kennedy_couch's review
5.0
Short and succinct but powerful read! I wish the chapter on abolitionist alternatives was longer - the majority of the book is spent building the case for why prison abolition is necessary (I think effectively).
doc_erinnicole's review
4.0
This gives an excellent overview of the prisons and the rise of the prison industrial complex. I like Davis' writing style and her ability to make it plain. (Also, I just realized this is my first Davis full length book-- can't believe it took me so long to get here). The only drawback was that I didn't get a full sense of what abolition looks like. It's clear it would involve many, many changes to many, many systems (including housing, education, immigration policy, mental health care, etc. etc.) and given the state of our governmental legislature right now, I just can't see us getting to a place of abolition, so I leave this book feeling even more hopeless than going into it....which I don't think was Davis' intention.
sarajesus95's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
jolibon4e's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
kesnit's review
fast-paced
4.0
A very interesting look at the history of prisons and what changes should be made in the future. How her ideas would work in practice is open for discussion, but she makes a good case for her ideas. Worth a read.