For those who have grown up in a dysfunctional family, success and happiness are often elusive. Familial patterns are hard to break, and when you aren't taught the basics-the difference between right and wrong, how to cope with daily life, plan for the future, or communicate without violence-it's easy to follow the unhappy ruts laid down by those who went before you. But then there are those who choose to be different and blaze their own paths. Set against the gritty backdrop of the boroughs of New York City, The Courage to Be Different is a heartbreaking yet inspirational story of how to fight to break free and forge a different future away from the cycle of verbal abuse, violence, and irresponsible living. Learn how the author vowed to reverse the negative effects of his early abusive experiences and, ultimately, to find The Courage to Be Different.