plantonic_friendships's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Spoiler
It's a good introduction to the prison abolition movement and raises questions we need to collectively interrogate.I feel, however, the book doesn't do enough to discuss what solutions there are for people who've commit true atrocities. The solutions regarding decriminalizing certain things like sex work or drug and crimes by more apologetic individuals make sense.
But it's a disservice to not get in deeper or to downplay far greater crimes like mass shootings and other serial dangerous criminals.
Reparation vs. retribution was one of the mentions, but what if it wasn't material or easily replaced? Like a life. The final story at the end of the book talked about a woman whose daughter was brutally murdered by four men. One of those men felt remorse. The mother forgave them "have only love for them". But forgiveness should not be the solution asked of victims and their loved ones.
Reform is barely moving the needle and would need to be much more aggressive. But abolition is a long ways to go.
conradc4's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
antijeffbozo_love2read's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Body horror, and Misogyny
Moderate: Islamophobia, Confinement, Classism, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation
Minor: Pedophilia, Murder, Addiction, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Rape, Mental illness, and Slavery
earthdungeon's review against another edition
5.0
Five chapters of deeply depressing and disturbing information and stories of imprisonment, starting with slavery and coming up to modern times. One chapter at the end discussing the issue of what will "replace prisons" if they are abolished. I don't think this book needed more chapters on that though, there are other books that go into more detail if that's what you're looking for. This is a really accessible and hard hitting exploration of everything wrong with prisons (asking if they are obsolete, like the title says) that will help you better understand what exactly the problems are and why it is so far past fixing the system. I listened to the audio book narrated by Angela Davis and also read along for parts, it's very easy to comprehend either way and well written for both reading and listening, it's not boring at all. More leftist dude bros need to have this on their list of essential theory, this is ESSENTIAL to understanding not just prison abolition but even prison reform (although good luck thinking that's still possible after reading this). It opens your eyes to things you never thought about and gives you new perspectives on things you already knew. So so so amazing
znnys's review against another edition
4.0
I've been seeing prison abolition as a discussion lately and wanted to educate myself a bit more on the subject. In recent years I've already become fairly critical of how the modern prison system operates, and this book gives a thorough examination of how truly corrupt the system is. I knew some basic statistics, knew the role of systematic racism, had an understanding of why drug use and sex work should be decriminalized, and was familiar with the insidious nature of for-profit private prisons - this book expands on these topics and more in a meaty, well-researched, but concise and accessible manner.
Going into this, I was most interested in reading about what kind of alternatives may be offered. She does touch on how dismantling systems of injustice and racial discrimination, and decriminalizing drug use/sex work will do a large degree of good on its own, which is a very great point. However, when broaching the question of how to handle those who have violated the bodies of others, I found myself disappointed with her conclusion. She gives a fascinating example at the end as a means of defending her stance on reconciliation and restorative justice - fascinating and remarkable, but so unique that it doesn't entirely feel fair to use it as a flat answer to the general question being posed. Is the solution here truly for victims to be obligated to forgive and reconcile with people who have done irreparable damage to them? I would have been more satisfied if she just wrote "this is immensely complicated and we don't have all the answers yet, we just know the current system is failing us" rather than the vague hand wave we're given instead.
I think this is a great book for dipping into self-education on how truly corrupt the prison system is and why it's not working. However, if you are looking for a thorough account of possible alternatives to the prison system, I would look elsewhere.
Going into this, I was most interested in reading about what kind of alternatives may be offered. She does touch on how dismantling systems of injustice and racial discrimination, and decriminalizing drug use/sex work will do a large degree of good on its own, which is a very great point. However, when broaching the question of how to handle those who have violated the bodies of others, I found myself disappointed with her conclusion. She gives a fascinating example at the end as a means of defending her stance on reconciliation and restorative justice - fascinating and remarkable, but so unique that it doesn't entirely feel fair to use it as a flat answer to the general question being posed. Is the solution here truly for victims to be obligated to forgive and reconcile with people who have done irreparable damage to them? I would have been more satisfied if she just wrote "this is immensely complicated and we don't have all the answers yet, we just know the current system is failing us" rather than the vague hand wave we're given instead.
I think this is a great book for dipping into self-education on how truly corrupt the prison system is and why it's not working. However, if you are looking for a thorough account of possible alternatives to the prison system, I would look elsewhere.
gajeam's review against another edition
4.0
Changed the way I think about prisons forever.
The fact that Angela Davis spent over a year in jail largely in solitary confinement for a crime she got acquitted of and basically doesn’t even mention it just goes to show how dedicated she is to raising other incarcerated voices. Like, damn.
The fact that Angela Davis spent over a year in jail largely in solitary confinement for a crime she got acquitted of and basically doesn’t even mention it just goes to show how dedicated she is to raising other incarcerated voices. Like, damn.
reads2cope's review against another edition
5.0
Infuriating how relevant this still is. As always, Davis is clear and persuasive. I greatly appreciate how far back in history she went to explain the current prison system in the West, and how it impacts the entire world.
zombiezami's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Foundational text is foundational
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Death, Police brutality, Violence, Slavery, Torture, Confinement, Sexism, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Rape, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, and Addiction
Lynchingsophiapeony's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced