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監獄中的哲學課：探索自由、羞愧與救贖的生命對話
英國監獄中的哲學反思，
一幕幕動人的生命對話！
潘朵拉打開罈子，跑出七隻邪惡，
分別是仇恨、羞恥、貪婪、無聊、懶惰、幻想、痛苦……還有希望。
猜猜，獄友們最想將哪個東西收回盒子裡，是希望還是**呢？
作者安迪從2015年起在監獄裡教授哲學課，一期課程為期十週。他每天都和獄友談論他們的生活，討論他們的思想和感受，並傾聽他們探索新思維的方式。
當安迪走進監獄時，他也面對著自己繼承的創傷：他的父親、叔叔和哥哥都曾入獄。雖然安迪活出不同的生活方式（壞竹出好筍），但他仍然懼怕家族男性的命運也會降臨在自己身上。在與學生討論真理、身分和希望等人生命題的同時，他也在尋找自己的自由形式。
這是一本獨特的回憶錄，一本結合哲學思維與個人經歷，呈現作者在監獄中教授哲學課的日常。不僅關乎監獄生活與教育，更將哲學的智慧與現實生活交織起來，引領讀者思考何謂自由、道德和救贖，也使讀者能從另一個角度去理解那些被社會遺忘的聲音。
適合哲學愛好者，更適合任何想要探索人性、理解悔悟與救贖的人。
一幕幕動人的生命對話！
潘朵拉打開罈子，跑出七隻邪惡，
分別是仇恨、羞恥、貪婪、無聊、懶惰、幻想、痛苦……還有希望。
猜猜，獄友們最想將哪個東西收回盒子裡，是希望還是**呢？
作者安迪從2015年起在監獄裡教授哲學課，一期課程為期十週。他每天都和獄友談論他們的生活，討論他們的思想和感受，並傾聽他們探索新思維的方式。
當安迪走進監獄時，他也面對著自己繼承的創傷：他的父親、叔叔和哥哥都曾入獄。雖然安迪活出不同的生活方式（壞竹出好筍），但他仍然懼怕家族男性的命運也會降臨在自己身上。在與學生討論真理、身分和希望等人生命題的同時，他也在尋找自己的自由形式。
這是一本獨特的回憶錄，一本結合哲學思維與個人經歷，呈現作者在監獄中教授哲學課的日常。不僅關乎監獄生活與教育，更將哲學的智慧與現實生活交織起來，引領讀者思考何謂自由、道德和救贖，也使讀者能從另一個角度去理解那些被社會遺忘的聲音。
適合哲學愛好者，更適合任何想要探索人性、理解悔悟與救贖的人。
448 pages, Unknown Binding
Published February 5, 2025
30 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
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December 15, 2023
“Hapishanede Felsefe” hoş bir kitap, çok rahat okunuyor, çünkü felsefenin başlangıcının da başlangıcı sayılabilecek çok basit-hafif bilgilere yer vermiş yazar. Buna karşın hapishane kavramı, oradaki yaşam ve mahkumlar hakkında daha geniş değerlendirmeler yapmış. Felsefeden çok psikoloji var diyebilirim.
Yazar Andy West gerçek hayatında da bir felsefe öğretmeni ve hapishanelerde dersler veriyor. Yani bir yönüyle otobiyografik bir roman denilebilir. Babası, dayısı ve ağabeyi de hapis yatmışlar. Babasının mahkumiyeti onda suçluluk duygusu yarattığından obsessif ve takıntılı bir insan. Zeno Paradoksu, Sisifos söylencesi, Diyojen, Platon’un Gyges hikayesi, kurbağa ile akrep vb gibi konuları mahkumlarla konuşup onları da düşünmeye ve konuşmaya teşvik ediyor.
Kafka ve P. Levi sıklıkla alıntıladığı iki yazar, ikisi de iç karartıcı, bunlar yazarın ruh durumunu ele veriyor. Buna karşın romanda mizah duygusu çok uygun bir şekilde yer almış. Yazarın bu seçimi okumayı kolaylaştırıyor. Ayrıca çok samimi ve öğretici bir yazım tarzı kitabı daha da güzelleştirmiş. Öneririm.
Yazar Andy West gerçek hayatında da bir felsefe öğretmeni ve hapishanelerde dersler veriyor. Yani bir yönüyle otobiyografik bir roman denilebilir. Babası, dayısı ve ağabeyi de hapis yatmışlar. Babasının mahkumiyeti onda suçluluk duygusu yarattığından obsessif ve takıntılı bir insan. Zeno Paradoksu, Sisifos söylencesi, Diyojen, Platon’un Gyges hikayesi, kurbağa ile akrep vb gibi konuları mahkumlarla konuşup onları da düşünmeye ve konuşmaya teşvik ediyor.
Kafka ve P. Levi sıklıkla alıntıladığı iki yazar, ikisi de iç karartıcı, bunlar yazarın ruh durumunu ele veriyor. Buna karşın romanda mizah duygusu çok uygun bir şekilde yer almış. Yazarın bu seçimi okumayı kolaylaştırıyor. Ayrıca çok samimi ve öğretici bir yazım tarzı kitabı daha da güzelleştirmiş. Öneririm.
September 21, 2025
“Yedi yaşındaydım. Noel yaklaşıyordu. Birkaç aydır ağabeyimi görmemiştim. Annem Jason’ın bir fabrikada çalıştığını, birkaç aya işi bitince eve geleceğini söylemişti. Noel arifesinde arabada ön tarafta, annemin yanında oturuyordum. Ağabeyimi ziyaret edecektik. Otoyola çıktık, kırsaldaki yollardan geçtik ve sonunda bir otoparka vardık. Büyük bir tabela vardı: Majestelerinin Hapishanesi.”
Yazar abiyi hapishanede ziyaret sonrası okula dönüyor ve “gerçekliğim parçalanmıştı” diyor. Öfkeli ve kavgacı bir çocuğa dönüşüyor. Okul bir yüksekokula ziyaret planlıyor. Notları yetersiz olmasına rağmen bir öğretmeni götürüyor. Felsefe öğretmeni ve bir soru soruyor: “Yaşadıklarımızın bir rüya olmadığını nereden biliyoruz? Bunların hepsinin gerçek olduğunu nereden biliyoruz?”
Yazar; “bu soruyu duymak beni öyle rahatlattı ki.” diyor. Felsefede kesinlik olmadığını, nüansın kural olduğunu, zihnin esneyebildiğini fark ediyor. “Felsefe yapmaya devam edersem suçlanmayacağımı düşündüm.”
….
Kapağı içeriğiyle çok uyumlu bir kitap olmuş.
Yazar abiyi hapishanede ziyaret sonrası okula dönüyor ve “gerçekliğim parçalanmıştı” diyor. Öfkeli ve kavgacı bir çocuğa dönüşüyor. Okul bir yüksekokula ziyaret planlıyor. Notları yetersiz olmasına rağmen bir öğretmeni götürüyor. Felsefe öğretmeni ve bir soru soruyor: “Yaşadıklarımızın bir rüya olmadığını nereden biliyoruz? Bunların hepsinin gerçek olduğunu nereden biliyoruz?”
Yazar; “bu soruyu duymak beni öyle rahatlattı ki.” diyor. Felsefede kesinlik olmadığını, nüansın kural olduğunu, zihnin esneyebildiğini fark ediyor. “Felsefe yapmaya devam edersem suçlanmayacağımı düşündüm.”
….
Kapağı içeriğiyle çok uyumlu bir kitap olmuş.
