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Zek: An American Prison Story
Zek is the story of Jonny: a man who's broken off and doing time in an eastern Washington state prison. Zek lays bare the brutality of life spent behind bars. It is naked. It is ugly. And it is beautiful.
Arthur Longworth was born in Tacoma, Washington, was state-raised, and entered prison at the age of 21 with a seventh-grade education. He has written for the Marshall Project, Vice News, and Yes Magazine, and is the recipient of three National PEN awards. Completed in 2005, Zek utilizes the literary structure of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich to tell the story of a day in the life of a prisoner in the United States. It is likely Arthur Longworth’s most widely read work, as it has been passed among prisoners and prison guards for over a decade. Zek is available now for the first time on the outside.
Arthur Longworth was born in Tacoma, Washington, was state-raised, and entered prison at the age of 21 with a seventh-grade education. He has written for the Marshall Project, Vice News, and Yes Magazine, and is the recipient of three National PEN awards. Completed in 2005, Zek utilizes the literary structure of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich to tell the story of a day in the life of a prisoner in the United States. It is likely Arthur Longworth’s most widely read work, as it has been passed among prisoners and prison guards for over a decade. Zek is available now for the first time on the outside.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
182 pages, ebook
First published February 17, 2016
136 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 4, 2021
Zek (zek) n. Russian slang for prisoner in the Gulag.
This short but punchy tale tells the story of just one day in the life of a prisoner in an American prison.
At the beginning of the day, Johnny finds a book, and looking at it realises it is about a prisoner - telling the story of one day inside from start to finish. This is revolutionary to Johnny:
"Looking at what remained of its cover, he realized it was about prison—specifically, a day in the life of some prisoner. He felt a twinge of disappointment. He had never read a story about prison that wasn’t bullshit—written by someone who had never lived a day inside—a fairy tale, replete with storybook ending ... not the way things really were. "
He decides to pick up the pen and write his own 'day in the life of' story. What follows is an honest and raw account of life inside prison, from breakfast, going through the many search stops to get to work, doing a day's work, avoiding fights, witnessing horrific incidents, and making it to bedtime. The fact all of this book is just one day is a great commentary on how slow time must go inside prison. It also shocks and horrifies in all the right ways and I really sympathised with Johnny and his cell mates feeling an empathy and sorrow for them.
A great thought provoking book. I might have to dig out the real life book that apparently influences Johnny.
I'm left wondering is 'Johnny' the author? Some research shows he did indeed do Time, and this book is used in prisons.
3 stars, because I just wanted a bit more on the real author... I couldn't work out where real life and fiction stopped or merged.
This short but punchy tale tells the story of just one day in the life of a prisoner in an American prison.
At the beginning of the day, Johnny finds a book, and looking at it realises it is about a prisoner - telling the story of one day inside from start to finish. This is revolutionary to Johnny:
"Looking at what remained of its cover, he realized it was about prison—specifically, a day in the life of some prisoner. He felt a twinge of disappointment. He had never read a story about prison that wasn’t bullshit—written by someone who had never lived a day inside—a fairy tale, replete with storybook ending ... not the way things really were. "
He decides to pick up the pen and write his own 'day in the life of' story. What follows is an honest and raw account of life inside prison, from breakfast, going through the many search stops to get to work, doing a day's work, avoiding fights, witnessing horrific incidents, and making it to bedtime. The fact all of this book is just one day is a great commentary on how slow time must go inside prison. It also shocks and horrifies in all the right ways and I really sympathised with Johnny and his cell mates feeling an empathy and sorrow for them.
A great thought provoking book. I might have to dig out the real life book that apparently influences Johnny.
I'm left wondering is 'Johnny' the author? Some research shows he did indeed do Time, and this book is used in prisons.
3 stars, because I just wanted a bit more on the real author... I couldn't work out where real life and fiction stopped or merged.
October 25, 2017
This book was hard to read and hard to put down. The American prison experience is both shocking and depressingly unsurprising. Also, Art Longworth can write.
August 11, 2017
Excellent and Hyper-Realistic
If you want to know something about what it's like to be in a state penitentiary, read this book. Fantastic but harrowing.
If you want to know something about what it's like to be in a state penitentiary, read this book. Fantastic but harrowing.
