Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-276).

Before. Somebody -- That little voice -- Below myself -- Leaving -- Woman, 32, shot in head . . . -- After. Picking up the pieces -- The world would cease to function -- Educated -- Finding my communities -- Time for advocacy -- Advocacy. Shelter -- Driving the bus -- Everything I never dreamed -- Why we do what we do -- Making peace -- Solidarity among survivors -- Designing solutions. Causes and prevention -- Intervention -- Serving victims and survivors -- Accountability.

"The raw, uplifting, and unforgettable memoir from the CEO and president of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence chronicling her personal battle against abuse, violence, and even a murder attempt. Ruth M. Glenn wasn't surprised the first time her husband beat her. She was hurt and disappointed but after a childhood in a broken and violent home, she was not surprised. After all, this was just the way things were, right? It was only after she lay bleeding in a carwash parking lot, after being shot three times by him, that Glenn resolved-if she managed to survive-to spend the rest of her life combating domestic violence. Now, she brings her full story to the forefront with this survivor's tale crossed with a rousing call to action. She reveals her difficult but ultimately rewarding journey from that parking lot to sacrificing everything to obtain her GED, followed by her JD. With her evocative and thoughtful voice, Glenn explores the reasons why men beat and kill women, why women and children are seen as lesser in our society, how to stop victim blaming, and how to demystify domestic violence to stop it once and for all. A memoir of resilience and courage, Everything I Never Dreamed is a necessary book that proves that abuse does not have to define a survivor's entire life"--