May 6, 2025
Hapishanede Felsefe kitabı 20 alt başlıktan oluşuyor; kimlik, arzu, delilik, hakikat, ırk, değişim, nezaket, yuva... İki çark üzerinde ilerliyor kitap;
Birincisi Andy West'in biyografisi; çocukluğu, babası, abisi, dayısı, onlardan kendine miras suçluluk duygusu ve alt benliği 'cellat'! Andy kendi celladıyla uğraşırken, hepimizdeki 'kafa sesi' üzerinede düşünmeye sevkediyor sizi.
İkincisi iş görüntüsü altında aslında kendisiyle olan mücadelesine eşlik eden hapishanedeki felsefe öğretmenliği ve bu iş esnasında mahkumlarla yaptığı düşünmeyi, sorgulamayı, bazen hesaplaşmayı, aynı zamanda mizahıda içeren dersler. Bu iki çark çok dengeli ilerliyor, dersler hiç sıkmadan eğlenceli ilerlerken, kendi hayatınıda içinde gizemler bırakarak merakınızı kamçılayan bir tarzda aktarıyor West. Derslerde giriş bir düşünürden pasaj, bir masal, mitolojik bir efsane, bir kitap kahramanı yada bir soru ile başlıyor, gelişme kısmı mahkumların aralarında yaptığı beyin fırtınası eşliğinde yaptıkları efsane yorumlarla devam ediyor. Sonuç dersek; sonuç diye birşey yok aslında, felsefenin beyninizde yarattığı esneklik hissiyle bitiriyorsunuz dersi.
Okumayı Kaptan Huk'la birlikte yaptık, benim için değerli bir deneyim oldu, her konu başlığı üzerinde değerlendirme yaptık, hem düşündüm hemde çok eğlendim. Okuma esnasında yorumlarımızdaki hissiyatımsa; dersler diyelim ki bir perdeye yansıtılıyor ve oynatılıyor olsun, Kaptan her defasında perdenin arkasındaki kuklayıca uzatıyor elini, çekip sahneye alıyor onu, böylece farklı bir anlam kazanıyor içerik, kendinize Kaptan gibi usta ve eğlenceli bir partner bulabilirseniz bu kitabı mutlaka birliktelikle okumanızı tavsiye ederim, çünkü keyfi ×2 yapıyor.
Üşenmeden derslerdeki konu başlıklarının bir kısmını yazıcam -hepsi çok daha fazla- çünkü bu okumayı ileride yazdıklarıma baktığımdada hatırlamak istiyorum.
*Homeros destanı Odysseus hikayesi; aralarında hangisi en özgür?
*Pandoranın kutusundan çıkan yedi kötü ruh; geri koyabilecek olsaydınız hangisini seçerdiniz?
*Descartes; Şu an rüyada olmadığımızı kanıtlanmanın bir yolu var mı?
*Boethius; hepimiz başka bir insan olabilir miydik?
*Sisifos söylencesi; o bir kahramandı, umudu olmadığı için mi sürekli başarıyor?
*Beckett Godotyu Beklerken; hepimiz neyi bekliyoruz?
*Derrida; bağışlamak için bir tür deliliğe mi erişmek gerekir?
*Kurbağa ile akrep hikayesi; elimde değil, doğam bu!
*Dostoyevski Budala Prens Mışkin; hayat güzel bir şey mi?
*Platon Devlet Gyges hikayesi; kimsenin haberi olmayacağına eminsek, herşeyi yapabilir miyiz?
*Sam Harris; her zaman doğruyu mu söylemeliyiz?
*Frantz Fanon Yeryüzünün Lanetlileri; düşüncelerimiz kafamızın üstündeki damokles kılıcı mı?
*Susan Neiman; olan için olduğu kadar olması için de yaşamalıyız.
*Audre Lodre; öfkenin kimliğimiz üzerinde dönüştürücü bir potansiyel var mı?
*Minna Salami; direnme yönteminiz neşe mi öfke mi?
*Franz Kafka; kendiminkini meşrulaştırmak için Kafka'nın mazoşizmini mi kullanıyorum?
*Sinoplu Diyojen; doğayla olabildiğince uyumlu yaşamak mümkün mü?
*Theseus'un gemisi; tüm parçalarını değiştirsede hala aynı gemi mi?
*Caravaggio Davut Goyat'ın Kafası tablosu; Nereye kadar bağışlamalıyız? Ne için sanat yaparız?
*Schopenhauer; dünyaya babamızın suçlarının yükünü taşıyarak gelmemiz fikri kışkırtıcı mı?
*Nietzche; az otur, açık havada özgürce hareket ederken doğanlar dışında hiçbir fikre inanma!
*Schopenhauer; hayatın kendisi bir cezalandırma biçimi mi?
*Franz Kafka; Acaba Kafka bize kendi işkencesinden yorulduğunu mu söylemek istiyor? (her kitapta eğlenceli bulduğum yerleri işaretlerim, bu kitaptada bu Kafka kısmı oldu işaretim, çünkü Andy Kafka hayranı, romanlarını tekraren okuyor, bu kitaptada en sık geçen kahraman Dava'nın JosephK.'sı, fakat kitabın sonunda kendi özgürlük çözümünü Kafka'dan sıkılmakta buluyor:)
Kitapta en şaşırdığım yerlerden biride özgürlük başlığında Nazım Hikmet dizeleriyle karşılaşmak oldu, Andy'ye yakıştırdığım Nazım Hikmet dizeleriyle bitiriyorum.
Herkese keyifli okumalar.
Yaşamak şakaya gelmez,
büyük bir ciddiyetle yaşayacaksın
bir sincap gibi mesela,
yani, yaşamanın dışında ve ötesinde hiçbir şey beklemeden,
yani bütün işin gücün yaşamak olacak.
Yaşamayı ciddiye alacaksın,
yani o derecede, öylesine ki,
mesela, kolların bağlı arkadan, sırtın duvarda,
yahut kocaman gözlüklerin,
beyaz gömleğinle bir laboratuvarda insanlar için ölebileceksin,
hem de yüzünü bile görmediğin insanlar için,
hem de hiç kimse seni buna zorlamamışken,
hem de en güzel en gerçek şeyin yaşamak olduğunu bildiğin halde.
Yani, öylesine ciddiye alacaksın ki yaşamayı,
yetmişinde bile, mesela, zeytin dikeceksin,
hem de öyle çocuklara falan kalır diye değil,
ölmekten korktuğun halde ölüme inanmadığın için,
yaşamak yanı ağır bastığından.
Birincisi Andy West'in biyografisi; çocukluğu, babası, abisi, dayısı, onlardan kendine miras suçluluk duygusu ve alt benliği 'cellat'! Andy kendi celladıyla uğraşırken, hepimizdeki 'kafa sesi' üzerinede düşünmeye sevkediyor sizi.
İkincisi iş görüntüsü altında aslında kendisiyle olan mücadelesine eşlik eden hapishanedeki felsefe öğretmenliği ve bu iş esnasında mahkumlarla yaptığı düşünmeyi, sorgulamayı, bazen hesaplaşmayı, aynı zamanda mizahıda içeren dersler. Bu iki çark çok dengeli ilerliyor, dersler hiç sıkmadan eğlenceli ilerlerken, kendi hayatınıda içinde gizemler bırakarak merakınızı kamçılayan bir tarzda aktarıyor West. Derslerde giriş bir düşünürden pasaj, bir masal, mitolojik bir efsane, bir kitap kahramanı yada bir soru ile başlıyor, gelişme kısmı mahkumların aralarında yaptığı beyin fırtınası eşliğinde yaptıkları efsane yorumlarla devam ediyor. Sonuç dersek; sonuç diye birşey yok aslında, felsefenin beyninizde yarattığı esneklik hissiyle bitiriyorsunuz dersi.
