also said that it wasn't about racism, since this is a case that had garnered much attention in the media. That seemed incredibly dismissive. No, it wasn't about racism for her. Her getting raped wasn't about racism. But for the five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of her rape and assault, it was very much about racism.
I didn't really gain anything from this book and it's probably only rated as high as it is because I'd feel too bad to rate it any lower.
September 17, 2016
This is an amazing story of survival, but also reinventing one's life. It's not so much about getting justice for the crime (which she does not remember) but recovering from her injuries. Anyone interested in traumatic brain injury should consider reading this book.
July 7, 2011
Trisha Meili, the woman who was attacked and raped in Central Park in April 1989, wrote this book in 2003, making her name well known for the first time. Her motive was to talk about the process of recovering from a head injury so severe she was not expected to live or to be able to function well cognitively or physically again.
She defied the odds and with a tremendous amount of work she recovered sufficiently to go back to her job at Salomon Brothers and to be able again to go running, though never alone. She still has double vision, has lost all sense of smell, has trouble focusing on her work, and is a bit wobbly when she walks.
Most of us would be depressed beyond measure to have gone from one of the four smartest students of the decade, as one of her professors at college described her, to a person who can read only with great self-discipline. But somehow this woman has adjusted to her new self. She now has different goals and different strengths but she is still a strong, goal-directed person. She has recently been working with rehab specialists and lecturing about the importance of optimism in the recovery process.
She is unable to contribute much to the judicial issue of who did this crime as her memory of that night is gone – not unavailable to her conscious mind but never imprinted on long-term memory and erased by her trauma. In some ways this has been a blessing for her.
This book reminded me of Left Neglected, a novel by Lisa Genova, another book about a woman with brain injury and how she adapted to her new self.
2011
She defied the odds and with a tremendous amount of work she recovered sufficiently to go back to her job at Salomon Brothers and to be able again to go running, though never alone. She still has double vision, has lost all sense of smell, has trouble focusing on her work, and is a bit wobbly when she walks.
Most of us would be depressed beyond measure to have gone from one of the four smartest students of the decade, as one of her professors at college described her, to a person who can read only with great self-discipline. But somehow this woman has adjusted to her new self. She now has different goals and different strengths but she is still a strong, goal-directed person. She has recently been working with rehab specialists and lecturing about the importance of optimism in the recovery process.
She is unable to contribute much to the judicial issue of who did this crime as her memory of that night is gone – not unavailable to her conscious mind but never imprinted on long-term memory and erased by her trauma. In some ways this has been a blessing for her.
This book reminded me of Left Neglected, a novel by Lisa Genova, another book about a woman with brain injury and how she adapted to her new self.
2011
July 3, 2009
While Meili's story is fascinating, it's not the best written. The story drags on a bit, but it is a really intensely emotional story (which is why it was hard for me to be critical abt her story, but it's not that engaging). The way she was attacked..horrifying - but a miracle she recovered.
July 25, 2016
Trisha Meili is a truly amazing and inspirational person. I saw her speak at a brain injury association conference last year. I was fascinated by her story and I purchased the book to use for group therapy sessions I sometimes run for brain injured adults. But frankly, I can't use most of Tricia's book. There is very little in her book that most of my clients can relate to.
In the 17 years I've been working with people who have brain injuries, I have not encountered anyone with such a positive attitude. She expresses so much gratitude for her new life and for the distance she has traveled. She has come further than anyone I've worked with and it is due to her HARD work. She has a huge heart and works to make this world a better place for all kinds of people. She is a treasure!
This book is a must read.
In the 17 years I've been working with people who have brain injuries, I have not encountered anyone with such a positive attitude. She expresses so much gratitude for her new life and for the distance she has traveled. She has come further than anyone I've worked with and it is due to her HARD work. She has a huge heart and works to make this world a better place for all kinds of people. She is a treasure!
This book is a must read.
January 23, 2016
Not at all what I expected. While the story is unrelentingly positive and upbeat, I guess I wanted something different. (Negative and downbeat?) It was good to read about how well the author has done for herself since the events that left all of us horrified and in shock for her, but the book as a whole was sort of floaty-woaty and New Agey in a way that left me a little uncomfortable.
December 18, 2015
Great story of perseverance and overcoming challenging odds.
