The Life Inside

Tense and intimate… an education' Geoff Dyer 'Written with sensitivity and humanity... a remarkable insight into prison life' Amanda Brown 'Authentic fascinating and deeply moving' Terry Waite __________ Can someone in prison be more free than someone outside? Would we ever be good if we never felt shame? What makes a person worthy of forgiveness? Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. Every day he has conversations with people inside about their lives discusses their ideas and feelings and listens as they explore new ways to think about their situation. When Andy steps into prison he also confronts his inherited shame: his father uncle and brother all spent time behind bars. While Andy has built a different life for himself he still fears that their fate will also be his. As he discusses pressing questions of truth identity and hope with his students he searches for his own form of freedom too. Moving sympathetic wise and frequently funny The Life Inside is an elegantly written and unforgettable book. Through a blend of memoir storytelling and gentle philosophical questioning it offers a new insight into our stretched justice system our failing prisons and the complex lives being lived inside. __________ 'Strives with humour and compassion to understand the phenomenon of prison' Sydney Review of Books 'Expands both heart and mind' Ciaran Thapar 'A fascinating and enlightening journey... A legitimate page-turner' 3AM