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Alcatraz from Inside
At 22, Jim Quillen is on the run from San Quentin prison. He thinks he made a lucky escape, until he is caught and sentenced to 45 years inside America's toughest prison, US Penitentiary Alcatraz Island.
This is one man's true story of life inside America's most notorious prison, from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with the "Birdman." An inspiring, moving, and dramatic tale.
This is one man's true story of life inside America's most notorious prison, from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with the "Birdman." An inspiring, moving, and dramatic tale.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
136 people are currently reading
1035 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 22, 2022
I think it‘s difficult to really rate a book like this, given it was literally his life he talked about and not just fiction. I still feel it definitely deserves 5 stars because you can learn a lot from his life and about Alcatraz!
I saw the book in the giftstore after visiting Alcatraz and knew right away that I wanted to read it and I‘m so glad I did.
The audio tour gave a lot of details already but reading about Alcatraz from an inmates point of view was so different and showed a different side of the prison than I knew about before!
I saw the book in the giftstore after visiting Alcatraz and knew right away that I wanted to read it and I‘m so glad I did.
The audio tour gave a lot of details already but reading about Alcatraz from an inmates point of view was so different and showed a different side of the prison than I knew about before!
August 3, 2023
Picked up this book during our visit to Alcatraz. A former prisoner wrote a detailed account about life inside, including his solitary confinement, interactions with guards, and attempted rebellions. There is a very detailed narrative about a breakout in 1946, which resulted in a 3 day standoff. Interesting read.
July 17, 2022
3.5 stars. Very interesting read after visiting Alcatraz.
October 31, 2018
Vivid details. Makes you understand how a man rapidly deteriorates once he chooses to break the rules. It also proves that there is always a chance to make things right. It was good to read after actually visiting Alcatraz because one can imagine being in those areas described.
April 9, 2024
This man’s story is fascinating and powerful! The writing was a bit slow when talking about the escape attempt, but his turnaround was truly remarkable. Great read!
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June 13, 2025I chose this book for a school project, so here's the review I wrote for that. It's basically a summary of the entire book, and how it connects to our class, but I did really enjoy it. I had the privilege of visiting the penitentiary when I went to San Francisco in April, and I found the audio tour really interesting, so when I saw this book in the gift shop, it was a must. Enjoy this book review, for my honors Genocide and Human Rights class.
Alcatraz. The notorious island in San Francisco, known for housing the US Penitentiary prison, built in 1934. At only 22 years old, Jim Quillen was sentenced to serve 45 years, after having previously escaped from San Quentin prison. Little did he know about the horrors inside the building, and the people who he’d encounter during his time there. He soon came to realize that “not all of the violent and vicious men found at Alcatraz wore numbers. Some wore uniforms and were protected by laws, society, and the walls of secrecy that surrounded that grim prison” (Quillen 91). Alcatraz From Inside is Quillen’s personal account of what really happened at Alcatraz, and the human rights violations that occurred behind closed doors.
Quillen’s story begins at his childhood, where he lived with his mother, father, and sister. However, this is not the story of a normal family. They greatly struggled financially and while his mom turned to alcohol, his father turned to violence. One night when he was young, Quillen’s mother filled the house where her family was soundly sleeping with gas, before taking off, leaving her family to die. The only reason they survived was due to a dog that noticed the gas before it was too late, and was able to wake the family to evacuate. Quillen never saw his mother again. Before long, his father remarried, which is what set off the spark inside of him. He started misbehaving at home and school, oftentimes choosing to run away from home, returning within two weeks, all the way up to two months. During this time, he began to steal, and started to hang out with gangs to survive. Before long, he had his first encounter with the law when he was caught smoking in school, and lashed out at his school principal, breaking a window in the process. He was sentenced to serve time in juvie, but before long, he was released back to his father. However despite spending time in juvie, Quillen couldn’t help but come face to face with law enforcement time and time again. He turned to robberies, and stole numerous cars, which sent him back to juvie. His sentence continued to increase as he kept escaping, or trying to, and the cycle kept continuing: Quillen stole something, he was caught, he tried to escape, the sentence became longer, and after his time was served he was released. Things began to shift when he was involved in an armed robbery and kidnapping attempt in 1942 after having escaped San Quentin prison, the first prison he got sent to as an adult. His involvement in the crime resulted in him being sent to Alcatraz US Penitentiary to serve a sentence of 45 years, before he would be transferred to state prison, serving for life. Alcatraz was the place where you could say he was “changed for good.”