February 27, 2023
Ms. Meili's account of the horrific attack against her and her struggle to recover and get her life back was moving and harrowing. She must be incredibly strong to have endured so much and come away with fortitude and perseverance.
I have to say that I'm absolutely floored that some of the reviews here are openly attacking Ms. Meili because of the injustice done to the young men who were falsely accused of the crime against her. Ms. Meili never accused anyone falsely or otherwise. She is simply a victim of a rape and attempted murder that was so heinous and violent that she is left with permanent brain damage.
If someone feels that it's appropriate to attack a rape and attempted murder victim that was so unspeakably violent that the world was traumatized by it, I have to label that person a sociopath.
I have to say that I'm absolutely floored that some of the reviews here are openly attacking Ms. Meili because of the injustice done to the young men who were falsely accused of the crime against her. Ms. Meili never accused anyone falsely or otherwise. She is simply a victim of a rape and attempted murder that was so heinous and violent that she is left with permanent brain damage.
If someone feels that it's appropriate to attack a rape and attempted murder victim that was so unspeakably violent that the world was traumatized by it, I have to label that person a sociopath.
April 7, 2022
It felt controversial to even pick up this book, but it shouldn't, the truth is I am always interested in the stories of survivors, I think they deserve to have their stories heard and they can be very inspirational. I am disappointed that at the end she still sees it is plausible that the Exonerated Five could possibly be guilty, they can't. The majority of the book is written in a neutral manner as to who is guilty, it is only in the Afterword that she mentions that it is possible they are guilty.
None the less I was interested in hearing what happened to her and how she survived. A survivor for sure she is and in that vein she is inspirational. The book is almost completely focused on the specifics of her injuries and her recovery. She is yet another pull for me towards mindfulness as she details how it helped her heal such brutal injuries, I don't know why I am fighting it so much!
As far as the quality of writing, she clearly isn't an award winning writer, it was pretty basic, but for me I get really interested in personal stories so I was engaged.
None the less I was interested in hearing what happened to her and how she survived. A survivor for sure she is and in that vein she is inspirational. The book is almost completely focused on the specifics of her injuries and her recovery. She is yet another pull for me towards mindfulness as she details how it helped her heal such brutal injuries, I don't know why I am fighting it so much!
As far as the quality of writing, she clearly isn't an award winning writer, it was pretty basic, but for me I get really interested in personal stories so I was engaged.
June 14, 2013
I enjoyed this book for its message of hope and resilience. I truly believe that many people would not be able to survive the injuries Trisha Meili did. She had many things going for her: physical fitness; spunk; public support; prayer; incredible medical personnel; and perseverance. Ultimately her decision to focus on healing and a bright future kept her from wallowing in depression and misery and succumbing to her injuries. I loved that her focus in the book is on the help of others. This was not a woe-is-me book! The positive focus was enlightening and motivating.
There were many quotes throughout the book that inspired me. I loved her description of all the supportive letters, cards, gifts, and mementos that people sent. She stated, ". . . the support, acceptance, and praise was the air on which I floated." These gestures are what helped her during her rehab. That is so awesome! And that so much of it came from strangers really touches me deeply. As a runner, she experienced support from the running community. My favorite was when a man sent her his medal from the New York City Marathon. Her story inspired him to run again after a 6-year hiatus. He ran it for her and wrote, "so that you could have this medal as you came closer to finishing your own marathon." Wow. Clearly her struggle resonated through many, many people.
This quote is a good reminder for everyone: "My experience has also given me a desire to express to people that each one of us has the ability to make a difference in the life of someone else--to help make a miracle happen." I live by that!
And finally, "I am such a strong believer in working in the present and making whatever reality you have as positive and productive and healthy as it can be." Sage advice but not always easy. I admire those who can remain positive despite adversity. Trisha Meili is clearly one such person, and I admire her immensely.
There were many quotes throughout the book that inspired me. I loved her description of all the supportive letters, cards, gifts, and mementos that people sent. She stated, ". . . the support, acceptance, and praise was the air on which I floated." These gestures are what helped her during her rehab. That is so awesome! And that so much of it came from strangers really touches me deeply. As a runner, she experienced support from the running community. My favorite was when a man sent her his medal from the New York City Marathon. Her story inspired him to run again after a 6-year hiatus. He ran it for her and wrote, "so that you could have this medal as you came closer to finishing your own marathon." Wow. Clearly her struggle resonated through many, many people.
