Newjack

Guarding Sing Sing

By: Ted Conover

Narrated by: Ted Conover

National Book Critics Circle, Nonfiction, 2001

Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing is the story of Conover's rookie year as a guard at Sing Sing. It is a nerve-jangling account of his passage into the storied prison and the culture of its guards - both fresh-faced "newjacks" like Conover and brutally hardened veterans. As he struggles to be a good officer, Conover angers inmates, dodges blows, works to balance decency with toughness, and participates in prison rituals - strip frisks, cell searches, cell "extractions" - that exact a toll on inmates and officers alike.

The tale begins with the corrections academy and ends with the flames and smoke of New Year's Eve on Conover's floor of the notorious B-Block. Along the way, Conover also recounts the history of Sing Sing, from draconian early punishment, to fame as the citadel of capital punishment, to its present status as New York State's "bottom of the barrel" prison.

This book will become a landmark of American journalism - the definitive presentation of the impasse between the need to imprison criminals and the dehumanization of inmates and guards - that almost inevitably takes place behind bars.

©2001 Ted Conover (P)2005 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Newjack is an astonishing work by a gifted - and dedicated - journalist. Ted Conover takes us into the dangerous, sad, amusing and instructive soul of one of America's best known prisons." ( Tom Brokaw)

BRAVO...can't wait for his next

Where does Newjack rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of Newjack?

When he walked into the prison for the first time on duty down the long corridor and he realized what he'd gotten himself into...yet pressed on to do his job

Which character – as performed by uncredited – was your favorite?

Conover himself...although his descriptions of fellow academy cadets, supervisors, and inmates were so colorful I could see them.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Walk a mile in another person's shoes and you'll understand their world better

Any additional comments?

I'm a psychologist but I was also a police officer. This book was solid in reality and it made me feel like I was back on duty as a patrol officer. I was really impressed that an academic had gone to this length to go undercover for the sake of qualitative research. I can't say how much I respect him for what he did because in that job there is nothing but danger and it sets upon you fast, before you realize it at times. Conover puts himself in another realm from dry academics who sit behind computers only spouting theories and pontificating about the real world....he experienced it first hand !

Having been a police officer I can tell you...everyone should know what it is like to have to be on the front line in the middle of the night pulling over a car full of suspicious guys on a dark highway by yourself with backup coming from a mile away. Once you've experienced that, you have a different point of view. In Conover's case, he was a corrections officer, and I totally respect those men and women because they don't have weapons while out numbered in tanks full of people that the average person doesn't even know exists.

Great book full of insights on life and it never preaches politics.

A Great Revelation on the Prison System

This a great and exposing book that allows us to better understand the workings of the American prison system of today.

Orange is the Newjack

What did you like best about Newjack? What did you like least?

Newjack was an eye opener to many things I didn't know about the prison system. It highlighted many of the stresses of being a guard but also had retained some sense of empathy towards the prisoners.

What did you like best about this story?

Very well-written.

Great book

Going through the process of becoming a correction officer, and I must say this is a great book coming from both sides of the spectrum.

Interesting well written well read

Different perspective on prison life. Would have been interesting to hear more stories. Conover was respectful towards both inmates and guards in his reporting - would liked to have heard conovers perspective on more of the “messy’ stuff like gangs, etc. he made sing sing sound pretty tame.

Review

I'm a civilian in a prison and this was a very accurate description of prisonlife, even from my civilian seat. if anyone wants to learn about what corrections is like, this book is a solid start.

Great book with rare insight!

A very entertaining book that never lost my attention. The detail in the descriptions of inmate relationships with each other as well as the guards and also the drudgerous grind of working in a State run institution seemed spot on and were relayed in a way that keeps you wanting to know what happens next.
For a documentary of sorts, this author has done well both in writing a story that is captivating and informative to boot. He also does a very nice job of narration.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how prison life can affect both the prisoner as well as those that keep him captive.

Real

I’ve worked in a correctional facility for 30 years. I read this book when it was released. It’s honest reflection gave me insight to the inmates and coworkers I interacted with everyday. The good, bad, frustrating, daily life in a large cell block is here. Pulling pins to open cells, running around to let people in and out, intriguing conversations with the inmates on the block. The expectations of the job conflicting with my belief that fair treatment should be possible is all here. This book gave me hope.

I learned, laughed cried and learned in that order

I learned, laughed, cried and learned in that order. As important now as when it was penned.

Routine

If you are interested in becoming a prison guard then this book is audio introduction to physical and mental alteration possibilities. The story seemed good then seemed to be just routine days for the main character.