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Walls, Wire, Bars and Souls
Who are the hardest of the hard-core criminals in the USA? What made them do the things they've done? What's life really like for them behind bars? And who are the people who make sure they stay there?
“Walls, Wire, Bars and Souls” is a first-hand account from a chaplain's perspective of the real word behind the razor wire in America's high-security prisons. It ranges from hideous brutality to mundane boredom and everything in between. In these pages you'll meet everyone from some of the most evil psychopaths in existence, to those whose only crimes were on paper and hurt nobody. They're all dumped into the penitentiary meat-grinder together, with results that are sometimes agonizing, often frustrating, and occasionally very funny.
“Walls, Wire, Bars and Souls” is a first-hand account from a chaplain's perspective of the real word behind the razor wire in America's high-security prisons. It ranges from hideous brutality to mundane boredom and everything in between. In these pages you'll meet everyone from some of the most evil psychopaths in existence, to those whose only crimes were on paper and hurt nobody. They're all dumped into the penitentiary meat-grinder together, with results that are sometimes agonizing, often frustrating, and occasionally very funny.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2013
About the author
Peter Grant
17 books58 followersPeter Grant was born in South Africa in 1958. The state censor board did not allow television until 1973, and his parents didn't get one until 1974. So he grew up with books. Lots of books. He started out after school as a military man, moved into commercial information technology, and assisted with humanitarian work during South Africa's prolonged civil unrest that led to the end of apartheid in 1994.
After having been all over Africa, he emigrated to the USA in 1997, where there were far more English-language books, and more access to the internet. He married a pilot from Alaska and settled in Tennessee.
After having been all over Africa, he emigrated to the USA in 1997, where there were far more English-language books, and more access to the internet. He married a pilot from Alaska and settled in Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 25, 2014
This book presents an thought-provoking view of the American penal system, its failures, and rare successes. Peter Grant was a prison chaplain, and he vividly describes prison life. His observations of prisoners are illuminating and terrifying. Mr. Grant acknowledges that 60% of the prison population will be back in prison within three years and that America's justice system is broken. Mr. Grant presents some suggestions for realistic reform while suggesting as many as 40% of prison inmates may have to be permanently imprisoned because they are career criminals. Excellent book!.
October 2, 2013
This book is an invaluable look at the current state of the modern American prison system from the inside. Grant excels as a storyteller who combines his experiences as a prison chaplain with research to provide an insightful and compelling analysis.
February 22, 2021
I thought this would be more of an autobiography, but it was a summary of Grant’s experiences as a prison chaplain, boiled down to a typical “day in the life”. It starts with Grant arriving at a prison to do his day’s duties, and ends with him leaving the prison at the end of the “day” to visit a terminally ill convict in a nearby prison hospital. Interspersed with these are confessions or transcriptions of interviews with composite prisoners.
I fast forwarded through pages of this; something I’ve never yet done to any Peter Grant book! I enjoyed the chapter where Grant makes a bold suggestion to one convict to help another. This was something that might have appeared in one of Grant’s own novels (and I thought I detected echoes of it in some of those novels of his I’ve read).
Not a boring book, just not quite what I was expecting. Also, not for the squeamish. Grant also gives his honest critique of the prison system in the USA, which includes the suggestion to make use of military training.
I recommend it to anyone interested I the actual workings of the penal system in the USA.
I fast forwarded through pages of this; something I’ve never yet done to any Peter Grant book! I enjoyed the chapter where Grant makes a bold suggestion to one convict to help another. This was something that might have appeared in one of Grant’s own novels (and I thought I detected echoes of it in some of those novels of his I’ve read).
Not a boring book, just not quite what I was expecting. Also, not for the squeamish. Grant also gives his honest critique of the prison system in the USA, which includes the suggestion to make use of military training.
I recommend it to anyone interested I the actual workings of the penal system in the USA.
January 12, 2019
Amazing and Shocking
Wow - Peter Grant has done a true service by writing this book. It should be required reading for all politicians. The statistics are shocking, 2/3rds of prisoners after release will be re-incarcerated. Incarceration has increased more than 300% in 20 years.
This book is very clear and realistic about the amorality of most prisoners. They have a cultural outlook that is amoral and might makes right. And that culture leads them right back to prison. It takes a lot in California to get a person in prison in 2019, but culture will prevail. It’s a shame very little is being done in prison to address the culture issue, where change would be so helpful. Peter Grant has proposed some excellent ideas on addressing the root causes.
The book helped me in understanding more of the criminal culture. The book was eye opening and very helpful. My goal in reading, was to get a clue, as I dealt with helping protect my elderly parents from some criminals (2 of 3 of them went to prison, thankfully).
Wow - Peter Grant has done a true service by writing this book. It should be required reading for all politicians. The statistics are shocking, 2/3rds of prisoners after release will be re-incarcerated. Incarceration has increased more than 300% in 20 years.
This book is very clear and realistic about the amorality of most prisoners. They have a cultural outlook that is amoral and might makes right. And that culture leads them right back to prison. It takes a lot in California to get a person in prison in 2019, but culture will prevail. It’s a shame very little is being done in prison to address the culture issue, where change would be so helpful. Peter Grant has proposed some excellent ideas on addressing the root causes.
The book helped me in understanding more of the criminal culture. The book was eye opening and very helpful. My goal in reading, was to get a clue, as I dealt with helping protect my elderly parents from some criminals (2 of 3 of them went to prison, thankfully).
January 6, 2023
Truth unvarnished.
September 2, 2015
This book provides an interesting view into the current US prison system. There are many chaplain-specific stories and activities, but there are also several stories that could just as well have come from a guard, administrator, or doctor working in a federal prison.
In addition to the description of how modern prisons are run, Grant provides his views on how people learn to be criminals, why work opportunities are less effective than expected, what the system does well, and how to reform the criminal justice systems and the corrections systems in this country.
In addition to the description of how modern prisons are run, Grant provides his views on how people learn to be criminals, why work opportunities are less effective than expected, what the system does well, and how to reform the criminal justice systems and the corrections systems in this country.
August 25, 2014
Even though a chaplain wrote this book, it was not overly religious. I appreciate the fact that he told the truth. It is a sad fact in prison you can be bought and sold like a prostitute for a candy bar or protection.
September 20, 2016
A very clear, and for many, eyeopening look at the US prison system. Grant is an informed critic, having served as a prison chaplain for many years, and provides thoughtful reforms for prisons as well as the legislative and judicial systems that 'guide' them.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews