AMAZING. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It provided an intimate, personal look at Americas, frankly, broken penal system. At times uncomfortable to read, this book highlights the glaring inconsistencies, badly structured and dangerously mismanaged business (yes, business) of incarceration from someone who has lived it.

Form a victim to a voice and, more importantly, force of change, Ms. Burton inspires us all to examine the unseen structures in our society and give voice to those who suffer within it. Despite all cultural and societal obstacles due to her race, economic status and geographic location, Susan is living proof that we can still make change happen when we're not afraid to ask why and why not.

READ READ READ

Wow what a story. It is heartbreaking but also Susan’s resilience and activism is so motivating and powerful! Our INjustice system is broken and this first hand account brilliantly details some of the injustice.

I read Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow" recently and "Becoming Ms. Burton" is the perfect follow-up. It takes all of the facts and policies that Michelle details in her book and puts them into human form. It takes the "legal" and makes it so human...which means that I was forced to confront many assumptions I have made/prejudices I have about incarcerated men and women. Susan Burton is an absolutely incredible person. I am horrified by many of the situations she faced in her history and truly in awe of all she has accomplished and overcome in her life/career. This is an important read. I plan to make a donation to A New Way of Life (and you should too!): http://anewwayoflife.org/.

An absolutely heartbreaking and incredible story. An important read to really absorb the far-reaching and deep effects of the criminal justice system, and the ways in which it intentionally targets Black communities and communities of color.

I can't recommend this book enough. Read it. Seriously, everyone can benefit and learn from this book. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Inspiring.

4.5 stars. What an amazing, powerful story. I have read several books lately about the systemic problems of the poor, particularly for people of color, and this was the most hopeful. Our national preoccupation with punishment for desperate people who pose little risk to society is both damaging and unnecessarily expensive, as Burton documents with both data and anecdotes. Highly recommended

The only thing this was missing was a way for me to take action. I’m all fired up on behalf of incarcerated women - who do I write? Where do I call? Where does my donation go? Legal issues are always changing and vary state by state but some resources would be appreciated.

More people need to read this book to open their minds and hearts to their communities... Amazing work of this woman

This was an inspiring but harrowing read. I am not sure which was harder to endure: Mrs. Burton's personal tragedies (being shot on three separate occasions!, the loss of her young son!) or the intransigence of abuses by the so-called justice system. Once released, former prisoners have to navigate 45,000 separate discriminatory practices -- everything from bans on food assistance to voting -- and Susan Burton fights to ameliorate conditions on the individual and systemic levels. A true American hero.