Book review

Thank you Gary for the review, for full review click on the link; https://worcestersource.wordpress.com/

When I picked up The Behaviourist by J.C. Atkins, I wasn’t prepared for how deeply it would shake me. This isn’t just another memoir about “beating the odds”; it’s a visceral, unapologetic, and profoundly raw account of a woman who refused to let the world finish what it started.

From the very first page, Atkins’ voice hooked me. She writes with a brutal honesty about a childhood defined by violence and a youth spent on the edges of society. I followed her through the dark streets of Blackpool, witnessing the crushing weight of poverty, addiction, and abuse. Her time in prison felt like a dead end for a system that never truly made space for women like her, but for Jo, it became the crucible of her transformation.

What struck me most was the catalyst for her change. It wasn’t just a personal epiphany; it was the heartbreak of seeing her own son enter the justice system. That moment of “enough is enough” is where the memoir truly takes flight. Watching her transition from the prison gates to the halls of a university was incredibly moving. She didn’t just shed the label of “ex-offender”, she dismantled it.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is the birth of The Lion Theory Project. Jo Atkins explains how her lived experience, not just academic theory, led her to create this ground-breaking trauma recovery programme. She proves that those who have survived the darkest depths are often the best equipped to lead others back to the light.

“Recovery isn’t just possible, it’s revolutionary.” This line stayed with me long after I closed the book.

I found The Behaviourist an aspiring read and the story of a mother, a survivor, and a behaviourist who turned her scars into a roadmap for others.—