A Breed Apart - by Victor Woods (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In this "energetic" (Publishers Weekly) memoir, Victor Woods vividly recounts a trouble-filled and misunderstood coming-of-age in the suburbs of Chicago, the rollercoaster ride that led him to captain a multi-million dollar counterfeit scheme, and his life-changing stint in federal prison.

In 1990, Victor Woods was charged by the US federal government with organizing a credit card scam worth more than forty million dollars. He refused to implicate his family and friends for a reduced sentence. His lawyer at the time remarked that he was "a breed apart."

In his authentic, matter-of-fact style, Woods shares the details of his evolution from a rebellious teen to a white-collar criminal and what inspired him to turn his life around while locked away as a federal inmate. Woods's misdeeds and missteps remind us that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. His remarkable turnaround shows us that no matter our past we can always make good on a second chance.

Review Quotes

"This book has important social implications . . . . One of the most compelling reads of its genre since Malcolm X."--David McPherson, former Executive Vice President, Sony Urban Music

"Stingingly conveys the grief and madness . . . . A cautionary tale with a happy ending." -- "Kirkus Reviews"

"A Breed Apart is a moving, exciting story that's going to make a great movie."--Emmy award-winning actor, Armand Assante

"Victor Woods takes us on an emotional journey . . . . A Breed Apart grips you from the very first chapter. "--Chaka Khan

"A life-altering reading experience that contains a priceless and timeless message."--Claude Brown, author of Manchild in the Promised Land

"Will inspire and captivate you."--Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, and author of author of X: A Novel, Malcolm Little, and Growing Up X