Raised in a world where survival is the goal and the streets are the teacher, Sharmain Harris didn’t have the odds in his favor. He grew up without a father, got stuck in the cycle, and eventually ended up behind bars. But that wasn’t the end of Sharmain’s story—it was only the beginning.

In this deeply personal memoir, Sharmain shares his upbringing, the poor decisions that led to prison time, and the mindset shifts that helped him break free from generational patterns.

From surviving gangs, poverty, and incarceration, to a Master’s degree, achieving international success as a professional speaker, and being pardoned by the governor of Wisconsin, Rising Above the Odds is the raw, real-life journey of what happens when pain meets purpose and prison leads to power.

But this story isn’t just about him; it’s a call to action for anyone who’s ever been counted out, written off, or underestimated.

This book is for the person who’s been through hell and still believes they were made for more. It’s for the formerly incarcerated dreamer. For the youth fighting to overcome adversity. For the educator or leader who refuses to give up on people because they believe in second chances.

Rising Above the Odds is proof that even in the darkest places, purpose still rises.