When Quillen was incarcerated in the penitentiary, he described it as bleak, and lifeless, despite the fact that there were so many people there who were in fact alive. He explained that “[their lives were] being lived as others determined. [They] had no right to decide what to say or do. It was of no consequence what [they] thought because [they] had violated the law; being incarcerated at Alcatraz made [them] outcasts, at the mercy of the whims of those in authority” and those who had the power took advantage of it (Quillen 83-84). When Quillen tried to escape with a couple of other inmates, another inmate caught them and told the authorities. While the authorities didn’t have any solid evidence of what was happening, only the account of another inmate, they still decided to punish Quillen by sending him to solitary confinement, or what was otherwise known as “the hole.” When inmates were inside “the hole,” a soundproof cell in block D, separated from the rest of the inmates, they weren’t allowed to talk. They received a small portion of food that was barely enough to survive, and inside the cell, “there was nothing except a cold metal bed frame, a toilet, a sink” and the inmates themselves (Quillen 122). The cell was often quite cold due to the fact that the walls and floor were made of steel, retaining the cold that was the draft of the San Francisco waters. It didn’t help the fact that inmates weren’t given much clothing either, so they had no way to stay warm without any clothing besides a pair of shorts, socks, and coveralls. They were only given bed sheets at night and even with them, it was still hard to remain warm. During Quillen’s time in “the hole” he states that “worse than being cold, though, was the total feeling of isolation from the world. Being unable to see or hear is an awful experience for someone who has no physical impairment,” (Quillen 122). The lights were never turned on in “the hole,” besides the 20 minute periods they were given to eat the small amount of food they were given. Due to this treatment, it caused some of the prisoners to go clinically insane. It’s important to note that this treatment was very much unconstitutional, as prisoners should’ve been protected by the 8th amendment, which states that there should be no cruel or unusual punishment towards prisoners. This treatment was entirely inhumane, and while they were incarcerated, these people under protection of the law were still supposed to be treated like human beings which the wardens and correctional officers of the penitentiary weren’t abiding by. Nobody from outside the walls of the prison knew what was happening. Furthermore, Quilen explains that prior to spending time in “the hole” he “had never understood or sympathized with those who went insane or committed suicide, especially because of a situation they themselves had created,” and he “had always lived by the philosophy that if one played the game, he must be willing to pay the price,” however “segregation and isolation were beginning to make [him] realize…that it was far more difficult to cope with the undesirable and traumatic world of reality once hope was gone” (Quillen 123). It’s “what drove men to murder, insanity, and self-destruction” which is not something that a correctional facility is supposed to do (Quillen 123). Prisons and correctional facilities are supposed to, by law, feed inmates a substantial amount of food, allow them time everyday in the yard, and allow them to participate in jobs and safe activities such as making music or reading, none of which was allowed when inmates were sent to “the hole.” It can be argued that the way these prisoners were being treated, were human rights abuses, and it wasn’t only the treatment in “the hole” that proves that.
In 1946, an event occurred which is now named the “Battle of Alcatraz” or the “Alcatraz Blastout.” Quillen takes it upon himself to explain “the three-day nightmare of the federal prison system and its bureaucrats trying to murder twenty-six inmates, including [him]” (Quillen 133). This battle not only involved the staff of Alcatraz, but guards from Atlanta, San-Quentin, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy center and more, all sent specifically to subdue and kill 5 Alcatraz inmates who started the breakout. However, they didn’t just harm those 5 men. They entered the prison with numerous weapons such as “tear gas, rifle grenades, hand grenades, flares, smoke bombs” and more, and “they used pistols, rifles, machine guns, and every kind of weapon available to assault force” on everyone incarcerated in the prison. The ones who weren’t involved in the escape attempt tried to stay safe and out of the way from the gas in the air and bullets flying throughout the prison, but not everyone made it out alive. Quillen comments that “[they] were totally unprepared for their planned terrorizing, and their savage, all-out attempt to spill convict blood. It was of no importance [to them] whether the potential victims were innocent, trapped bystanders or participants in the break,” they were all just seen as people who deserved to be harmed, because they did something terrible in their past that had them sent there. The actions of the Marine and Navy were entirely inhumane--they dehumanized the people there, even more than the prison itself already had.
