My Life Is Art: 11 Pillars for a Positive and Purposeful Life

by Emmanuel Jal

Overview

Drawing on lessons from his remarkable life, former child soldier turned activist, author, entrepreneur, and international recording artist Emmanuel Jal provides his eleven pillars for overcoming adversity and living a life of purpose

“Who owns your mind?” Beginning with this provocative question, Emmanuel Jal invites readers to claim ownership over the narratives that define their lives in order to become a force for good in the world.

As a child growing up in South Sudan, Jal witnessed atrocities perpetrated against his family and community. These actions drove him to become a child soldier in a vicious civil war. Hunger, isolation, and the ever-present specter of death in battle attended his every moment. Yet his greatest challenge did not come from outside; it arose from within, from the corrosive nature of hopelessness, trauma, and narratives of victimization.

Rather than succumb to these forces of negativity, Jal turned his life’s challenges into opportunities by utilizing a comprehensive framework he developed around eleven pillars of support. These pillars can be utilized individually or as a unit to help build a durable internal structure that allows anyone to overcome adversity, regain joy and gratitude, and live a life of purpose that enriches the greater community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646220380
Publisher:	Catapult
Publication date:	12/05/2023
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	638,827
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.26(h) x 1.07(d)

About the Author

EMMANUEL JAL started his life as a child soldier in the war-torn region of South Sudan. He is an activist, author, entrepreneur, and recording artist. He is the subject of the full-length award-winning documentary War Child and the author of the book by the same title. He now lives in Toronto, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

10/09/2023

Activist and entrepreneur Jal (War Child) provides surprisingly potent guidance for living an intentional life in this astute combination of memoir and self-help guide. Jal grew up as a child soldier in South Sudan, where he was surrounded by violence and often went hungry. That he overcame these traumas to achieve stability as an adult lends weight to his advice on how readers can increase their “ability to think, plan, organize, strategize, be compassionate, love, and exhibit wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.” Jal organizes that advice around 11 “pillars,” including meditation, gratitude, and forgiveness. Despite the positive tone, Jal doesn’t gloss over the difficulties of his early life, explaining that even after leaving his home country to live in Kenya as a teen, he remained “a troubled young man with many issues”; the physical violence that had been endemic in his early years had been replaced by “a cold war” in his mind, which produced nightmares and suicidal thoughts. Jal’s journey away from the darkness makes for inspirational reading. Even self-help skeptics are likely to be stirred. Agent: James Wills, Watson, Little. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Zibby Mag, A Most Anticipated Book of the Fall

"[An] astute combination of memoir and self-help guide . . . Jal’s journey away from the darkness makes for inspirational reading. Even self-help skeptics are likely to be stirred." —Publishers Weekly

"Courageous, vulnerable, compassionate, and insightful . . . Jal’s energy and vitality renders the book a satisfying read." —Kirkus Reviews

"Emmanuel is a truly remarkable man with a story that is equal parts heartbreaking, powerful, and inspiring. The lessons Emmanuel has gained in the most devastating of circumstances can teach us all something about the limitless possibility that lies within, as well as the power of positivity and hope." —Richard Branson

"Emmanuel's unique history ignites an authenticity earthed in compassion and curiosity. He goes where many fear to tread from acknowledging his violence to corporate boardrooms, the UN, and prisons. He has a gift for seeing the person, not their label, and meets any situation which he approaches with humility and openness. He goes on journeys like no other and this book will enrich all those who read it." —Jane Tewson CBE, Founder of Igniting Change & Co founder of Comic Relief

"I am so lucky to call Emmanuel a friend—I have learned so much from him. He is a generous teacher and has so much unique knowledge to share with the world and approaches life with so much fun, enthusiasm, and joy." —Nelly Furtado

"I’ve known Emmanuel both on and off the stage, but this book has taken me to a new depth in understanding his remarkable life and the steps he has taken to become who he is today. His teachings have helped inspire and influence people all over the world, and I know this book will continue to add to his extraordinary impact in the world." —Nile Rodgers

From the Publisher

2023-09-19
The author of War Child returns with a how-to book about healing.

Throughout his childhood, Jal faced unbelievable trauma. After his mother died in the South Sudanese civil war, his father arranged for him to escape to Ethiopia, a country he reached after a grueling journey during which he witnessed the deaths of hundreds of his fellow refugees, including children his own age. When the Ethiopian school he was supposed to attend turned out to be nonexistent, he became a child soldier, and not only witnessed horrific murders but also was responsible for an unspecified number of deaths. An aid worker rescued Jal and found him passage to Kenya, where he found Christianity and developed a meditation practice that he credits with giving him a new lease on life. Now, Jal is a successful rapper, entrepreneur, and activist. The purpose of this book, he writes, is to explain how he overcame trauma and to provide others with the tools to live the type of fulfilling life he has crafted for himself, despite unbelievable trauma. Jal intertwines stories about his past with explanations of the “eleven pillars” that now form the foundations of his daily life. “Every human being who has moved on from a traumatic situation is miraculous,” he writes. “Imagine someone who has experienced sexual violence, or a war child, still talking about peace and love.” The author is clearly dedicated to sharing this miracle with whoever is able to listen. In the sections of the book that pivot around memoir, Jal is courageous, vulnerable, compassionate, and insightful. The advice sections, however, hover close to toxic positivity and often deviate into strange, disjointed musings that feel overly specific or outdated. Overall, though, Jal’s energy and vitality renders the book a satisfying read.

A former child soldier’s bright yet uneven memoir-cum-manifesto about surviving trauma.

Kirkus Reviews

Emmanuel Jal--child soldier turned activist, entrepreneur, and recording artist--narrates his powerful memoir, in which he identifies 11 pillars for emotional resilience. Listeners are carried along by the slight cadence in Jal's baritone as he shares his experiences of trauma, war, and loss, as well as his hard-won wisdom. He offers listeners a road map to find their own healing through each pillar. Jal provides practical strategies for navigating life's challenges with grace and strength. His narration, imbued with vulnerability and wisdom, captivates the listener and inspires introspection. With courage and compassion, Jal empowers listeners to confront their inner demons, cultivate self-compassion, and embrace the journey toward wholeness. This transformative memoir is delivered by the author with courage, grace, and profound honesty. M.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

MAY 2024 - AudioFile