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The Life Inside
- A Memoir of Prison, Family and Learning to Be Free
- Narrated by: Simon Darwen
- Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
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The Life Inside
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Summary
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 goes behind bars, he also confronts his inherited trauma: his father, uncle and brother all spent time in prison. 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.
Critic reviews
"An authentic, fascinating and deeply moving story about the different ways people search for freedom." (Terry Waite)
"Andy West’s tense and intimate book is an education - a completely unsentimental and, for that reason, a compassionate and moving one." (Geoff Dyer)
"Expands both heart and mind." (Ciaran Thapar)
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What listeners say about The Life Inside
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Freya Light
- 03-01-23
Brilliant and Fascinating Book
An absolutely brilliant and fascinating book, excellently written and I was kept interested the whole way through.
Definitely would recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Edmund Ford
- 10-02-22
Stop wasting your time and GET THIS BOOK!
Excellent writing, reminiscent of Orwell's - that perfect balance of scene setting and story telling that immerses you totally.
As a prison teacher myself, I'm impressed by how well Andy West has managed to depict prison education and the experience of working 'inside'.
This book is as often touching as it is eye opening, and on many occasions I found myself unsure whether I wanted to cry or laugh out loud!
The book explores some of the floors of our justice system from a perspective that is usually hidden from public view. I would argue that one SHOULD read this book so as to become better informed of the actual effect of prisons in Britain.
Read well too, I cannot recommend this enough!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. C. Mcclelland
- 01-05-22
Read it again!
I loved the whole approach & style of story telling & reporting what went on. It was dense with examples from which I can learn a lot so need to dip in and hear it again.
Loved it…. A lot, well done
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jonny
- 15-10-22
wonderful exploration of philosophy in prison
Gentle beautiful honest exploration of philosophical and personal dilemmas of prisoners in prison and in our own prisons.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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- Claire Brown
- 26-09-22
I managed 15 mins
I made the mistake of trying to get ‘along’ with the narrators voice. But I couldn’t. I personally found his voice, tone and clipped intonation, abrasive and hard. I was so looking forward to this as the subject of the book was very interesting. But try as I might I felt there was over enunciation which I found distracting.
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