This quote is a good reminder for everyone: "My experience has also given me a desire to express to people that each one of us has the ability to make a difference in the life of someone else--to help make a miracle happen." I live by that!
And finally, "I am such a strong believer in working in the present and making whatever reality you have as positive and productive and healthy as it can be." Sage advice but not always easy. I admire those who can remain positive despite adversity. Trisha Meili is clearly one such person, and I admire her immensely.
September 26, 2020
Wow, all the people bashing this woman! She was assaulted, raped, left for dead, and all you can focus on is the people (black) who wrongly went to prison for it, and the fact that she (white) is also rich. Isn't that just as much discrimination? Because she was white and had money, she deserved the attack and years of therapy afterwards. Because she went jogging at night (with headphones on-gasp!) this was all her fault?
May I remind you that as humans we have something called freedom-that we have the right to go anywhere and do as we please without worrying about homicidal maniacs infringing upon that right?
We also have control, as in-the person who did this to her wasn't forced to attack and rape her out of some sort of involuntary impulse. Or, for that matter, the boys who were out "wilding" that night and attacking, beating, and robbing more than one person. It has nothing to do with your race or economic background. And until we stop using that as an excuse, nothing is ever going to be resolved.
That being said, the book itself was average writing, but she is a banker, not a Pulitzer prize winner. And the blame for her not remembering anything and somehow it was her fault for not helping to free the 5 boys-hello, she was beat to near death, people?! Have some compassion!
This is a good book to show that someone who went through something so horrendous was able to fight her way back to life again and is now helping others. It makes the things going on in our lives seem so petty in comparison.
May I remind you that as humans we have something called freedom-that we have the right to go anywhere and do as we please without worrying about homicidal maniacs infringing upon that right?
We also have control, as in-the person who did this to her wasn't forced to attack and rape her out of some sort of involuntary impulse. Or, for that matter, the boys who were out "wilding" that night and attacking, beating, and robbing more than one person. It has nothing to do with your race or economic background. And until we stop using that as an excuse, nothing is ever going to be resolved.
That being said, the book itself was average writing, but she is a banker, not a Pulitzer prize winner. And the blame for her not remembering anything and somehow it was her fault for not helping to free the 5 boys-hello, she was beat to near death, people?! Have some compassion!
This is a good book to show that someone who went through something so horrendous was able to fight her way back to life again and is now helping others. It makes the things going on in our lives seem so petty in comparison.
January 16, 2016
I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility by Trisha Meili (Scribner 2003) (Biography) is the autobiography of one of the most famous crime victims of all time - and one of the oddest criminal cases of all time as well. In 1989 a young woman was attacked, raped, beaten, and left for dead in New York City's Central Park. Five young men aged fourteen to sixteen were interrogated by the police and confessed to the crime, much to the relief of the city's populace. However, the boys soon recanted their confessions; it eventually became known that the boys had been interrogated for up to thirty consecutive hours without benefit of counsel and without being allowed to speak to their parents. Nevertheless, the boys were all convicted of various sex crimes based solely upon the confessions. There had never been any physical evidence to link the boys to the crime. They served prison terms of several years. The case again leapt into the public eye in 2002 when another inmate confessed to the crimes. His DNA matched that found upon the victim; the State of New York went to the extraordinary length of dismissing the original charges against the boys. Though the case is fascinating, the information given above is not actually the focus of this book. Rather, the book is the story of how the victim (a 28 year old investment banker) recovered from devasting injuries to lead a full and healthy life. My rating: 7/10, finished 4/17/13.
July 8, 2015
It's a quick read. Everybody knows about the Central Park Jogger incident (27 year old woman savagely beaten and raped, 5 innocent males incarcerated for the crime); the writer has broken her anonymity to tell the story as she knows it. At the beginning she speaks as if it happened to another person as she has zero memory of the attack. The story describes her physical and mental therapies/recoveries, her job, her personal life, her supporters, her love life, and the trial.
I was let down that there wasn't too much description of the alleged attackers and the trial, as I am interested in real life crime, but I understand she doesn't have much memory of it, and this was her chance to tell HER story, not the alleged attackers (as we know now, they were innocent).
She often seemed detached from the story, and never really seemed to struggle with he emotional aspects, which surprised me.
I was let down that there wasn't too much description of the alleged attackers and the trial, as I am interested in real life crime, but I understand she doesn't have much memory of it, and this was her chance to tell HER story, not the alleged attackers (as we know now, they were innocent).
