Prison Book: 4,000 Days by Warren Fellows

4,000 Days: My Life and Survival in a Bangkok Prison. Alright, so this book isn't about the American Prison system but it's a fantastic read anyway. Warren Fellows is an Australian who was imprisoned in Thailand for drug trafficking. Fellows was locked up for 11 years, or 4,000 days, along with professional rugby player and former Olympian, Paul Hayward. While in prison in Thailand, Fellows became addicted to the very drug he had been trafficking. His conviction was overturned on appeal and he received a royal pardon in 1989.

The book, 4,000 Days is a journal of Warren Fellows' time in Thai prison. It is extremely unpleasant, horrifying and shocking. By the time you put the book down, you find yourself wondering how any human being can go through that and come out relatively alright. For those of you who have seen the movie Brokedown Palace, this is 200 times worse. I read this book before my return to Thailand 3 years ago and I couldn't help but think about it the whole time I was there, about 3 weeks or so. A spectacular trip otherwise, I kept thinking about the fact that there were prisons in this country that treat people the way I read about in that book. Haunting to say the least.

4,000 Days is a fantastic read and a definite recommendation to anyone wanting to know about prisons and justice systems around the world.

To suggest a book to be featured on Genpop, please email me: vlu777@gmail.com

Click here for the archive of all prison books.

Technorati Tags: prison, thailand, warren fellows, crime, law