As he revealed in the memoir That Bird Has My Wings, Jarvis Jay Masters endured a traumatic youth, being sentenced to San Quentin for armed robbery, and being framed for the murder of a guard. After three decades on death row, Masters has embraced Buddhism, with unexpected consequences. Here David Sheff describes Masters's gradual but profound transformation from a man dedicated to hurting others to one who has prevented violence on the prison yard, counseled high school kids by mail, helping prisoners—and even guards—find meaning in their lives.

"This is a beautiful, profoundly spiritual book, and a page-turner. Jarvis Jay Masters' transformation from an unloved child of violence and poverty to Buddhist teacher on Death Row, is thrilling. Reading it changed me."—Anne Lamott