Systems

 SYSTEMS is a hard-edged nonfiction memoir that unveils the invisible forces shaping our lives. From the streets of Chicago to the military and law enforcement, Michael James Anthony experienced firsthand the very systems most people rely on—and what he discovered was unsettling: while helping people may be part of the mission, the preservation of the system itself often takes precedence.  Through real, high-stakes moments—where decisions had significant consequences and loyalty came at a cost—this memoir reveals how these systems quietly influence behavior, reward compliance, and punish those who step out of line. What appears to be fairness is often a means of control. What feels like order is frequently about preservation, intertwining the themes of protection, survival, and truth. 

SYSTEMS not only tells a compelling story but also brings forth a crucial realization: if you don't understand the system you're in, you're already being shaped by it. By the time you gain clarity on these concepts, the price has often already been paid. 

 Before the badge, before the Army, Michael James Anthony was a teenager on Chicago's South Side who found the first system that ever gave him clarity — a gang. Not safety. Not comfort. Clarity. No one explained the rules; they didn't need to. Orders moved downward, risk moved outward, and respect wasn't built on character — it was built on how far you'd go when the system asked something of you. 

 One August night, the system asked. Michael was ordered to carry out a hit , and fired two shots deliberately over the men's heads. Days later, one of them showed up outside his house with a shotgun, delivered a warning, and walked away. The next morning Michael told his father he wanted to join the Army. His father's reply was six words: "I think that's a good idea."