Maximum Insecurity: A Doctor in the Supermax
Author:
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Book Type: Paperback
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I entered into a giveaway for it (I received a free copy of the book through Goodreads First Reads) because I was asking the obvious question, "Who would give up a private practice to go work with criminals, and WHY?" This particular question was answered in the first few chapters, Dr. Wright was basically bored/burned out with what he was doing before he decided to go treat maximum security prisoners. I guess it seemed like a fun adventure.
The first few chapters were a little slow. His description of the prison was a little hard to follow. It was very detailed, but because of my total lack of history in a prison system, I still don't really know what the prison looked like or the layout other than that Dr. Wright's office was in a basement so he had no windows.
I actually laughed many times while reading this book - which is very rare for me. I really enjoyed Dr. Wright's dry and sarcastic sense of humor and I kept wondering if some of these interactions with the inmates really happened. Sometimes it seemed like he was talking down to his patients but I am quite sure that all the things he had to put up with (lying, manipulation, and the like) from patients who just wanted drugs to take recreationally (or sell) or who wanted an "escape" from the monotony of a maximum security prison would quickly drive someone to deal with the prisoners in this way.
I learned a lot about criminals in general. I have never taken a criminology class and other than Orange is the New Black, I don't really know anything about the prison system at all. One of the things he mentioned that I thought was interesting was that the inmates were all generally very friendly UNTIL you said "no" to them or denied a request. Then they showed their true colors. He said that a "frightening percentage" of these inmates were "charismatic" even.
A good deal of this book was a complaint against bureaucracy in general. This didn't really bother me. In fact, because of his little sarcastic comments throughout his explanations of his dealings with red tape, ridiculous rules, and clueless administration it was enjoyable.
Overall, a really informative and humorous book!
The first few chapters were a little slow. His description of the prison was a little hard to follow. It was very detailed, but because of my total lack of history in a prison system, I still don't really know what the prison looked like or the layout other than that Dr. Wright's office was in a basement so he had no windows.
I actually laughed many times while reading this book - which is very rare for me. I really enjoyed Dr. Wright's dry and sarcastic sense of humor and I kept wondering if some of these interactions with the inmates really happened. Sometimes it seemed like he was talking down to his patients but I am quite sure that all the things he had to put up with (lying, manipulation, and the like) from patients who just wanted drugs to take recreationally (or sell) or who wanted an "escape" from the monotony of a maximum security prison would quickly drive someone to deal with the prisoners in this way.
I learned a lot about criminals in general. I have never taken a criminology class and other than Orange is the New Black, I don't really know anything about the prison system at all. One of the things he mentioned that I thought was interesting was that the inmates were all generally very friendly UNTIL you said "no" to them or denied a request. Then they showed their true colors. He said that a "frightening percentage" of these inmates were "charismatic" even.
A good deal of this book was a complaint against bureaucracy in general. This didn't really bother me. In fact, because of his little sarcastic comments throughout his explanations of his dealings with red tape, ridiculous rules, and clueless administration it was enjoyable.
Overall, a really informative and humorous book!
