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meganmcc1234's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
vanessaandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
This book is incredibly informative and helpful for forming a solution to prison alternatives for people getting into the prison abolitionist movement. There were a few things I did not fully agree with but Angela Davis does such a wonderful job of explaining the PIC and making abolition accessible to people who may not be in academia but want to learn more.
ultimatecryptid's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
An important read, argued clearly and concisely. There's a reason Are Prisons Obsolete? is one of the first things recommended to starter abolitionists.
gretatimaite's review against another edition
4.0
I'll be honest, I struggle to imagine a society free of prisons. But I want to, at least I hope that prison industrial system, privatization of prisons and abuse and discrimination of prisoners stop. It's shocking to think that private corporations profit from inmates and even worse that we end up consuming the goods. It's hard to know who exactly is profiting as some have links with contractors that use prison labour. Nevertheless, some examples of companies that used (or maybe still uses? Couldn't find reliable information) are Starbucks and Victoria Secret. Bye to both, glad I've never bought anything from VS.
Davis' book doesn't directly engage with these examples but it's hard not to google after reading about the prison industrial system. Prison's links to slavery, racism, gender, class, and the idea of punishment. About the pervasiveness of capitalism that I doubt leaves anyone untouched. And that tackling only odd bits is not enough:
'One conclusion to be drawn is that even if private prison companies were prohibited - an unlikely prospect, indeed - the prison industrial complex and its many strategies for profit would remain relatively intact.' (99)
So read it if you want to be challenged, if you want to try and imagine a different society in which justice system is a bit fairer. While she won't give you a definite to-do list on how to create a world free of prisons but it gives encouragement to think of it*. Davis notes that if we are to think of prison abolition, we need not focus only on the prison system but also 'all the social relations that support the permanence of the prison.' (112) This is crucial. It's intersectional.
* Davis engages a little bit with the possible alternatives, such as reconciliation and restorative justice, but these are the options. So, I reckon, prison abolition is a process that might develop differently in different contexts.
Davis' book doesn't directly engage with these examples but it's hard not to google after reading about the prison industrial system. Prison's links to slavery, racism, gender, class, and the idea of punishment. About the pervasiveness of capitalism that I doubt leaves anyone untouched. And that tackling only odd bits is not enough:
'One conclusion to be drawn is that even if private prison companies were prohibited - an unlikely prospect, indeed - the prison industrial complex and its many strategies for profit would remain relatively intact.' (99)
So read it if you want to be challenged, if you want to try and imagine a different society in which justice system is a bit fairer. While she won't give you a definite to-do list on how to create a world free of prisons but it gives encouragement to think of it*. Davis notes that if we are to think of prison abolition, we need not focus only on the prison system but also 'all the social relations that support the permanence of the prison.' (112) This is crucial. It's intersectional.
* Davis engages a little bit with the possible alternatives, such as reconciliation and restorative justice, but these are the options. So, I reckon, prison abolition is a process that might develop differently in different contexts.
julianam's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Police brutality