At a time when American poets are being dismissed for not being brave, Coleman explodes onto the scene with "Choking on Lemonade," to establish himself as an unfiltered, unapologetic, and truly independent voice. On the surface, the book is an exploration of the world's struggle with violence, perversion, religion and natural order. But underneath, it is a story of one man's intense personal struggle between good and evil. In the end, Coleman is not only brave enough to be vulnerable; he is also brave enough to take the blame.