This connects to our class (Human Rights and Genocide), as the events that occurred in Alcatraz, were human rights abuses. Inmates were constantly dehumanized with the treatment of solitary confinement, (not to mention the severity of it was against the law) and even more so during the Battle of Alcatraz, where 6 inmates were killed, 3 of which were bystanders, and over a dozen were injured. The Marine and Navy didn’t care about the well being of these people trying to turn their lives around, they just came in with weapons and started firing, without a care of who got hurt in the process. While it’s not a genocide, it can also be connected in the way that these inmates were tortured and killed with great intention. The attacks were planned. The treatment was planned. And it was all unconstitutional. These people were looked at with pure hatred, just because of their pasts. It can be a tricky subject as to if they “deserved it” or not, as the people there did violate the law multiple times to end up there, however none of them were sentenced with the death penalty. The years they spent incarcerated were the years they had to turn their lives around and become a better person, and that was ripped from those who were killed.
I got my grade back—40/40!
Alcatraz. The notorious island in San Francisco, known for housing the US Penitentiary prison, built in 1934. At only 22 years old, Jim Quillen was sentenced to serve 45 years, after having previously escaped from San Quentin prison. Little did he know about the horrors inside the building, and the people who he’d encounter during his time there. He soon came to realize that “not all of the violent and vicious men found at Alcatraz wore numbers. Some wore uniforms and were protected by laws, society, and the walls of secrecy that surrounded that grim prison” (Quillen 91). Alcatraz From Inside is Quillen’s personal account of what really happened at Alcatraz, and the human rights violations that occurred behind closed doors.
Quillen’s story begins at his childhood, where he lived with his mother, father, and sister. However, this is not the story of a normal family. They greatly struggled financially and while his mom turned to alcohol, his father turned to violence. One night when he was young, Quillen’s mother filled the house where her family was soundly sleeping with gas, before taking off, leaving her family to die. The only reason they survived was due to a dog that noticed the gas before it was too late, and was able to wake the family to evacuate. Quillen never saw his mother again. Before long, his father remarried, which is what set off the spark inside of him. He started misbehaving at home and school, oftentimes choosing to run away from home, returning within two weeks, all the way up to two months. During this time, he began to steal, and started to hang out with gangs to survive. Before long, he had his first encounter with the law when he was caught smoking in school, and lashed out at his school principal, breaking a window in the process. He was sentenced to serve time in juvie, but before long, he was released back to his father. However despite spending time in juvie, Quillen couldn’t help but come face to face with law enforcement time and time again. He turned to robberies, and stole numerous cars, which sent him back to juvie. His sentence continued to increase as he kept escaping, or trying to, and the cycle kept continuing: Quillen stole something, he was caught, he tried to escape, the sentence became longer, and after his time was served he was released. Things began to shift when he was involved in an armed robbery and kidnapping attempt in 1942 after having escaped San Quentin prison, the first prison he got sent to as an adult. His involvement in the crime resulted in him being sent to Alcatraz US Penitentiary to serve a sentence of 45 years, before he would be transferred to state prison, serving for life. Alcatraz was the place where you could say he was “changed for good.”