Okumayı Kaptan Huk'la birlikte yaptık, benim için değerli bir deneyim oldu, her konu başlığı üzerinde değerlendirme yaptık, hem düşündüm hemde çok eğlendim. Okuma esnasında yorumlarımızdaki hissiyatımsa; dersler diyelim ki bir perdeye yansıtılıyor ve oynatılıyor olsun, Kaptan her defasında perdenin arkasındaki kuklayıca uzatıyor elini, çekip sahneye alıyor onu, böylece farklı bir anlam kazanıyor içerik, kendinize Kaptan gibi usta ve eğlenceli bir partner bulabilirseniz bu kitabı mutlaka birliktelikle okumanızı tavsiye ederim, çünkü keyfi ×2 yapıyor.
Üşenmeden derslerdeki konu başlıklarının bir kısmını yazıcam -hepsi çok daha fazla- çünkü bu okumayı ileride yazdıklarıma baktığımdada hatırlamak istiyorum.
*Homeros destanı Odysseus hikayesi; aralarında hangisi en özgür?
*Pandoranın kutusundan çıkan yedi kötü ruh; geri koyabilecek olsaydınız hangisini seçerdiniz?
*Descartes; Şu an rüyada olmadığımızı kanıtlanmanın bir yolu var mı?
*Boethius; hepimiz başka bir insan olabilir miydik?
*Sisifos söylencesi; o bir kahramandı, umudu olmadığı için mi sürekli başarıyor?
*Beckett Godotyu Beklerken; hepimiz neyi bekliyoruz?
*Derrida; bağışlamak için bir tür deliliğe mi erişmek gerekir?
*Kurbağa ile akrep hikayesi; elimde değil, doğam bu!
*Dostoyevski Budala Prens Mışkin; hayat güzel bir şey mi?
*Platon Devlet Gyges hikayesi; kimsenin haberi olmayacağına eminsek, herşeyi yapabilir miyiz?
*Sam Harris; her zaman doğruyu mu söylemeliyiz?
*Frantz Fanon Yeryüzünün Lanetlileri; düşüncelerimiz kafamızın üstündeki damokles kılıcı mı?
*Susan Neiman; olan için olduğu kadar olması için de yaşamalıyız.
*Audre Lodre; öfkenin kimliğimiz üzerinde dönüştürücü bir potansiyel var mı?
*Minna Salami; direnme yönteminiz neşe mi öfke mi?
*Franz Kafka; kendiminkini meşrulaştırmak için Kafka'nın mazoşizmini mi kullanıyorum?
*Sinoplu Diyojen; doğayla olabildiğince uyumlu yaşamak mümkün mü?
*Theseus'un gemisi; tüm parçalarını değiştirsede hala aynı gemi mi?
*Caravaggio Davut Goyat'ın Kafası tablosu; Nereye kadar bağışlamalıyız? Ne için sanat yaparız?
*Schopenhauer; dünyaya babamızın suçlarının yükünü taşıyarak gelmemiz fikri kışkırtıcı mı?
*Nietzche; az otur, açık havada özgürce hareket ederken doğanlar dışında hiçbir fikre inanma!
*Schopenhauer; hayatın kendisi bir cezalandırma biçimi mi?
*Franz Kafka; Acaba Kafka bize kendi işkencesinden yorulduğunu mu söylemek istiyor? (her kitapta eğlenceli bulduğum yerleri işaretlerim, bu kitaptada bu Kafka kısmı oldu işaretim, çünkü Andy Kafka hayranı, romanlarını tekraren okuyor, bu kitaptada en sık geçen kahraman Dava'nın JosephK.'sı, fakat kitabın sonunda kendi özgürlük çözümünü Kafka'dan sıkılmakta buluyor:)
Kitapta en şaşırdığım yerlerden biride özgürlük başlığında Nazım Hikmet dizeleriyle karşılaşmak oldu, Andy'ye yakıştırdığım Nazım Hikmet dizeleriyle bitiriyorum.
Herkese keyifli okumalar.
Yaşamak şakaya gelmez,
büyük bir ciddiyetle yaşayacaksın
bir sincap gibi mesela,
yani, yaşamanın dışında ve ötesinde hiçbir şey beklemeden,
yani bütün işin gücün yaşamak olacak.
Yaşamayı ciddiye alacaksın,
yani o derecede, öylesine ki,
mesela, kolların bağlı arkadan, sırtın duvarda,
yahut kocaman gözlüklerin,
beyaz gömleğinle bir laboratuvarda insanlar için ölebileceksin,
hem de yüzünü bile görmediğin insanlar için,
hem de hiç kimse seni buna zorlamamışken,
hem de en güzel en gerçek şeyin yaşamak olduğunu bildiğin halde.
Yani, öylesine ciddiye alacaksın ki yaşamayı,
yetmişinde bile, mesela, zeytin dikeceksin,
hem de öyle çocuklara falan kalır diye değil,
ölmekten korktuğun halde ölüme inanmadığın için,
yaşamak yanı ağır bastığından.
May 16, 2025
Künyesinde anı, biyografi diyor ama Hapishanede Felsefe'yi belgesel roman diye okudum. Babası, abisi, dayısının sık sık hapise girip çıktığı ailede çocukluğunu işte bu suçlular arasında geçiren, hatta kısa süreliğine hapise de giren Andy West suçla yüzleşmek için hapishane öğretmenliğini tercih etmiş, bizzat yaşadıklarını anlatıyor. Andy West'in birinci tekilde kendisinin anlattığı Hapishanede Felsefe beş kanaldan yayın yapıyor: 1) Londra hapishanelerinde mahkumlara verdiği felsefe dersleri merkez kanaldan yayınlanıyor. Derslerin işleniş tarzı ortaya soru sorarak mahkumları sohbetlendirmeyi sağlamak şeklinde özetlenebilir. Derslerde bazen mitolojinin efsane hikayelerinden bir paragraf kadar bahsedip buradan ortaya soru veriyor, bazen de edebiyatın kült romanlarından birini işleyip soru çıkarıyor ortaya, bazen de sadece soruyor. 2. kanalda birer ikişer cümlelerle hapishane personeli ve mahkumların hikayeleri yayınlanıyor. 3. kanalda hapishane durumlarından bahsediliyor. 4. kanalda, Andy West'in sık sık ziyaret ettiği anneannesinde suçluları anlamak adına suç makinası dayısı Frank'tan dinlediği hapishane anıları anlatılıyor. 5. kanalda adrenalin veriliyor: Andy West'in "celladım" dediği zihnindeki sesiyle mücadelesi anlatılıyor. Suç işlemeye, hata yapmaya ya da suçlanacağım kaygısına yönlendirdiği iç sesine Andy West "celladım" diyor. Bu kanalın yayını takip edebilmek için zihin konusunu bilmek gerek. Kafasında dönüp duran düşünceleri kendisi sanan insanlar şaşkınlık verici bir durum ama bugün eskisinden çok daha fazla var. İnsan sessizliktir, zihninde süzülüp duran düşünce bulutları değil. Bu kavrayışta bilinmediğinde 4. kanal frekanslarını alamıyoruz. Andy West'in anneannesini ziyaretleri dışında kitap tamamen Londra hapishanelerinde geçiyor fakat yazarın hapishane gerçeklerini anlatmak gibi bir amacı yok. Felsefe dersleri desen; kadın doğrayan, banka soyan, esrar kullanan gibi suçlulardan oluşuk bir öğrenci gurubuyla salondan bozma derslikte felsefeyi ne kadar işleyebilirsiniz? Zaten mahkumlar felsefeye değil sosyalleşmeye sınıftalar. Andy West hiçbir durumda bir fikrin savunusunu yapmıyor ve taraf değil. Sadece soruyor. Dolayısıyla Hapishanede Felsefe faydacı (bilgilendirici) okumaya uygun bir metin değil. Her şeyi karşı taraftan bekleme tembelliğinde okumalarda da hüsran kaçınılmazdır. Yaz kızım: Hapishanede Felsefe'nin sırrı yazarın boşluklar vererek okuru suçlular dünyasına ve felsefe sohbetlerine dahil etmesidir.
