Silence Is Not an Option

Description

Silence is Not an Option

You Can Impact the World for Change: Stand Up Speak Out Be the Difference

Stuart Lawrence

(Scholastic)– hardback

Through his experience as the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence and his life work, Stuart Lawrence asserts that Silence is Not an Option. The writer has moved from teaching to work as ‘a motivational speaker and young engagement specialist’. Silence is Not an Option is a guide book that takes what he has lived and believes. Thereafter, each of the nine chapters opens with an example of his life, from his early admiration of footballer John Barnes, to his continual lifelong learning. Therefore he dismisses expectations of him, at his age, and promotes the idea that we continue to learn and feel and work life out.

Of course his life changed devastatingly with the murder of his older brother, Stephen Lawrence- BBC Newsround. Stuart Lawrence explains some of the effects of this upon him. They include the loss of someone he loved and admired, to the way Stephen was portrayed, wrongly in the initial court case. Thereafter he shows how he has made mistakes. For example, he attended his GCSE exams immediately after his brother’s murder because he thought he should. Furthermore, he explains the positive aspects upon his life, i.e., how he uses Stephen’s example to motivate himself.

The format, with the bold  graphics and direct, decisive advice is truly motivating. What’s more, rather like Sinéad Burke with Break the Mould, guidance from somebody who has truly lived a life seems more meaningful, too! Bookwagon has taken a number of pieces of advice from this motivating title, including setting goals and maintaining our unique character. We suggest that other readers will be as informed and inspired by this title, as we are.