When Quillen was incarcerated in the penitentiary, he described it as bleak, and lifeless, despite the fact that there were so many people there who were in fact alive. He explained that “[their lives were] being lived as others determined. [They] had no right to decide what to say or do. It was of no consequence what [they] thought because [they] had violated the law; being incarcerated at Alcatraz made [them] outcasts, at the mercy of the whims of those in authority” and those who had the power took advantage of it (Quillen 83-84). When Quillen tried to escape with a couple of other inmates, another inmate caught them and told the authorities. While the authorities didn’t have any solid evidence of what was happening, only the account of another inmate, they still decided to punish Quillen by sending him to solitary confinement, or what was otherwise known as “the hole.” When inmates were inside “the hole,” a soundproof cell in block D, separated from the rest of the inmates, they weren’t allowed to talk. They received a small portion of food that was barely enough to survive, and inside the cell, “there was nothing except a cold metal bed frame, a toilet, a sink” and the inmates themselves (Quillen 122). The cell was often quite cold due to the fact that the walls and floor were made of steel, retaining the cold that was the draft of the San Francisco waters. It didn’t help the fact that inmates weren’t given much clothing either, so they had no way to stay warm without any clothing besides a pair of shorts, socks, and coveralls. They were only given bed sheets at night and even with them, it was still hard to remain warm. During Quillen’s time in “the hole” he states that “worse than being cold, though, was the total feeling of isolation from the world. Being unable to see or hear is an awful experience for someone who has no physical impairment,” (Quillen 122). The lights were never turned on in “the hole,” besides the 20 minute periods they were given to eat the small amount of food they were given. Due to this treatment, it caused some of the prisoners to go clinically insane. It’s important to note that this treatment was very much unconstitutional, as prisoners should’ve been protected by the 8th amendment, which states that there should be no cruel or unusual punishment towards prisoners. This treatment was entirely inhumane, and while they were incarcerated, these people under protection of the law were still supposed to be treated like human beings which the wardens and correctional officers of the penitentiary weren’t abiding by. Nobody from outside the walls of the prison knew what was happening. Furthermore, Quilen explains that prior to spending time in “the hole” he “had never understood or sympathized with those who went insane or committed suicide, especially because of a situation they themselves had created,” and he “had always lived by the philosophy that if one played the game, he must be willing to pay the price,” however “segregation and isolation were beginning to make [him] realize…that it was far more difficult to cope with the undesirable and traumatic world of reality once hope was gone” (Quillen 123). It’s “what drove men to murder, insanity, and self-destruction” which is not something that a correctional facility is supposed to do (Quillen 123). Prisons and correctional facilities are supposed to, by law, feed inmates a substantial amount of food, allow them time everyday in the yard, and allow them to participate in jobs and safe activities such as making music or reading, none of which was allowed when inmates were sent to “the hole.” It can be argued that the way these prisoners were being treated, were human rights abuses, and it wasn’t only the treatment in “the hole” that proves that.
In 1946, an event occurred which is now named the “Battle of Alcatraz” or the “Alcatraz Blastout.” Quillen takes it upon himself to explain “the three-day nightmare of the federal prison system and its bureaucrats trying to murder twenty-six inmates, including [him]” (Quillen 133). This battle not only involved the staff of Alcatraz, but guards from Atlanta, San-Quentin, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy center and more, all sent specifically to subdue and kill 5 Alcatraz inmates who started the breakout. However, they didn’t just harm those 5 men. They entered the prison with numerous weapons such as “tear gas, rifle grenades, hand grenades, flares, smoke bombs” and more, and “they used pistols, rifles, machine guns, and every kind of weapon available to assault force” on everyone incarcerated in the prison. The ones who weren’t involved in the escape attempt tried to stay safe and out of the way from the gas in the air and bullets flying throughout the prison, but not everyone made it out alive. Quillen comments that “[they] were totally unprepared for their planned terrorizing, and their savage, all-out attempt to spill convict blood. It was of no importance [to them] whether the potential victims were innocent, trapped bystanders or participants in the break,” they were all just seen as people who deserved to be harmed, because they did something terrible in their past that had them sent there. The actions of the Marine and Navy were entirely inhumane--they dehumanized the people there, even more than the prison itself already had.
This connects to our class (Human Rights and Genocide), as the events that occurred in Alcatraz, were human rights abuses. Inmates were constantly dehumanized with the treatment of solitary confinement, (not to mention the severity of it was against the law) and even more so during the Battle of Alcatraz, where 6 inmates were killed, 3 of which were bystanders, and over a dozen were injured. The Marine and Navy didn’t care about the well being of these people trying to turn their lives around, they just came in with weapons and started firing, without a care of who got hurt in the process. While it’s not a genocide, it can also be connected in the way that these inmates were tortured and killed with great intention. The attacks were planned. The treatment was planned. And it was all unconstitutional. These people were looked at with pure hatred, just because of their pasts. It can be a tricky subject as to if they “deserved it” or not, as the people there did violate the law multiple times to end up there, however none of them were sentenced with the death penalty. The years they spent incarcerated were the years they had to turn their lives around and become a better person, and that was ripped from those who were killed.
I got my grade back—40/40!
March 23, 2022
This book was written beautifully.
Seeing the perspective from this brutal prison from an inmate's eyes was incredible.
