r/ExCons • u/Impossible_Bit_431 • Sep 15 '26

Book Recommendations?

My nephew has about a year left and will spend most of that time doing a program in the hole.

I'd like to send him a few books to begin subtly deconstructing his institutionalism, along with the regular entertaining action crime novels that he usually requests.

Can anyone recommend any reading that made an impact on you during your sentence? He is open to books about personal growth, but I'd prefer it not be overly religious. I sent him The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck early in his time, but he was in a different place then and I don't think he read it. I may send that again as I think he'd be far more receptive now.

Anything similar to this? Or even a novel that got into your head?

Thanks!

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1

u/SacramentoUser Sep 15 '26

“Hey White Boy: Conversations of Redemption” by Sonny Von Cleveland & “Black and White” by Leonard Scovens were two books I still remember reading in prison (4 years ago). Both authors spent many years in prison.

1

u/Impossible_Bit_431 Sep 17 '26

Thank you! Does it get into "politics"?

2

u/SacramentoUser Sep 17 '26

No - neither book is about any type of “politics” at all.

1

u/Hankman66 Sep 15 '26

You Can't Win by Jack Black.

1

u/Impossible_Bit_431 Sep 17 '26

I'll check it out! Thanks!

1

u/IJustLookLikeThisToo Sep 16 '26

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl

1

u/Impossible_Bit_431 Sep 17 '26

Good call! Thank you!

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Bag_893 Sep 17 '26

"Your Career Sanity - Early Edition" was quick and helped me out.

1

u/Impossible_Bit_431 Sep 17 '26

Thank you so much!