Last Guard Out

by Jim Albright

The Last Guard Out is the fascinating true story of one man's life as a guard behind the merciless concrete walls of Alcatraz. I was newly assigned to the infamous island penitentiary of Alcatraz. Reporting to Alcatraz required me to uproot my wife Cathy and young son Kenny from Colorado to California. As we approached San Francisco via of the Oakland Bay Bridge we got our first foreboding glance of Alcatraz Island with a dense circle of fog surrounding it. A strange sense of dread came over me. I looked at our young son asleep in the back seat, then turned to my wife next to me and I whispered "What The Hell Did We Do". After moving on to Alcatraz our thought on Island life quickly changed and we decided not to apply for a transfer out, which consequently left us there until the Island closed in March of 1963. Because of our newly born daughters foot problem they left us there until June of 1963 making me The Last Guard Out.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

212 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2008

Reviews

[Terry Bourbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. I took a vacation to California with my family this past summer, and we visited Alcatraz as part of the trip. It was a highlight of our vacation. I was able to meet the author in the gift shop, and he autographed my book. I also bought a book by an inmate, and read that one first. In style, this book is written simply in a narrative style that evokes sitting and talking with Jim about his experiences at Alcatraz. I really liked the beginning, which emotionally tells of his first visit back after leaving, which is many years later, and after the prison and Island has been a tourist attraction. His narrative is so familiar, since I just took such a tour, but is very poignant in it's emotional telling by Jim.

Many chapters read like a report, but I found the mundane details of being a prison guard, from the training outlined in the beginning, to the different duties described by area later, interesting in themselves. I was elated to find out Jim was there for the last two prison escape attempts, and to hear his perspective on what happened. I recommend the book to law enforcement addicts, and those interested in the legal and penal system. It is also an interesting telling or memoir of a famous place and time.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by my uncle so I had to rate it 5 stars. I visited Alcatraz and stayed there for a few days when I was young. The book was fun for me because I remember some things he wrote about. I remember going down to the rocks and seeing starfish for the first time.
I recommend this book if you want to read about an experience written by a real guard.

[Todd Buegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, first person history. While it's not the best written book (Jim Albright doesn't presume or assume to be a writer) the authenticity and genuine earnestness of the writer makes this a worthy read. It also helps that I bought it while visiting Alcatraz, and met the author, who was there to sign copies.

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was sent to me as a gift. It was enjoyable learning about some of the training policies and procedures at Alcatraz. It wasn't particularly well written, but Jim Albright isn't a writer. Some of the stories he tells are intresting and that's what still makes it enjoyable. I would recommend this book if you're someone who's interested in Alcatraz.

[Cassie Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and Jim Albright’s account of his time on Alcatraz.

If you can believe I bought this book in 2013 when visiting Alcatraz on holidays and Jim was actually there that day signing books!

It’s been sitting on my self ever since and for whatever reason I picked it up to read a few weeks ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, all the facts and stories of his time on the island. It was so interesting to learn about the prison, the inmates, the ESCAPES!, and how they lived on Alcatraz.

One thing was evident, a sense of pride and this really was a job of a lifetime.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting first hand account of life behind the walls of Alcatraz from one of the guards who was there. You can tell that Jim is not a professional writer, but in my opinion that actually makes this book even better. It was like listening to stories being told by your grandfather who just happened to have had had a really interesting career at one of America's most notorious locations.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Jim stated, he’s not the best writer, but as a history geek about Alcatraz, I LOVED this book. It’s only about the last four years of the prison but it’s a fantastic look into the routines, procedures and atmosphere of the Rock. Rest in peace, Jim….and thanks for sharing your experiences.

[Jacen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to choose an outside reading book for my English class. I chose the book Last Guard Out by Jim Albright. This book is about Jim’s life as an Alcatraz Prison guard.

The book Last Guard Out by Jim Albright talks about Jim’s struggles in life and him being the last guard to leave Alcatraz Prison. The book starts off with Jim talking about his childhood jobs, and then him as an adult looking for a career instead of just a job. He then decided to apply for a job as a prison guard. The only job opening was at Alcatraz Prison. This was a far distance to move from Denver Colorado to San Francisco California. Jim decided to make the move with his wife Cathy and his recently born daughter Linda Sue because he wanted a job that paid more money and had better benefits. This was Jim’s first job working in a prison. He went from not being a prison guard, to working in a prison that contained the hardest criminals. Jim learned quickly that prisoners would try to manipulate him.

I enjoyed reading this book. I thought that it was very interesting to learn about a prison from a guard that worked there. I also found it interesting that Jim was the last guard to leave the prison, and that he still had the keys from when he left. I also found it interesting to learn that he still had his uniform from when he first became a guard at Alcatraz over 50 years ago. It is very impressive to learn that Mr. Albright had kept all of these possessions from over 50 years ago.

I also enjoyed that Mr. Albright included facts about his family. This really added detail to what family struggles he had to overcome while working at the prison.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Alcatraz Prison and its history, but is not able to visit the prison.





The End

[Ed Carroll · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting account, but the information in it is highly repetitive and doesn't properly detail the most interesting parts where there is a good 'story'. Whilst I appreciate that Jim wanted to write this himself, the editing process has not picked up the very obvious deficiencies

[BAB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 35 years, taking guests to Alcatraz was a "must do"; I've been there eleven times. Mr. Albright's account of his job & life on The Rock was just great!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this a lot. I have always been intrigued by Alcatraz. We have a Federal penitentiary in my home town and a guard living in my neighborhood was a guard at Alcatraz. His daughter was even born on the island.

[Joann]

Vacation read. Visited Alcatraz. Good background information. Helped to understand the prison prior to the island visit.

[tin_foil_tinnu · Rating 3 out of 5]

More fun Alcatraz stories. Liked hearing them.

[Rob Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of what life was like at the end of Alcatraz for the guards, families, and inmates. Well written and comprehensive, for a non-writer Albright did a nice job.

[Sabrina Cardoso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book and liked the insiders account of the famous prison. I would like to read other books about Alcatraz now. The only thing reason that I didn't make this a five star book was the repetition of some of the information which made it feel like I was back in school writing an essay. I also though the last chapter could have had more detail about why the prison closed and the period from when they found out Alcatraz was closing to the time Jim left. We know the guards were interviewed by officials about closing but what were the interviews about? I would recommend the book.

[Katie Chestnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am planning to visit Alcatraz and wanted to read a little something about it. It is a little dry reading and I assume it is all true. It does give a look into the life of a prison guard. They must have been tough men.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very real firsthand account of day to day life.

[Kristie Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Jacki · Rating 2 out of 5]

An in depth look at a really unique and interesting living situation; too often depth became repetition.

[Laurelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Riveting" - not so much. Mildly interesting, would have benefited greatly from editing. Kind of rambly, but what do you want.

[Eve Dorin-blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good book however it explains in too much details about the surroundings of alcatraz and the towers.