Born December 28, 1978, Chris Wilson experiences a traumatic adolescence and commits a murder that results in a life sentence in prison. There, he creates and follows what he calls a Master Plan for what he wants to accomplish. He earns release from prison and dedicates his life to both self-improvement and service. His memoir is both an account of his escape from what he calls “the cave” and an indictment of the criminal justice system he experienced.

As an elementary school student, Wilson splits time between his grandparents’ home on Division Avenue in Washington, D.C., and his mother’s home in Temple Hills, Maryland. He enjoys reading, runs track, and loves his mother. The abuse she suffers and the violent world in which he lives cause him to experience depression. He begins to engage in criminal activity. During one altercation, he murders a man and then receives a life sentence. His family eventually abandons him.

With help and inspiration from fellow inmate Steve Edwards, Wilson creates and follows a Master Plan. Wilson breaks bad habits and develops healthy ones. He earns a GED and carpentry certificate. He maintains hope that one day he will win his freedom, but he resolves to pursue a path of self-improvement and service no matter the outcome.