She often seemed detached from the story, and never really seemed to struggle with he emotional aspects, which surprised me.
March 18, 2015
Memoirs are sometimes much more enjoyable in the voice of their author. This was definitely the case here.
Hers is an interesting story and an impressive recovery, but the mind-body healing stuff gets a little repetitive if you've already long-since made that connection and/or been sold that particular bill of goods. Also, she glosses over the racial layers of the court cases and her own position of wealth and privilege as it relates to how people responded to her. That's her right, of course, but it's a missing part of the story.
It was fine. I wouldn't have read it all, if it hadn't been narrated. I would have skimmed. So, for completion's sake, this was the way to go.
Hers is an interesting story and an impressive recovery, but the mind-body healing stuff gets a little repetitive if you've already long-since made that connection and/or been sold that particular bill of goods. Also, she glosses over the racial layers of the court cases and her own position of wealth and privilege as it relates to how people responded to her. That's her right, of course, but it's a missing part of the story.
It was fine. I wouldn't have read it all, if it hadn't been narrated. I would have skimmed. So, for completion's sake, this was the way to go.
March 21, 2013
Trisha Meili was and is a very smart, successful, driven person. It was very interesting to read about who she was before the attack, why she was jogging in Central Park at night and how she healed. Its a short book, easy read. The reason I gave it a 2 is that it was poorly written and could have been so much better. I understand the author had a brain injury who went through hell but I'm just saying I think it would have been much better if someone had written it for her in the 3rd person.
June 10, 2019
I admire her courage for writing this story, and I’m glad she wrote her story.
However, I kept thinking to myself “what if?” What if she wasn’t white, privileged, and had a well paying job that covered her healthcare, recovery and ongoing treatment? Those thoughts were in the back of my mind, and not to overshadow her courageous memoir but it still made me think would we be reading the same story if she wasn’t so privileged?
However, I kept thinking to myself “what if?” What if she wasn’t white, privileged, and had a well paying job that covered her healthcare, recovery and ongoing treatment? Those thoughts were in the back of my mind, and not to overshadow her courageous memoir but it still made me think would we be reading the same story if she wasn’t so privileged?
June 1, 2014
2.75(?) stars
Although the book was not great, it was likeable, but as Trisha's story is such an inspiration, I feel it could have been so much better.
I am amazed at how this lady found the courage and strength to recover so much and in such a short time, and it's remarkable how she gives hope to everyone who has suffered brain damage or injuries similar to hers.
Although the book was not great, it was likeable, but as Trisha's story is such an inspiration, I feel it could have been so much better.
I am amazed at how this lady found the courage and strength to recover so much and in such a short time, and it's remarkable how she gives hope to everyone who has suffered brain damage or injuries similar to hers.
May 28, 2009
I was really anxious to read this book. About 1/4 of the way through, it started talking about Christianity.
I'm Catholic, I have no problem with it ~ except, I thought it was going to be about her attack and the trial, etc.
I'm Catholic, I have no problem with it ~ except, I thought it was going to be about her attack and the trial, etc.
October 12, 2014
I really liked how she started this book. She was writing it as if it happened to a stranger because she really had no direct memory of it so had to go by media reports and conversations that took place. It is a fast read and it shows how she survived this horrible event and was able move forward.
December 20, 2021
Although I was a teenager in 1989 I can remember reports of the attack on a defenceless woman who had simply been out for a run in her local park. The attack was so brutal that it caused shockwaves around the world. Trisha Meilia was raped and had a brick or rock smashed into her face. I have often wondered what became of the victim and was interested to find this book on Amazon. Trisha Meili has a conversational style of writing and the book flows nicely. She doesn't go into great detail about the attack itself, she can't as she is unable to remember it at all. She has pieced together events from medical reports and from chats with those who treated her. Sadly she suffered a brain injury which has left her with long term difficulties with concentration and recall. This book is about her ongoing recovery. Trisha was working as investment banker for Salomans in 1989 and, probably as they recognised good PR, they paid her huge medical bills. She therefore received the very best treatment available. Nevertheless her achievements since the attack have been impressive. Trisha is clearly a perfectionist and I found that some parts of the book were very repetitive as she seems desperate for us to understand what an exceptional person she is. On almost every page she retells the story of someone paying her a compliment. Of course she is exceptional, we know that already but reading it time and time again becomes a bit tiresome. When she doesn't progress at the Investment Bank she worries that she is a middle-ranking sort of person, I am sure this comment annoyed a lot of her middle-management colleagues. I much preferred the parts where she really opened up, about her struggle with anorexia and about her need for a change in her life. I would have liked to learn a little more about the other victims who were attacked in Central Park on the same evening. Also I never really found out how she felt about the case becoming a race relations issue and about the subsequent acquittal of some of those originally convicted. I am sure most of us would not have been able to achieve a fraction of what this brave woman has achieved and I wish her well for the future.