December 28, 2019
Eye opening and thought provoking
July 16, 2018
Before you read this book, I highly advise you to read the following book by the author Solzjenitsyn:
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Why? Because Zek has the same set-up as that book. It shows the life of a prisoner during one day in prison (versus a Gulag). The storyline also has events that are similar in nature.
Coincidentally, I read the book of Solzjenitsyn a few weeks ago. This since I am reading quite som prison stories as the monents. The parallels that can be found in the storyline in Zek, made it therefore an all the more special experience:) In my opinion, this book deserves four stars!
Trivia: the page numbering was different from what I have seen. The right page has an even numbers, whilst normally this is uneven
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Why? Because Zek has the same set-up as that book. It shows the life of a prisoner during one day in prison (versus a Gulag). The storyline also has events that are similar in nature.
Coincidentally, I read the book of Solzjenitsyn a few weeks ago. This since I am reading quite som prison stories as the monents. The parallels that can be found in the storyline in Zek, made it therefore an all the more special experience:) In my opinion, this book deserves four stars!
Trivia: the page numbering was different from what I have seen. The right page has an even numbers, whilst normally this is uneven
July 13, 2018
About 2.3 million Americans are currently incarcerated, but most people who haven't been part of the prison system have no idea how it actually works. It's a system based on centuries of racial bias and economic cruelty, but it's what we call justice in America. This firsthand account, by an author who is incarcerated, is essential reading. Brutal, heartbreaking, and incisive.
June 12, 2020
An interesting story of incarceration, told through the eyes of an inmate in a Washington State prison. As a retired correctional officer myself, I found it to be very informative to look at the system through "the other side's" eyes. The boredom, frustration, discrimination (by staff and other inmates), violence, and hopelessness is very well expressed. I hope the author continues writing.
June 16, 2018
Powerful, shocking and depressing. Realist fiction in the truest sense.
September 23, 2018
What a breathtaking yet difficult-to-read book. If you want to get a better understanding of what happens in prison this is the book to rea.d
June 21, 2024
A gritty and brutal portrayal of a day in the life of a prisoner in a harsh maximum security prison. The story shows the survival mentality that prisoners have to get through a day and the junk they have to deal with both from other prisoners as well as dehumanizing guards. Johnny looks up to certain people, steers clear of others and has learned how to stay tough and stand his ground during 10 years serving time. The psychological side of what prison does to a person is explored quite a bit as well as the dichotomy of hope and hopelessness for different prisoners. We read about the black market system of trade and smuggling, the justice and retribution code of prisoners, and what people do to make it day to day. Racial lines in prison are also highlighted. There is a comradeship and friendship with his cellmates shown throughout that is a respite in the midst of the mental, emotional, and physical strain of prison.
It’s apparent that the prison system at least as depicted in the story could use reforms to move beyond a perpetuating cycle of punishment and recidivism rather than actually reforming and setting prisoners up to succeed in the free world upon release. While presented as fiction with several high intensity scenes jammed into one day, there is a close up sense of realism to the book that could only come from someone who understands and has lived the life from the inside.
It’s apparent that the prison system at least as depicted in the story could use reforms to move beyond a perpetuating cycle of punishment and recidivism rather than actually reforming and setting prisoners up to succeed in the free world upon release. While presented as fiction with several high intensity scenes jammed into one day, there is a close up sense of realism to the book that could only come from someone who understands and has lived the life from the inside.
February 26, 2023
Absolutely a book I could not put down! It has sit at the edge, stay up all night and miss work to finish reading quality. The Author, Author Longworth is the going to be up there with the greats of he keeps this up. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
The book has brute honesty, which alone deserves respect! He tells an honest truth of a place/places most people never even think about. But society as a who!e needs to know about. Not only as a warning but a truthfully honest daily life experience for survival.
It also is sadly heartbreaking in many ways, you get a kind of connection to the people inside the prison while reading. Finding favs, good guys and bad! And when they get beat, badly hurt or killed its shocking and sad. To pay the ultimate price for crimes committed should be enough! But to go through that hell dai!y just to survive another shouldn't be happening. And to read this book, well it's exciting and all your looking for and more!
The book has brute honesty, which alone deserves respect! He tells an honest truth of a place/places most people never even think about. But society as a who!e needs to know about. Not only as a warning but a truthfully honest daily life experience for survival.
It also is sadly heartbreaking in many ways, you get a kind of connection to the people inside the prison while reading. Finding favs, good guys and bad! And when they get beat, badly hurt or killed its shocking and sad. To pay the ultimate price for crimes committed should be enough! But to go through that hell dai!y just to survive another shouldn't be happening. And to read this book, well it's exciting and all your looking for and more!
