In this episode, the men of the Wilkinson Book Club unpack A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah — a memoir often described as harrowing, though for them, it was about hope.

As they talk through Beah's story of being forced into war as a child and finding his way back to peace, the group keeps returning to that one word: hope. They see not only violence and loss, but endurance, compassion, and the possibility of change.

For some, Beah's survival feels like proof that people can rebuild after unthinkable experiences. For others, it's a reminder that faith, love, and patience — especially from strangers — can help someone find their way home again.

What might seem like a story of despair becomes, in their hands, a lesson in resilience and the human will to heal. "This book," one member says, "is about somebody who didn't let his circumstances define who he was. It shows that no matter what, you can rise above it."

In our next episode, follow along as the club connects with a group of U.S. military veterans and journalist Sebastian Junger to explore how different kinds of conflict shape our understanding of recovery, identity, and home.

Hidden Mirrors is recorded with the support of Management Training Corporation, the facility operator, and produced in collaboration with the Mississippi Humanities Council's statewide prison book clubs.

Credits:

Host & Writer: Alan Huffman

Co-Editor: Erisa Apantaku

Associate Producers: Amanda Zaremba & Matt Stroud (Amphibian.Media)

Audio Production: Red Caiman Studios

Music: Robert Connely Farr

Support: Mississippi Humanities Council | Funding: McMullan/O'Connor Fund