American Prison by Shane Bauer explores the private prison industry via Bauer's undercover experience as a corrections officer at Louisiana’s Winn prison, detailing profit-driven neglect and understaffing, and paralleling this with a historical examination of American convict labor's exploitative roots.

American Prison by Shane Bauer is praised for its gripping and investigative journalism, offering a deep dive into the for-profit prison industry. Readers appreciate its compelling narrative and eye-opening insights. However, some critiques mention its intense and disturbing content, questioning its potential bias due to the author's activist background. Overall, it is a powerful exposé.

Readers who appreciated The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander or The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton will likely be captivated by American Prison. This book appeals to those interested in investigative journalism, social justice, and the complexities of the American penal system.

Informative / Dark / Unnerving / Challenging / Gritty

- Shane Bauer, an investigative journalist, worked undercover as a prison guard in a Louisiana private prison for four months to write American Prison.
- The book was a finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2018.
- Bauer's investigation in American Prison draws from both his personal experiences and the extensive history of for-profit prisons in the United States.

**Shane Bauer**  
An investigative journalist known for immersing himself in his subject matter, who worked undercover in a private prison to report on its conditions and dynamics.

**Terrell Don Hutto**  
A cofounder of CCA, depicted as both a warm grandfather figure and a businessman deeply focused on the profits of incarceration.

**Dave Bacle**  
An experienced prison staff member with mixed approaches to inmate interactions, often bending the rules for safety while criticizing the prison company.

**Corner Store**  
A 37-year-old inmate with extensive prison experience and a reputation for helping younger inmates navigate the system.

**Damien Coestly**  
An inmate with a disturbing backstory whose mental health struggles and suicide highlight systemic neglect in prison care.

**Derik Johnson**  
An inmate known for his calm demeanor and insight, who possesses a dual nature that exemplifies the complexities of prison life.

**Kenny**  
A long-time officer at Winn who champions the business aspect of the prison, viewed by some inmates as rigid and condescending.

Shane Bauer

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Introduction-Chapter 3

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Chapters 4-6

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Chapters 7-10

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Chapters 11-13

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Chapters 14-17

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Chapters 18-21

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Chapter 22-Epilogue

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American Prison: A Reporter’s Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment

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