As has been indicated, the first two PrisonEd books are Voices From Prison: The Making of Ascenders and Freedom Behind Bars.  

 

When PrisonEd students have completed the books and sent in the requested book responses, students are encouraged to follow the same procedure with any of the following books.

                  

We encourage prison and jail libraries to obtain the books below. 

 

PRISON MENTORS & ROLE MODELS: RECOMMENDED PRIORITY FOLLOW-UP

 

Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela.  27 years in prison, used time as a “university” to prepare to be president of South Africa upon his release with the arduous task of uniting a deeply divided nation. And the follow-up: Playing the Enemy, John Carlin.

                  

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  Story of Louis Zamperini’s WWII horrific experience as prisoner of war in a Japanese prison camp.  A story of his deterioration, personal victories, and finding the capacity to forgive. 

                  

In Search of Identity, An Autobiography by Anwar Sadat.  Discovering his identity in Cell 54 of an Egyptian jail, his term as Egyptian president.

                  

The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas K. Gandhi.  From being a painfully shy young man to leading India to independence using his only weapon of non-violence.

                  

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl.  Frankl’s penetrating story of survival and the lessons learned in a Nazi concentration camp. 

 

 

BASIC SKILLS

                  

READING. Speed Reading: Learn to read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour.

                  

WRITING. My Life Story: My Memories of the Past, Present, and Thoughts for the Future, by Creative Keepsakes.    

                  

MATH. All the Math You’ll Ever Need: A Self-Teaching Guide, 2022, by Carolyn C Wheater and Steve Slavin.  

                  

VOCABULARY. The Vocabulary Builder Workbook by Chris Lele, Magoosh

 

 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

                  

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. A blockbuster best-seller.
                 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Cognitive Behavior Therapy – Retrain Your Brain. Seth J. Gillihan, PhD.  Strategies for managing anxiety, depression, anger, panic, and worry.

                  

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING: – Pocket Workouts – 100 no-equipment workouts: Train anytime, anywhere without a gym or special equipment by N. Rey.  Get fit, build muscle tone, shed extra weight.  A program you can do wherever you are.

                  

REENTRY: Beyond Bars: Rejoining Society After Prison by Jeffrey Ian Ross. Preparing for release, dealing with family members, finding a job, money issues, avoiding drugs, free resources available

                  

DRUG MANAGEMENT: Rewired: A Bold New Approach to Addiction & Recovery by Erica Spiegelman.  An approach to addiction recovery that addresses the whole self – mind, body, spirit.

                  

ANGER MANAGEMENT: The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young.  Mack's daughter was brutally murdered.  His life was consumed with rage, he received an invitation to meet with God.  The release of anger and moving on.

                  

EFFECTIVE LIVING, The Art of Happiness, Dalai Lama.

                  

SPIRITUALITY: Beside Still Waters, 52 Reflections of the Divine Within by Don Wright.  Old and New Testaments inspirational messages.  Omni-denominational. 

                  

PERSONAL FINANCE: Personal Finance Simplified and The Richest Man in Babylon.

                  

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE, Clayton Christensen, James Allworth, Karen Dillon. Evaluating a life worth living.

                  

THE POWER OF NOW, Eckhart Tolle, maximize the present moment.

                  

ENTREPRENEURSHIP:  So You Want to Start a Business by Edward Hess & Charles Goetz.

 

SOCIETAL & FAMILY SKILLS

                  

PERSONAL RELATIONS: Healthy and productive relationships.  How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  

                  

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. A personal step upward.

                  

COMMUNICATIONS: Gain skills in listening, conflict resolution, family unity, and communicating in public.  The textbook is Messages, the Communication Skills Book.

                  

PERSONAL FINANCE:  The course covers key principles of financial success, budgeting, and an investment mindset.  Textbooks: Personal Finance Simplified, & The Richest Man in Babylon.

                  

HEALTHY MARRIAGE: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, Gary Chapman. Discover your love language & that of your loved one.  Show & receive love for deeper & richer levels of intimacy.

                  

HEALTHY PARENTING: The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively, by Gary Chapman.  Discover your child's love language, being sure they know they are loved, effective discipline.  

                  

MINDFULNESS: Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment and Your Life,by Jon Kabat-Zinn.