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Life in Prison  By  cover art

Life in Prison

By: Stanley Tookie Williams
Narrated by: Ty Jones
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Publisher's summary

"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 book, which has drawn praise from educators, government leaders, and families alike. Williams 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 listeners to educate themselves, make intelligent decisions, and above all, not to follow in his footsteps.

©1998 Barbara Cottman Becnel (P)2009 Recorded Books

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Extremely Short. Very detailed information.

Simply too short for the price. The price needs to be adjusted for the brief story

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow

I am taken away by the realistic visional and felt moments of this first take of prison life.

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1 person found this helpful

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life in prison

I liked the straight forward description of prison life. how the author feelings of doing life in prison with no parole.

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  • Overall
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Short but good

A good reminder to appreciate the life you have and that it can always be worse.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A Clear Picture

I loved it. It helps me with my research on writing about black people issues, along with Tookie Williams insight on what he was reduced to from the gang life. At least Tookie transformed his life for the better and made a positive contribution in the end.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Great Audible

This is a great book that will tell you the truth about the real life behind prison walls.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Still my favorite book as an adult

read this book when I was in Middle School. feels very nostalgic revisiting this childhood masterpiece. I wish a lot of my high school friends read this book. I wonder where they would be now if it knew what he knew.

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Honest

I felt the rawness in his honesty. The fact he brought how he romanticized prison based of stories told by adults he trusted. Pay attention to what you sharing with them kids.

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Not Forgotten

This needs to be share with you boys and girls who are currently or headed towards a life of crime and imprisonment and their families. My brother is serving life and the pain at time is overwhelming for us all.
Thank you for sharing you story.

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Simply Excellent!

Honest account. Vulnerable and Shocking. Thank you, Tookie. Happy he turned his life around and taught the youth that prison is not to be glamorized.

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