The Other Wes Moore

One Name, Two Fates

By: Wes Moore, Tavis Smiley - afterword

Narrated by: Wes Moore

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller.

The “compassionate” (People), “startling” (Baltimore Sun), “moving” (Chicago Tribune) true story of two kids with the same name from the city: One went on to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison.

In development as a feature film executive produced by Stephen Curry, who selected the book as his “Underrated” Book Club Pick with Literati.

The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.

In December 2000, the Baltimore Sun ran a small piece about Wes Moore, a local student who had just received a Rhodes Scholarship. The same paper also ran a series of articles about four young men who had allegedly killed a police officer in a spectacularly botched armed robbery. The police were still hunting for two of the suspects who had gone on the lam, a pair of brothers. One was named Wes Moore.

Wes just couldn’t shake off the unsettling coincidence, or the inkling that the two shared much more than space in the same newspaper. After following the story of the robbery, the manhunt, and the trial to its conclusion, he wrote a letter to the other Wes, now a convicted murderer serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His letter tentatively asked the questions that had been haunting him: Who are you? How did this happen?

That letter led to a correspondence and relationship that have lasted for several years. Over dozens of letters and prison visits, Wes discovered that the other Wes had had a life not unlike his own: Both had had difficult childhoods, both were fatherless; they’d hung out on similar corners with similar crews, and both had run into trouble with the police. At each stage of their young lives they had come across similar moments of decision, yet their choices would lead them to astonishingly different destinies.

Told in alternating dramatic narratives that take listeners from heart-wrenching losses to moments of surprising redemption, The Other Wes Moore tells the story of a generation of boys trying to find their way in a hostile world.

©2010 Wes Moore (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“Moving and inspiring, The Other Wes Moore is a story for our times.” (Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here)

“A tense, compelling story and an inspirational guide for all who care about helping young people.” (Juan Williams, author of Enough)

“This should be required reading for anyone who is trying to understand what is happening to young men in our inner cities.” (Geoffrey Canada, author of Fist Stick Knife Gun)

Really enjoyed this book.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Other Wes Moore to be better than the print version?

Never read the printed edition.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both men during their youth.

Have you listened to any of Wes Moore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Neither

Any additional comments?

This book really makes you understand the meaning of "there but for the grace of God go I."

Worth it

I really liked this book. I only started listening to it for a class and I really got into it. The only reason I gave 4 stars rather than 5 was because Wes Moore focused solely on choice and the importance of personal responsibility rather than focusing that people's lives are a mix of both personal responsibility and social and cultural capital. Of course, that's what we are talking about in my class. Overall, this book gives you plenty to think about and is definitely worth reading or listening to.

Good Story Line

This book shows how we have so many choices in life. For this to be Wes' first book it was great.

a great and tragic story

It was a great and tragic story. No happy ever after ending. I enjoyed the voice inflections

Great

This book was great if people like to read about true stories they should totally read this book they will love it

Inspiring... Devastating.

I heard the author speak this year and I wanted to know more. I'm so glad I listened. What a story and rise from an uncertain path to success... Those experiences created a writer and leader. And yet... what a painful tragedy knowing the other Wes More never got there. I knew the premise of the book, and still I rooted for him anyway - to make different choices, to do no harm... Devastating.

Loved it!

This is a fantastic book. Highly recommend reading it.The author does a great job narrating.

Positive Future

Would you consider the audio edition of The Other Wes Moore to be better than the print version?

Yes, I would recommend this book in audio, because of the emotion of the person reading this book.

What did you like best about this story?

This book was a great story about how your past can't control your future.

Have you listened to any of Wes Moore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I plan to.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Parallell Lives

Any additional comments?

Thank you

Loved it!

Loved it! Finished in one day. My daughters 6th grade class (BCPS) is reading the book and discussing "choices and consequences".

loved this book

loved the book, can related to both stories. will pass on to others. Will definitely