January 13, 2023
“Adam messaged me last night. He told me he’d been detoxing for a couple of months, tripping out on ‘The phenomenology of Andy’.”
I would say that was nicely put. In the few days it took me to read this book, I too have been tripping out on the phenomenology of Andy.
Andy West has a fantastic way of recounting his experiences teaching philosophy in prisons. He is able to show the reader how engaging in philosophy brings out one’s inner most thoughts, troubles, hopes, regrets, and unique perspectives regardless of persons.
These prisoners have thoughtful contributions that could even compete with academic philosophers. One of his students Yannis said,
“When a man has transformed, he’s built himself. When he’s been changed, he’s been destroyed.”
In an interview West has said, “What I’ve found is when you give people the space to articulate, imagine and test ideas, they come up with fascinating and unique thoughts”.
I agree. What makes people’s thoughts philosophically unique is their unique life experience. The way someone sees the world is completely individualized. And through dialogue, we have a chance to compare our individual interpretations and weigh them up to consider if they have value to add to our own.
West giving these prisoners a voice is such a beautiful humane act.
I also learned a ton and got inspired by all the stimuli he used. I kept taking breaks from reading to look up all the stories he mentions. One minute I’m looking up Hiroo Onoda and the next I’m looking up the complete works of Primo Levi. I enjoyed feeling inspired about all the stories I could use to engage others in philosophy.
Fun fact, the executioner was mentioned 77 times. It was interesting to read about the author’s relationship with the executioner. I’m not very familiar with mental illnesses but the way it was personified helped me understand a whole lot better. It also helped me understand West’s need for philosophy in his life as well as ponder my own reason for why philosophy is so important to me.
I would say that was nicely put. In the few days it took me to read this book, I too have been tripping out on the phenomenology of Andy.
Andy West has a fantastic way of recounting his experiences teaching philosophy in prisons. He is able to show the reader how engaging in philosophy brings out one’s inner most thoughts, troubles, hopes, regrets, and unique perspectives regardless of persons.
These prisoners have thoughtful contributions that could even compete with academic philosophers. One of his students Yannis said,
“When a man has transformed, he’s built himself. When he’s been changed, he’s been destroyed.”
In an interview West has said, “What I’ve found is when you give people the space to articulate, imagine and test ideas, they come up with fascinating and unique thoughts”.
I agree. What makes people’s thoughts philosophically unique is their unique life experience. The way someone sees the world is completely individualized. And through dialogue, we have a chance to compare our individual interpretations and weigh them up to consider if they have value to add to our own.
West giving these prisoners a voice is such a beautiful humane act.
I also learned a ton and got inspired by all the stimuli he used. I kept taking breaks from reading to look up all the stories he mentions. One minute I’m looking up Hiroo Onoda and the next I’m looking up the complete works of Primo Levi. I enjoyed feeling inspired about all the stories I could use to engage others in philosophy.
Fun fact, the executioner was mentioned 77 times. It was interesting to read about the author’s relationship with the executioner. I’m not very familiar with mental illnesses but the way it was personified helped me understand a whole lot better. It also helped me understand West’s need for philosophy in his life as well as ponder my own reason for why philosophy is so important to me.
Read
January 18, 2022An interesting memoir, one which focuses on Andy’s work in prisons, as well as his own insecurities, in addition to musings and philosophy. Beautifully reflective and thought-provoking.
February 28, 2022
Stupendous combination. West braids his own relevant past, his fears of ending up like his father who did 18 months, and acute self observation , into passages about his philosophy classes and how he uses stories from myths to provoke discussion amongst the prisoners. Their answers reveal so much. The story of Pandora's 'box' provoked insights about hope and their reasons. Unique way of approaching it and a story told from different and new perspective - not a corrections officer, not an inmate but a philosophy teacher whose own family have been incarcerated several times and who spends most of his time in prisons teaching.
I already feel like I know some of those characters and their psychological drivers and absolutely love seeing how he uses philosophy and myth to provoke insightful discussions even from those who resist.
I already feel like I know some of those characters and their psychological drivers and absolutely love seeing how he uses philosophy and myth to provoke insightful discussions even from those who resist.
December 14, 2023
Interesting look at teaching within prisons also partly family history with members of his family served time as well
August 9, 2024
This is one of the best public philosophy books I have read recently. Andy West, a philosophy teacher in prisons across the UK, writes in a memoir style, with each chapter dedicated to a philosophical concept such as virtue, beauty, hope, and more. The philosophical conversations in his classes with the prisoners are brilliant, demonstrating how philosophy is relevant to every aspect of life. It shows that philosophy is not, and should not be, bound to academia. Plato should have followed his teacher Socrates, who brought philosophy to the streets of Athens, instead of restraining it within the walls of the Academy!
December 11, 2024
I met Andy West at a friends house a few weeks ago and after learning tidbits of his story (he teaches philosophy in prison, had close family members in and out of prison his whole life, he wrote a book about it), I became immediately intrigued. I ran out the next day to buy his book.
It lived up to my internalized hype. Andy does an incredible job of weaving together a story that is factual, emotional, personal, and somehow feels deeply relatable even though I am 1) not a philosopher 2) have never been inside a prison 3) don’t know anyone in prison.
I loved learning about aspects of the prison system as well as considering philosophical topics and hearing different perspectives on them. A book that is equal parts entertaining, educational and thought provoking,
I can’t recommend this one enough.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
It lived up to my internalized hype. Andy does an incredible job of weaving together a story that is factual, emotional, personal, and somehow feels deeply relatable even though I am 1) not a philosopher 2) have never been inside a prison 3) don’t know anyone in prison.
I loved learning about aspects of the prison system as well as considering philosophical topics and hearing different perspectives on them. A book that is equal parts entertaining, educational and thought provoking,
I can’t recommend this one enough.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
November 14, 2025
Filosofie, filosoferen in de gevangenis levert vaak verrassende inzichten en interpretaties op. Zoals deze, waar nominalisten (zoals ik) van zullen genieten... gesprek nav de parabel van de kikker en de schorpioen:
Zie voor enkele andere vb mijn reading progressen
‘Why would he take a scorpion on his back?’
‘It’s like when you go for parole and you try and persuade them you've changed. Then you get nicked again, and you're thinking it’s their fault for letting me go last time,’ Ravel says.
‘Do you know what I wanna know?’ says Wesley. ‘Did the scorpion know the whole time that he was gonna sting him, or did he only know once he stung him? Like people in here — they say they're your friend and they aren’t gonna rob you and then they rob you, but did they know they was gonna do that when they made friends with you or did they know they were only gonna rob you when they did it?’
