I recently finished reading the book by Wes Moore entitled “The Other Wes Moore.” The book is about the lives of two men who share the same name and similar upbringing. Both grew up in the same impoverished neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland but one went on to become a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford University, while the other is spending life in prison for the murder of a police officer. The author writes about the various stages of their lives and the struggles they faced.
The author Wes Moore grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. After his father passed away his mother decided to move the family to the Bronx to live with his grandparents. His mother was a very tough disciplinarian and always made sure to keep him out of trouble and decided to enroll him in private school. Wes writes about how he felt out of place at a young age. He felt that he was perceived as being too bourgeois by his peers in his neighborhood but at the same time was often ignored by his classmates because of where he lived. As a result Wes began to rebel by getting in trouble with the law and flunking out of school. His mother had enough and decided to send him to military school.
After graduating from military school, Wes went on to attend Valley Forge Military College and John’s Hopkins University. He was then a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University where he had the opportunity to study abroad in South Africa. Wes has gone on to work in the White House and become a successful author.
Meanwhile, the other Wes Moore in Baltimore dropped out of high school at an early age and devoted his time to becoming a full time drug dealer. With no authoritative figure at home and no positive support system, Wes would find himself constantly in and out of jail. Wes would eventually go on to rob a jewelry store and in the process killed a Baltimore Police Officer. He is currently spending life in prison.
I think that this book showed how a great support system can help us overcome a troubling situation. For example, the author had many people in his life to help steer him in the right direction. From his mother, grandfather, teachers and peers, they played a role in him being able to overcome his obstacles. The other Wes Moore on the other hand, didnâÂÂt make it in part because of the lack of positive role models in his life. I also agree with the author when he says that our expectations and the expectations that others have on our lives play a big role in what we will ultimately become.
In conclusion I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.