Book Review — Prove Them Wrong
Defying All Odds, How a Triplet Survived a Chicago Gang and Graduated From the U.S. Naval Academy
The Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): When living one’s purpose is fueled by one’s past, with faith, grit, and resilience, even the toughest odds can be beaten.
Executive summary
One of three triplets born in Detroit, Michigan, during the 1990s, Andre “Dre” Evans was raised on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, by a devoted mother and stepfather, with supportive grandparents nearby. His upbringing on the south side, however, meant he and his siblings faced an uphill battle from the start. Despite their hardships, Dre and his brothers defied the odds by earning admission to the United States Naval Academy, becoming the first triplets to do so. Yet, even with the adversity faced in his youth, it was in Annapolis, Maryland, where Dre pushed beyond perceived limits. And although an inner voice constantly reminded him of his past, his present was ultimately shaped by unwavering faith, a strong work ethic, and a supportive network. Through his trials, tribulations, and accomplishments in the Navy and beyond, Dre’s story reminds us that with patience, persistence, and staying true to yourself, anything is possible.
The content
The prologue sets the tone: gang life on Chicago’s south side is a way of life. But the book’s 25 chapters, epilogue, and subsequent learning sections are incredibly detailed about a story of how triplets came to be, navigated the ugly truths of their environment, and independently won on multiple levels.
Andre’s story begins in Detroit, Michigan, where he was born as one of three triplets into a two-parent household with parents whose budding careers should have given him and his brothers an advantage in life. However, the first chapter tells a story of misfortune, as his family’s structure was torn apart by the patriarch’s drug abuse. Not willing to risk her children’s safety and seeking the peace and financial stability offered by her employer in her hometown of Chicago, the triplets moved with their mother from Detroit to her childhood home with her parents on Chicago’s south side. This move allowed the triplets to spend much-needed quality time with their grandparents while their mother, Adrienne, advanced her career in her hometown.
The three brothers settled into their new environment, and Dre’s early talents began to shine as his artistic ability showed promise from a young age. Inspired by his biological father’s talent to pursue architecture, Dre knew he was meant to design and build. However, Dre would never see his biological father again, and his artistic talent would take years to develop without the presence of the man who helped bring him and his brothers into the world. The early chapters of the book also describe the hardworking nature of Dre’s grandparents, who settled in Chicago’s South Side after his grandfather’s time in the military. His grandparents would become a central theme of stability throughout the book.
Dre’s depiction of Chicago’s South Side is unsettling as he describes what seems like a typical childhood, but also an area plagued by increasing home vacancies, drugs, gangs, and violence. Dre also recounts multiple instances where he and his brothers faced unwanted attention and violence, and he uses their experiences to explain the importance of learning to stare people down as they walk or drive by. The first few chapters end with the triplet’s realization that their new environment in Chicago would not be easy; they were on their own in a place that would never let up, not even for a moment.
Chapter four recounts how Dre’s mother was introduced to his stepfather, a strict Army veteran and local entrepreneur. It also hints at underlying distrust and dislike for him, and how that developed into both a source of stability and conflict. While the book’s chapters don’t describe his siblings’ feelings toward their stepfather, Dre’s dislike was clear, and in one of the darker moments in the book, there was an unfortunate altercation between them. Despite these circumstances, the family’s matriarch continued to move forward with grace and forgiveness, demonstrating her leadership and resilience to keep the family together.
The backdrop of the book’s first few chapters also tells a story of gang life. Dre got involved with a local street gang early on, and his gang-related activities were deliberately kept hidden from his family and household. Even as he describes several misfortunes, from assaults to robberies, and worse, his tone reassures the reader that his heart was in a different place all along. In fact, it’s almost as if his near misses and escapes from disaster were divine; he shows through his thoughts and the book’s text that his natural ability to avoid danger repeatedly became a sixth sense and a valued trait. Eventually, he consciously steps away from that lifestyle, realizing he is meant for more.
Dre’s stepfather’s view of military service for his stepchildren is one of the book’s key messages, and his persistence with that message is what ultimately convinced the triplet’s mother that her sons would succeed as cadets and one the service academies. And while they initially locked in on the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, the institution presented one obstacle after another and, from the family’s perspective, did everything it could to prevent the boys from gaining admission. With help from their local congressional office, however, the triplets received statutory admission not just to USMA, but also to the Air Force Academy and finally, the United States Naval Academy, where they’d ultimately decide to continue their education.
The remaining chapters focus on Dre and his brother’s time at the United States Naval Academy’s Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, where they learned the principles of military structure and discipline. Eventually, the three began as plebes at the Naval Academy, the term used for first-year students, or midshipmen. Despite the adversity the three faced back home in Chicago, the hardest lessons came over the next four years. Starting with one of the triplets’ untimely dismissals from the Naval Academy, Dre was faced with one setback after another. Yet, his courage and determination to succeed persisted, and with quiet support from a service worker on campus, whom he calls his “guardian angel,” Dre and his brother persevered.
Dre’s time at the Naval Academy included many highlights. He describes his selection for competitive internship programs, speaking engagements, and acceptance into the Navy’s Nuclear Reactor program. However, there were also setbacks. During a difficult attempt to complete a required swim test, Dre’s experience was overshadowed by his struggle to meet the test’s requirements. Still, he pushed himself in one of the book’s most vivid moments and found the strength to endure the challenges of a grueling swim exam in a deep-water pool. One of Dre’s most celebrated accomplishments was his meritorious selection as a Regimental Commander, where he led nearly two thousand first-year midshipmen to successfully complete a demanding summer indoctrination program and an arduous first year of service academy life.
