This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games—games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer...

Self-help expert Dave Pelzer teaches readers how to let go of the past and use negative experiences to make them stronger when tackling the future.
"Learning from our prior experiences, we can, and should, aspire to fulfill our dreams, making life better not only for ourselves but for others around us," Dave writes in the introduction. "I am of the belief that you do not have to be a mayor of a major metropolis or CEO of a Fortune 500 company...

As an adult, Dave Pelzer still struggles with the effects of his abusive childhood. This is the inspiring conclusion to his previous New York Times best-sellers: A Child Called It and The Lost Boy. Recounting his fears and insecurities, Dave traces his path to personal victory. Today, he is a noted speaker on the prevention of child abuse.