Lifeline to a Soul by John K McLaughlin (BOOK REVIEW)

Imagine being inside a classroom that is inside a prison, and it’s your job to teach the inmates how they can start a business when they get out. What do you think? How do you feel about your students? What kind of potential do you think they have?
 
In the memoir, Lifeline to a Soul, John McLaughlin tells of his years teaching entrepreneurship to prisoners. As a teacher through a community college, John had the opportunity to reach students most of the world doesn’t have access to. Going behind the gates and through the guards, he found aspiring business owners and former business owners with real-world experience in a surprising place.
 
He shares his experiences – both good and bad – working with the prison system and trying to inspire and prepare his students. He shares stories and lessons learned as well as good business advice. If you are interested in small business, this book will be helpful to you. If you are a teacher of any kind, you’ll benefit from the wisdom he shares that applies to all types of classrooms. As an independent teacher myself, I found myself nodding a lot to the things he learned and the challenges he faced. We truly do grow from our students. His passion for teaching is evident. His perseverance is impressive.
 
I have to say I was impressed with the business aspirations of his students. It was heartwarming to hear some of their success stories. I’d like readers to also examine their assumptions about felons and learn some of the things that led people down that path. He even weaves in addressing social issues, risk factors for prison, and ways we can do better at supporting re-entry.
 
Author, John McLaughlin, takes us along his journey painting a well-written picture of his unique time inside a prison, how it affected his students, the success stories, how it affected him, how it grew him as a teacher, and the lessons he learned in his memoir, Lifeline to a Soul.
 
The book releases 2023 April 4th.
 
You can learn more about what John is doing these days to foster inmates turned entrepreneurs at www.LifelineToASoul.com
 
As a teacher and a small business owner myself, I enjoyed this book. I didn’t want to put it down. I was drawn into his story from the first chapter. He details his experience so well I could visualize it in my head and feel the ups and downs I often found myself relating to. Anyone who is interested in teaching or investing in the re-entry population would benefit from reading this book.
 
Click here for the Amazon link.