May 14, 2025
This is not a fairytale, this is real life and so my review is about real life!
First and foremost I am terribly sorry this happened to you, also pleased that you do not remember, and your recovery was in the end reasonably good!
From a very young age, we are taught 'do not wander off',' do not take sweets or get in a car with strangers,' because there may be significant unpleasant consequences! Risks!
As an Investment Banker you would have had Risk Management training.
The whole World knew, that New York, at that time and for many years later, especially the Metro and Central Park were not safe places, which is why they had "Guardian Angels" around to try to keep people safe!
You were warned, by your colleagues many times, NOT to jog on your own, especially not in the park at night! Risk v Management!
When the real rapist came forward, You still felt these young guys were responsible, despite there being only concocted evidence, and should not have had a payout! REALLY!
I do agree with you that there should have been another trial after the young guys were exonerated! Only it should have been for the Policemen, who fabricated evidence, and they (the Police)should have been put behind bars, as happened to the police who fabricated statements, against the Guildford bombers in the UK.
I actually was more sorry for the Daughter of the ICU doctor who had been Raped at Gunpoint the month before! Who I am sure to this day does "remember" her Rape, and probably didn't receive the care you did!
I am not sure how this Doctor did not take a day off in all the time you were there, and could sit by your bed day and night, instead of being at home with His devastated daughter, and family!
Interesting though, most of the book is about your recovery from Anorexia and the years of ongoing therapy!
Plus, no regrets for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or sympathy for the guys wrongly convicted!
First and foremost I am terribly sorry this happened to you, also pleased that you do not remember, and your recovery was in the end reasonably good!
From a very young age, we are taught 'do not wander off',' do not take sweets or get in a car with strangers,' because there may be significant unpleasant consequences! Risks!
As an Investment Banker you would have had Risk Management training.
The whole World knew, that New York, at that time and for many years later, especially the Metro and Central Park were not safe places, which is why they had "Guardian Angels" around to try to keep people safe!
You were warned, by your colleagues many times, NOT to jog on your own, especially not in the park at night! Risk v Management!
When the real rapist came forward, You still felt these young guys were responsible, despite there being only concocted evidence, and should not have had a payout! REALLY!
I do agree with you that there should have been another trial after the young guys were exonerated! Only it should have been for the Policemen, who fabricated evidence, and they (the Police)should have been put behind bars, as happened to the police who fabricated statements, against the Guildford bombers in the UK.
I actually was more sorry for the Daughter of the ICU doctor who had been Raped at Gunpoint the month before! Who I am sure to this day does "remember" her Rape, and probably didn't receive the care you did!
I am not sure how this Doctor did not take a day off in all the time you were there, and could sit by your bed day and night, instead of being at home with His devastated daughter, and family!
Interesting though, most of the book is about your recovery from Anorexia and the years of ongoing therapy!
Plus, no regrets for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or sympathy for the guys wrongly convicted!
June 5, 2025
TL;DR - As both an assault and TBI survivor, it was interesting to read about her personal journey of recovery from both.
Full Review:
The publish date of this book is April 8, 2003 (a full year BEFORE Facebook was invented).
The writing of this book began in 2001 and she was over halfway through writing by the time she learned of Matias Reyes confession in July of 2002 with the vacated convections in December of that year after editing of her manuscript had already begun.
As a TBI patient, I can identify with struggling with cognitive function and processing and can understand how the timing of the confession did not allow her enough time to process and speak to the victimization of the then young men by a racist justice system.
It took her 13 years to process her own experiences, it’s a lot to ask her to process the experiences of others in months.
Would I like her to review her feelings during the trial with all the information we know now and write about it? Absolutely! Do I think she owes that to me or anyone else? No. I don’t think any trauma survivor owes anyone anything.