‘I know,’ Ravel says. He comes to the board. I step away. He uses the side of his fist to rub out the river drawn on the board. ‘If the river wasn’t there, then this wouldn't happen. The environment was to blame.’
He sits back down and Wesley says, “But there’s always an environment. If there wasn’t no environment, there wouldn’t even be any animals.’
‘But your jail friends who rob you, maybe they don’t do that in a different environment.’
‘They are called jail friends. It’s in the name. This is their environment.’
Zie voor enkele andere vb mijn reading progressen
June 12, 2022
This was a book that was very much, it's not you, it's me. It wasn't what I was expected. It leaned very much as a memoir with occasional bits of lessons at the prison. The memoirs part was very heavy. I just wanted to learn about prisons and the people who ended up there with a philosophy aspect woven in or stories of the people in prisons through a philosophy angle.
Also, there was a times I wondered how he did the job because you could tell that the thoughts from mental illness was becoming stronger. I know it's very common for people who work in prisons to have depression, ptsd etc from what they've witnessed at work. One of the things you could tell was getting stronger was the idea of getting arrested, the phone thing etc. Like he knows he doesn't has his phone on him yet is still surprised he hasn't been arrested. I understand the mental anguish of these thoughts but it featured heavily. It's the same frustration when person a has a secret that they need to tell person b but angsts on it a lot. And you're just there yelling "Just tell them already!" Only this one was "You know you left your phone in the locker, you checked! It isn't going to magically appear in your pocket." The author has a lot of anxiety and that really comes across clearly off the page. It's frustrating watching just like when you get anxious thoughts yourself are frustrating. Like "I locked the door...I know I did...I remember...Unless...Did I?" Then you have to check it and you find yourself a door that you did lock and you're angry/frustrated you just wasted time checking it.
One thing I will give him huge props for is breaking the cycle. His father went to prison, uncles went to prison, his brother went to prison. It would've been so easy for him to continue that cycle but he didn't. So that's amazing and deserves some acknowledgement. And he's helping people who just like his family. Though I felt that the prisoners were just background characters that never get much depth.
Him taking drugs was a weird part though. That and his suntan.
I did enjoy the philosophy bits, but I felt it could've been a bigger aspect than it was.
If you're after a memoir like this, I would reccomend it though.
Also, there was a times I wondered how he did the job because you could tell that the thoughts from mental illness was becoming stronger. I know it's very common for people who work in prisons to have depression, ptsd etc from what they've witnessed at work. One of the things you could tell was getting stronger was the idea of getting arrested, the phone thing etc. Like he knows he doesn't has his phone on him yet is still surprised he hasn't been arrested. I understand the mental anguish of these thoughts but it featured heavily. It's the same frustration when person a has a secret that they need to tell person b but angsts on it a lot. And you're just there yelling "Just tell them already!" Only this one was "You know you left your phone in the locker, you checked! It isn't going to magically appear in your pocket." The author has a lot of anxiety and that really comes across clearly off the page. It's frustrating watching just like when you get anxious thoughts yourself are frustrating. Like "I locked the door...I know I did...I remember...Unless...Did I?" Then you have to check it and you find yourself a door that you did lock and you're angry/frustrated you just wasted time checking it.
One thing I will give him huge props for is breaking the cycle. His father went to prison, uncles went to prison, his brother went to prison. It would've been so easy for him to continue that cycle but he didn't. So that's amazing and deserves some acknowledgement. And he's helping people who just like his family. Though I felt that the prisoners were just background characters that never get much depth.
Him taking drugs was a weird part though. That and his suntan.
I did enjoy the philosophy bits, but I felt it could've been a bigger aspect than it was.
If you're after a memoir like this, I would reccomend it though.
June 28, 2023
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this beautiful, real and kind book since I’ve finished it. It’s Exploring life’s urgent philosophical questions (especially around what it means to be free/ what is truth?/ what does luck have to do with it?) and themes within the context of what many would deem as the absence of freedom (ie incarceration). Andy teaches philosophy in prisons in the UK but also steps into the room carrying inherited shame and guilt that surrounds different family members who have been in prison and a fear that he will endure the same fate.
I loved reading the vast array of thoughts from different students - especially on the chapter on “waiting/ time” where they discuss waiting for Godot.
There were so many funny moments too that you wouldn’t necessarily expect- from the students and their take on things.
I also loved the insight that Andy brings forth in the book from some of students directly: that his class made them remember that they still had a brain, that they were still alive when incarceration often strips you of feeling like you are a person.
“As a teacher, I can do more than just bear witness to the vanished. I can help people keep sight of themselves.”
A masterful and deeply touching book keep turning back to and referencing, and a book that will never leave me- especially with how beautifully he explores contingency, and how easily we could be each other, and how for me that informs my ethics.
I loved reading the vast array of thoughts from different students - especially on the chapter on “waiting/ time” where they discuss waiting for Godot.
There were so many funny moments too that you wouldn’t necessarily expect- from the students and their take on things.
I also loved the insight that Andy brings forth in the book from some of students directly: that his class made them remember that they still had a brain, that they were still alive when incarceration often strips you of feeling like you are a person.
“As a teacher, I can do more than just bear witness to the vanished. I can help people keep sight of themselves.”
A masterful and deeply touching book keep turning back to and referencing, and a book that will never leave me- especially with how beautifully he explores contingency, and how easily we could be each other, and how for me that informs my ethics.
April 4, 2022
This was such an interesting book, and I’m extremely grateful that the author sent me a review copy so I could check it out. Andy West teaches philosophy to prisoners, and this book is more than his experience and conversations doing so. Throughout the book, Andy also shares stories from his personal life such as his troubled relationship with his dad and much more. You not only get a peek inside of what it’s like for these people in prison to ponder philosophical questions, but you also get a narrative from Andy about what it’s like teaching them and the questions he asks himself as well.
By far, my favorite part of this book is the conversations he has with prisoners. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a former drug addict who got really into philosophy, but I love these parts of the book. I’ve read a lot of philosophy books, and they’re all from an academic point of view or someone breaking down the words of ancient philosophers. But what if you went and got the perspectives and interpretations from people in prison? The answers Andy gets from the people in prison are so interesting, and the conversations and debates around all sorts of philosophical questions had me hooked.
I loved this book, but honestly, now I just want Andy to write a complete second book just of conversations with prisoners and other unheard groups about philosophy.
By far, my favorite part of this book is the conversations he has with prisoners. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a former drug addict who got really into philosophy, but I love these parts of the book. I’ve read a lot of philosophy books, and they’re all from an academic point of view or someone breaking down the words of ancient philosophers. But what if you went and got the perspectives and interpretations from people in prison? The answers Andy gets from the people in prison are so interesting, and the conversations and debates around all sorts of philosophical questions had me hooked.
I loved this book, but honestly, now I just want Andy to write a complete second book just of conversations with prisoners and other unheard groups about philosophy.
October 26, 2022
Thought provoking and illuminating.
West grew up in the shadow of prison: his older brother, his father and his uncle all served time inside. However, he got an education, went to university and became middle class but the inherited guilt and unease about his luck haunts West. It is one of the reasons why he now goes into prisons to teach philosophy (and myths and legends) in prison.
Each chapter revolves round a particular class (or theme) and West uses it to illuminate particular members of his class, his own skin in the topic and make a wider philosophical point. My advice would be to resist the temptation to rush through the book. Each short chapter is thought provoking and by laying himself so open, you cannot but help think deeply about your own life too.
