 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com American jails and prisons confine nearly 13.5 million people each year. Despite these disturbing numbers, little is known about life inside beyond the mythology of popular culture.
Michael G. Santos, a federal prisoner nearing the end of his second decade of continuous confinement, documents the lives of the men warehoused in the American prison system. Inside: Life Behind Bars in America, his first book for the general public, takes us behind those bars and into the chaos of the cellblock.
Capturing the voices of his fellow prisoners with perfect pitch, Santos makes the tragic—and at times inspiring—stories of men from the toughest gang leaders to the richest Wall Street criminals come alive. From drug schemes, murders for hire, and even a prostitution ring that trades on the flesh of female prison guards, this book contains the never-before-seen details of prison life that at last illuminate the varied ways in which men experience life behind bars in America. Michael G. Santos was convicted in 1987, at the age of twenty-three, of crimes relating to his participation in a drug-trafficking scheme and sentenced to forty-five years in prison. He has earned a bachelor of arts and a master of arts, and was pursuing a Ph.D. until the Bureau of Prisons rules blocked his progress. He currently resides in the Federal Prison Camp in Lompoc, California, and based on his impeccable disciplinary record, looks forward to his release in 2013. American jails and prisons confine nearly 13.5 million people each year, and it is estimated that 6 to 7 percent of the U.S. population will be confined in their lifetimes. Despite these disturbing numbers, little is known about life inside beyond the mythology of popular culture. Michael G. Santos, a federal prisoner nearing the end of his second decade of continuous confinement, has dedicated the last eighteen years to shedding light on the lives of the men warehoused in the American prison system. Inside: Life Behind Bars in America, his first book for the general public, takes us behind those bars and into the chaos of the cellblock. Capturing the voices of his fellow prisoners with perfect pitch, Santos makes the tragic—and at times inspiring—stories of men from the toughest gang leaders to the richest Wall Street criminals come alive. From drug schemes, murders for hire, and even a prostitution ring that trades on the flesh of female prison guards, this book contains the details of prison life that illuminate the varied ways in which men experience life behind bars in America. "[A] revealing, compelling book . . . At the heart of Santos's frequently harrowing book is a simple argument: Prisons have become places where crime does pay."—Edward Humes, Los Angeles Times Book Review "More than just a seamy look at prison life. A chilling, timely portrayal."—New York Times Book Review "Inside is actually two books. The red meat of the book is a collection of more than 100 prisoners' accounts, including every gruesome detail . . . But between shocking tales of inmate misbehavior are Santos' convincing theories about what it all means."—Sean Bosker, New York Post "[A] revealing, compelling book . . . At the heart of Santos's frequently harrowing book is a simple argument: Prisons have become places where crime does pay."—Edward Humes, Los Angeles Times Book Review "What does it mean to be behind bars? What does it feel like? How does it affect people? How do prisoners cope? These are crucial questions for a society that uses prison so readily. Michael Santos has written a book of rare quality and pressing importance. It is at once easy to read, because it is so well written; but also hard to read, because the story it tells is so troubling. To read this book is to change the way you think about imprisonment."—Todd R. Clear, Distinguished Professor and Executive Officer, Program of Doctoral Studies in Criminal Justice, John Jay College, The City University of New York "Michael Santos . . . strives to bring the reader 'inside' the different security levels of institutions within the . . . Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). From the violent and dangerous maximum security prisons of the U.S. Penitentiaries, to the gladiator schools of the medium security Federal Correctional Institutions, and ultimately to the minimum security Federal Prison Camps, Santos eloquently and engagingly captures the subculture of the prisoner . . . he draws on his many years of imprisonment to describe the destructive nature of the prison environment both for those imprisoned and for those that work in this environment . . . This book is not recommended for the faint at heart, as Santos describes in vivid and graphic detail violent assaults, sexual activity, and coarse language that is the daily life of prisoners . . . the Correctional System, according to Santos does not correct . . . it is the author himself that serves as the classic example of a system run amok in its fervor for harsher . . . punishments. Inside will also serve as an excellent supplemental text for courses in corrections, penology, criminology, sociology, and psychology.”—Sam Torres, Ph.D., Professor of Criminal Justice, California State University, Long Beach, and Senior U.S. Probation Officer (Ret.) "Michael Santos, a federal prisoner . . . has made an outstanding contribution to our understanding of life inside America's prisons. Based on interviews with his fellow inmates and his own experiences in six prisons, Santos describes the overcrowding, gang violence, and administrative bungling that characterizes many prisons. He argues that the correctional system does not provide opportunities for inmates to 'earn' their way to freedom, nor are efforts made to prepare them for their eventual release. This book is unique in that it is written by a prisoner about prison society."—George F. Cole, Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut "Michael Santos has done two remarkable things in this engaging portrait of life on the 'inside.' First, he has provided to the general reading public the perspective and experience of a wide range of his fellow inmates, who rarely if ever have a public voice. The language is . . . hostile; but so is the culture of which it speaks. Second, he has demonstrated in his own perspective the triumph of the human spirit that refuses to let past mistakes or present circumstances have the final say in defining who he is. We can hope that this overture . . . will prompt a new level of conversation about how we deal with our own and others' mistakes and bad decisions in ways that can build a better future."—J. Colin Harris, Professor of Religious Studies, Mercer University "Disturbing as well as uplifting, Inside sheds light on the darkest corners of the U.S. society. It should be read by all those interested in justice, punishment and forgiveness."—Mary Bosworth, Ph.D., Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford "Incarcerated for drug-trafficking since 1987, Santos documents the tedium and brutality of prison life. The author’s first book weaves memoir and fir |
Average Customer Rating:   real talk about prison obviously biased but gives a much-needed insider's perspective on what's wrong with prisons in the usa. if you want to check out my blog ([...]) then you can read my analysis. 5 stars, though, and contains enough lurid details to make your mind whirl with glee. (gang banging, drugs, illicit sex) Inside Life Behind Bars in America Very frank and raw. Not for the faint hearted. Makes you want to write your congressman and change the system. Inside: Life Behind Bars in America Very well researched and written, including supportive facts and interviews and reflecting personal experiences. Enlightening overview of this country's prison system, pulling no punches in pointing out some of its weaknesses. Held my attention throughout. Powerful Michael Santos was arrested on a nonviolent drug charge during the 1980s, when our government was treating drug suppliers like terrorists. Santos had never been in trouble, had no violence or gun charges associated with the drug distrubution. Yet he was given a 45 year sentence to be served in the Federal prison system.
His journey began in a supermax prison, where he was housed with hardcore lifers, gangbangers, rapists, and men who murdered for pleasure. He was in his early 20s when his sentence began. He is now in his mid 40s.
Michael Santos is well-spoken, thoughtful, and intelligent. His story takes us through the prison system, from the supermax where he started to the minimum security prison camp where he is now. He tells us what life in prison is like and he holds nothing back.
We toss these men into a system where they must fight to survive each day. And we call it "corrections". They exist in a prison society that is appalling on so many levels. Then we expect them to emerge from that hell and fit nicely into an entirely different type of society.
As taxpayers, we support this system. Our silence allows the business of prisons (because they are in it for profit) to house men (and women) in a way that ensures their return. We should all know what goes on behind those prison walls that we support. Maybe then we'll be horrified enough to change it. You won't put it down! Incredibly graphic and informative! This is a fantastic description of a horrible way of life. Although, I find the work to be a masterpiece, I clearly sympathize with the Author. We all make mistakes (some bigger than others), but to be placed into an underworld of mayhem for a couple decades has life-long implications. The book describes Prison life in extreme detail from minimum to supermax. There's nothing pretty about this book and anyone enjoying their freedom, thinking a lil time in the Pen is "no big deal" needs to be sentenced to reading this. I would recommend it to any inner-city youth even thinking about getting in "the game". I've never had even a close run in with the system, but it's terrible to see what happens to those who do. My God, these are Americans! Read it and weap... literally! |  |
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