The Rough Journey of Survival presents a collection of poetry and personal prose seeking to inspire both heart and soul. Author Michael LoMonaco chronicles the severe conflicts he has experienced from his lifelong struggle with psychological disorders. He describes the life lessons he has learned from his past experiences, including his time spent in prison. LoMonaco suggests that there are two ways to learn life lessons—the easy way and the hard way—and that sometimes the hard way is the only way that works. Ultimately, he is a survivor who has conquered many adversities by taking responsibility for his actions and by viewing life in a more positive light. In this autobiographical collection, LoMonoco states that he intends to fight any obstacles that would take away his right to cherish the gift of life. He offers an inspirational look at how he has learned to cope with the difficulties of the real world and learned to live a life based on righteousness.