Meet Shannon O’Brien

For more than twenty years, Shannon O’Brien has been an active social and political force. A native Californian, she grew up in Carson, California with her parents and one sibling, her younger brother. In her very first book, she reflects on her middle class childhood that was wrought with a combination of advantages and psychological trauma, which she now credits with having made her both relatable and empathetic, yet unrelenting in her fight for the last word. “Writing my book was cathartic,” she says. “I read chapters that caused me to relive past hurt, yet I could tell the hurt had subsided when I would actually smile and just shake my head while reading.” Having grown up in a household, where the Bible was used as both a morality blueprint and punishing weapon, Shannon balanced the contradictions by seeing the world through a unique lens. In her book, It’s Not You, It’s Them: Navigating Complex Relationships with Strength, Clarity and Wisdom, she reflects on her past difficulties and the survival strategies she utilized to pull through. “I wrote this book for everyone who has ever had to overcome roadblocks designed specifically to hinder their paths.” Shannon O’Brien holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Howard University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Graduate Center of Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Long Beach. She has been married to her college sweetheart, Jason O’Brien, Sr. for thirty-four years, and together they have both a son, Jason, Jr., and grandson, Jacob O’Brien.