#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith … Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.
Praise for Orange Is the New Black
“Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can’t unbind.”—People (four stars)
“I loved this book. It’s a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
“This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter.”—Los Angeles Times
“Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre’s usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you.”—USA Today
“It’s a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one—both for the reader and for Kerman.”—Newsweek
more
Orange is the New Black offered an insight into the life of an incarcerated population I didn’t know anything about — women. This book offers an honest and insightful look at the connections made between those thrown together for an unpredictable future.
Written with wit and honesty, this book is highly relatable.
Nice fast read.
I’ve never seen the show. I read this year’s before it was a series and really liked it. Prison reform needs to be a priority.
Great read! Highly recommend it.
it was enjoyable, a good summer or vacation read.
Not what I had expected. Really enjoyed it.
I’ve never seen the television series, so didn’t know this was a true story. A compelling story that makes a good case for prison reform.
I have enjoyed the show more than the book. I had a difficult time liking her in the book.
Well written and very interesting. Made me want Netflix
Very interesting story. Nice to see behind the series.
I decided to read this book since I liked the TV show so much. There are definitely major differences, but there are enough parallels for fans of the show while the memoir is interesting in its own right. The author has an upbeat style to go with her upbeat personality. There isn’t much of a storyline–it’s filled with anecdotes from her year or so in prison. Unfortunately the ending was a bit abrupt.
I never expected this topic to be such a good read.
Way better than the tv show
I found this to be very different from the Netflix series. The book was definitely better and also very inspiring.
Great read about what really goes on in women’s prisons…