As a therapist, I often use myths too and it is fascinating to get a different philosophical rather then psychological perspective. West is a guest on my podcast: The Meaningful Life with Andrew G Marshall. Have a listen.
West grew up in the shadow of prison: his older brother, his father and his uncle all served time inside. However, he got an education, went to university and became middle class but the inherited guilt and unease about his luck haunts West. It is one of the reasons why he now goes into prisons to teach philosophy (and myths and legends) in prison.
Each chapter revolves round a particular class (or theme) and West uses it to illuminate particular members of his class, his own skin in the topic and make a wider philosophical point. My advice would be to resist the temptation to rush through the book. Each short chapter is thought provoking and by laying himself so open, you cannot but help think deeply about your own life too.
As a therapist, I often use myths too and it is fascinating to get a different philosophical rather then psychological perspective. West is a guest on my podcast: The Meaningful Life with Andrew G Marshall. Have a listen.
April 11, 2022
Moving, thought-provoking, energising.
Ostensibly about prison, this book made me think (as a schoolteacher in a mainstream Academy) how wrong we have got the education of our children. We need more thinking, more philosophy, more engaging people with their own (and each other's) thoughts, not just telling them what to think.
This book does not give answers, but it does ask all the important questions.
Ostensibly about prison, this book made me think (as a schoolteacher in a mainstream Academy) how wrong we have got the education of our children. We need more thinking, more philosophy, more engaging people with their own (and each other's) thoughts, not just telling them what to think.
This book does not give answers, but it does ask all the important questions.
May 13, 2025
Quite different from the usual prison memoirs, this is an engaging book, a great read.
August 26, 2025
In a word: wonderful.
The Life Inside is an insightful look into prisons and their occupants, as we are taken along by author Andy West to the philosophy lessons he runs in men and women’s prisons. Our expectations of whether or not prisoners ‘can’ think philosophically are subverted again and again. I fell prey to this too: I was nervous hearing this (in my head) diminutive philosophy teacher stand in front of these (in my head) huge, grizzled inmates and start his lessons by name-dropping Epictetus, Boethius or Schopenhauer. Surely, you’ll lose their attention in an instant?
But no: with clever choice of philosophical hook, the author manages to reel in the prisoners into profound conversations on all manner of topics, from the nature of free will to the meaning of humour.
In a memorable example, West primes the audience to talk about nostalgia: “The word nostalgia comes from the Greek nostos meaning “homecoming”, and álgos meaning “ache”. To be nostalgic is to be homesick. In the seventeenth century, soldiers diagnosed with nostalgia were deemed as unfit for duty and could be discharged”. West goes on to ask whether nostalgia is a sickness. An inmate then takes the floor.
All of which would make this a cracking 4-star book, opening the readers’ minds on who prisoners are and tucking in some really thought-provoking discussion for good measure. Such a book could have done with more commentary on the criminal justice system; it is implicit here, but I was left wanting to know more on what the author really thinks about the workings of the system, about what could be done better.
What elevates this book is the time we spend outside prison, with author Andy West. The son, brother, nephew of people who’ve spent time inside. This would, ostensibly, motivate him to work in prisons. Yet as we read the book, another force emerges, a guilty force, a deep anxiety, personified as the Executioner. This guilt – at not being his brother – seemingly pushes the author to work in prisons, to expiate himself. It also drives him into a range of compulsive behaviours and what are clearly panic attacks (even if they are not labelled as such).
Once, when he accidentally takes a phone into prison, we witness his reaction: “For the next fifteen minutes I’m willing the time to pass, as I try not to let the fear show on my face. My mouth is dry. My ears are ringing … my own voice pumping fear into me”. The author feels like he has done this deliberately, “I must have intended to do something criminal”. But he knows in that moment it is his “Executioner calling for me”. His relief as he leaves the prison is evocative: “I feel a lightness that edges on vertigo. In my relief, I’m awash with tenderness. Everything moves me – two gangly teenagers … an old woman stepping onto a bus – everything touches me with its life”.
This is the other ‘life inside’ – a life lived with chronic guilt. The book increasingly becomes about the author’s second journey as he acknowledges, understands, tackles and (to the degree anyone ever can) overcomes his anxiety. The language of this journey is poetic.
The Life Inside offers a rare, biographical look at lived anxiety, particularly from a male perspective and paints a moving picture of one person’s struggles. An engaging, entertaining and insightful memoir.
The Life Inside is an insightful look into prisons and their occupants, as we are taken along by author Andy West to the philosophy lessons he runs in men and women’s prisons. Our expectations of whether or not prisoners ‘can’ think philosophically are subverted again and again. I fell prey to this too: I was nervous hearing this (in my head) diminutive philosophy teacher stand in front of these (in my head) huge, grizzled inmates and start his lessons by name-dropping Epictetus, Boethius or Schopenhauer. Surely, you’ll lose their attention in an instant?
But no: with clever choice of philosophical hook, the author manages to reel in the prisoners into profound conversations on all manner of topics, from the nature of free will to the meaning of humour.
In a memorable example, West primes the audience to talk about nostalgia: “The word nostalgia comes from the Greek nostos meaning “homecoming”, and álgos meaning “ache”. To be nostalgic is to be homesick. In the seventeenth century, soldiers diagnosed with nostalgia were deemed as unfit for duty and could be discharged”. West goes on to ask whether nostalgia is a sickness. An inmate then takes the floor.
Easton slides off the edge of the table and stands up. 'Say man is banged up for fifteen years, he says. 'He does every day of it behind the door. In jail he knows the barber, knows everyone on his landing, everyone in the gym.’ He stands with his feet wide apart. He points at me with his first two fingers, his hand the shape of a gun. ‘Then man gets out’, he says. ‘First night outside is harder than his first night inside. Knows nobody on his tower block. Nobody says hello. He can't get a job. The tempo inside was slow and now, outside, life is flying past him.’The book is full of this kind of prison philosophy, of unlikely discussions. Violence, anger, crime. There is surprisingly little talk of that in this book. There is, however, a lot of humour. As one class begins, we hear how an inmate “points at my suntanned face and asks me where I have been. I try to keep my answers as clipped as possible, worrying that a group of jailed men might smart from hearing about Phuket’s tropical beaches … but they keep asking questions”. One prisoner asks “Did you go with your boyfriend?”. West says he went alone and carries on answering their questions: “They ask if I got a good deal on flights, if I got the shits while I was there. As I answer their questions, I consider dropping into the conversation that I have a girlfriend, but the atmosphere in the room now is so genial and tolerant that I don’t have the heart to tell them I’m not gay”.
Easton walks the width of the classroom floor. He carries on. ‘When he hears the sound of keys, he feels less anxious. Man doesn't know what to do all day but looks at the time and knows it's half eleven so that'll be free flow, or it's after six so they'll be on bang-up.’ He turns and paces another width of the room. ‘In bed man can't sleep because it's too quiet.'
He turns on his heel, his trainers squeaking on the floor. He keeps pacing. 'Someone bumps into him on the tube platform and doesn't say sorry and he thinks, "If you knew, mate, if you knew what I was in for" - nobody would diss him like that on the landing. In the end man misses jail, gets nostalgic for jail, wants to go back.'
Easton continues, Nostalgia ain't an illness, but nostalgia for jail, that's illness. If you are homesick for prison that means prison has become your home,' [another prisoner] Anthony says. Easton takes a couple more strides, points at Anthony with his two fingers. ‘Being homesick for prison is missing something sick.'
