Bottled Wounds

"An amazing story of resilience and survival in the face of seemingly impossible odds."

-Neal Stephenson, #1 New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award winning author


In this stunning memoir, Mike Lawson shares the gruesome details of his dysfunctional childhood, along with the residual emotional baggage from his traumatic life. Born in central Massachusetts, Mike found himself caught in the crossfire of violent alcoholism for as long as he can remember. Living a life of perpetual turmoil and constant upheaval, he had to navigate the challenge of growing up amidst conditions of poverty, neglect and instability. The accumulation of trauma creates a ticking time-bomb within Mike as he matures into an adult, which had the potential for dangerously destructive outcomes. Following service in the Army, Mike realized that his wounds were deeper than ever, and had to make a choice to confront his demons or be consumed by them.

His incredible experiences are extreme, yet still relatable, and he masterfully ties the thread between telling his story and providing priceless lessons for the reader. This story serves as a powerful catalyst for learning and growth, fueled by the first-hand account of Mike as he illuminates the importance of mindset and faith in the recovery process. This book was created for one purpose: to help the readers face their own emotional wounds and start the process of overcoming them.



"Thousands of people have awakened before dawn to gather around the bright light that is Sgt. Mike Lawson and not only train, but build a community. In this book, Lawson tells the story of the hard internal work he did in his own life to overcome dysfunction and hardship and create a loving, joyful and healthy life. Those lessons are their own kind of coaching; in love, forgiveness and gratitude."

-Nicole Brodeur, former columnist for The Seattle Times


"The powerful, honest story of a man who with resilience, perseverance, and yes, grace, breaks the abuse cycle and PTSD of his origins and becomes a positive force and model for his family and community."

-Dr. John Bokan, Psychiatrist