In case you haven’t checked the statistics recently, about one in 110 adults is currently incarcerated in the United States. (and by the way: where is that critical conversation taking place in the 2016 election debates?) For those with such limited access to the outside world, prison libraries can be essential in supporting the educational, social and rehabilitation experience. a recluse’s soul — as well as just being entertaining.
In a previous article, suggesting a list of titles to donate to prison libraries, I wrote that my personal experience with the American prison system includes volunteering in detention centers, previously working full time as one of all careers of some kind in a gang intervention and reentry program, visiting and interviewing inmates in prisons in the United States and around the world, and including among my graduate studies work focusing on gang violence, incarceration, and reentry of ex-offenders into the united states. and while there are those who are skeptical about the power of literature and literacy to transform an inmate’s experience of incarceration, I remain a strong believer in the importance of having access to books in prison and their ability to provide older inmates chances of success when re-entering mainstream society.
You are reading: Books to read in prison
Although by no means a complete list, many prisons have different ones, here are nine of the most widely read books in American prisons. If you’re interested in donating some to your state or county prison (go ahead!), be sure to check out this list of things you didn’t know about books in prisons first.
1. a life inside: a prisoner’s notebook by erwin james
When he was young, Erwin James was sentenced to life in prison. James did indeed grow up behind bars, passing from youth to middle age while he was incarcerated. his prison memoir, A Life Inside: A Prisoner’s Notebook, as well as many other prison memoirs, such as jonathan aitken’s porridge and passion and the pain of confinement by jimmy boyle, are titles naturally popular with inmates looking to give voice to their own experiences of incarceration.
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2. ged test preparation books
The vast majority of those incarcerated in the united states received inadequate or incomplete educational opportunities in their pre-prison lives, and while behind bars, many inmates work to complete high school or pass the ged exam. One of the most critical indicators of an inmate’s likelihood of success in re-entering society is his or her ability to achieve an education while in prison.
3. legal dictionaries
For many inmates, there is an overwhelming sense of helplessness when it comes to dealing with their attorneys and the court system, due to a basic lack of education about the American legal system. Legal dictionaries help alleviate that feeling of helplessness by helping inmates better understand what is being discussed during their court cases. translated legal dictionaries are also especially helpful.
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4. the 48 laws of power by robert greene
Although banned from many US prisons for unhelpful content on how to get what you want through seduction or swindling, this book explores the philosophies and historical influences of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl von clausewitz. The small merit of Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power is that it advocates intelligence, ambition, empowerment and the drive to achieve your goals; you just have to focus that momentum towards positive efforts.
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5. the bell jar by sylvia plath
all readers appreciate the feeling of recognizing themselves and their own experiences between the covers of a book; basically, it’s the closest thing to having a good friend by your side. Naturally, Sylvia Plath’s intensely psychological and emotional writing, particularly in her novel The Bell Jar, appeals to anyone struggling with their own intense thoughts and feelings, as many inmates do.
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6. the diary of a young woman by anne frank
experiencing a uniquely devastating form of imprisonment, first while hiding from the Nazis during World War II in an office building annex, and later in Nazi concentration camps, a young woman’s diary — Anne Frank’s personal account of courage, resilience, and hope in the face of serious adversity, definitely speaks to those incarcerated in America.
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7. the infidels by martina cole
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The Faithless , and just about every other title by British crime novelist Martina Cole are popular in prison libraries for a reason. Cole’s fiction is in a unique position in the crime fiction genre, as her novels feature mostly female antiheroes and explore crime dramas through the experience of the criminal. As part of her own life as a writer, Cole teaches creative writing classes in the UK. prisons, so she naturally understands the audience well from her.
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8. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson
Thriller writer extraordinaire james patterson is often a favorite among inmates for his stories about forensic detective and psychologist alex cross from the alex cross series. Throughout the series, the protagonist Cross is called upon to solve mysteries, rescue hostages, and catch criminals, all while trying to keep his own family safe and sound. merry christmas alex cross contains all of the above and more.
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9. step by step exercise guides
Anyone who has seen or entered a cell before knows that there is not much room to do anything, let alone take a good jog. So, for obvious reasons, step-by-step guides to exercises that can be done in small spaces, like ab and arm exercises, and yoga, are some of the most coveted titles in a prison library.
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