Defying the Odds: A Memoir of Controlling the Uncontrollable

Have you ever felt you aren’t good enough? That no one truly loves you or believes in you, and you’re no better than where you came from? If so, this book is for you.

Lisa Amarant knows how this feels; that was her childhood! She was predestined to be a failure, a self-fulfilling prophecy, and given her story, she didn’t stand a chance.

In Defying the Odds, Lisa presents an intimate and personal account of her childhood trauma. She shares her painful story of experiencing psychological and physical abuse from the one person who should have protected her the most—her mother. This, on top of experiencing multiple encounters of sexual abuse, made Lisa’s future look bleak. But she wasn’t going to let her past define her; she would find a way to persevere and defy the odds stacked against her.

Vivid, poignant, and direct, Lisa’s story seeks to inspire others who feel trapped, worthless, and unloved, and who believe the lie that their lives are determined by their circumstances. Her message is simple: you can take control of the uncontrollable and create a meaningful life. You can defy the odds.

Lisa Amarant is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of professional work experience in community mental health. She has built a successful career helping others navigate life's challenges and improve their mental well-being. Today, she is a dedicated wife and mother of two, living in Central California.