Learning how Jim Quillen was brought up and how his childhood shaped him into the thief of his early life was heartbreaking. It is also interesting that when you read a book like this, that the author did not so good things, but while reading it you kind of still root for the guy, while he is doing the bad things or you hope the prisoners pull off the escape plan.
I learned a lot of what the audio tour didn't delve into which was sweet! There are a couple of movies I will be checking out, Alcatraz (2018) and Escape from Alcatraz (1979) which respectively cover the May 2-4th 1946 escape attempt (the bloodiest in the history of Alcatraz) and the 1964 attempt with dummy heads and climbing between the cell blocks.
It was also nice to see how the system could take care of people through proper funding and commitment. Jim Quillen became a radiologist through several different forms of help on and off Alcatraz, which I thought was pretty awesome.
Seeing the perspective from this brutal prison from an inmate's eyes was incredible.
Learning how Jim Quillen was brought up and how his childhood shaped him into the thief of his early life was heartbreaking. It is also interesting that when you read a book like this, that the author did not so good things, but while reading it you kind of still root for the guy, while he is doing the bad things or you hope the prisoners pull off the escape plan.
I learned a lot of what the audio tour didn't delve into which was sweet! There are a couple of movies I will be checking out, Alcatraz (2018) and Escape from Alcatraz (1979) which respectively cover the May 2-4th 1946 escape attempt (the bloodiest in the history of Alcatraz) and the 1964 attempt with dummy heads and climbing between the cell blocks.
It was also nice to see how the system could take care of people through proper funding and commitment. Jim Quillen became a radiologist through several different forms of help on and off Alcatraz, which I thought was pretty awesome.
January 14, 2020
Solid 3.5. The writing felt a bit repetitive at times. Definitely a great read after visiting Alcatraz as you'll be able to envision far more of the author's recollection of his time on the rock.
July 17, 2025
As someone who mostly reads fiction, it was very hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that the events that took place in this book actually happened to someone! From reading about Quillen’s history, his path into committing crime and then his numerous incarcerations and escape attempts, it was just difficult to comprehend that this was all someones reality… I thought the books was very well written, I also appreciated the fact that Quillen even admits to having waited multiple years after release to write about his experience in orde to be able to give a more objective view of the events that took place! & I feel that he succeeded in doings so!
I bought this book in the Alcatraz giftshop when visiting Alcatraz Island during the night audio tour! After having received such in depth information about the prison, it’s infrastructure, inmates and escape attempts, it was very weird to be able to visualize where in the prison you were situated based on the knformation given kn the book! I also very much feel for some of these inmates, although my opinion still holds firm that I believe some people should be incarcerated for their crimes, I don’t believe that Alcatraz’s way of working was humane towards the inmates… Glad they shut the prison down!
I bought this book in the Alcatraz giftshop when visiting Alcatraz Island during the night audio tour! After having received such in depth information about the prison, it’s infrastructure, inmates and escape attempts, it was very weird to be able to visualize where in the prison you were situated based on the knformation given kn the book! I also very much feel for some of these inmates, although my opinion still holds firm that I believe some people should be incarcerated for their crimes, I don’t believe that Alcatraz’s way of working was humane towards the inmates… Glad they shut the prison down!
September 22, 2025
“Brutality is a word that was synonymous with Alcatraz. Not physical brutality, usually, but mental brutality, which is far more difficult to endure, because it can be prolonged for years without obvious signs until the victim erupts like an exploding volcano. It is a process that develops a death wish in the victim because he can no longer endure the mental agony.”
February 22, 2024
It is a good book to understand how Alcatraz experience was for inmate and how hard life is in there. (How quickly you lose all the good things in life and how it can go worse) ñ.
I like how attempts of escape are described and overall day to day.
Certainly helps to value the important things in life.
I like how attempts of escape are described and overall day to day.
Certainly helps to value the important things in life.
April 20, 2023
What a story. It’s hard to believe someone actually lived through this, it honestly felt like fiction. How could a place like Alcatraz ever be allowed to exist??? There were some things in this book I will be thinking about for a while
May 7, 2024
Despite taking a long time to finish, I loved reading this book after visiting. Some slows bits through the middle but overall a beautiful story of Jim Q and his life to redemption.
January 9, 2025
2,5/5. super leerrijk boek na ons bezoek aan alcatraz en zeker een aanrader, maar naar mijn mening teveel details. sommige stukken lazen heel vlot, anderen leken eeuwig te duren.
