7 Life-Changing Resilience Books I Read During My 7 Years in Prison

Real Steps. Real Training. Real Results.

7 Life-Changing Resilience Books
I Read During
My 7 Years in Prison

Real Steps. Real Training. Real Results

The Best Resilience Books

When the steel door slammed shut behind me for the first time, I had no idea that books would become my salvation. Throughout my two separate prison terms—5.5 years in federal prison followed by 18 months in New Jersey state prison years later—I discovered that while my body was confined, my mind could still roam free through the pages of books that taught me the meaning of true resilience.

Many people talk about resilience as if it’s some innate quality that you either have or don’t. But my experience taught me something different: resilience is a mental muscle that can be built through deliberate practice and the right mental frameworks. The books I’m sharing today weren’t just reading material—they became the blueprint for my transformation and the foundation of what would later become the Build Mental Muscle Program.

I don’t have to imagine this scene. I lived it. But in that crushing moment, I discovered something vital: mental resilience matters more than anything else we can ever obtain in life. Every successful person I’ve ever met, every hero I’ve read about in books, every character I admire through out history, they’ve all possessed resilience so that every setback and defeat strengthened them rather than destroyed the, When you feel like you’ve lost everything and the entire world seems like it’s plotting against you, your inner strength is the only thing that will be able to save you. It saved me in my darkest hours and allowed me to transform my prison cell from an endpoint into a beginning.

1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

When a fellow inmate slipped me this worn paperback during my third month in federal prison, I had no idea it would fundamentally change how I viewed my circumstances. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, introduced me to a revolutionary concept: while I couldn’t control my external environment, I maintained complete authority over how I responded to it.

His experiences in Nazi concentration camps made my prison cell look like a luxury suite by comparison. If Frankl could find meaning in the most horrific conditions imaginable, what excuse did I have?

The passage that broke me open: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

This wasn’t just philosophical comfort; it became a daily practice. Each morning, I would consciously choose my attitude for the day, regardless of what happened around me. This simple practice became the cornerstone of my resilience strategy and remains a fundamental principle I teach today.

2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

![Mindset book cover]

About two years into my federal sentence, my sister sent me this book after I’d written to her about feeling stuck. Dweck’s research on fixed versus growth mindsets hit me like a revelation. I realized I had been operating with a fixed mindset my entire life, believing my talents and capabilities were static traits.

Prison, ironically, provided the perfect laboratory to test Dweck’s theories. With nothing but time, I could dedicate myself to developing new skills and ways of thinking. I began journaling about areas where I held fixed mindset beliefs and deliberately challenging them.

The most powerful concept I adopted was reframing challenges from threats to opportunities for growth. Every conflict with a guard or another inmate became a chance to practice emotional regulation. Every setback became a learning experience.

Years later, when building the Mental Muscle Program, I incorporated these mindset principles as fundamental building blocks, teaching participants to recognize and reframe their fixed mindset patterns just as I had done.

3. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday

A prison counselor who noticed my growing interest in personal development recommended this book in my fourth year of federal time. Holiday’s modern take on ancient Stoic philosophy gave me practical tools for navigating the daily challenges of prison life.

The central premise—that obstacles aren’t just challenges to overcome but actually the path itself—revolutionized my approach to problems. Instead of seeing the prison system as something designed to break me, I began to view it as the very thing that could forge me into someone stronger.

I started a daily practice of identifying the most difficult aspect of prison life each day and deliberately leaning into it, asking myself, “What is this here to teach me?” This shift transformed my experience from one of endurance to one of active personal growth.

The strategies I learned from Holiday’s work became essential components of how I teach resilience today—particularly the idea that we should run toward challenges rather than away from them.

4. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

A former military officer who was serving time in the same federal facility lent me this book during my fifth year. While I initially resisted its message of radical responsibility, it eventually became the catalyst for one of my most profound mindset shifts.

The concept that I was 100% responsible for everything in my life—even my imprisonment—was initially bitter medicine. But as I continued reading, I realized that this perspective wasn’t about blame but about power. If I was responsible for where I was, then I was also responsible for where I could go.

I began applying the principles of Extreme Ownership to my daily life, taking responsibility not just for my actions but for my reactions, my emotions, and my future. This shift eliminated the victim mentality that had subtly pervaded my thinking for years.

The leadership principles in this book didn’t just help me navigate prison—they became essential to how I now lead the Build Mental Muscle community, emphasizing personal accountability as the foundation of genuine transformation.

5. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

![The Power of Habit book cover]

During the final months of my federal sentence, I was fortunate to get assigned to the prison library. There, I discovered Duhigg’s groundbreaking work on habit formation. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—I was beginning to contemplate life after release and worried about falling back into old patterns.

Duhigg’s explanation of the habit loop—cue, routine, reward—gave me a framework for understanding my own destructive behaviors. I meticulously documented my habit triggers and began the deliberate work of rewiring my responses.

The most valuable insight was understanding that you can’t simply eliminate bad habits; you must replace them with new ones that deliver similar rewards. I began identifying the underlying needs my criminal behavior had been fulfilling—excitement, status, belonging—and developing legitimate ways to meet those same needs.

This science of habit formation became central to the Build Mental Muscle methodology. Today, I teach participants to recognize their own habit loops and implement strategic interventions at each stage of the process.

6. History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

![History of Western Philosophy book cover]

During my time in New Jersey state prison, I came across this massive philosophical tome in the prison library. Most inmates passed it over for lighter reading, but something drew me to Russell’s comprehensive examination of human thought throughout history.

This wasn’t a typical “resilience book,” yet it provided the most profound resilience insight I’ve ever encountered. Russell writes: “Uncertainty, in the presence of vivid hopes and fears, is painful, but must be endured if we wish to live without the support of comforting fairy tales. It is not good either to forget the questions that philosophy asks, or to persuade ourselves that we have found indubitable answers to them. To teach how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation, is perhaps the chief thing that philosophy, in our age, can still do for those who study it.”

This quote fundamentally changed my perspective on resilience. I realized that resilience isn’t about eliminating uncertainty—it’s about developing the capacity to function powerfully despite it. To teach how to live without certainty yet not be paralyzed by it is literally the foundation of resilience. You have to make peace with the unknown, and the only way to do this is to develop an unshakable confidence in yourself.

Russell’s perspective liberated me from the exhausting search for perfect clarity and instead helped me focus on building internal strength that could withstand any uncertainty. This philosophical insight became the cornerstone of my approach to resilience training—focusing on internal capacity rather than external control.

7. Build Mental Muscle (Upcoming Book)

The final book on this list is my own upcoming work, “Build Mental Muscle.” This book represents the culmination of everything I’ve learned about resilience—not just from the books above, but from my combined seven years across two prison terms and the transformational journey that followed.

“Build Mental Muscle” distills the most powerful resilience principles I’ve discovered, combining philosophical wisdom, psychological research, and hard-earned personal experience into a comprehensive approach to developing unshakable mental strength. It’s the book I wish I’d had when I first entered prison—a practical guide to not just surviving difficulty but using it as a catalyst for profound personal growth.

What makes this book different from other resilience resources is its foundation in both lived experience and neuroplasticity research. It doesn’t just tell you what to do; it explains how these practices literally rewire your brain for greater resilience. And rather than offering temporary coping mechanisms, it provides a systematic approach to permanent transformation.

While it’s still in development, I believe this will be the definitive guide to building true resilience in the face of life’s greatest challenges. After all, the principles within it haven’t just been researched—they’ve been tested and proven in the most challenging environments imaginable.

Honorable Mention: The California Kid

While not part of my prison reading list, I want to mention “The California Kid,” a powerful book written by a close friend. I read it recently, and it offers an extraordinary account of what true resilience looks like in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

This authentic story resonated deeply with me because it parallels many of the same resilience principles I discovered during my own journey. The raw vulnerability and transformation depicted in its pages provide a compelling illustration of how resilience isn’t just an abstract concept but a lived reality that can change the trajectory of a life.

If you’re looking for a resilience book that combines engaging storytelling with profound insights, I highly recommend adding “The California Kid” to your reading list alongside the titles I’ve shared from my prison journey.

How These Books Shaped the Build Mental Muscle Approach

The seven books I’ve shared weren’t just passive reading material—they were active ingredients in my transformation. Each contributed specific principles and practices that now form the foundation of how I teach others to develop mental resilience:

From Frankl: The power of choosing your response to circumstances
From Dweck: The critical importance of developing a growth mindset
From Holiday: The perspective that obstacles are actually the way forward
From Willink and Babin: The liberating practice of taking extreme ownership
From Duhigg: The science of rewiring negative habit patterns
From Russell: The philosophy of functioning powerfully despite uncertainty
From my upcoming book: The systematic approach to building mental strength

Together, these works taught me that resilience isn’t about toughening up or pushing through—it’s about developing specific mental muscles that allow you to use adversity as a catalyst for growth.

The Journey Continues

Today, years after my release, these seven resilience books continue to influence how I live and how I teach. The Build Mental Muscle Program integrates the most powerful principles from each, combined with the neuroplasticity research that explains why and how these approaches rewire our brains for greater resilience.