‘So if homesickne-’
‘Man that misses jail isn't homesick, he's sick-sick.' He stops in the corner of the room and turns to me. 'Prison's not my home, I don't live here. He jabs two fingers in the middle of his own chest. ‘This isn't me. Me is who I am on the outside, me is who I'll be when I leave.’
All of which would make this a cracking 4-star book, opening the readers’ minds on who prisoners are and tucking in some really thought-provoking discussion for good measure. Such a book could have done with more commentary on the criminal justice system; it is implicit here, but I was left wanting to know more on what the author really thinks about the workings of the system, about what could be done better.
What elevates this book is the time we spend outside prison, with author Andy West. The son, brother, nephew of people who’ve spent time inside. This would, ostensibly, motivate him to work in prisons. Yet as we read the book, another force emerges, a guilty force, a deep anxiety, personified as the Executioner. This guilt – at not being his brother – seemingly pushes the author to work in prisons, to expiate himself. It also drives him into a range of compulsive behaviours and what are clearly panic attacks (even if they are not labelled as such).
Once, when he accidentally takes a phone into prison, we witness his reaction: “For the next fifteen minutes I’m willing the time to pass, as I try not to let the fear show on my face. My mouth is dry. My ears are ringing … my own voice pumping fear into me”. The author feels like he has done this deliberately, “I must have intended to do something criminal”. But he knows in that moment it is his “Executioner calling for me”. His relief as he leaves the prison is evocative: “I feel a lightness that edges on vertigo. In my relief, I’m awash with tenderness. Everything moves me – two gangly teenagers … an old woman stepping onto a bus – everything touches me with its life”.
This is the other ‘life inside’ – a life lived with chronic guilt. The book increasingly becomes about the author’s second journey as he acknowledges, understands, tackles and (to the degree anyone ever can) overcomes his anxiety. The language of this journey is poetic.
For most of my life I’ve felt that my being free and well meant I owed a debt to my brother. Over these last months I’ve been trying to picture my life without that debt … Recently I’ve been more easily delighted by things like birdsong, the dappled light in the shadow of a tree and the smell of a fruit as I peel it in the afternoon. In those seconds, the world feels real.His progress matters to us: “The dread passes. A tiny euphoria floats up in my chest. The green of the leaves looks one shade brighter”. While, at the same time, the sword of Damocles remains hanging above his head. “Over the next few weeks my anxiety is quieter and easier to let go of. I know it will get more intense against at some point, but for now I’ve decided I’m going to enjoy this reprieve”.
The Life Inside offers a rare, biographical look at lived anxiety, particularly from a male perspective and paints a moving picture of one person’s struggles. An engaging, entertaining and insightful memoir.
January 27, 2024
An interesting and insightful memoir which gives an interesting perspective of life in prisons in the UK and the severe challenges and failures of our penal system and the people it impacts. An engaging and well written book.
April 7, 2022
this memoir intersects so many different themes, most of them are potentially quite heavy but this book never felt heavy or hard going.
i found everything interesting and well written, but also still very human. a different type of memoir, a great read.
i found everything interesting and well written, but also still very human. a different type of memoir, a great read.
December 6, 2023
Yazarın babası, abisi, dayısı hep hapse girip girip çıkmış insanlar. Anlatımından özellikle babasının ve dayısının dürtüsel, tahmin edilemez kişiler olduğunu ve abisinin de bağımlılık sorunu olduğunu görebiliyoruz. Yazar ailesini çok sevse ve bağlı olsa da onlarla beraber yaşdıklarının çocukluğunu ve nasıl biri olduğunu oldukça etkilemiş olduğunu söyleyebiliriz.
Öyle ki yazar ailesinden ona geçen bir suçluluk duygusundan bahsediyor. Sanki her an bir suç işleyebilirmiş gibi hissediyor. Bu kafasında sürekli onu suçlayan, itham eden sese cellatım diyor. Bu düşünceleri ve hisleri öyle yoğun ki bir şekilde yolu hapishanede mahkumlara felsefe öğretmeye çıkıyor. Ailedeki bu travmatik miras ona da geçiyor, sadece farklı bir şekilde. Hatta bir yerde bilinçaltında bile olsa bir suç işler diye düşünmüştüm ki bu da yaşanmış.
Hapishane hapishane gezerken ve felsefe anlatırken hem yazarın hayatıyla kurduğunu bağları hem de mahkumların kendi yaşantıları ile felsefe tartışmaları arasında kurdukları bağlantıları okumak oldukça ilgi çekiciydi. Yazar onlara neredeyse ön yargısız yaklaşıyor. Suçlarını düşünmeden onları anlattıkları üzerine konuşmaya teşvik ediyor.
Bence farklı türde bir anı kitabıydı. Hem felsefe hem ailedeki travma döngüsü, bağımlılık gibi konuları hem de hapihane hayatını bir araya getirmişti. İlginizi çektiyse listenize eklemeniz tavsiye edilir.
Öyle ki yazar ailesinden ona geçen bir suçluluk duygusundan bahsediyor. Sanki her an bir suç işleyebilirmiş gibi hissediyor. Bu kafasında sürekli onu suçlayan, itham eden sese cellatım diyor. Bu düşünceleri ve hisleri öyle yoğun ki bir şekilde yolu hapishanede mahkumlara felsefe öğretmeye çıkıyor. Ailedeki bu travmatik miras ona da geçiyor, sadece farklı bir şekilde. Hatta bir yerde bilinçaltında bile olsa bir suç işler diye düşünmüştüm ki bu da yaşanmış.
Hapishane hapishane gezerken ve felsefe anlatırken hem yazarın hayatıyla kurduğunu bağları hem de mahkumların kendi yaşantıları ile felsefe tartışmaları arasında kurdukları bağlantıları okumak oldukça ilgi çekiciydi. Yazar onlara neredeyse ön yargısız yaklaşıyor. Suçlarını düşünmeden onları anlattıkları üzerine konuşmaya teşvik ediyor.
Bence farklı türde bir anı kitabıydı. Hem felsefe hem ailedeki travma döngüsü, bağımlılık gibi konuları hem de hapihane hayatını bir araya getirmişti. İlginizi çektiyse listenize eklemeniz tavsiye edilir.
August 6, 2022
Exponential, unique and at times disturbing as one might figure out before picking up this book. I love the subtle details that West picks up on, but who wouldn’t analyse everything when you’re teaching in prison. Being a philosophy buff I thought this book was for me but it was getting to the point where I was really antsy to finish so I ended up not finishing it, perhaps too long but great stories in there though worth checking out even if it’s only for a few pages.
May 1, 2024
As a mature student I studied philosophy at university, and long before then I had discovered some of the great philosophers and I still read it today. But much as I enjoy philosophy and even though I have in the past worked with prisoners and ex-offenders (mainly on issues relating to sexual health), I would never have thought it possible to teach philosophy in prisons. That is exactly what Andy West, author of "The Life Inside: A Memoir of Prison, Family and Philosophy" did - and does. In this amazing, insightful, moving and sometimes funny memoir, Andy describes teaching philosophy to prisoners, ranging from those with short sentences to lifers, men and women, those with a good education and the many whose literacy is low. Some of those he teaches include heroin addicts and those convicted of serious sexual offences. And he manages to do so successfully.
