American Prison

by Shane Bauer
American Prison cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Investigative Journalism
Technical
  • ID: 3870
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9780735223592
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2018-09-18
  • Reviews: 3

Shane Bauer, an investigative journalist, went undercover as a prison guard at a private prison in Louisiana, exposing the harsh realities of the for-profit prison system. His experience, combined with historical research, reveals how private prisons perpetuate inequality and injustice, tracing their origins to the post-Civil War era. Bauer's account not only highlights the cruelty and dysfunction within the system but also explores how working in such an environment affects the guards themselves, leading to a cycle of cruelty and neglect.

Reviews
NACDL · Susan Elizabeth Reese · 2021-05-01
critical 4.50

The book provides a deep reckoning with the author's prison guard experience and a historical context of for-profit prisons in America. It offers a critical look at the private prison industry.

Susan Elizabeth Reese delves into Shane Bauer's undercover journey into the private prison system. She highlights how Bauer weaves his personal experiences with a broader historical analysis, providing a comprehensive critique of the industry. Reese appreciates the depth of research and the author's courage in exposing the harsh realities of private prisons. The book is seen as a necessary read for understanding the systemic issues within the American prison system.

Quick quotes

    Bauer weaves together a much deeper reckoning with his prison guard experience with a deep history of for-profit prisons in America.

    This book is a necessary human document about the private prison system in America.

    The epilogue, in which Bauer reflects on his experience, is particularly poignant.

PBS · 2020-02-10
nuanced 4.20

The book is a deep dive into the private prison industry, drawing from historical documents dating back to the 19th century. It embraces the contradictions within the system and the people involved.

PBS highlights Shane Bauer's deep dive into the private prison industry in 'American Prison'. The reviewer notes that Bauer draws from historical documents dating back to the 19th century, providing a rich context for understanding the current state of the industry. The book is seen as embracing the contradictions within the system and the people involved, offering a nuanced perspective on the complex issues surrounding private prisons. The reviewer appreciates the thorough research and the author's ability to present a balanced view.

Quick quotes

    For 'American Prison,' a deep dive into the private prison industry, Shane Bauer drew from historical documents dating back to the 19th century.

    The book embraces the contradictions within the system and the people involved.

    Bauer's thorough research provides a rich context for understanding the current state of the industry.

The Christian Science Monitor · 2018-11-10
disturbing 4.00

The book offers a disturbing insider's view of a private prison, highlighting the inhumanity and cruelty within the system. It is a powerful indictment of the private prison industry.

The Christian Science Monitor presents 'American Prison' as a highly disturbing insider's view of a private prison. The reviewer emphasizes the shocking examples of inhumanity and cruelty that Bauer encountered during his undercover work. The book is seen as a powerful indictment of the private prison industry, shedding light on the systemic issues and the powerful forces that drive it. The reviewer appreciates the depth of Bauer's investigation and the impact it has on understanding the broader context of the prison system.

Quick quotes

    'American Prison' presents a highly disturbing insider's view of a private prison.

    Nearly every page of this tale contains examples of shocking inhumanity.

    Bauer's investigation is a powerful indictment of the private prison industry.

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