A Dream Too Big: The Story of an Improbable Journey from Compton to Oxford

In this inspiring and provocative memoir about a young black man, Caylin Moore tells the against-all-odds story of his rise from racial injustice and cruel poverty in gang-ridden Los Angeles to academic success at the University of Oxford, with hope as his compass.

When Caylin Louis Moore was a young child, his mother gathered her three young children and fled an abusive husband, landing in poverty in a heavily policed, gang-ridden community. When Moore’s father was convicted of murder and his mother was sexually assaulted in the hospital while recovering from open-heart surgery, Moore was forced to enter adulthood prematurely. His hope was fueled by embracing his mother's steely faith in God and in education. Moore skirted the gangs, the police, and the violence endemic to Compton to excel as a student-athlete, eventually reaching the pinnacles of academic achievement as a Rhodes Scholar. Moore's eye-opening, against-all-odds story reveals that there is no such thing as a dream too big. 

"A dream too big is a truly special book. Caylin's story is not just inspirational, it is instructional. I have admired him and his journey for a long time; read this book and you'll understand why." --Wes Moore, bestselling author of The Other Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood

"I loved this story of triumph in praise of a sacrificial single mom and a kid who, against all odds, fought hunger-pains and gangs to make a dream-too-big become a dream-come-true. Through gunshots and the temptations of inner city poverty, Caylin Moore laced up his cleats, outran gangs, and caught the 6:00am bus on an empty stomach. A future world-changer, Caylin has penned an inspiring tale that should be mandatory reading for every student, parent, and anyone else interested in the success of those who will shape and define our future." -- Ron Hall, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Same Kind of Different as Me and Workin' Our Way Home