This is primarily a memoir about her recovery from the traumatic brain injury she sustained during the attack. She decided to continue the publishing process based on her experience of those years.
And while I agree she most certainly comes from a place of privilege, she does acknowledge that she had extraordinary support because of the press & scrutiny surrounding her story and the deep pockets of her wealthy Wall Street employers.
Which honestly was a decent move back in 2003, before “acknowledging privilege” was a mainstream concept.
In that light, as both an assault and TBI survivor, it was interesting to read about her personal recovery journey.
Full Review:
The publish date of this book is April 8, 2003 (a full year BEFORE Facebook was invented).
The writing of this book began in 2001 and she was over halfway through writing by the time she learned of Matias Reyes confession in July of 2002 with the vacated convections in December of that year after editing of her manuscript had already begun.
As a TBI patient, I can identify with struggling with cognitive function and processing and can understand how the timing of the confession did not allow her enough time to process and speak to the victimization of the then young men by a racist justice system.
It took her 13 years to process her own experiences, it’s a lot to ask her to process the experiences of others in months.
Would I like her to review her feelings during the trial with all the information we know now and write about it? Absolutely! Do I think she owes that to me or anyone else? No. I don’t think any trauma survivor owes anyone anything.
This is primarily a memoir about her recovery from the traumatic brain injury she sustained during the attack. She decided to continue the publishing process based on her experience of those years.
And while I agree she most certainly comes from a place of privilege, she does acknowledge that she had extraordinary support because of the press & scrutiny surrounding her story and the deep pockets of her wealthy Wall Street employers.
Which honestly was a decent move back in 2003, before “acknowledging privilege” was a mainstream concept.
In that light, as both an assault and TBI survivor, it was interesting to read about her personal recovery journey.
June 1, 2022
Ok so actually, I didn’t finish the book but I finished my reading of it. I’m going to be honest, I wanted to like this so badly. To critique someone’s memoir of a horrific event in their life feels so wrong so I will be as gracious as I can, understanding that the power of her words as a message is more important than as entertainment. That being said, I couldn’t keep reading. I made it over halfway through, really trying to like it more, but it just fell kind of flat. There were passages I really enjoyed, then others I asked “why was this included?”, but the majority was just a passive read. The subtitle says it is a story of recovery of hope, and I think that is accurate in that the majority of the book is focused on how she feels she recovered and moved on, but in some ways this felt like a commentary on the power of the mind and community. Both of those are important if that’s what you’re looking to read, but I guess not what I expected. There’s was a lot about this that felt like a autobiography rather than a focused memoir. I’m trying to be tactful because to call someone’s reflection of a traumatic event “not as interesting as expected” or “flat” feels much more brutal than I mean it, but the book was just okay and I didn’t feel compelled to keep trudging through. That being said, I still know this was an act of healing for her and I think that in itself is beautiful and powerful. Maybe it’s my consumption that is the problem and not her writing, but all in all she remains brave and an inspiration to many
January 30, 2025
Note: This book is about the author's recovery. It is not about the those who were wrongfully convicted.
I remember when the Central Park Jogger was attacked. It was all over the news. The book is about her and her long road of recovery. It would be wonderfully inspiring reading for someone with traumatic brain injury. She's very strong-willed and is a great example of perseverance.
The part of her book that I like best was that she got so much support from others; financial support from the company she worked for, letters and prayers from strangers, support and love from family and friends. It is amazing to think that so many people did care about her well being. She credits all of this support (along with the immense support from doctors and medical staff) as contributing to her recovery.
I really enjoyed reading about her gradual progression toward her new self and how she grew into the person that she is now, how she found love, how she changed direction with her career and became an inspiration for those who suffered TBI.
I remember when the Central Park Jogger was attacked. It was all over the news. The book is about her and her long road of recovery. It would be wonderfully inspiring reading for someone with traumatic brain injury. She's very strong-willed and is a great example of perseverance.
The part of her book that I like best was that she got so much support from others; financial support from the company she worked for, letters and prayers from strangers, support and love from family and friends. It is amazing to think that so many people did care about her well being. She credits all of this support (along with the immense support from doctors and medical staff) as contributing to her recovery.
I really enjoyed reading about her gradual progression toward her new self and how she grew into the person that she is now, how she found love, how she changed direction with her career and became an inspiration for those who suffered TBI.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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