SKU: 3984145651

American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey Into the Business of Punishment

Sale price$14.53 Regular price$16.15
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4.04 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 30 - Aug 4

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

American Prison: A Reporter's Undercover Journey Into the Business of PunishmentAn enraging, necessary look at the private prison system, and a convincing clarion call for prison reform." NPR. org New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of 2018 * One of President Barack Obama's favorite books of 2018 * Winner of the 2019 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize * Winner of the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism * Winner of the 2019 RFK Book and Journalism Award * A New York Times Notable Book A ground breaking and brave

An enraging, necessary look at the private prison system, and a convincing clarion call for prison reform." --NPR.org

New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of 2018 * One of President Barack Obama's favorite books of 2018 * Winner of the 2019 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize * Winner of the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism * Winner of the 2019 RFK Book and Journalism Award * A New York Times Notable Book

A ground-breaking and brave inside reckoning with the nexus of prison and profit in America: in one Louisiana prison and over the course of our country's history.

In 2014, Shane Bauer was hired for $9 an hour to work as an entry-level prison guard at a private prison in Winnfield, Louisiana. An award-winning investigative journalist, he used his real name; there was no meaningful background check. Four months later, his employment came to an abrupt end. But he had seen enough, and in short order he wrote an expos about his experiences that won a National Magazine Award and became the most-read feature in the history of the magazine Mother Jones. Still, there was much more that he needed to say. In American Prison, Bauer weaves a much deeper reckoning with his experiences together with a thoroughly researched history of for-profit prisons in America from their origins in the decades before the Civil War. For, as he soon realized, we can't understand the cruelty of our current system and its place in the larger story of mass incarceration without understanding where it came from. Private prisons became entrenched in the South as part of a systemic effort to keep the African-American labor force in place in the aftermath of slavery, and the echoes of these shameful origins are with us still.

The private prison system is deliberately unaccountable to public scrutiny. Private prisons are not incentivized to tend to the health of their inmates, or to feed them well, or to attract and retain a highly-trained prison staff. Though Bauer befriends some of his colleagues and sympathizes with their plight, the chronic dysfunction of their lives only adds to the prison's sense of chaos. To his horror, Bauer finds himself becoming crueler and more aggressive the longer he works in the prison, and he is far from alone.

A blistering indictment of the private prison system, and the powerful forces that drive it, American Prison is a necessary human document about the true face of justice in America.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 06/11/2019
ISBN: 9780735223608
Pages: 368
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 1.00d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 3984145651

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 7 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
M
Verified Purchase
Maria
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Cute durable dog toy that my puppy loves
Color: Blue, Size: 8 IN
This small light weight dog toy is very durable, super cute, and my dog loves it. My dog tears everything up but he hasn't made a dent in this; very durable and chew resistant. He seems to really like that it makes a lower squeak noise. I threw this in my cart at the last minute before checkout and I am pleasantly surprised with the quality. I would say this toy is worth the price; suitable for small to medium sized dog.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2026
I
Verified Purchase
IntelliCABlonde
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice toy for a bigger dog
Color: Gray, Size: 6 IN
My little rescue chihuahua has exactly one toy he can make squeak. This one is cute and he did try, but no luck. I have two large baskets of toys I've bought in the 3 years I've had him. He is only able to make one squeak. He loves it to death because he loves the squeak. It's a hedgehog that I will try to find on Amazon and replace. Poor little dog just has a very small mouth.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Al
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Semi durable
Color: Gray, Size: 8 IN
My dog has had this for 1 month, and it is still doing good! It has lost 3 out of 4 legs, but thw body is pretty strong. Dog loves the honk noises.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2026
P
Verified Purchase
princeton von d
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Luxurious Feel, Durable Build… but Full Rotation Privileges Have Been Revoked 💙🦴 🐾
Color: Blue, Size: 6 IN, Color: Blue, Size: 6 IN
🐾 Hi, I’m PVD; toy curator, plush critic & occasional chew sommelier. This armadillo arrived beautifully packaged and immediately met my standards for texture, squeak clarity and cuddle factor. I originally gave it 5 stars for quality; and still do! But today I’m updating the review to reflect my current toy lifestyle rotation. 😌 What impressed me from day one: ✔️ High-end plush feel; soft enough to nap on, tough enough for energetic zoom bites and great relief from teething ✔️ Strong stitching; survived multiple “stress tests” (I chewed with intention) ✔️ HQ squeaker; not tinny or annoying, more of a honk ✔️ 6in is perfect size for small breeds; easy to carry during dramatic hallway walks Why it now gets 4 stars from a seasoned toy collector: ✘ As my luxury toy collection expanded, this one gets grabbed less often ✘ Simple design; I now favor more interactive or complex textures ✘ Still “keep-worthy,” just no longer VIP spot on the chaise lounge Best For: • Pups who enjoy soft comfort toys or emotional support snuggles • Light to moderate chewers • Dogs who like to carry their plushes around proudly • Ideal as a teething toy or thoughtful gift 🚫 Not ideal for: power chewers or highly stimulation-driven pups (like me now; my taste evolved) 📝 Final Re-Barks: Still recommend for pups who love cuddly squeaky companions. Great starter plush and great quality; just know that ultra-picky toy enthusiasts may rotate it out once newer models (or squeakier friends) arrive. — PVD (Plush Aficionado, Toy Rotation Director & High-Maintenance Household Icon) 🐶💁🏻‍♂️✨
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2025
S
Verified Purchase
Sarah
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Well Constructed Toy But Short-Life Squeaker
Color: Gray, Size: 8 IN
Super cute and durable toy. Makes a "grunting" noise that my dog loves. However rating a little lower because my dog has only been playing with it (gently) for a couple weeks and the grunting noise is starting to die. But she does really like this toy regardless!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2026

recommand products