He gets prisoners to discuss some of the most difficult philosophers, including the likes of Zeno, Plato, Derrida, Descartes, Hegel, Nietzsche and others, as well as the ideas of radical writers like feminist Audre Lord and civil rights activist Malcolm X, plus some eastern philosophers. He uses writers ranging from Homer to Dostoevsky to Kafka to Samuel Beckett and others to explore some of these ideas. He gets prisoners to use their own experiences, inside and outside of prison, to discuss major ideas such as: do we have free will? is forgiveness possible? What do we mean by truth? What does it mean to be alive? Is Salvation possible? What is home? and much, much more. And the prisoners, regardless of the level of their education and literacy, respond and seriously debate these issues in ways that are instructive and challenging. One prisoner describes his sessions as like being free for the duration.
He also describes the petty bureaucracy, which often resembles cruelty, that forms the basis of much of prison life. He includes descriptions of conflict inside, of violence, drug use and alienation.
And he relates all of this to his own life. To the fact that his father, his uncle and his brother have all been in prison, that he feels guilt that he has only avoided that fate because he saw what happened to these family members. He discusses his own mental health issues, including feeling he is inhabited by an "executioner" who continually undermines him.
This is an amazing book. It not only highlights the author's own personal dilemmas and fears, but also shows what can be achieved with skill, determination, empathy and a willingness to take risks. He shows that even the most hardened prisoners guilty of the most appalling crimes can, regardless of their level of education, respond positively when treated as intelligent human beings with something to offer and something to say.
He gets prisoners to discuss some of the most difficult philosophers, including the likes of Zeno, Plato, Derrida, Descartes, Hegel, Nietzsche and others, as well as the ideas of radical writers like feminist Audre Lord and civil rights activist Malcolm X, plus some eastern philosophers. He uses writers ranging from Homer to Dostoevsky to Kafka to Samuel Beckett and others to explore some of these ideas. He gets prisoners to use their own experiences, inside and outside of prison, to discuss major ideas such as: do we have free will? is forgiveness possible? What do we mean by truth? What does it mean to be alive? Is Salvation possible? What is home? and much, much more. And the prisoners, regardless of the level of their education and literacy, respond and seriously debate these issues in ways that are instructive and challenging. One prisoner describes his sessions as like being free for the duration.
He also describes the petty bureaucracy, which often resembles cruelty, that forms the basis of much of prison life. He includes descriptions of conflict inside, of violence, drug use and alienation.
And he relates all of this to his own life. To the fact that his father, his uncle and his brother have all been in prison, that he feels guilt that he has only avoided that fate because he saw what happened to these family members. He discusses his own mental health issues, including feeling he is inhabited by an "executioner" who continually undermines him.
This is an amazing book. It not only highlights the author's own personal dilemmas and fears, but also shows what can be achieved with skill, determination, empathy and a willingness to take risks. He shows that even the most hardened prisoners guilty of the most appalling crimes can, regardless of their level of education, respond positively when treated as intelligent human beings with something to offer and something to say.
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June 5, 2022Andy West tells us not only astonishing stories about residing inside a prison cell, but the book also lets us participate in the author's feelings, thoughts, and experiences in his personal life, troubled relationships, and constant fears of ending up like his father or uncle. It shows how philosophical thinking has changed and psychologically drives his own life. The book is not only educating with respect to the different life skills and topics throughout the book, I also felt honoured to have had the chance to receive familiar impressions about the 'inside life' of the prisoners. He has my utmost respect in taking account of the conversation he had with them in the philosophy class. The story that touched me most was about kindness. His service as a philosophy teacher in the prison is to let those inside escape from the current situation and to walk from the 'philosophical landing' in prison to an imagined world outside in which they want to live. It is amazing to read on what learning journeys some prisoners embarked; some detainees experienced through his teaching a kind of transformation in their own lives. This was such an interesting book, and I can only wholeheartedly recommend the reading for anyone interested in getting to know how transformative philosophical thinking could be, for oneself and for others.
November 7, 2024
Breaking the seemingly family tradition of ending up in jail (his father, uncle and brother were all behind bars), Andy West takes a different route to the same destination by teaching philosophy to the inmates.
He has had a traumatic upbringing and suffers inherited guilt which presents itself in extremely debilitating ocd. It's impressive how he has overcome the odds to be on the right side of the law and his relationship and idolisation of his brother are very moving.
The structure of the book is clever, with short poignant anecdotes, philosophical questions posed in his classes and reflections and observations of his own life. It gives a very clear picture of the effect of the lack of funding in our prison system with men being locked up 23 hours out of 24 too often, usually due to shortage of staff rather than specific incidents. I loved hearing about the characters he meets in prison and particularly found the description of Yannis, very excited having received a letter from a friend and looking forward to replying and planning what questions to ask, really touching.
I thought it was going to be more of a prison memoir like Chris Atkins's A Bit of A Stretch (which is excellent) but this is more about the author than prison life.
He has had a traumatic upbringing and suffers inherited guilt which presents itself in extremely debilitating ocd. It's impressive how he has overcome the odds to be on the right side of the law and his relationship and idolisation of his brother are very moving.
The structure of the book is clever, with short poignant anecdotes, philosophical questions posed in his classes and reflections and observations of his own life. It gives a very clear picture of the effect of the lack of funding in our prison system with men being locked up 23 hours out of 24 too often, usually due to shortage of staff rather than specific incidents. I loved hearing about the characters he meets in prison and particularly found the description of Yannis, very excited having received a letter from a friend and looking forward to replying and planning what questions to ask, really touching.
I thought it was going to be more of a prison memoir like Chris Atkins's A Bit of A Stretch (which is excellent) but this is more about the author than prison life.
September 16, 2024
"Only unforgivable acts is worthy of forgiveness." Jacques Derrida
To live well in the world you must learn to embrace how the world is and arrive for how the world other to be.
Masculinity is an identity achieved through dominance. In order (for me) to be a man, somebody else has to lose.
That is what the shame is - the inability to forget.
Laughter is a way to escape guilt-forgiveness bind. So someone can die on his own terms.
When you realize that the brutal emptiness of existence is itself the ultimate home, you laugh a laugh that raises you above the abyss.
"Philosophy is preparation to death." Socrates
To live well in the world you must learn to embrace how the world is and arrive for how the world other to be.
Masculinity is an identity achieved through dominance. In order (for me) to be a man, somebody else has to lose.
That is what the shame is - the inability to forget.
Laughter is a way to escape guilt-forgiveness bind. So someone can die on his own terms.
When you realize that the brutal emptiness of existence is itself the ultimate home, you laugh a laugh that raises you above the abyss.
"Philosophy is preparation to death." Socrates
July 16, 2023
What I loved about this book is that it is party biographical and party a philosophical comment on incarceration. The author teaches Philosophy in prisons and uses his lectures to introduce us to a range of characters. He also has had a family history with incarceration. It is a deeply moving book about the human costs of prison.
August 16, 2024
An interesting read, although I found reading Andy's own personal descriptions of his mental health and the executioner quite difficult. I didn't enjoy reading Kafka and Andy references his work a lot, so perhaps the association turned me off more. However, I really enjoyed hearing the prisoner's voices and ideas around the philosophical questions posed.
May 11, 2025
This book about a teacher teaching philosophy in a prison was a great read, as he looks at his own life and his family members who have experienced prison.
It was different to just hear the inmates stories, rather than most prison drams which tend to go more for the horrific crimes that go on inside the cells
It was different to just hear the inmates stories, rather than most prison drams which tend to go more for the horrific crimes that go on inside the cells
May 29, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book and it was quite interesting to gain a personal and philosophical insight surrounding the issues faced by inmates and their loved ones. It also sheds further light on the necessity and importance of reforming the prison system. I definitely recommend this reading!
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