50 pages • 1 hour read
Angela Y. DavisAre Prisons Obsolete?
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2003A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis is a critical text that advocates for prison abolition. By tracing the prison system's evolution from its inception in America to the present-day prison industrial complex, Davis argues that incarceration is an ineffective and lucrative industry rooted in bias. Using historical context, personal experience, and academic analysis, she offers potential reforms to create a more empathetic justice system and equal society. This book discusses racial and gender-based violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Angela Y. Davis’s Are Prisons Obsolete? is lauded for its compelling argument against the prison-industrial complex, thoughtful historical context, and clear call to abolish prisons. Critics note it can be dense and lacks actionable solutions. Overall, it's praised for its challenging and thought-provoking perspective on criminal justice reform.
Who Should Read Are Prisons Obsolete??
A reader who would enjoy Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis is likely engaged in social justice, criminology, or abolitionist studies. They previously appreciated Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow or Marc Mauer’s The Meaning of Life which also critique the U.S. prison system. These readers seek transformative discussions on incarceration and systemic reform.