A consultant, author, and public speaker on the power of the mind
At 22, Chris Young should have been crossing a graduation stage. Instead, he entered a maximum-security federal prison under mandatory minimum drug laws — sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Determined not to let a life sentence confine his mind, he educated himself across disciplines from philosophy and history to economics, politics, and quantum physics, and taught himself to code without a computer.
Your Mentality Equals Your Reality
To emphasize the profound impact of our choices on our destinies and the world around us, Chris emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset and the continuous pursuit of personal growth.
His case drew national attention after the federal judge who sentenced him resigned his lifetime appointment to the bench to fight for his freedom. In 2021, Young was granted executive clemency.
Since his release, he has earned a degree in economics and public policy from Southern Methodist University and founded Coherence Consulting, a strategic advisory firm advising organizations on policy, technology, and societal impact.
His story has been featured by CNN, PBS’s Amanpour and Company, CBS News, BBC, and Variety, among others.
The Wound Is Where the Light Enters
The Wound Is Where the Light Enters is Chris Young's powerful meditation on choice, consequence, and human potential—the story of a man who accepted responsibility for his past, refused to surrender his future, and chose who he would become.
AVAILABLE AUGUST 4, 2026
