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Mr. Smith Goes to Prison
- What My Year Behind Bars Taught Me About America's Prison Crisis
- Narrated by: Jeff Smith
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
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Publisher's summary
The fall from politico to prisoner isn't necessarily long. But the landing, as Missouri state senator Jeff Smith learned, is a hard one.
In 2009 Smith pleaded guilty to a seemingly minor charge of campaign malfeasance and earned himself a year and one day in Kentucky's FCI Manchester. Mr. Smith Goes to Prison is the fish-out-of-water story of his time in the big house, of the people he met there and the things he learned: how to escape the attentions of fellow inmate Cornbread and his friends in the Aryan Brotherhood; what constitutes a prison car and who's allowed to ride in yours; how to bend and break the rules, whether you're a prisoner or an officer. And throughout his sentence, the young senator tracked the greatest crime of all: the deliberate waste of untapped human potential. Smith saw the power of millions of inmates harnessed as a source of renewable energy for America's prison-industrial complex, a system that aims to build better criminals instead of better citizens.
In Mr. Smith Goes to Prison, he traces the cracks in America's prison walls, exposing the shortcomings of a racially based cycle of poverty and crime that sets inmates up to fail. Speaking from inside experience, he offers practical solutions to jailbreak the nation from the financially crushing grip of its own prisons and to jump-start the rehabilitation of the millions living behind bars.
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On January 5, 1971, Sonny Liston was found dead in his home - of an apparent heroin overdose. But no one close to Liston believed that his death was accidental. Digging deep into a life that Liston tried hard to hide, Shaun Assael treats the boxer's death as a cold case. The result is a riveting whodunit that evokes a glorious and grimy era of Las Vegas.
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Great read
- By Diane Dodge on 09-14-19
By: Shaun Assael
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Making Jack Falcone
- An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family
- By: Joaquin "Jack" Garcia, Michael Levin
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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At six-foot-four-inches and 375 pounds, Jack Garcia looked the part of a mobster, and he played his part so perfectly that his Mafia bosses never suspected he was an undercover agent for the FBI. "Big Jack Falcone," as he was known inside La Cosa Nostra, learned all the inside dirt about the Gambino organized crime syndicate and its illegal activities---from extortion and loan-sharking to assault and murder.
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interesting story--offensive narration
- By Mark on 03-17-12
By: Joaquin "Jack" Garcia, and others
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The 57 Bus
- A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
- By: Dashka Slater
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But, one afternoon, on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned.
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An Unusual True-Crime Event...Beautifully Written.
- By Mary Burnight on 02-21-18
By: Dashka Slater
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The Upside of Fear
- How One Man Broke the Cycle of Prison, Poverty, and Addiction
- By: Weldon Long
- Narrated by: Weldon Long
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Weldon Long knows firsthand that Maui is nicer than prison. After 13 years of federal and state incarceration, he emerged a transformed man: a powerful speaker, driven motivator, and successful trainer/entrepreneur. Long holds a BS in law and an MBA in management, despite dropping out of high school in the ninth grade.
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What’s the point?
- By Elliot king on 10-21-21
By: Weldon Long
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What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker
- A Memoir in Essays
- By: Damon Young
- Narrated by: Damon Young
- Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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For Damon Young, existing while Black is an extreme sport. The act of possessing Black skin while searching for space to breathe in America is enough to induce a ceaseless state of angst where questions such as “How should I react here, as a professional black person?” and “Will this white person’s potato salad kill me?” are forever relevant. What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker chronicles Young’s efforts to survive while battling and making sense of the various neuroses his country has given him.
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Reviewed by a B![c# @$$ White Boy
- By netusera on 04-13-19
By: Damon Young
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The Pact
- Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream
- By: Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt
- Narrated by: Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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All too often, we hear about the dangers of male friendships in which peer pressure prevails over common sense. But for George Jenkins, Sampson Davis, and Rameck Hunt, strong and supportive male friendship was a powerful antidote to the temptations and pitfalls of street life. It led three boys to make a vow to be there for one another, to encourage one another every step of the way, until they overcame the odds and became doctors.
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Very Inspirational
- By Heather on 04-10-09
By: Drs. Sampson Davis, and others
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The Mayor of Castro Street
- The Life and Times of Harvey Milk
- By: Randy Shilts
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 16 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Known as The Mayor of Castro Street even before he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Harvey Milk's personal life, public career, and final assassination reflect the dramatic emergence of the gay community as a political power in America. It is a story full of personal tragedies and political intrigues, assassinations at City Hall, massive riots in the streets, the miscarriage of justice, and the consolidation of gay power and gay hope.
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Excellent historical perspective of an activist.
- By Chris on 04-14-15
By: Randy Shilts
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It Happened on the Way to War
- A Marine's Path to Peace
- By: Rye Barcott
- Narrated by: Rye Barcott
- Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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In 2000 Rye Barcott spent part of his summer living in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. He was a college student heading into the Marines, and he sought to better understand ethnic violence - something he would likely face later in uniform. He learned Swahili, asked questions, and listened to young people talk about how they survived in poverty he had never imagined.
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Not What You Think It Is
- By Hailey on 10-01-12
By: Rye Barcott
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Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given
- By: Duane 'Dog' Chapman
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Considered by many to be the world's greatest bounty hunter, Duane "Dog" Chapman has become famous for capturing fugitives on Dog the Bounty Hunter, his number-one-rated show on A&E. But his job doesn't end when he cuffs his man - or woman. Having personally struggled against abuse, addiction, and a life of crime, Dog knows a thing or two about the path that these fugitives cuffed in the back of his car are on.