January 14, 2025
Wild. Read it in 2 days 🤯
September 22, 2025
I thought this was a really interesting read and I particularly liked the focus on the escape attempts at Alcatraz. Very interesting points raised as to prison conditions and rehabilitation.
December 23, 2022
My daughter and son in law went to Alcatraz as a stop on their honeymoon last summer and bought me this book for my birthday. I absolutely loved this book. I loved how he took us behind the bars and showed the real Alcatraz. The best part was how he turned his life around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2021
3.4/5 it was a great redemption story
August 30, 2019
Interesting read with a fair amount of depth - very good at seeing both points of view (guard & inmate).
June 10, 2022
Bought the book after our tour on "the Rock", it's a very interesting record of what life in Alcatraz was really like.
October 16, 2023
Written beautifully, very personal details/writing and a great read. The writing was authentic and slightly basic, however this made the book have character and seem honest. Also very detail heavy, but I enjoy this writing style. It was interesting to see how Quillen told the story from both the inmates and guards point of view. Allowing us to imagine how life may have been if we lived a day in his shoes.
I enjoyed reading about the ins and outs of his life from the beginning to the end, a real redemption story if you ask me!
I also did some research after reading and was sad to learn of Jim’s passing in 1998 (according to findagrave.com) There are some sentimental messages left by his daughter and grandchildren on the site mentioned above, which are definitely worth a quick look if you have a little extra time.
I enjoyed reading about the ins and outs of his life from the beginning to the end, a real redemption story if you ask me!
I also did some research after reading and was sad to learn of Jim’s passing in 1998 (according to findagrave.com) There are some sentimental messages left by his daughter and grandchildren on the site mentioned above, which are definitely worth a quick look if you have a little extra time.
January 26, 2023
Jim Quillen was one of the narrators of the Audio Tour when we visited Alcatraz last month, so when I saw his book in the gift shop I grabbed it.
The book covers not only Jim’s time in the notorious prison, but also his troubled and heartbreaking childhood that led to him choosing a life of crime. While it is obvious from the writing style that Mr. Quillen was not a “writer”, the book was so detailed and interesting that it painted a clear picture of exactly how it felt to be in his shoes.
I didn’t really feel that he shied away from portraying himself in a negative light and he shared most of the dirty details about the choices he made, yet I rooted for him the entire time. You just knew that deep down there was a good man that deserved a second chance.
One of the special exhibits at Alcatraz when we visited focused on the US prison system and how, historically, it has never been about rehabilitation for those convicted of crimes, as it is in other countries around the world. It was about punishment and imprisonment. Period. Jim’s book makes a strong case for just how much good can come out of showing a prisoner a little compassion and giving them a chance to learn and prepare for life after their “debt to society” has been repaid at the end of their sentence.
Overall, I really enjoyed this interesting look into life on Alcatraz as well as some insight into how this good kid ended up there and, despite the brutally harsh environment, ultimately found his chance for redemption.
The book covers not only Jim’s time in the notorious prison, but also his troubled and heartbreaking childhood that led to him choosing a life of crime. While it is obvious from the writing style that Mr. Quillen was not a “writer”, the book was so detailed and interesting that it painted a clear picture of exactly how it felt to be in his shoes.
I didn’t really feel that he shied away from portraying himself in a negative light and he shared most of the dirty details about the choices he made, yet I rooted for him the entire time. You just knew that deep down there was a good man that deserved a second chance.
One of the special exhibits at Alcatraz when we visited focused on the US prison system and how, historically, it has never been about rehabilitation for those convicted of crimes, as it is in other countries around the world. It was about punishment and imprisonment. Period. Jim’s book makes a strong case for just how much good can come out of showing a prisoner a little compassion and giving them a chance to learn and prepare for life after their “debt to society” has been repaid at the end of their sentence.
Overall, I really enjoyed this interesting look into life on Alcatraz as well as some insight into how this good kid ended up there and, despite the brutally harsh environment, ultimately found his chance for redemption.
