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marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
This is a straightforward examination on prison culture in America. Overall, thought provoking.
mc1945's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
The author's perspective as a former public defender makes for a very interesting read.
ekarcha's review against another edition
5.0
I never thought a book about racial history and policy would make me cry and still give me hope for the future. But it did, and I cannot recommend it enough as an outstanding and extremely important look at America’s criminal justice system. Both a skilled writer and a truly kindhearted and passionate public defense lawyer, James Forman is exactly the kind of person we need more of in law, order, and policy right now.
alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
It's one thing to "know" that systematic racism is a problem in our country and judicial system. It's another thing entirely to learn the numbers and multiple sides of the history that helped put this system into place.
rorymassey's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly unpolitical book for such a seemingly politically charged topic. This book takes a realistic and honest look at problems particularly in the intercity. I come from a very small town and have only visited these big cities so this book really brought home the struggles that these cities have with racism and crime. The only problem that I have with this book is that it talks almost exclusively about Washington D. C. I really don't know how the author could have included other cities seeing that his experience was with Washington D. C. but it did seem that he kind of painted with a broad brush based on his experiences with D. C. The observations were spot on though and the author presented (how I see it) a bipartisan view on a serious problem.