BEVERLY HILLS—After I read “Enlightenment of Evil: Murder, Abuse, Transcendence” by the compelling and magnetic author Don English, I found myself caught up in the idea of hope and clinging to faith in mankind. After all, if English could survive such hellish torture at the hands of a young man, who was placed on earth to offer him love and protection, and then Don could forgive his brother for such demon-like treatment toward him, then there is truly hope for human beings, and the planet just may survive its current state of affairs. “Enlightenment of Evil” is a book that transports you into the deep dark mind of a child psychopath, who cannot break the will of a good person (Don English), and the unconditional love this young man felt from his father, and then later his mother would be the reason why he would come out of the tunnel of darkness and is not only shining the light of good upon the planet, but is that light itself.

Author And Inspiring Gentleman, Don English

Rarely have I read a book that moved me to tears by the utter complexity of evil being done to the storyteller, and yet, that storyteller emerges from the dark hatred, abuse and almost death even more heroic than any superhero movie character that Hollywood could ever create and produce. Jaycee Dugard was the first such story that made such an impression on me, and then only two weeks later I received the advance copy of “Enlightenment of Evil: Murder, Abuse, Transcendence,” which hopefully will become a bestseller and also be put on the screen as well. English is a positive and caring force in a world that often let him down as a child. His engrossing storytelling style of writing is both enchanting and mesmerizing, but it is not for the faint of heart. If you are not prepared to change your own life, stop complaining about your plight; whatever it is, then I do not suggest you read this book until you are ready for such change in your own life. That being said, it’s a book that I hope will be in every American home and will be read by at least one person in every family across these 50 states.

Why am I so moved by this story? It is both overwhelming in its depth of depravity that was done to Don English as a child, but it is also proof of pure goodness and inner beauty existing in the universe we now realize is filled with more life than anything else. When I recently spoke with the famed author, he told me, “I appreciate you taking the time to read and review my book. Like me, you find the positive things in life to talk about, to enjoy and to embrace. I hope that anyone reading my book, who may know someone going through any type of abuse will reach out to that person and do what my father did with me, offer unconditional love. It’s that love that gives people like Jaycee and me such hope and the desire to persevere and to survive torture as a child,” said the author.

“I have been asked since your initial interview ran, how I was able to keep so much of this to myself. I didn’t really share it with a lot of people when I was blessed enough to finally be away from my brother and his psychosis. I realize now after therapy and talking with a dear friend, who is a psychologist, that some kind of brain trauma is the cause of what we know as the making of a psychopath,” said English. “However, that doesn’t make the pain a child is going through any better. In fact, you can’t even grasp that when you are going through it. It’s when you come out of the other side of the pain that you realize all of this. At least some of us do.”

In many descriptions of being buried alive, which English endured countless times over his youth at the hands of his brother, it’s almost as if like Jaycee Dugard stated that the person has an outer-body experience and is able to survive the emotional and physical pain by being able to disassociate oneself from the actual experience. “Yes, I do know what you mean, Tommy. I had this happen many times. You don’t realize it at the time, but the mind is very powerful, and it will find a way to protect you oftentimes when you are incapable of protecting yourself. When I finally was able to watch Jaycee’s [Dugard] interview, I understood her better than I ever thought possible. She and I went through similar torture, sexual abuse and ultimately the path to genuine survival. I hope that my book will touch the lives of half the people that her story has done for many of us,” concluded Don English. Unlike Dugard, English’s torture did not come at the hands and mind of a stranger. It came through the body of his biological brother, who obviously was a very damaged individual. He remains in jail for life today for an unspeakable murderous crime too chilling to describe. What can be described, however, is the love and commitment to survival, which English himself is a testament to, and proof that a good soul may endure plenty, but it will also return love and devotion tenfold.

Like Don English, I decided long ago to use my words, my ability to write and any power that I have been given to help, to honor, to support and to uplift others. Many use what clout they have to try to destroy and diminish others. That’s the sign of a weak and injured person, of a jealous heart and mind. But those people are to be forgiven and written off. Remember, Oprah Winfrey said it best, “Hurt people, hurt people.” If you are looking for a book that will offer hope, strength and a guide through the maze of turmoil and abuse, and one that will ultimately build the soul up, not further injure it, then please order “Enlightenment of Evil: Murder, Abuse, Transcendence,”  today at http://www.amazon.com/Enlightenment-Evil-Murder-Abuse-Transcendence/dp/0615493009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313525101&sr=8-1.

Photograph of Author Don English by CharlesBush.com