SOON TO BE A MAJOR BBC DRAMA, 'WAITING FOR THE OUT'
An Irish Times and The i Book of the Year
'Tense and intimate . . . an education' - Geoff Dyer
'Authentic, fascinating and deeply moving' - Terry Waite
Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. Every time he steps behind bars, he also confronts his inherited shame: his father, uncle and brother all spent time inside. While Andy has built a different life for himself, he still fears that their fate will also be his.
Every day he has conversations with prisoners about their lives, discusses their ideas and feelings, and listens as they explore new ways to think about their situation. Together they tackle the big questions: Can someone in prison be more free than someone outside? Would we ever be good if we never felt shame? What makes a person worthy of forgiveness? As he discusses pressing questions of truth, identity and hope with his students, Andy searches for his own form of freedom too.
Now a six-part BBC drama, 'Waiting for the Out', The Life Inside is an elegantly written and unforgettable memoir. Through exquisite storytelling and gentle philosophical questioning, it offers a new insight into our stretched justice system, our failing prisons and the complex lives being lived inside.
'Inspiring' - The Observer
'Enriching, sobering and at times heartrending' - Lenny Henry
'A remarkable insight into prison life' - Amanda Brown
'Expands both heart and mind' - Ciaran Thapar
'A fascinating and enlightening journey . . . A legitimate page-turner' - 3:AM Magazine
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Andy West
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'An authentic, fascinating and deeply moving story about the different ways people search for freedom.' TERRY WAITE
'Andy West's tense and intimate book is an education - a completely unsentimental and, for that reason, a compassionate and moving one.' GEOFF DYER
Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. He has conversations with people inside about their lives, discusses their ideas and feelings and listens as the men and women he works with explore new ways to think about their situation. Could we ever be good if we never felt shame? What makes a person worthy of forgiveness? Could someone in prison ever be more free than someone outside? These questions about how to live are ones we all need to ask, but in this setting they are even more urgent.
When Andy steps into jail, he also confronts his inherited guilt: his father, uncle and brother all spent time in prison. He has built a different life for himself, but he still fears that their fate will be his. As he discusses questions of truth, identity and hope with his students, he searches for his own form of freedom.
Moving, sympathetic, wise and frequently funny, The Life Inside is an elegantly written and unforgettable book. Through its blend of memoir, storytelling and gentle philosophical questioning, readers will gain a new insight into our justice system, our prisons and the plurality of lives found inside.