How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry (w/ Employment Information Handbook) [Paperback]

Michael B. Jackson (Author), Ron Kenner (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

There are two types of barriers that can hinder an excon's successful re-entry into society. There are those created by public policy and public attitude. However, in too many cases, there are also those barriers he creates for himself by lacking a plan, the right attitude, or the personal commitment to see it through. "How to Do Good After Prison" is a practical guide of advice, insight, and motivation to help ex-prisoners overcome the barriers and succeed after prison.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Find less outlaw glamour and more practical advice in the top choice of Prison Talk s David Frisk: 'How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook For Successful Reentry,' by Michael B. Jackson. Jackson, who spent 10 years in prison for armed robbery and drug offenses, also informs and inspires convicts and former convicts at the JointFX Web site and on his YouTube channel. --NY Times Magazine "This Weeks Recommendation" 4/6/08

Great Book! Everyone entering prison should be handed a copy. Very straightforward, down-to-earth, and knowledgeable. Extremely practical and supportive. The advice is terrific on all levels. --Writer's Digest

Overcoming the barriers to a successful life after doing time in prison will be a lifelong journey for any person. This book is written to inspire, motivate and guide the man committed to making his journey productive, positive and prosperous --Michael B. Jackson

About the Author

Michael B. Jackson is author and publisher of 3 books, How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for the Committed man (2001), How to Love and Inspire Your Man After Prison (2003), and Como Cumplir Con Tus Obligaciones: Al Salir De La Prision: Guia practica una vida mejor (2005). He is a motivational speaker and Transition/NuEntry Readiness trainer for incarcerated people. formerly incarcerated people and their families.The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission has employed him for 21 years. Mr. Jackson, who was formerly incarcerated, has been featured in numerous newspapers and has appeared on several national television and radio shows.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Joint FX Press; 4th edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970743602
• ISBN-13: 978-0970743602
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally a good book from someone who's been there, March 22, 2006

By 

D. Reese "Diet Guru" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry (w/ Employment Information Handbook) (Paperback)

As the mother of a son who is currently in prison, I have ordered several books in an attempt to get some kind of idea of what we can expect both in prison and when he gets out. This is one of only two books that I have found to be most helpful. The writer has a unique understanding of the system on both sides of the barbed wire and gives some excellent tips on how to succeed. Our family has never dealt with anything like this so we are completely in the dark and this book shined the light on some points I had never thought of that might have taken me by surprise if I had not read this book first. I highly recommend this book both for inmates and their families.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Awesome Book, It just needed a little more proof reading!, August 15, 2006

By 

THE AUTISTIC WEREWOLF "Wolf D." (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry (w/ Employment Information Handbook) (Paperback)

The book is an insightful honest passionate look into what issues an ex-convict will have to face when they are released. The book is basically a lot of very common sense advice to ex-convicts written and presented in a language and style I am sure they are uniquely qualified by their prison experiences to understand.

While I suggest the book has lots of so called, "Common Sense" advice I speak as a man who has never been to prison and will hopefully never know the prison experience first hand. What is simple basic "Common Sense" self respect, personal dignity, manners, and civics' 101 that I learned at my grandmothers knee and at church is likely a strange new world to ex-convicts. I am the product of a loving home and strong grandparents who took time to teach me to be a strong civil respectful black gentleman. I am a far cry from ex-convicts many of whom had no strong father figure so they learned how to survive on the hard cold gang and thug infested streets.

This book is a rough blueprint designed to show life long thugs and ex convicts with the desire to improve themselves how to strive for goals and demand levels of respect far greater than what a clinched jaw, a strong fist and a loaded gun will ever bring them. The book is written by a person who speaks a highly cultured rarified version of prisonese but that just proves he is real when he says he divorced himself from his former prison life \ mentality.

The author states specifically that this book alone will NOT save an ex-convict from themselves. The author states correctly that this book is merely a tool. Honestly it is not the quality of this book as a tool that defines the likelihood of an ex-convicts ultimate success. It is the strength desire and passion to rehabilitate them selves that burns in the heart of an individual ex-convict that will determine the effectiveness they make of the awesome tool this book can become in the hands of an ex-convict who is committed to eventual total success.

The book does not sugar coat reality. The book does tell the reader that they will face the once a convict always a convict felon mentality and how that Neanderthal mindset is particularly dangerous for them during any encounters with police. The book tries and effectively teaches the balance an ex-convict must walk because, many in this society never totally forgives an ex-con no matter how much crime free straight time they have racked up. The book teaches that sometimes you survive by letting most fools be themselves unmolested because for an ex-convict fighting a fool is just an engraved invite back to prison and NO FOOL IS WORTH THE LOSS OF FREEDOM, DIGNITY AND YOUR GOALS a fight demands.

I used to help ex-convicts learn community living skills after being released from long periods of incarceration and I remember teaching the exact same lessons this book offers. Many ex-convicts honestly want to go straight but they don't know how and few people skilled at living the crime free life actually want to teach ex-convicts how to live crime free. Most crime free people are afraid of ex-convicts because, they have too much to lose if an ex-convict is just running a game about living crime free. At the time as a disabled black man on government subsidies I had nothing to lose, so I could risk helping ex-convicts and did. I found IF an ex-convict was totally serious about living crime free and getting his life together your guidance, friendship, support and time were his private stash of gold and he would defend, protect and love you as if you were a beloved family member.

Weird thing is a convict wanting to live crime free is often the best friend a crime free teacher could have. I laugh at times when I see successful old ex-con friends I taught community living skills to upon their release because, I am like so TOTALLY a straight arrow Joe citizen looking disabled geek people do a double take when some thuggish looking dude walks up, hugs me crying tears as if he has found a long lost family member. I shared my story here because this book teaches everything I used to teach ex-convicts how live in society and I know for the committed real man these pearls of wisdom all work but only if an ex-con remains strong enough to stay crime free no matter what to the very end! This book teaches that despite all the prison convictions and hellish prison experiences there is hope. Ex-convicts are garbage only if they buy into other loathesome peoples ignorant stereotypes and if they do so they have only themselves to blame for their own weakness. Society in this way is just like prison life. If you let other stuck up people in society steal your hope, your joy and commitment to live crime free then society has made you its punk slave society has turned you out. In society its about keeping your dignity, commitment to living crime free and love of others when society does its best to turn you out as its punk slave rotting in its prison like an animal whose upkeep feeds someone else's children and builds others families while yours go wanting. Look at prison for what it is. Prison is a capitalist society's way of culling then turning out its weakest, uneducated or most vulnerable people for use as slaves to feed this nations growing prison industrial complex.

To all the ex-cons out there trying to go straight and live a crime free life you have my undying love, respect and admiration gentlemen, stay strong and do not let anyone steal your joy or commitment to live as your own man instead of enslaved property in some fools prison. Hugs love my constant prayers to a higher power and peace to you my brothers and sista's!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, April 11, 2003

By 

MB Jackson "MBJ" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry (w/ Employment Information Handbook) (Paperback)

My son was helped in many ways by this book. He has been out 2 years and doing well. I don't think he thought it could be done until he read this book. I appreciate Mr. jackson sharing his life and encouraging others to do well.