damski's review against another edition
Angela Davis makes an important and cogent argument in favour of prison abolition.
I'm quite embarrassed by how long it took me to read this. I started about half a year ago after watching the documentary The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 that features Angela quite prominently and got about 20 pages in before telling myself I'd continue later. Well I finally did continue later and decided to read the whole thing in one day. I'm glad I did.
Despite its quite short length, this is a wide and complete analysis and explanation of why prison abolitionism is not nearly as radical of an idea as might be expected. Davis gives just enough detail to adequately explain her points without overloading the reader with information. Similarly, there is a good breakdown to the book, attacking the topic from historical, racial and anti-capitalist angles.
If you have any sort of interest in the topic or even think you vehemently disagree with the central idea I'd definitely recommend reading this as it may at the very least get you to consider the concept of incarceration differently.
I'm quite embarrassed by how long it took me to read this. I started about half a year ago after watching the documentary The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 that features Angela quite prominently and got about 20 pages in before telling myself I'd continue later. Well I finally did continue later and decided to read the whole thing in one day. I'm glad I did.
Despite its quite short length, this is a wide and complete analysis and explanation of why prison abolitionism is not nearly as radical of an idea as might be expected. Davis gives just enough detail to adequately explain her points without overloading the reader with information. Similarly, there is a good breakdown to the book, attacking the topic from historical, racial and anti-capitalist angles.
If you have any sort of interest in the topic or even think you vehemently disagree with the central idea I'd definitely recommend reading this as it may at the very least get you to consider the concept of incarceration differently.
grubnubble's review against another edition
4.0
Davis’ emphasis on all the pieces connected to the prison system (the prison industrial complex aka one tiny arm of capitalism) illuminates the bigger picture of incarceration. I was hoping for more specific examples of what a world without prisons would look like, but I think the mindset shift from using prisons as punishment to thinking of reparative justice is incredibly important as well.
ames_101's review against another edition
4.0
So much good information!! The third chapter about reform was the first section to speak to my core. Then when she dug into the connection between school systems and prisons, prisons as a business model, and how the US system is replicated in other countries. Just wow.
maiarmash's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
poenaestante's review against another edition
5.0
Please stop what you are doing and read this very short and informative book. Yes, you. Whether you are a law and order type or a leftie disestablishmentarian, whether you know lots about prisons or almost nothing, you will learn SO SO much about how prisons are and came to be such a dominating force in our society. So often people go through their day taking prison for granted but it turns out the modern prison is a rather recent introduction and is in fact the result of what some thought were humane reforms. But these days, even the most uninformed person knows that even the "tamest" prison is a far cry from humane. Yet the number of our citizens in prison is only rising day after day.Where is the disconnect? Read this book, let's start talking about how we can move away from being a society where we casually and callously throw people away.
inkocean's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great little book. I gave it four stars because it largely covered material I already learned elsewhere. However, I highly recommend the book to anyone looking for information on the origins of our prison system. Davis does a splendid job covering the way that race, class, and gender intertwine with our prison system as well. A terrific introduction for anyone concerned about the outrageous state of the prison industrial complex.