Wisdom At A Cost: A Story of Survival, Strength, and Leadership

By John Mathews

How much are you willing to pay for wisdom?

From the depths of addiction to leading through one of Tennessee's worst disasters, John Mathews shares a raw, unfiltered account of a life rebuilt from rock bottom. Wisdom at a Cost is a memoir, a journey through survival, strength, and leadership that reveals the often painful price of transformation.

Growing up in the shadow of trauma and addiction, John spiraled into a decade-long battle with opioids, pushing boundaries, breaking trust, and nearly losing everything. But when faced with a choice between destruction and recovery, he chose to fight his way back. With resilience, grit, and the will to change, he not only overcame addiction but, against all odds, became a firefighter/paramedic, a leader during one of Tennessee's largest disasters (2016 Gatlinburg Wildfires), and the vice president of a multi-million-dollar company. His story proves that it's not our darkest moments that define us; it's how we comeback from them.

This isn't a self-help guide or a polished success story. It's raw. It's painful. It's real. If you've ever struggled with adversity, questioned your own strength, or wondered if there's a way forward, this book is for you.

Inside this unforgettable memoir, you'll discover: The harsh realities of opioid addiction and the relentless grip of what John describes as the "Addict Brain."The moment his rock bottom became the first step toward a new lifeHow resilience and leadership emerged from unthinkable hardshipThe struggle of leading during the devastating Gatlinburg WildfiresThe cost of wisdom and why every lesson in life comes with a price

Raw. Honest. Life-changing. This is not just his story. It may be yours too.

For readers of David Goggins, J.D. Vance, and those seeking a powerful story of redemption, leadership, and resilience.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F552QJ4N
• ISBN13: 9798870950051
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"