Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison
Apr 2010 · Random House
4.3star
1.94K reviewsreport
Ebook
320
Pages
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About this ebook
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.
Praise for Orange Is the New Black
“Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can’t unbind.”—People (four stars)
“I loved this book. It’s a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
“This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter.”—Los Angeles Times
“Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre’s usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you.”—USA Today
“It’s a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one—both for the reader and for Kerman.”—Newsweek
With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.
Praise for Orange Is the New Black
“Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can’t unbind.”—People (four stars)
“I loved this book. It’s a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
“This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter.”—Los Angeles Times
“Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre’s usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you.”—USA Today
“It’s a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one—both for the reader and for Kerman.”—Newsweek
Ratings and reviews
4.3
1.94K reviews
Teresa Preston
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December 30, 2013
I love the Netflix show based on this book. The book had very little in common with the show. Not that I didn't enjoy this book. It's an interesting peek into the federal corrections system and touches a bit on the war on drugs and mandatory minimum sentence guidelines, things a "nice white lady" like Piper would never have had to think about had she not been young and stupid. I think the fact that she constantly reminds the reader of her NWL status is kind of annoying, but at least she acknowledges it.
1 person found this review helpful
Lynsey Thomas
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March 28, 2014
Couldnt put it down. I read this book in two sittings. Much easier to read than one would usually expect from a memoir. It really just makes you feel a huge amount of compassion for the incarcerated non violent so called "criminals" , and reading this will forever change the way I treat people in real life. On another note, I absolutely love the Netflix show, but beyond the main character and a couple of anecdotes, its nothing like this book.
2 people found this review helpful
Jennifer St.jacques
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July 19, 2015
After hearing Piper Kerman speak, I have a thirst for understanding the circumstances surrounding the growing prison institution reflecting this country's diminishing pride. It will be necessary to work together to elevate the quality of our collective existence before we no longer have the freedoms this country was built upon. Prison is not the answer for reform. Reforming education, opportunity and taxation will be.
3 people found this review helpful
About the author
Piper Kerman is vice president of a Washington, D.C.–based communications firm that works with foundations and nonprofits. A graduate of Smith College, she lives in Brooklyn.
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