April 4, 2018
This is definitely a work of fiction. Not sure what dates "Jonny" was supposedly incarcerated for, but having been to the "fictional" prison he writes about, many of his situations just don't add up. The chow and chowhall is run totally different, there are no guards with shotguns, they don't beat on prisoner's, the cell's are not overcrowded (no cell's with 4 men).
Prison is not a great place to be, but saying "he's a good guy" about people who shoot and murder shows a lack of humanity.
There are good guys that have been incarcerated, and prison's are improving. This is a con. Spend some time researching fact.
Prison is not a great place to be, but saying "he's a good guy" about people who shoot and murder shows a lack of humanity.
There are good guys that have been incarcerated, and prison's are improving. This is a con. Spend some time researching fact.
January 6, 2022
Authentic, realistic, raw, uncensored look at a day in the life of a prisoner. Inspired by "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. This guy is no hack (no pun intended?).. and has an excellent literary voice. I'm so glad I found this book. I'll go on to read the other book he wrote, not to mention his magazine articles. I also sent a copy to my local library since it wasn't available... and not even on an interlibrary loan. Hopefully they will wise up and purchase a few copies.
September 7, 2021
If Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Edward Bunker were cellmates and had to share a clunky old prison typewriter - with the ribbon dyed in blood - this would be the novel they’d bang out together. Hats off - good read!
March 28, 2023
Real!
This was a well written story,written by someone whose lived it and survived. The writer gives a candid look and you feel this experience as it unfolds. A story to add to your collection and a teaching tool.
This was a well written story,written by someone whose lived it and survived. The writer gives a candid look and you feel this experience as it unfolds. A story to add to your collection and a teaching tool.
June 2, 2023
Very good
An insightful read to the world of a prisoner. How deeply saddening it is for humans to be treated this way. I understand that some have taken lives, but where is the rehabilitation? No wonder there is a high incidence of repeat offenders.
An insightful read to the world of a prisoner. How deeply saddening it is for humans to be treated this way. I understand that some have taken lives, but where is the rehabilitation? No wonder there is a high incidence of repeat offenders.
March 2, 2024
This was a difficult book.
At first, I found the lack of benchmarks like chapters difficult to parse. Simply because it kept going and going. But then I realized: that’s the point. that’s why it was written this way.
And this only covers one day.
Man.
Again - difficult, difficult read. Especially when you realize this is just one day and there will be others like it.
At first, I found the lack of benchmarks like chapters difficult to parse. Simply because it kept going and going. But then I realized: that’s the point. that’s why it was written this way.
And this only covers one day.
Man.
Again - difficult, difficult read. Especially when you realize this is just one day and there will be others like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
this is definitely very different from what i normally read but oh my was this thought provoking. this book was a realistic depiction of an american prison. i truly cannot fathom what it’s like behind bars.
September 27, 2021
SUPER interesting! A really good look at the every day life on the inside. A great piggyback after reading "Trejo".
December 8, 2021
Very poignant and upsetting, but quality read. Will definitely make you question the prison system if you haven't before.
January 6, 2022
great!
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters and how they stayed as a team and looked after each other.
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters and how they stayed as a team and looked after each other.
July 17, 2022
Exceptional Read
I'm so happy I came across this gem of a book, truly enjoyed- read in one single sitting.
I highly recommend you read this book.
I'm so happy I came across this gem of a book, truly enjoyed- read in one single sitting.
I highly recommend you read this book.
February 27, 2023
This book is defiantly something that will stick with me for a long time. Hearing the stories told within a prison system is scary and to be able to hear the truth about it is eye opening.
December 26, 2024
3.8 ⭐️ Really interesting and a quick read. I wasn’t a huge fan of there being no chapters but still a realistic depiction of prison life compared to other books I’ve read.
March 2, 2017
This is a short novel which tells the prisoner's side of day to day life in a prison that has inhumane conditions and treatment of prisoners. Told by a man who has spent a great deal of his life in prison, it is definitely sympathetic to the prisoners and questions their treatment by guards, which he portrays as nothing short of sadistic. He doesn't think inhumane treatment does anything to "correct" their behavior, rather he thinks it makes their behavior worse and leaves them with no alternative to a life of crime if they ever get out. Lots of violence.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews