Ep. 243 Prison by Any Other Name by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law — The Stacks Book Club (Mariame Kaba)

Today anti-violence activist and author Mariame Kaba returns to discuss Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law for The Stacks Book Club. We highlight the depth of knowledge that this book provides about the history and current state of criminalization, and unpack the idea that prison is something that ties us all together. We ask why so many so-called reforms look like prison and policing, and what solutions might work in their place.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our December book club pick will be.

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Everything we talk about on today’s episode can be found below in the show notes and on Bookshop.org and Amazon.

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The Stacks Book Club – November 2022

Our Stacks Book Club selection for November is Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms, co-authored by journalists Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law, with a foreword by author and civil rights lawyer Michelle Alexander. The book is a searing exposé of the state-sanctioned violence and social control engineered by so-called alternative solutions to incarceration, from surveillance and house arrest to mandated psyche and drug treatments. It peels away the deceptively kind narrative around reform which actually obscures an oppressive and self-perpetuating status quo in crime and punishment. Prison By Any Other Name argues for real change and seeks to inspire a more humane and empowered approach to justice.

We will discuss Prison By Any Other Name by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law on Wednesday, November 30th. You can find out who our guest will be by listening to the podcast on November 2nd. If you’d like even more discussion around the book, consider joining The Stacks Pack on Patreon and participating in The Stacks’ monthly virtual book club.

Order your copy of our November book on Bookshop.org and Amazon, or listen to the audiobook through Libro.FM.


To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/thestacks). We are beyond grateful for anything you’re able to give to support the production of The Stacks.

The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed. For more information click here.