Reviews for Alcatraz Island: Memoirs of a Rock Doc

The average rating for Alcatraz Island: Memoirs of a Rock Doc based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-12-30 00:00:00 Michael Chu The most interesting Alcatraz book I've read so far. The book does suffer from lack of editing - it jumps around, repeats itself in places and there are some spelling mistakes. The son explains he was passed the manuscript by his father and ended up self-publishing. However, it provides a lot more insight into the general population and living conditions than books written by previous inmates who naturally focus more on their own struggle and thoughts of escape. I like that it has a chapter on many of the most notable prisoners during the era of the doctor as it provides a lot more insight into specific people and how mental health conditions were treated at the time. It also shows how the Guards watched out for the inmates in order to reduce suicide attempts etc, something which has not really been covered in other books I've read.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-03-31 00:00:00 Magnus Ullen I loved it... but it is not what I expected. Let me explain. My grandfather spent almost his entire career working for the same government agency as the author did in 1937-38, the US Public Health Service. As an MD working in San Francisco, my grandfather was assigned to temporarily stand-in for one of the Doctors working on Alcatraz while they went on vacation. This must have been approximately 1946 or 1947, and I think it was for a period of 2 weeks. I was always fascinated to know that my grandfather "did time on the Rock". Unfortunately, I've never learned much about his experience there other than he did not enjoy it at all. In fact, he requested not to be sent back for further duty on Alcatraz. I was hoping to get a glimpse into the realities my grandfather faced, and I suppose I did, but the author, Dr Beacher, does not provide us with the impact the work environment had on him. What he does share is first-hand observations, and sometimes conversations, with the notable incarcerated inmates of his tenure. People we've all heard of like Scarface Capone, Creepy Karpis, and Machine-Gun Kelly. Equally as interesting were the personal stories of convicts like Phil Ryan, Wareagle, Thomas Robinson Jr, and the 'Weyerhaeuser Baby Snatcher', Harmon Waley. The escape attempts cited, the fight described between Capone and Jimmy Lucas in the barbershop, the men who 'blew their top' (went crazy)... I only wish Dr Beacher recalled additional stories. A must for anyone who may tour the facility when next in SF... 4 Stars ★ = Horrid waste of time ★★ = May be enjoyable to some, but not me ★★★ = I am glad I read it ★★★★ = Very enjoyable and something I'd recommend ★★★★★ = A rare find, simply incredible