November 9, 2019
This was the first book I've read in a long time that I finished within 24 hours. I picked this up at the gift shop following my audio tour of the Alcatraz cellhouse earlier this week. I think it is extremely beneficial to have walked around Alcatraz before reading this in order to have a visual about what Quillen discusses, particularly the hour by hour account of the Battle of Alcatraz in 1946. However I still think this book is important for people to read regardless of whether they have toured the island. Quillen's memoir highlights how crucial it is for one to have a support system in order to climb their way out of prison and recidivism. Had Quillen's family not come around and accepted him again and had he not had such a fortunate stroke of luck with getting people like Dr. Baird to take a chance on him and employ him in the medical field, he would have ended up back in prison - he even says this himself. It was interesting reading his observations about the transition of prisons from retribution to rehabilitation and from individual conflict to the violent gang conflict that persists in American prisons today. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone studying the American penitentiary system. The insider account of what it's like to be a prisoner and the precariousness of putting one's life back together after being a criminal holds crucial lessons for finding solutions for the justice system today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
I liked this book ….pretty good blow by blow of this guys unhappy childhood and descent into a life of crime at a young age. He had an absent alcoholic mom and an overwhelmed dad. Not a lot of supervision and he did a lot of lashing out. Wound up in joovie and then got into the marines under an assumed name which he liked but they kicked him out when they figured out his real identity. He was left broke and he started hitchhiking and got picked up by 2 guys and they robbed a liquor store. Got 2 years in jail but broke out and stole cars and kidnapped people across multiple states to get away. that is what got him sent to Alcatraz. For the first several years there he felt hopeless and was looking for ways to escape. Only after like 8 years did he start trying to behave and turn himself around. Eventually there’s a long process of going to a lower security prison and then getting paroled by the feds and then the state of Cal held him for 2 years or so and then he was out. Big readjustment but fortunately the guy was able to live with his sister and her husband for support. Plus he had learned how to do x ray tech work in jail which was a big plus. His description of his changed view - to wanting to go straight - was really interesting . A lot had to do with re connecting with his family who’d disowned him when he was in jail - a priest managed to get his dad and step mom to visit while he was in jail and that got things going ….
June 10, 2025
This book tells the life story of Jim Quillen, who went from receiving a sentence of 45 years in a federal penitentiary for crimes consisting of robbery, grand theft auto, and kidnapping (not to mention multiple escapes in other prisons), to becoming an X-ray technician, granted a presidential pardon. This autobiography was very shocking at times. Life at Alcatraz was truly the worst thing imaginable for many of its inmates, including Quillen. He describes many infamous and some unknown truths about Alcatraz. He relates his story of trying to escape along with his consequential time served in D block and solitary confinement. He also shares his witnessing of the infamous Battle of Alcatraz, in which two guards and three prisoners were killed as a result of an unsuccessful escape attempt. Aside from his experience in America’s most notorious prison, Quillen also tells how he landed himself the identity of AZ-586 at only 22 years old, and how he finally received parole and a presidential pardon. I do not read biographies or autobiographies very often, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. This book truly showed the struggle and eventual success of a man who was once in America’s most notorious and inescapable prison. If you’re interested in Alcatraz or history in general, I would recommend you read this book!
October 19, 2024
My rating is 5 stars, not inherently because of the writing, but because of the story, passion, and the detail that went into writing this incredible book. While I do not agree with certain things the author says, and think that his views are biased due to living a life of crime initially without remorse and seemingly minimal concept of accountability for his actions, I was humbled by his story. I have a great respect for everyone associated with any jail or federal prison system – admittedly mostly the staff – and their resilience and passion for public service.
The term "fk around and find out" was apparently lost on most of the prisoners at Alcatraz who couldn't believe their violence had repercussions at any point in their lives, and demonstrated, in my opinion, how important child development is because it can create disastrous monsters of humans who cannot grasp that their actions have consequences, or sympathy for anyone beyond themselves. Lack of accountability and a perpetual victim mentality are two of the most dangerous qualities a person can possess, and this book highlights many reasons and situations as to why that is the case.
This book also gave me hope for rehabilitation of cons, and was an incredible success story. Would recommend reading for many reasons.
The term "fk around and find out" was apparently lost on most of the prisoners at Alcatraz who couldn't believe their violence had repercussions at any point in their lives, and demonstrated, in my opinion, how important child development is because it can create disastrous monsters of humans who cannot grasp that their actions have consequences, or sympathy for anyone beyond themselves. Lack of accountability and a perpetual victim mentality are two of the most dangerous qualities a person can possess, and this book highlights many reasons and situations as to why that is the case.