Even though Dre achieved the seemingly impossible by graduating at the top of his class and overcoming significant odds, his story of faith and perseverance continued in the months and years after, starting with an unexpected dismissal from nuclear power school. While the setback was personal for him, he used it as an opportunity to showcase his leadership skills and improve the units and organizations he would later serve. In the final paragraphs of the book, he shares one of its most meaningful messages: closure. Dre finally accepted his stepfather’s love and turned a new page, recognizing that, while he grew personally during his time at the academy, his stepfather did as well, and it became Dre’s belief that his stepfather’s love, leadership, and ability to inspire him were essential to his success.
Ten insightful quotes from the book
1. On positivity: “Life is too short to be bitter or envious toward others.”
2. On purpose: “When you have a true WHY in life, you can handle any pain.”
3. On inspiration: “If I could get a group of street thugs to believe in me, who else could I inspire?”
4. On mentorship: “Everyone needs a mentor who will keep them accountable and whom they look to for advice who understands what they are going through and can provide solid wisdom.”
5. On the power of storytelling: “If asked a question, stop, think about it first, then share a compelling narrative that relates to the question at hand and answer it.”
6. On noise: “The day you start letting statistics and the opinions of others determine how you move in life is the day you fail to exist.”
7. On facing adversity: “I looked my fears — which are really just fake emotions holding us back — in the eyes.”
8. On the power of words: “Words are powerful. There is truth in one’s ability to prophetically speak greatness over others.”
9. On leading people: “A leader is nothing without his or her people. They need you just as much as you need them to accomplish a mission.”
10. On execution: “Either you’ll do everything it takes to make it happen, or you don’t.”
The wrap-up: why you should read Prove Them Wrong
I’ll start this section by saying upfront that this book is incredibly powerful and filled with vulnerability about how adversity reveals character. It’s a story about a man who doubted his belonging at the Naval Academy but was also called for greatness and proved it, time and again. The book is deeply personal and meaningful, and the vulnerability Dre shows in his writing doesn’t go unnoticed. It takes courage and strength to write a book like this, with the words he chooses and its message, and it’s no surprise that it has earned the recognition it truly deserves. So, for those hearing about Dre Evans and his story for the first time, let this review renew interest in the book’s real value.
When I first met Dre, I had no idea he was a former Naval Officer. We initially connected over the topic of advanced education, but I’m not sure how much we really discussed that during our first meeting. Once I learned he had served — which is very important to me — and had written not one, but three books, I thought to myself, “this one is different.” So, writing a book review about his story feels different. Like many others, there are bits and pieces I relate to. While I didn’t grow up on the south side of Chicago, I know what it’s like to be raised in a city known for its gang activity. And while I didn’t attend the United States Naval Academy, I did (and do) serve as a Naval Officer, and those connection points are meaningful.
If you’re a young man or woman trying to figure out what’s next in your life, pick up this book. If your circumstances aren’t perfect but your heart is genuine and you aim to make doing good for those around you your life’s purpose, get this book. If you’re interested in learning what it’s like to attend the Naval Academy, this book will likely give you the best insight you’ll find; even I learned a lot about the Naval Academy, despite serving alongside its graduates for more than two decades. And if you want to experience what it’s like to live with a healthy chip on your shoulder, used to motivate you to fulfill God’s purpose for your life, this book is also for you. I’m honored to write this review for a book that was written with heartfelt care for many, on purpose.
Buy the book, read it, absorb its message, and thank Dre Evans and his family for his military service and his place on this earth.
About the book’s author
Wall Street Journal and International Best Selling Author Dre Evans joined a gang on the South Side of Chicago at the age of 12. But one terrifying moment, with bullets flying past his head in an attempt to kill him, he had to decide: was his desire to belong and find reputation in the streets worth dying for? What happened next shocked the city and made history.
In 2016 Dre graduated from the U.S Naval Academy at the top of his class with a degree in Engineering and became an MIT Fellow and President Truman Scholar.
He is the CEO of “That’s My Property,” an investment firm that owns over 98 apartment units valued above $13M. He is also the host of the #1 real estate meetup in San Diego called “Opportunity Knocks” and the host of the “Multifamily By the Slice” real estate podcast.
When he is not analyzing real estate deals or writing in a coffee shop, Dre spends most of his time reading, engaging in outreach within the community, or working out. His dream is to teach more kids and young adults about the importance of financial literacy and the power of books.
He is tall for no reason, and you can always find him with a protein shake nearby. Travel with Dre on all his adventures and learn tips on investing and motivation here: provethemwrongthebook.com
Book details:
Publisher: Lioncrest Publishing (November 21, 2022)
ISBN- 1544536968
ISBN-13: 978–1544536965
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As a leader and educator, I enjoy learning, sharing, reading, and writing, which are some of my passions. Besides my love for writing, I also write to share leadership lessons. Therefore, with every book I read and summarize, I consider how its content can be applied to teams and organizations, seeking impactful insights and quotes while identifying the right audience. I actively look for opportunities to apply what I’ve learned from each book and share that knowledge to improve myself, my teams, colleagues, peers, and anyone else working toward personal and professional growth with me.
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