What If I’m Right?: A book that celebrates spiritual intuition

Carla Wilson, MSW
AuthorHouse (2011)
ISBN 9781456718022
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (5/11)

Overcrowded correctional facilities, repeat offenders, and rehabilitation failures – our society sees more and more wasted lives despite its ‘best’ efforts.  And yet in the midst of this, people like author Carla Wilson see opportunities, challenges, and most of all, hope.  Wilson’s taken her many years of experience in the field of corrections to write her first book, “What If I’m Right?: A book that celebrates spiritual intuition.”

“What If I’m Right?: A book that celebrates spiritual intuition” begins with a collection of stories about the author’s various enlightening life moments.  She details feelings, signs, miracles, and pivotal circumstances in which she has realized that she needed to take her life in another direction or to a new level.  She utilizes her own struggles in order to identify with those she hopes to help – inmates and addicts.  While her stories may contain details that many may find difficult to believe, her passion is unmistakable nonetheless.  The book continues by addressing inmates and ex-cons on the ability to change and how to accept what you can and can’t control.  It also addresses families and loved ones on how to cope with negative behaviors using the Alcoholics Anonymous steps and its philosophies.  Finally, it shows serious flaws in our current penal system and what can be accomplished with educating officers in mental health problems.  Wilson feels that if officers could better understand the motives behind an inmate’s bad behavior (i.e., a mental issue, simply their reaction to years of abuse, etc.), they wouldn’t resort to reflecting that negativity back. 

While Wilson writes her book to a targeted audience of inmates, ex-cons, and addicts, the basic message of understanding, faith, hope, and perseverance could inspire and motivate anyone.  There are some minor editing mistakes, the most glaring being pages 145 and 146 – they are the same.  I found the book’s cover to be particularly creative in its simplicity, easily reflecting the message within.  The title was a little difficult for me to get until I was about halfway through the book; I’m still not completely sure why this title was chosen though.  Because of the title’s vagueness, I think that it may cause some confusion and the book may not reach all of its intended readers.  And that would truly be a shame. “What If I’m Right?: A book that celebrates spiritual intuition.” is definitely worth a read.

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