SURVIVING PRISON: The Definitive Prison Survival & Reentry Guide

The Practical Inmate Handbook for Jail Rules, Etiquette, and Reentry

De: Hex The Helpful Ex-Con, Ex-Con Mike

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

While most literature surrounding incarceration focuses on spectacle, SURVIVING PRISON serves as a clear-eyed, experience-based guide to personal growth and change within the carceral system. Written by an author who spent over a decade inside, this memoir about life experiences strips away the bravado to focus on the raw mechanics of survival and the realities of crime and punishment.

Unlike standard self help personal growth books that promise immediate transformation, this handbook focuses on the practical: understanding jail rules, unwritten etiquette, and the mental strain of confinement. It is specifically designed as one of the most essential paperback books for inmates, providing a roadmap for navigating cell life, routines, and the complex social boundaries that dictate daily existence.

The book offers a unique perspective on mental health self help, addressing how isolation and institutional pressure fundamentally alter behavior. It provides actionable advice for:

• Navigating authority and enforcing personal boundaries.
• Managing communication with the outside world.
• Preparing for the specific hurdles of reentry.

Recognized as one of the most pragmatic books for inmates and their families, SURVIVING PRISON treats incarceration as an environment to be navigated with intelligence and restraint. It stands as a vital companion to BOY=BAD, bridging the gap between early childhood conditioning and the eventual realities of institutional control.

No nonsensical guide to prison...

This book delivers exactly what the title promises—a no-nonsense guide to surviving prison, written by someone who’s done real time (over 11 years, in fact). It’s not overly complex or bloated with filler. Instead, it’s straightforward, focused, and brutally honest about what to expect—from the moment you're arrested to the long road back to life on the outside.

The author doesn't sugarcoat anything. He walks you through the dos and don’ts with the kind of grit and insight only someone who's lived it can provide. It's not polished literature—the language leans heavily on crude slang and raw spoken word over polished grammar—but in this case, it works. Let’s face it: you’re not heading into a place where everyone’s quoting Shakespeare. The tone feels right for the subject.

It’s not something I’d personally go back and reread, but I do think it serves its purpose well. If you’re trying to understand the mindset of an inmate, or you—or someone you know—might be facing time, this is a pretty decent survival tool. It's short, direct, and doesn't waste your time.

Recommended for the context it serves. 3 out of 4 stars.