John Pridmore

Former gangster turned inspirational speaker, John Pridmore will visit Books & Books for a discussion and signing of his latest book, Gangster’s Guide to God this Saturday, 5 September at 7:00 pm.

“I was born in the East End of London. At the age of 10, my parents got divorced and I made an unconscious decision not to love any more. At the age of 13 I had started stealing. By 15 I was put in a detention centre (a youth prison). I left home having been released. My only qualification was stealing, so that’s what I did.

“At 19 I was in prison again and because the way I dealt with my pain was with anger, I was always fighting. They put me on 23-hour solitary confinement and I came out of there even more angry and bitter.
“I started bouncing round the East End and West End of London. I liked fighting so I thought I might as well get paid for it! I met some guys who seemed to have everything and I started to work for them. Before long I found myself working with them instead of for them. These were the guys who ran most of the organised crime in London. To my shame I was involved in massive drug deals, protection rackets and vicious crime of all sorts.

“I had what I thought was everything; money, power, girls, drugs, the lot. But yet there was something missing... Then, in 1991 I had a dramatic life-changing experience after thinking I’d killed a man outside a central London pub. I knew I had to change my life...

I now work full time for God. No one pays me. I live completely off his providence, telling my story all over the Earth,” said Mr Pridmore.

In his inspiring new book, Gangster’s Guide to God, the author reveals the secrets to encountering God and finding meaning in life. He talks compellingly about the reality of the criminal underworld and the journey to his new life, sharing the remarkable stories of many of those he has met along the way. The result is a kaleidoscope of hope, and a moving take on what it means to be a Christian in the 21st century.

John Pridmore is the author of best-selling life story, From Gangland to Promised Land. With his disarmingly honest approach and East End gift of the gab, Pridmore has become a much sought after international speaker. Over the last ten years, he has spoken to over a million people in Europe and the USA in schools, churches, universities and prisons.