If you’re facing challenges in your own life—whether they’re as extreme as imprisonment or as common as daily stress—I encourage you to explore these books. Each offers unique tools for building the mental muscles needed to not just survive difficult times, but to use them as transformative opportunities.

Remember: resilience isn’t something you’re born with or without. It’s a set of skills and mental frameworks that can be developed with consistent practice. These books showed me how to build those skills in the most challenging environments imaginable. They can help you build them too, wherever you are.

Have you read any of these resilience books? Which one resonates most with your current challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or join our Build Mental Muscle community to continue the conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best books on resilience?

Based on my personal experience and the transformation they catalyzed during my prison terms, the best resilience books include:

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl - Teaches the fundamental freedom to choose your response to any circumstance
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck - Explains how a growth mindset enables resilience
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday - Shows how to turn challenges into opportunities
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin - Emphasizes taking complete responsibility for your circumstances
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - Provides the science of creating resilient behavioral patterns
History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell - Offers profound insights on functioning despite uncertainty
Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant - Explores facing adversity and building resilience after trauma
Resilient by Rick Hanson - Combines neuroscience and mindfulness for building inner strength
Rising Strong by Brené Brown - Addresses bouncing back from failure and disappointment

The most effective resilience book for you will depend on your specific challenges and learning style. I recommend starting with Viktor Frankl's work, as it provides the essential foundation for all resilience practices.

What are the 7 C's of resilience?

The 7 C's of resilience, developed by pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, provide a comprehensive framework for building mental strength:

Competence - Developing specific skills and abilities that allow you to handle situations effectively
Confidence - Believing in your own abilities based on recognizing your competence
Connection - Building strong, positive relationships with family, friends, and community
Character - Developing a solid set of morals and values to determine right from wrong
Contribution - Understanding the importance of personal contribution to the world
Coping - Learning to deal with stress in healthy ways and avoid destructive coping mechanisms
Control - Understanding what you can control and what you cannot, focusing energy on things within your influence

In my experience, the most transformative of these is often "Control" - learning to identify what's within your sphere of influence versus what's outside it. During my imprisonment, this distinction became crucial to maintaining my mental health and building resilience.

What are the 5 C's of resilience?

The 5 C's of resilience represent a simplified framework often used in professional development and organizational settings:

Commitment - Staying dedicated to your goals and values despite obstacles
Control - Taking ownership of what you can influence while accepting what you cannot
Challenge - Viewing difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than threats
Confidence - Believing in your ability to overcome obstacles based on past experiences
Connection - Building and maintaining supportive relationships that provide resources and perspective

These five elements form a powerful framework for resilience in workplace settings. During my second prison term, I focused particularly on the "Challenge" component, deliberately reframing each difficulty as a growth opportunity. This shift in perspective transformed my experience from one of suffering to one of development.

What are the 4 R's of resilience?

The 4 R's of resilience provide an action-oriented framework for navigating adversity:

Recognize - Acknowledge the reality of your situation and identify risk factors
Respond - Make intentional choices about how you engage with challenges rather than reacting automatically
Resources - Identify and leverage available support systems, tools, and strengths
Recover - Apply what you've learned to rebuild and grow stronger after difficulty

In my personal journey, the "Respond" phase was where I made the most significant breakthrough. Using Viktor Frankl's principles, I learned that while I couldn't control my imprisonment, I maintained complete authority over my response to it. This single shift created space for growth even in the most constraining environment.

These frameworks—whether the 7 C's, 5 C's, or 4 R's—offer valuable mental models for understanding and building resilience. However, in my experience, the most effective approach combines elements from each while acknowledging that resilience is highly personal and contextual. The books I've recommended provide deeper insights into how these principles can be applied in your unique circumstances.

Commitment - Staying dedicated to your goals and values despite obstacles
Control - Taking ownership of what you can influence while accepting what you cannot
Challenge - Viewing difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than threats
Confidence - Believing in your ability to overcome obstacles based on past experiences
Connection - Building and maintaining supportive relationships that provide resources and perspective

These frameworks—whether the 7 C’s, 5 C’s, or 4 R’s—offer valuable mental models for understanding and building resilience. However, in my experience, the most effective approach combines elements from each while acknowledging that resilience is highly personal and contextual. The books I’ve recommended provide deeper insights into how these principles can be applied in your unique circumstances.

For a more comprehensive understanding of resilience principles and how to apply them in your life, explore our Build Mental Muscle Program or join our resilience community.

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