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

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 life
• How resilience and leadership emerged from unthinkable hardship
• The struggle of leading during the devastating Gatlinburg Wildfires
• The 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.