Reviews for Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison

The average rating for Total Confinement: Madness and Reason in the Maximum Security Prison based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-01-11 00:00:00 Debbie Maxedon Rhodes does a good job of avoiding the typical foucaultian categories in which marginalized groups (especially those in prisons) are so often constructed in our minds. She also treads very cleverly and coherently between the observation and criticism of the ways in which super max prisons "work." I find it funny that a lot of people have rated this book poorly, but have offered no review. I spoke to Lorna about this work a few weeks ago (I have the distinct pleasure of studying at UWash, where she teaches), and she told me that when she shared this book with the prison administrators about whom it was written, they immediately tied the stories she tells back to the conflicts that exist in their daily duties, rather than removing themselves a step away from their ontological ruts to re-examine the inconsistencies in it. In other words, they didn't get it. This book is written for and, I believe, approachable for the lay reader. If you get it, I don't see how you can dislike the work she has done here.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-09-12 00:00:00 Myzelle Tisdale I didn't enjoy this book. I feel strange rating it a two, because it's hard to say why--Lorna Rhodes is well-educated and organized and she clearly put an immense amount of time into this book. To me, the book read like a 200 + page essay. She made a strong thesis in the beginning, she outlined what she was about to discuss (in detail), and then she moved into her "paper". I liked reading the comments from prison workers and inmates, though the theme of "this place makes you crazy," and "the prisoners can't be trusted" was a bit repetitive. It seemed like I fell deeper into the sad, somewhat secret reality of prison life, but I felt like I was being hit with the same information. Rhodes also likes to analyze what she hears from staff/prisoners, and I would have rather just read about what happens there and made my own conclusions. Her lean was too direct for enjoyable reading, especially in the beginning--again, like an essay. I did like the last chapter on prison reform and reading the thoughts of the new administrator, Larson. I think his ability to listen to the inmates and have hope for them is beautiful. I don't consider myself naive about it, though some would disagree, but I do believe in giving people a chance. Larson was so interesting and thoughtful. Other than that, I was really glad to find that the last large section of the book was the bibliography/notes section. I appreciate Rhodes for her research and time.