What Set Me Free
(The Story That Inspired the Major Motion Picture Brian Banks)
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Narrated by:
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Brian Banks
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By:
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Brian Banks
About this listen
*The story that inspired the film Brian Banks*
Discover the unforgettable and inspiring true story of a young man who was wrongfully convicted as a teenager and imprisoned for more than five years, only to emerge with his spirit unbroken and determined to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL.
At age sixteen, Brian Banks was a nationally recruited All-American Football player, ranked eleventh in the nation as a linebacker. Before his 17th birthday, he was in jail, awaiting trial for a heinous crime he did not commit.
Although Brian was innocent, his attorney advised him that as a young black man accused of rape, he stood no chance of winning his case at trial. Especially since he would be tried as an adult. Facing a possible sentence of 41 years to life, Brian agreed to take a plea deal - and a judge sentenced him to six years in prison.
At first, Brian was filled with fear, rage, and anger as he reflected on the direction his life had turned and the unjust system that had imprisoned him. Brian was surrounded by darkness, until he had epiphany that would change his life forever. From that moment on, he made the choice to shed the bitterness and anger he felt, and focus only on the things he had the power to control. He approached his remaining years in prison with a newfound resolve, studying spirituality, improving his social and writing skills, and taking giant leaps on his journey toward enlightenment.
When Brian emerged from prison with five years of parole still in front of him, he was determined to rebuild his life and finally prove his innocence. Three months before his parole was set to expire, armed with a shocking recantation from his accuser and the help of the California Innocence Project, the truth about his unjust incarceration came out and he was exonerated. Finally free, Brian sought to recapture a dream once stripped away: to play for the NFL. And at age twenty-eight, he made that dream come true.
Perfect for fans of Just Mercy, I Beat the Odds, and Infinite Hope, this powerful memoir is a deep dive into the injustices of the American justice system, a soul-stirring celebration of the resilience of the human spirit, and an inspiring call to hold fast to our dreams.
©2019 Brian Banks (P)2019 Simon & Schuster AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Claire Griffith has it all, a thriving career, a gorgeous boyfriend, glamorous friends. She always knew she was destined for more than the life her conservative parents preached to her. Arriving in Los Angeles flat broke, she has risen to become a popular fitness coach and social media influencer. Having rebranded herself as Cleo Ray, she stands at the threshold of realizing her biggest dreams. One summer day, Cleo and a woman named Beck Alden set off in a canoe on a serene mountain lake. An hour later, Beck is found dead in the water, and Cleo is missing.
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Excellent
- By RueRue on 06-11-21
By: L. R. Dorn
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The 57 Bus
- A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
- By: Dashka Slater
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But, one afternoon, on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned.
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An Unusual True-Crime Event...Beautifully Written.
- By Mary Burnight on 02-21-18
By: Dashka Slater
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Lay Your Sleeping Head
- The Henry Rios Mysteries, Book 1
- By: Michael Nava
- Narrated by: Thom Rivera
- Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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A completely revised edition of the first Henry Rios mystery, The Little Death, Lay Your Sleeping Head introduces Michael Nava’s singular protagonist, gay Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. Rios, beset by personal and professional problems, begins a passionate affair with the black sheep heir to a great California fortune who tells Rios an improbable tale of murder and sexual predation in his wealthy family. When the young man is found dead of an apparent drug overdose, Rios begins an investigation that ultimately reveals much more than murder.
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Loved It
- By Leah Brock on 06-20-20
By: Michael Nava
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Game Changer
- By: Neal Shusterman
- Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Jennifer Jill Araya
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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An explosive new novel by the author of the National Book Award-winning Challenger Deep and the New York Times best-selling Arc of a Scythe series, about the limited ways we see our world - and how a jolt out of the ordinary can upend the universe.
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mind expanding questions are asked and explored.
- By Klokfixr on 02-11-21
By: Neal Shusterman
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Getting Life
- An Innocent Man’s 25-Year Journey from Prison to Peace
- By: Michael Morton
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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On August 13, 1986, just one day after his 32nd birthday, Michael Morton went to work at his usual time. By the end of the day, his wife Christine had been savagely bludgeoned to death in the couple's bed - and the Williamson County Sherriff's office in Texas wasted no time in pinning her murder on Michael, despite an absolute lack of physical evidence. Michael was swiftly sentenced to life in prison for a crime he had not committed
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A must read
- By Kevlar314 on 04-23-15
By: Michael Morton
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Blood Is Black
- By: Scott Pratt
- Narrated by: Bailey Carr
- Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
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Presley Carter is a bright, hungry young defense attorney plying her trade in the areas in and around Nashville. Though she’s haunted by a horrifying event from her past, she’s achieved local renown as a savvy, resourceful lawyer adept at handling–and winning–tough cases. After being approached to file a clemency petition by a father whose son committed a gruesome double-murder, Presley reluctantly agrees to file the document, knowing full well the request has no chance of being granted. Then she receives a phone call informing her the convict’s release has been approved.
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Blood is indeed black
- By Karen B. Jinks on 11-20-22
By: Scott Pratt
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No Justice
- One White Police Officer, One Black Family, and How One Bullet Ripped Us Apart
- By: Robbie Tolan, Lawrence Ross, Ken Griffey Jr. - foreword
- Narrated by: Robbie Tolan
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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No Justice is the harrowing story of Robbie Tolan, who early on one New Year's Eve morning, found himself being rushed to the hospital. A White police officer had shot him in the chest after mistakenly accusing him of stealing his own car...while in his own driveway.