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Slow narration - I wish the author narrated more
- By HappyQuails on 02-22-11
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Operation Family Secrets
- How a Mobster's Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago's Murderous Crime Family
- By: Frank Calabrese Jr., Keith Zimmerman, Kent Zimmerman, and others
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The Calabrese family of Chicago is a close-knit, middle-class, multi-generational Italian-Irish-American clan. They operate family businesses. They work day and night striving for the American Dream. All three sons forge a bond with their controlling father, Frank Sr., and their soft-spoken favorite uncle, Nick. As a boy, the oldest son, Frank Jr., realizes that his father and uncle are also "made" members of another close-knit family: the outfit.
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Riveting Listen!
- By ahippieadventure on 02-06-13
By: Frank Calabrese Jr., and others
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Playing Through the Whistle
- Steel, Football, and an American Town
- By: S. L. Price
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Aliquippa, Pennsylvania is famous for two things: the Jones and Laughlin Steel mill, an industrial behemoth that helped win World War II; and football, with a high school team that has produced numerous NFL stars, including Mike Ditka and Darrelle Revis. But the mill, once the fourth largest producer in America, closed for good in 2000. What happens to a town when a dream dies? Does it just disappear?
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This is not a football book
- By radchick on 04-19-17
By: S. L. Price
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The System
- The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football
- By: Jeff Benedict, Armen Keteyian
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 17 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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College football has never been more popular - or more chaotic. Millions fill 100,000-seat stadiums every Saturday; tens of millions more watch on television every weekend. The 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama had a viewership of 26.4 million people, second only to the Super Bowl. Billions of dollars from television deals now flow into the game; the average budget for a top-ten team is $80 million; top coaches make more than $3 million a year; the highest paid, more than $5 million.
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Gripping Inside Look at an Industry to Itself
- By W Perry Hall on 01-23-14
By: Jeff Benedict, and others
What listeners say about Mr. Smith Goes to Prison
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Leslie Zeline
- 03-07-24
Hit home
I was suggested this book, due to starting an art program for state inmates. My biological brother has a life sentence in high max state prison and he has chosen God over violence. He is my drive to help (amongst other reasons and my family).
Your book got me to think cry and appreciate my brother that much more. I am hoping to one day meet you and if possible work with you.
Please keep up the great work. I am hoping for a part two. Please reach out to those that had your back, they need it more than u know.
Much respect.
-LeslieZRamirez- HOUSE OF RAMIREZ
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- Will
- 06-12-17
very good
This book includes great personal stories and insight. As a political science instructor, I believe this is an important addition to the discussion on the corrections system and reform.
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- Debra
- 11-11-15
A Book for Everyone
What made the experience of listening to Mr. Smith Goes to Prison the most enjoyable?
The story needs to be told ,, every law enforcement person should have to spend some time behind bars !
What was one of the most memorable moments of Mr. Smith Goes to Prison?
I loved that his Mom is now a mentor to a prisoner and that he kept in touch with Warehouse friends as best he could ..
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Any additional comments?
This is a story of one man's courage, spirit and growth ,. in a strange but not unusual setting .. His whole life prepared him for the challanges he had to face and conquer to truely become the Best man he could be ... Which is someone who can make a difference for good in the lives of others especially the disenfranchised.
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- SLSStlMO
- 08-17-19
Easy listen; too much basketball
Being from STL, I was interested to listen to this book. I like that it was read by the author. Not much new re: prison reform and too much detail regarding his basketball talents (somewhat relevant to the story but unnecessary bragging/compensating at some point) but I am glad to know his story and enjoyed it for the most part.
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- Cross Driven Radio
- 05-02-16
Very good book, very insightful
Great book, Senator, thanks for keeping it 100. I recently did a Kairos weekend and have been interested about the life of a resident after I left. This book was very honest, and interesting and had some practical observations on how to improve the system. Lots of people forget about these people, but Mr. Smith does a great job in showing that in alot of ways they are regular people that made mistakes in life, and that we all are 1bad choice away from being there ourselves.. I do wonder though if he ate the Meat rock...
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- WatermarkSD
- 07-17-17
Incredibly enlightening
Amazing story, perfectly read, that changed my perspective of many things, most notably those exiting and trying to rejoin society. Absolutely loved it.
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- Elgy
- 05-06-24
Prison reform now! ( Adult language )
A worthy read providing insight into the destructive, money-wasting travesty of US prison system. His basketball skills definitely saved him!
While I don’t agree w Smith’s Liberal Politics and I definitely do NOT agree that prisoners should have the right to vote 😣! I do agree we are wasting so much human potential & making many worse criminals than when they went in. Break the cycle, guide the individual to a new path, reunite families, reduce recidivism, use halfway houses during parole, even remove gang tattoos, while saving so much $$$. Many prisoners can barely speak clearly, read or write. Education, life skills, reform & mentoring should be prison system goals balanced with the need to get truly dangerous criminals off the streets. Warning: can’t listen to this with the kids, the prison language is authentic, rough & R++
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- Abby Mamacos
- 12-17-20
Had went nowhere? Chapter 2.
Middle of chapter two.
How can I listen to a book with poor grammar?
Everything after that sentence is ruined to me.
.........had went nowhere.....
It’s shocking that this man ran for office and was working on a PhD.
Oh, and was teaching!
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