Capturing the voices of his fellow prisoners with perfect pitch, Santos makes the tragic--and at times inspiring--stories of men from the toughest gang leaders to the richest Wall Street criminals come alive.

Michael Santos was arrested on a nonviolent drug charge during the 1980s, when our government was treating drug suppliers like terrorists. Santos had never been in trouble, had no violence or gun charges associated with the drug distrubution. Yet he was given a 45 year sentence to be served in the Federal prison system.

His journey began in a supermax prison, where he was housed with hardcore lifers, gangbangers, rapists, and men who murdered for pleasure. He was in his early 20s when his sentence began. He is now in his mid 40s.

Michael Santos is well-spoken, thoughtful, and intelligent. His story takes us through the prison system, from the supermax where he started to the minimum security prison camp where he is now. He tells us what life in prison is like and he holds nothing back.

We toss these men into a system where they must fight to survive each day. And we call it "corrections". They exist in a prison society that is appalling on so many levels. Then we expect them to emerge from that hell and fit nicely into an entirely different type of society.

As taxpayers, we support this system. Our silence allows the business of prisons (because they are in it for profit) to house men (and women) in a way that ensures their return. We should all know what goes on behind those prison walls that we support. Maybe then we'll be horrified enough to change it. ( )