This book also gave me hope for rehabilitation of cons, and was an incredible success story. Would recommend reading for many reasons.
December 10, 2023
When visiting Alcatraz a few years ago, I purchased this book from its bookstore. The book tells the story of Jim Quillen, who spent time inside Alcatraz from 1942-1952. It also tells his story from his youthful beginning... growing up in California with a severely alcoholic mother, a father who wasn't always there, and a younger sister. It tells the story about how his crimes escalated in nature as he kept doing them. He had a chance to escape it all but due to something false on his application, he was discharged from the Marines. Jim spent time in other prisons first, sometimes even escaping. But finally he was sent the the hardest prison of them all--Alcatraz.
During the time in Alcatraz, it describes his duties, his mind frame, and how he even tried to escape. He was witness to a famous riot escape attempt by other inmates. After an unexpected visit, he decided to turn his life in the right direction, and managed to get out and become a productive member of society.
I would recommend anyone who visits Alcatraz to read this book. After visiting it up close, you can then read about how someone lived in those conditions for 10 years.
During the time in Alcatraz, it describes his duties, his mind frame, and how he even tried to escape. He was witness to a famous riot escape attempt by other inmates. After an unexpected visit, he decided to turn his life in the right direction, and managed to get out and become a productive member of society.
I would recommend anyone who visits Alcatraz to read this book. After visiting it up close, you can then read about how someone lived in those conditions for 10 years.
August 6, 2023
After walking the grounds of and listening to the audio tour of Alcatraz back in May, this book was one heck of a read. I really enjoyed following Quillen’s story from childhood, through his troubled adolescence and very young adulthood, all the way through his retirement. His recollection of Alcatraz was unimaginable. The stories and experiences he shares are heartbreaking and I wouldn’t wish that upon even “the most dangerous” of criminals. I felt sad for him in that he got caught in the vicious cycle of crime, yet happy in that he found a purpose in life and something worth hoping for in life outside of prison. I can’t even imagine the hopelessness and isolation and depression that once lived in Alcatraz. I especially was captivated by the story, knowing exactly where A-D block lay in the cell tower, along with the dining hall, the yard, the showers, etc. This book definitely makes you think about the justice system as a whole and the nitty gritty of the day in and day out of prison guards, lieutenants, wardens, etc and their relationships with inmates.
April 2, 2024
While the book appears to be about Alcatraz and Jim Quillen's time there as an inmate, his tales of his time on The Rock are just one piece of the biography we get in this work. For some, this might be a bit of a disappointment, but I found his life story to be quite interesting. Quillen's writing is simple and straightforward; it's not elegant or ornamental in any way. He won't captivate you with a turn of a phrase, but the experiences and events he recounts make it easy to keep turning the pages regardless. And if you make it to the end, he finishes it off with a nice section that summarizes the fourteen recorded escape attempts that occurred in the prison's 28-year history.
Grades and recommendations: B- as a serviceable biography that could've delivered a bit more on the writer's time at Alcatraz, 4/5 stars overall. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes uncommon biographies or has an unhealthy fascination of The Rock like myself.
March 1, 2025
This book made me realised what a privilege it is to be able to complain. What a privilege it is for me to be able to read this book, out of free will, lying in my bed covered in my blanket, with a hot tea, and music playing. Alcatraz feels like a dystopian reality. From the execution of Sam to the bombardment of D-block, it shows the ego and pride of authorities.
The inmates experiences are so heartbreaking. They just need more genuine love in life man. Literally no one was there for Jim. His rage is understandable. See that’s what a fucked up childhood and lack of care causes to a person. “It seems that during this period my life started to take a very downward trend.” He was just a kid. He felt that way when he was what 11???
The fact that he remembered every incident so vividly shows that he’s still human, he has empathy.
I just hope that everyone has the awareness of incarceration and more empathy in humanity.
The inmates experiences are so heartbreaking. They just need more genuine love in life man. Literally no one was there for Jim. His rage is understandable. See that’s what a fucked up childhood and lack of care causes to a person. “It seems that during this period my life started to take a very downward trend.” He was just a kid. He felt that way when he was what 11???
The fact that he remembered every incident so vividly shows that he’s still human, he has empathy.
I just hope that everyone has the awareness of incarceration and more empathy in humanity.
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