Insight – Author Anthony Avina

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Richmond B. Appleton shares the experiences and events that shaped his life and showed him how resilience and hardship can become the foundation of human potential in the book “Insight.”

The Synopsis

From war-torn streets to the heart of hope — a memoir of resilience, faith, and human possibility.

In Insight: Cultivating the Mindset Beyond Survival, Richmond Appleton shares his extraordinary journey from the chaos of the Liberian civil war to five unforgettable years in a Ghanaian refugee camp, and ultimately to a life of purpose, healing, and leadership.

This inspiring memoir is not just a story of survival, but a powerful testament to the unshakable strength of the human spirit. Through deeply personal reflections and hard-earned wisdom, Appleton reveals how unimaginable hardship became the unlikely foundation for resilience, compassion, and a belief in boundless human potential.

More than a memoir — this is a guide for anyone seeking hope in the face of adversity, and a reminder that even our darkest chapters can hold the seeds of transformation.

Inside this book, you’ll discover:

Firsthand accounts of surviving civil war and displacement
How trauma can be transformed into personal growth and leadership
Lessons in resilience, healing, and overcoming adversity
A message of hope for refugees, immigrants, and anyone navigating hardship
Universal insights on shifting from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance and possibility

Perfect for readers drawn to powerful survival memoirs, immigrant journeys, and motivational stories of triumph against all odds.

If you’ve been inspired by A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah or The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya, Richmond Appleton’s Insight will move you, challenge you, and ultimately leave you with a renewed faith in what’s possible.

This is not only a survival story. It’s a story of becoming — and the wisdom we gain when we dare to live beyond fear.

The Review

What struck me immediately was how personal the book felt, and yet insightful to so many readers at the same time. Most books that use personal events to convey a theme or guiding principle will dedicate separate sections or chapters to explaining how their experiences relate to these lessons. Still, the author seamlessly crafted a heartfelt, gut-wrenching, and emotionally charged memoir that wove these lessons into the fabric of his life, keeping the reader engaged in each chapter while imparting these crucial lessons.

The book also feels incredibly relevant and vital to our current world. While unique to the author’s story and emotionally powerful, the lessons also resonate with the strength of many refugees and displaced people from the numerous war-torn nations around the world, highlighting the struggles they face in what should be a sanctuary from the horrors they fled in their home countries. The other side of the coin was how much the author found moments of light and humanity to hold onto, and through that light, discovered an inner strength and resilience that drove them to rise above the circumstances they found themselves in—a lesson that many people can connect with in their daily lives.

The Verdict

An honest and engaging memoir with an inspirational theme, author Richmond B. Appleton’s “Insight” is a must-read book. The chilling nature of fleeing their home of Liberia to the relief and acceptance of crossing the Ghanan border and the way they were able to find new purpose and strength despite the hardships they faced will motivate and help challenge readers to see the light in their circumstances, and experience the human spirit in ways they may never have thought of otherwise. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10