I use to think that nonfiction was just boring and useless. Why read about reality when you already live it? Although, reading Prison Writings by Leonard Peltier changed my perspective completely. This showed me that my reality is a dream for Leonard Peltier, which is humiliating. However, it is humbling to know there is greater purposes that can be lived out for. Peltier with amazing faith in his Sun Dance, his religion and his people.

Leonard is a man who was sentenced two lifetimes, plus seven year in prison for being wrongly convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1977. His first crime to society was being Indian, where memories of terror would come back in agony and still continue. Peltier uses flashbacks to reveal the truth. He reminisces because all that he had was pure memory. All he has left is a heart full of emotion distress, but he doesn’t let it get to him because he knows this life is not his, but it’s Sun Dance.

He writes this book for justice in people’s hearts because it comes down to a point where you have to decide if you think he’s innocent or not. That decision has to be made with your heart, not based on any biases or cruelty. Do you want justice for this Indian who has been given hell? I challenge you to keep reading this book, and not just to widen your perspective, but open up your hearts.

Prison Writings by Leonard Peltier deserves 5 stars. He opens up your perspectives on life and your heart. To hear these stories is bittersweet. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. What type of sweet is in all this injustices? Or, what bitterness he deserves it? It is a blessing to have this book; it’s like stumbling onto a hundred dollars that cover in dirt. Peltier describes his life of being Indian and being bullied all his life. It reveals to the readers that life is hard, but there is someone else out there that has it harder.

Peltier reveals his humility of being Indian, and it shows me my flaws in being ignorant thinking my life is the hardest. Surely enough, Leonard Peltier’s life has been hell since the beginning. He shows how corrupt the society and government can be. What do we really gain in bullying someone? We only gain the abstract things like pride which leads to destruction. Bullying someone into agony only satisfies the self-destruction in yourself. This book earns five stars from me because it expresses real life issues that are just ignored and when the authority is challenged, you’ll suffer the consequences for being morally right.