The American Dream is alive and well. From a traditional Ethiopian home to the shores of my new home in the United States, struggle and a constant state of learning have been my continual companions. As a young man, I was lured by the bad behavior of those I considered friends, alarming my family and derailing my life. Add the trauma of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, and my life hurtled toward the dark halls of a psychiatric institution. Like a phoenix, I was able to reclaim my life and turn my hard-won lessons into a passion for service to humanity. "No Pressure, No Diamonds" is a blazingly honest memoir, by turns controversial, insightful, and thought-provoking. This sharp and unflinching look at my life (so far) will engage readers in every state of mind, from ambitious to self-examination to grace. I don't possess a Ph.D. or MBA, and you can't buy the lessons I've learned at an Ivy League school. I learned the hard way how to rebuild my life and how to be a valuable member of my community.