I am so not over Ted Con-over!
October 25, 2003 11:56 PM Subscribe
Ted Conover is a fantastic, prize-winning author. His book Newjack is, to quote Jon Krakauer, "a compelling, compassionate look at a terribly important, poorly understood aspect of American society." In it, he works undercover as a guard at Sing Sing. You can read the truncated New Yorker version on the site. Additionally, there are many other articles, reviews and interviews, and a pretty interesting group of e-mails from "officers, their families, and others affected by prison." And, just to name-drop once more, Sebastian Junger says: "Ted Conover is a first-rate reporter and more daring and imaginative than the rest of us combined." Check him out!
I read Newjack back when it came out in hardcover--that book was amazing.
posted by Prospero at 8:51 AM on October 26, 2003
posted by Prospero at 8:51 AM on October 26, 2003
Newjack was a great book. We picture prison guards as having near-total control over inmates; in truth, the book portrays a situation reminding me more of teaching in a rough inner city high school: there is an agreement among the prisoners/students that the guards/educators are in charge, but the agreement produces only a fragile, tense and unpleasant semblance of order.
posted by kozad at 9:21 AM on October 26, 2003
posted by kozad at 9:21 AM on October 26, 2003
Newjack was a great book; I also recommend earlier work, like Coyotes, which was a similarly undercover exploration / "live the life" type reporting, of illegal mexican immigrants. Not sure if he's got a new project underway, since Newjack came out a few years back, but I take notice of his name when it comes up.
posted by mdn at 2:43 PM on October 26, 2003
posted by mdn at 2:43 PM on October 26, 2003
I'd never heard of him...but y'all have gotten me interested now. I'll have to go read some of his stuff. Thanks!
posted by dejah420 at 9:15 PM on October 26, 2003
posted by dejah420 at 9:15 PM on October 26, 2003
great post adrober - what I've read so far is pretty compelling and his books have piqued my interest - thanks!
posted by madamjujujive at 9:26 PM on October 27, 2003
posted by madamjujujive at 9:26 PM on October 27, 2003
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posted by subgenius at 5:54 AM on October 26, 2003