Orange Is the New Black : My Year in a Women's Prison

**NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES • #1 __NEW YORK TIMES__ BESTSELLER** With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there. **Praise for __Orange Is the New Black__** “Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can’t unbind.”**—__People__ (four stars)** “I loved this book. It’s a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it.”**—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of __Eat, Pray, Love__** “This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter.”**—__Los Angeles Times__** “Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre’s usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you.”**—__USA Today__** “It’s a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one—both for the reader and for Kerman.”**—Newsweek.com****Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.** NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES • #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187-424--one of the millions of people who disappear "down the rabbit hole" of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman's story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison--why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they're there. Praise for Orange Is the New Black "Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can't unbind."--People (four stars) "I loved this book. It's a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it."--Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love "This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter."--Los Angeles Times "Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre's usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you."--USA Today "It's a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one--both for the reader and for Kerman."--Newsweek.com Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader's Circle for author chats and more NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187-one of the millions of people who disappear "down the rabbit hole" of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman's story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison-why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they're there. Praise for Orange Is the New Black "Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can't unbind." People (four stars) "I loved this book. It's a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it."Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love "This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter." Los Angeles Times "Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre's usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you." USA Today "It's a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one-both for the reader and for Kerman." Newsweek.com Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader's Circle for author chats and more #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there. Praise for Orange Is the New Black “Fascinating . . . The true subject of this unforgettable book is female bonding and the ties that even bars can’t unbind.” — People (four stars) “I loved this book. It’s a story rich with humor, pathos, and redemption. What I did not expect from this memoir was the affection, compassion, and even reverence that Piper Kerman demonstrates for all the women she encountered while she was locked away in jail. I will never forget it.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love “This book is impossible to put down because [Kerman] could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter.” — Los Angeles Times “Moving . . . transcends the memoir genre’s usual self-centeredness to explore how human beings can always surprise you.” — USA Today “It’s a compelling awakening, and a harrowing one—both for the reader and for Kerman.” — Newsweek With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. “In Orange Is the New Black, Kerman presents – devoid of self-pity, and with novelistic flair – life in the clink as less Caged Heat and more Steel Magnolias." - Vanity FairConvicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424 — one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Piper Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behaviour and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. "In Orange Is the New Black, Kerman puts us inside, from the first strip search...to the prison-issue unwashed underwear to the cucumbers and raw cauliflower that count as salad... This book is impossible to put down because she could be you. Or your best friend. Or your daughter." — Los Angeles TimesHeartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Piper Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison — why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there. "Kerman neither sentimentalizes nor lectures. She keeps the details of her despair to a minimum along with her discussion of the outrages of the penal system, concentrating instead on descriptions of her direct experiences, both harrowing and hilarious, and the personalities of the women who shared them with her." — Boston Globe When Piper Kerman Was Sent To Prison For A Ten-year-old Crime, She Barely Resembled The Reckless Young Woman She'd Been When She Committed The Misdeeds That Would Eventually Catch Up With Her. Happily Ensconced In A New York City Apartment, With A Promising Career And An Attentive Boyfriend, She Was Suddenly Forced To Reckon With The Consequences Of Her Very Brief, Very Careless Dalliance In The World Of Drug Trafficking. Kerman Spent Thirteen Months In Prison, Eleven Of Them At The Infamous Federal Correctional Facility In Danbury, Connecticut, Where She Met A Surprising And Varied Community Of Women Living Under Exceptional Circumstances. Kerman Tells The Story Of Those Long Months Locked Up In A Place With Its Own Codes Of Behavior And Arbitrary Hierarchies, Where A Practical Joke Is As Common As An Unprovoked Fight, And Where The Uneasy Relationship Between Prisoner And Jailer Is Constantly And Unpredictably Recalibrated. Are You Gonna Go My Way? -- It All Changed In An Instant -- #11187-424 -- Orange Is The New Black -- Down The Rabbit Hole -- High Voltage -- The Hours -- So Bitches Can Hate -- Mothers And Daughters -- Schooling The Og -- Ralph Kramden And The Marlboro Man -- Naked -- Thirty-five And Still Alive -- October Surprises -- Some Kinda Way -- Good Time -- Diesel Therapy -- It Can Always Get Worse. Piper Kerman. Includes Bibliographical References. A compelling, often hilarious, and unfailingly compassionate portrait of life inside a women's prisonWhen Piper Kerman was sent to prison for a ten-year-old crime, she barely resembled the reckless young woman she'd been when, shortly after graduating Smith College, she'd committed the misdeeds that would eventually catch up with her.Happily ensconced in a New York City apartment, with a promising career and an attentive boyfriend, she was suddenly forced to reckon with the consequences of her very brief, very careless dalliance in the world of drug trafficking. Kerman spent thirteen months in prison, eleven of them at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, where she met a surprising and varied community of women living under exceptional circumstances. In Orange Is the New Black, Kerman tells the story of those long months locked up in a place with its own codes of behavior and arbitrary hierarchies, where a practical joke is as common as an unprovoked fight, and where the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer is constantly and unpredictably recalibrated. Revealing, moving, and enraging, Orange Is the New Black offers a unique perspective on the criminal justice system, the reasons we send so many people to prison, and what happens to them when they're there.From the Hardcover edition. When the author was sent to prison for a ten-year-old crime, she barely resembled the reckless young woman she had been when she committed the misdeeds that would eventually catch up with her. Happily ensconced in a New York City apartment, with a promising career and an attentive boyfriend, she was suddenly forced to reckon with the consequences of her very brief, very careless dalliance in the world of drug trafficking. She spent thirteen months in prison, eleven of them at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, where she met a surprising and varied community of women living under exceptional circumstances. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Here she tells the story of those long months locked up in a place with its own codes of behavior and arbitrary hierarchies, where a practical joke is as common as an unprovoked fight, and where the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer is constantly and unpredictably recalibrated. This is a look into the lives of women in prison; why we lock so many away and what happens to them when they are there With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years ago. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187-424—one of the millions of women who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules, where the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer is constantly and unpredictably recalibrated. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.Look for special features inside. Join the Circle for author chats and more. RandomHouseReadersCircle.com