I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility

Additional I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility Information

Shortly after 9:00 P.M. on April 19, 1989, a young woman jogs alone near 102nd Street in New York City's Central Park.

She is attacked, raped, savagely beaten, and left for dead. Hours later she arrives at the emergency room -- comatose -- with a fractured skull, an 85-degree body temperature, and she has lost so much blood that her doctors believe it's a miracle she's still alive.

Meet Trisha Meili, the Central Park Jogger.

It was a crime that stunned New Yorkers, the nation, the world. Even today, more than a decade after the attack, the Central Park Jogger -- who disclosed her name upon publication of this book -- is still in the news as startling new information about the perpetrators develops. Because of the nature of her injuries, Trisha Meili remembers nothing of the attack. But for Meili, the crime was not the climax but the beginning of an extraordinary journey.

I Am the Central Park Jogger recounts the mesmerizing, inspiring, often wrenching story of human strength and transcendent recovery. Meili tells us who she was before the attack -- a young Wall Street professional with a promising future -- and who she has become: a woman who learned how to read, write, walk, talk, and love again...and turn horrifying violence and certain death into extraordinary healing and victorious life.

What Customers Say About I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility:

The book says on its cover a story of hope and possibility and that sums up how Trisha has decided to live her life. I bought this book several years ago--and just read it recently. :) Thank you Trisha for the words I will try to live my life by. The book kept me up at night reading it. I think Trisha is an excellent example of a truly awesome spirit.

But Meili glosses over these compelling issues, only to say that she has no memory of her assault and holds no resentment toward the person or persons who maimed her. The crime created enormous racial tensions when it was reported, with the minority community afraid that their own would be unjustly accused because the victim was a young and ambitious investment banker, white and of slight build (due, incidentally, to anorexia)--overall, a sympathetic figure. They were all convicted, but their convictions were later vacated when a single man implicated by the DNA evidence claimed (after the statute of limitations had run out) that he was her sole attacker that night.

Trisha Meili has an incredible and painful story to tell, but I don't think she did a very good job with it. Since I am not in that category, I was interested not only in her personal crusade but also in the historical facts of the case. I hate to sound hardhearted, but this book just didn't move me.

As the story first emerged, she was savagely beaten, raped, sodomized, and had her left eye knocked out of its socket by five young black and Hispanic teens who subsequently confessed to this "wilding incident" of group violence. Plucky heroine though she may be, I regret that so much was omitted from her story. Yes, hands down, she made an amazing recovery through her sheer determination and the help of many others who cared.

But the point of the book seems to be to inspire others by her example, those fighting back from a traumatic brain injury.

I gave it to my Mom to read bc she was handicapped by an accident to let her know others have had to do what she has and understand. An inspiring book. Helped to realize you can overcome adversary even if it means adjusting to some changes out of your control.

She shows how you can deal with tragedy and still have a powerful voice. I, too, lived in New York when this happened and we all wondered who this brave girl was. What a journey and a portrait of courage and strength from such a senseless act of evil. She rose above hate, began a dialogue and refused to let those people who blamed her for going running let her down. This book is amazing - Trisha writes with skill, humor and deftness. I completely understand her strength and grace.

It makes me want to meet her and tell her I am proud. Well written with unbelieveable objectivity, the author has overcome so much. A difficult book to read. I followed this story from day one and found myself feeling the same feelings all over again.