The Life Inside

<p><b>Now a major BBC drama, <i>Waiting for the Out</i>.<br><br>A unique insight into survival behind bars, inherited shame and some of life’s most pressing questions.<br><br>An <i>Irish Times</i> and <i>The i </i>Book of the Year<br>'Tense and intimate . . . an education' </b>– Geoff Dyer<br><b>'Authentic, fascinating and deeply moving' </b>– Terry Waite<br><br>Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. Every time he steps behind bars, he also confronts his inherited shame: his father, uncle and brother all spent time inside. While Andy has built a different life for himself, he still fears that their fate will also be his.<br><br>Every day he has conversations with prisoners about their lives. Together they tackle the big questions: Can someone in prison be more free than someone outside? Would we ever be good if we never felt shame? What makes a person worthy of forgiveness?<br><br>As he discusses pressing questions of truth, identity and hope with his students, Andy searches for his own form of freedom too.<br><br>Now a six-part BBC drama, 'Waiting for the Out', <i>The Life Inside</i> is an elegantly written and unforgettable memoir, offering a new insight into our stretched justice system, our failing prisons and the complex lives being lived inside.<br><br><b>'Inspiring' </b>– <i>The Observer</i><br><b>'Enriching, sobering and at times heartrending' </b>- Lenny Henry<br><b>'A remarkable insight into prison life' </b>– Amanda Brown<br><b>'Expands both heart and mind' </b>– Ciaran Thapar<br>'<b>A fascinating and enlightening journey . . . A legitimate page-turner'</b> – <i>3:AM Magazine</i></p>