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Supporting a wonderful and brave human being
- By Caro on 01-12-20
By: Robbie Tolan, and others
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Lost and Found
- By: Orson Scott Card
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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That's the question that has haunted 14-year-old Ezekiel Blast all his life. But he's not a thief, he just has a talent for finding things. Not a superpower - a micropower. Because what good is finding lost bicycles and hair scrunchies, especially when you return them to their owners and everyone thinks you must have stolen them in the first place? If only there were some way to use Ezekiel's micropower for good, to turn a curse into a blessing. His friend Beth thinks there must be, and so does a police detective investigating the disappearance of a little girl.
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Good book from a great Author
- By Jim on 03-30-21
By: Orson Scott Card
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Bluegrass
- A True Story of Murder in Kentucky
- By: William Van Meter
- Narrated by: Ed Sala
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Widely published journalist William Van Meter returned to his hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky to research this harrowing account of a horrifying crime that occurred at Western Kentucky University. In 2003, attractive college student Katie Autry was found dead in her dorm room after being raped, stabbed, and set on fire. As Van Meter delves into the facts of the case, further disturbing information surfaces.
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Excellent!
- By brooke whitehead on 01-09-23
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God's Hostage
- A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment, and Perseverance
- By: Andrew Brunson, Craig Borlase - contributor
- Narrated by: Andrew Brunson
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1993, Andrew Brunson was asked to travel to Turkey, the largest unevangelized country in the world, to serve as a missionary. Though hesitant because of the daunting and dangerous task that lay ahead, Andrew and his wife, Norine, believed this was God's plan for them. What followed was a string of threats and attacks, but also successes in starting new churches in a place where many people had never met a Christian. As their work with refugees from Syria, gained attention and suspicion, Andrew and Norine acknowledged the threat but accepted the risk.
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The raw honesty
- By Osborne’s on 07-04-24
By: Andrew Brunson, and others
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Without a Prayer
- The Death of Lucas Leonard and How One Church Became a Cult
- By: Susan Ashline
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Teenager Lucas Leonard made shocking admissions in front of the altar - he'd practiced witchcraft, conspired to murder his parents, and committed unspeakable crimes. The confessions earned him a brutal beating by a gang of angry church members, including his parents and sister. Lucas was brought to the hospital dead, awakening the sleepy community of Chadwicks, New York, to the horror that had been lurking next door. Nine members of Lucas' church would eventually find themselves facing murder-related charges. But how did they get to that point? And what made Lucas confess?
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The Depravity of the Human Soul
- By J. Miller on 01-31-20
By: Susan Ashline
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Prisoner
- My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison—Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out
- By: Jason Rezaian
- Narrated by: Jason Rezaian
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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The dramatic memoir of the journalist who was held hostage in a high-security prison in Tehran for 18 months and whose release - which almost didn’t happen - became a part of the Iran nuclear deal.
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Should have been much better given subject matter
- By Sample Sloth on 04-17-19
By: Jason Rezaian
What listeners say about What Set Me Free
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- melba soliz
- 05-18-20
What a story
This is an amazing book of true freedom forgiveness and are just system and how injustices are seen every day. A must-read!
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- Matt Duffett
- 02-11-22
A hero’s journey
Brian was able to honestly, and vividly, convey this story with humility and grace. It was articulated so well, so engaging, you felt like you were hearing it in person. So heartfelt and proud of this man while at the same time so heartbroken about the injustices that, while not said by brian, the world knows is heavily race related. You’re amazing, Brian, and the world is infinitely better because you’re in it. Much love
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- Mr
- 06-18-20
Powerful Stuff
Thank you to Brian Banks for sharing his story of injustice within our supposed justice system. America should not be satisfied with even one innocent person convicted unjustly.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kefentse B.
- 08-16-19
Amazing Story and Production
Loved it. A phenomenal story that all should here. I really enjoyed the author reading his own words
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- InspireMae Designs
- 08-19-19
Compelling.
An heartfelt story that carried you through the ups and downs. Glad there was an happy ending.
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- Christina chambers
- 08-21-19
great book, finished it in a few days.
highly recommended, its not about race it's about the broken judicial system that many people have suffered because of it.
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- Deb
- 08-18-19
inspiring
will definitely listen again read
also brought the book. for my daughter to read soo good
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- James ellis
- 12-12-19
inspiring
this book was incredible the strength a d determination was truly amazing I thuraly enjoyed this book definitely moving and inspirational
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- Marva
- 09-15-19
Brian
Awesome book.
Loved start to finish and thoroughly believe we all should consider working to do our part.
Two family members were incarcerated - different charges but same feelings of what went on in the prisons. Absolutely devastating.
Thank you for this reality check. May your road ahead continue to be bright as you make greater impact by your story. 💞👏🏾📚👏🏾🎶
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- Judith L. Hatch
- 08-18-19
Get your tissue ready!
This story is a tear jerker about the INJUSTICE incurred by Mr. Banks and his resilience and faith in God which kept him alive during his stint in prison. May Jehovah continue to bless him and the California Innocence Project ~
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