Understand
How a prison book club and reading helped Omar Mentesh turn his life around
Overview
Omar Mentesh, who spent nearly two decades in and out of prison after a troubled childhood, features in a new BBC documentary led by Queen Camilla titled The Book That Changed My Life. After finding a copy of Jack Higgins's novel The Eagle Has Landed in his cell at Feltham Young Offender Institution at age 15, reading became a vital escape and foundation for his personal growth. Following his final prison sentence, Mentesh completed his education, earned a business management degree from Queen Mary University, and founded Anabranch, a company dedicated to rehabilitating prisoners and promoting literacy.
Key points
- Omar Mentesh features in Queen Camilla's BBC documentary, The Book That Changed My Life.
- He suffered a severe electrical accident on a train track at age five, leading to injuries that hampered his early schooling and contributed to falling behind.
- Mentesh received his first prison sentence at age 15 after mimicking his older brothers' criminal activities.
- Finding Jack Higgins's novel The Eagle Has Landed in his cell at Feltham Young Offender Institution sparked his appreciation for reading.
- Subsequent prison sentences provided time for him to build up his education and develop his values through reading.
- After his final release in 2017, he attended college, earned a business management degree from Queen Mary University, and established Anabranch to rehabilitate prisoners.