Getting Life: An Innocent Man’s 25-Year Journey from Prison to Peace

What a remarkable book written by a truly remarkable man. I couldn't book the book down and finished it in one day. Having worked with the wrongfully convicted I was familiar with Michael Morton's story but reading this story written in Morton's own words was spellbinding. Reading the book I felt like I was on a roller coaster of emotions starting out by being outraged at the police for their incompetence in not really investigating the case and not looking at the evidence that would clearly have shown Morton didn't murder his wife, and the prosecution for being more interested in obtaining a conviction and not giving a damn about seeking justice. Then my emotion went to sadness as Morton relieved the 25 years he spent in hell (prison) for a crime he never committed followed by happiness as Morton's conviction was finally overturned and he was released from prison to be reunited with his son who was only three years old when Morton went to prison. Those of you that are familiar with Morton's wrongful conviction will thoroughly enjoy this book and gain a different perspective of the case as written by the person who lived this tragedy and and came out of it being a true American Hero. Dick Blanchard, Advocates 4 Wrongfully Convicted

The complete title of Getting Life summarizes the big picture of this book. But the whole landscape becomes a convoluted mess of mystery twists and turns. Indeed, a documentary has already been made. The average Everyman comes home from work to find his wife murdered and his 3 yr. old son traumatized by having seen all the gory details. A few weeks later he is arrested for the murder. Unknown to him, behind the scenes all kinds of duplicitous maneuvers are working against him. Even if you have read the account in the news, there are facts about the crime unknown to the general public that will surprise you. A significant portion of the book reveals the stultifying life behind bars; however does one survive a life prison term. Michael Morton has gone on to use his freedom working to bring significant laws to Texas that hopefully will make his story happen less often. Getting Life is the rare situation in which prosecutorial misconduct received a slap on the wrist. I had read and viewed quite a lot about this case before reading his book. It still gripped me as Morton is an able writer. An interview worth watching is with Morton and Barry Scheck at the LBJ Library on Youtube.

I was drawn to this book by brief reviews on the group site for my hometown. I soon discovered that connection was not particularly important to the story, but I am so grateful that I followed it anyway. I began reading Getting Life immediately and continued to the end. The writing was clear and beautiful, often heartbreakingly so. How could I possibly stop reading until this disgraceful injustice was corrected? How could I put it down before discovering the effect on the young witness? I had to keep on turning pages until I had the answers....and then I could sleep. One extra gift that was mine through this book was the knowledge that God sends Damascus Road experiences to His children who are most in need of them. Thank you, Michael Morton, for several of the most rewarding hours I have spent in a long time. If it were not for the fact that I graduated from Kilgore High School about thirty years before you, I would have assumed you might have had the same demanding English teachers I did!

If you read one book this year, make it this one. His experience is raw, truthful, painful, funny with his words at times. He has opened his soul in recounting all he has been through and yet in the ugliness of his situation he did find ways to escape, things to occupy his time, he did not give up which is more than most people of his intelligence might have done. The heartbreak of losing decades with his son is the hardest, saddest experience any parent can imagine. He describes in detail his anguish and we feel it also. It makes one realize that our prison systems should be shut down. The waste of money. And the people running them are as bad at times as those being held in its walls. There needs to be a better way than what we are doing now. I hope there is another book to follow. Michael has touched my soul with his words. May God bless him, his son, and wife each and every day.

Michael Morton was wrongly convicted of his wife's brutal murder & served 25 years of prison time before being exonerated with the hard work of The Innocence Project. An eye opening & remarkable story that is well written & will stick with you long after finishing the book. From meeting Michael's family, wife & young son to his arrest, trial and tales from incarceration to the freedom of an innocent man, prepare to be inspired by this tragic and ultimately encouraging debut. Thank you, Michael (& family), for sharing this incredible memoir.

I have worked in law enforcement for many years. I have been a dispatcher, jailer, prison guard, victim advocate in a district attorney's office, and now work with federal inmates in a re-entry center. I am always interested in true stories about crime and trials. I am increasingly interested about the things inmates experience in prison. This book is excellent. Morton tells his story very quickly, not spending much time on details of the case, but instead expending his energy telling about the horrible effects a wrongful conviction has on several families. Especially devastating is Morton's loss of any relationship with his son who is three when his mother is murdered. The book is very engrossing, but frustrating because of the wrongful conviction. Morton is a gifted writer and really concentrates on the feelings of victims. As with any true crime book, I would have liked to see more pictures than those on the dust cover. But that may have been too obtrusive for Morton. I will be lending my copy out to the inmates that I work with.

This book takes you on an emotional journey so realistically that you feel the scratching of his prison clothes on your skin, experience the anger, the strength of character, the at times, utter despair and bitterness, to the simple joys of feeling the softness of normal clothing on release from jail. And the heart warming goodbyes from his prison mates. Not least is the devastAting heart break of the loss of bonds with his only son. And the murder of his wife. Not much moves me to tears. This book and the authors ability to convey such complex human emotions so exquisitely takes you on the journey with him. I will never rush to casual judgements again after reading this story. Mud sticks, I wasn't even fully convinced of his innocence until well into the story, simply because I could not believe that prosecutors could deliberately withhold information for the sole purpose of 'winning'. So happy he got his day in court,the truth revealed and Michael now free and happy. God bless him and Eric.

This is a very well written book which rises above the expected "wrongly convicted" genre. Michael Morton is a skilled writer and gives thoughtful insights concerning each stage of his life. Despite the title there is plenty of suspense in the book and a lack of self pity.

Wow this man is such a special human being.I cant believe what he went through.It's so so sad, but the way he dealt with this terrible unforgivable treatment from fellow human beings makes him the most amazing person.I couldn't put the book down he writes in such a way you can't wait to finish it see those horrible people pay for what they did ( only wish the law was harder on them)

Amazing book, don't know how he endured being in prison for 25 years unable to prove his innocence but when he was freed it was wonderful. Hope he manages to carry on a good relationship with his son. What a lovely caring man who has found love again.

Excellent