In Born Again, Michael TenBrink undertakes an unflinching exploration of how he was impacted on a mental, emotional, and physical level by his fundamentalist religious upbringing. He looks at how he’s been affected all his life by fear, shame, and guilt, and he attempts to make peace with messy memories from his childhood and show compassion to his younger self. He also underscores his desire to finally leave those parts of his life behind and experience a new start.

He pairs his writing with photographs from his childhood, as well as Bible verses and journal excerpts, to reflect on and help make sense of who he was. Also included are striking images from a deeply personal nude photo shoot with photographer Sohan Sam, in which TenBrink relives the condemnation of his past before washing himself clean.

Born Again was created as TenBrink’s grad school thesis project; he had just three months to develop the idea, execute the photo shoot, and write and design the book.

(Note: This book is intended for mature readers.)

Here are excerpted comments from early readers:

"This work is incredibly brave and vulnerable and illuminating.”

“I just finished the book. There's so much honesty, so much wisdom, so much growth, so much everything. No words I offer can contain my admiration. It's amazing.”

“It is riveting. I love it.”

"I absolutely love your writing. You have a way of welcoming and disarming the reader and painting pictures that are alive and accessible.”

“It’s so carefully crafted and powerful.”

“You are resilient and brave and beautiful. I know this project will speak to others, so I hope lots of people have a chance to [read] it.”

“Drove me to tears. Everything on those pages. Everything.”

“Yes, it is possible to be freed from the chains of past experiences, to let them go and move beyond the struggles and hurts and embrace instead a new life. And you've done it.”

“[It] wrapped up so beautifully. I cried repeatedly and [am still] crying as I write this.”