Life in Prison [Paperback]

Stanley Williams (Author), Barbara Cottman (Author), D. Stevens (Photographer)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

"The true stories I've written in this book are my living nightmares. My greatest hope is that the lessons the stories offer will help you make better choices than I did." Stanley "Tookie" Williams, cofounder of the notorious Crips gang, is a death-row inmate. But in his two decades of incarceration, Williams has also become a respected author and activist whose dedication to ending gang warfare in the lives of inner-city children has earned him a 2001 Nobel Peace Prize nomination. In this award-winning bookwhich has drawn praise from educators, government leaders, and families alikeWilliams describes the brutal reality of being an inmate. He debunks myths of prisons as "gladiator schools" with blunt, riveting stories of overwhelming homesickness, the terror of solitary confinement, and the humiliation of strip-searches. Williams' words are a frank challenge to adolescent readers to educate themselves, make intelligent decisions, and above all, not to follow in his footsteps.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As a boy, Williams heard the older kids who'd served time tell stories that made prison sound glamorous and fun, a place to hang out with your friends and prove how tough you were. But now, after 16 years on San Quentin's death row for the murders of four people, Williams (Gangs and Violence), co-founder of the notorious Los Angeles Crips gang, knows that prison "is no place you'd ever want to be." In this slender volume, he explains why: the cramped quarters, lack of freedom and privacy, homesickness, violence and daily indignities (strip searches, having to use the toilet in public). Williams often goes beyond mere description, asking readers to imagine or emulate his experiences ("To get a feel for what it's like to live in a prison cell, test yourself. Spend ten hours?nonstop and alone?in your bathroom"), an effective technique. Though the book's stated goal is to warn kids away from Williams's path, its matter-of-fact, often homogenized tone connotes more of a plea for sympathy than a caution intended to frighten kids. Co-author Becnel's foreword contributes to this problem, although the stark black-and-white photographs of Williams, San Quentin and other prisons and prisoners toughens the tone to some degree. Those concerned that purchasing the book will profit a convicted killer can be reassured: Williams's royalties will be donated to the Institute for the Prevention of Youth Violence. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-A cofounder of the notorious Crips gang in California recounts his life on death row. Chapters with titles such as "the hole," "rules," and "the strip search" include graphic, disturbing descriptions of prison life and this inmate's reaction to his incarceration. At the end of each chapter, Williams encourages readers to think about aspects of their lives that bother them, or that they take for granted, and consider what these issues are like for a death-row inmate. The author is straightforward about details of his life, and the book is written in a conversational, approachable tone. Black-and-white photos of Williams and fellow San Quentin prisoners are painful reminders of the life he is trying to steer kids away from. The book may leave readers wanting to know more about this man's work with violence prevention. However, it is a sobering personal view of life behind bars.
Carol Fazioli, The Brearley School, New York City, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587170949
• ISBN-13: 978-1587170942
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Law & Crime
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Law & Crime
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Politics & Government

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars prison life, March 5, 2004

By 

bob dubay (north berwick, me) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life in Prison (Paperback)

The author has been imprisoned at San Quentin since 1981, on death row. He was sentenced to die for the murder of four committed during a convenience store robbery. As hard as it is to imagine caring about someone who has done such a thing, reading Tookie's book makes you feel sorry that his life has been wasted behind bars. You wonder what he could have done with his life if he had not gone down the road he chose.
This crime was not all Tookie did before he was arrested. He and a friend started the street gang the Crips, which has flourished and spread all over the world. What a legacy!
The purpose of Tookie's book was to dispel some of the street myths surrounding prison life. He had no fear of prison, which was considered a 'gladiator school' by kids on the streets. Once he was in the system he saw the reality and wanted to spread the truth.
Obviously Tookie is intelligent. The book is written in an easy-to-read format. He's aiming his message at young people who may not be the most sophisticated readers. The book is full of details that paint a realistic picture of all aspects of prison life. He also has a website where readers can communicate with him.
By the time you have finished this book you feel you know Tookie well and have shared his prison experiences. He has written other books, and reading this one makes you want to read more.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All myths about prison life is ended in this book., February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life in Prison! (Hardcover)

In this book, Life In Prison, Stanley "Tookie" Williams cofounder of the crips gang and Death Row inmate for sixteen years, offers a testimony that ends all myths about prison life in this book. In straightforward, honest prose, Williams out about what it's really like in prison-- and challenges all young people to choose the right path.

Told in first person, this realistic picture of prison life is meant by the author to serve as a cautionary message for youngsters who may be misled into thinking, like he did, that prisons are so called 'gladiator', a cool and manly place to be. He does a magnificent job in describing his caged feelings, the danger, humiliations, and crime of being held in prison. Stanley Williams, convicted of four murders, does not deserve to be compared to Nelson Mandela, in my opinion for being arrested for almost no reason. While Williams says he's sorry for dropping out of school, and so on.. he never once said sorry about killing four people.

I feel that Life In Prison is an outstanding bibliography of the life of Stanley Williams. I also think this book's theme is that you should watch who you hang around, and always think about what you're doing and where it could lead you to in the near future. Read Life In Prison to find out what happens on the other side of the prison wallsnd how inmates are really treated, or if you just want to learn more about The United States Justice System, Juvenile System, Law and Crime, 9-12 Sociology then this is the book for you.

The strengths which this book possesses is that it's very descriptive and really tells how he feels in a formal way. The one thing that I have against this book is that it only tells one side of the story. the author, Stanley Williams, also needs to further consider the age recommendations for this book. I think that it should be 12 and up.

So ask for this book and look for it in your local library. I still want to know how it is to live in prison for the rest of your life, don't you?

Tyler Cook, Grade 6 newburg Middle School

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Could Save Your Life, February 19, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Life in Prison (Paperback)

By Brandon Council

Life in Prison was an excellent book because Stanley lets you know how it is in prison. I recommend students and juveniles all over the world to read it. It lets you know what you have to go through in prison if you get beat up or sick. I think if people read this book and go by what it says, it might stop people that are in gangs and are on the street selling drugs or doing wrong. I also think that if people read it they won't commit crimes that lead to life in prison. So if you read this book it might just save your life.