Written by an inmate serving 45 years for a drug conviction when he was 23, this is an in-depth view living behind bars from the perspective of prisoners themselves. Sections of the book are based on length of imprisonment. Prisoners in Fort Dix, N.J., detail their unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings about life on the inside. Some describe the actions that lead to their confinement, or detail the complexities of living in all-male communities. Others reveal the ways they cope with their terms, or the expectations they have for life after prison.

Santos offers the...