Serving Productive Time: Stories, Poems, And Tips To Inspire Positive Change From Inmates, Prison Staff, And Volunteers Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Are you or have you ever been incarcerated? Do you have a loved one in jail or prison? Do you work or volunteer at a correctional facility? Have you ever been the victim of a crime? Do you understand that we all share the responsibility of helping others―no matter who they are, where they live, or what they have done? If so, you understand that incarceration affects everyone and that only through positive change can people begin to heal and grow. In Serving Productive Time, you'll read about extraordinary people who are taking tangible steps to make positive changes in their own lives and who are reaching out to help others do the same. Some stories will help you gain a new perspective on those who are incarcerated. Some will help you understand the need to prepare inmates for release and to support them afterward. Others will help you appreciate your freedom and remind you that we all make mistakes. And still others will reaffirm the fact that, although many of us might be imprisoned in some way (either by a limiting belief, illness, or other situation), we all need a helping hand at some point in our lives to lift us up and show us the path to a new life. Serving Productive Time will leave you with a renewed appreciation of the need for all of us to use our time wisely to make ongoing, positive changes in our lives and to bring others along with us in the process―whether we live or work inside or outside the razor wire.
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: HCI; 1 edition (May 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0757307825
ISBN-13: 978-0757307829
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.7 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #68,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #14 in Books > Business & Money > Job Hunting & Careers > Volunteer Work #330 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Criminology #1231 in Books > Self-Help > Motivational
I ordered this book last month for a prisoner in California, and he has already sent me a review of it. This is what he wrote:"I just finished reading 'Serving Productive Time' and the stories are inspiring - some of them are very much like things I could say about my own life and stirred emotions in me (yes, he cried!). At the end of each chapter there is a questionnaire/exercise that you can do, so the reader can interact with the book. The book is well-written and put together, and while it has a lot of Christian stories, there are also secular and other religious viewpoints acknowledged, so even a non-Christian could read the book without taking 'offense'. The book has contact information for most of the people who contributed stories to it, which is good, as even though some are in prison there are a few that I plan on contacting. Each chapter also has contact info for outreach programs (a few that I am also contacting) and short sections on topics such as 'selecting a college or university'. I enjoyed reading this, it was very uplifting and I recommend it for other prisoners that want idea's on how they can serve their time productively. I only wish I had more copies of it to share with other inmates - my copy is already being passed around!"
This book is full of powerful stories and precious glimpses into the lives of many touched by our prison system. From inmates and correctional staff, to volunteers and family of inmates, this text draws from a broad range of first hand experiences over a range of topics related to change, compassion, forgiveness, the impact on everyone touched by a harmful act, and the ever present possibilities to change our lives for the better. Interspersed throughout are a variety of cartoons created by inmates that are based in truth, yet show the power of humor in the prison culture, no matter how frustrating prison life is. The book touches on issues that impact us all. The stories in this volume bring home the sometimes painful, sometimes humorous, and often humbling experiences of those within or touched by the prison system. These are human stories, full of regret and hope, of pain and gratitude, of shame and forgiveness. They are always speaking to the power of healing and transformation. The writers share glimpses into their journeys and the experiences that have inspired change - and in some cases, profound transformation. As a therapist, I will use this book in my work with families of inmates, as well as treatment of probationers and parolees. I will share this book with friends and family. These stories speak to the fact that change is possible in any circumstance or environment. We all are students and teachers in this life. Some of the stories teach valuable lessons about the interconnectedness of all life and promote the understanding that as one of us is lifted up, we are all lifted up. I recommend that all should experience a glimpse into the heartaches, humor and blessings of Serving Productive Time. Molly G. Prince, LCSW
The idea is basically a simple one: Prisoners are locked up, not going anywhere, perhaps for a long time. But among them, some will simply stagnate emotionally, spiritually, and socially, while others travel an internal road to a richer, more meaningful existence. This book is full of wisdom and insight. The variety of perspectives and styles of expression makes it certain that every reader will find some that seem especially pertinent to his or her own needs and concerns.Paul Karsten Fauteck, Psy.D.Forensic psychologist, former prisoner, and author of Going Straight: An Ex-convict/Psychologist Tells Why and How and Get It Right!, a four part video.
Great book. Arrived promptly. Would recommend it for anyone serving time or anyone that's not serving time. Especially send it to someone serving time. It will be a blessing to them.
I can not say enough about how wise this whole collaboration is of stories and poems from such diverse people. Talk about hitting hard in the heart! And for an older book, it is truly relevant still today. I wish every inmate could read this! I want to read more books of this caliber of wisdom. I welcome suggestions. Anyway, thanks to everyone who contributed to this book! I needed the hope! My son is INSIDE and I hope he reads the one I sent him and hope he has an open heart and channel to get the beautiful messages.
This book contains a variety of stories is about inspirational inmates and volunteer and staff experiences. This book highlights the inmates who are making the best of their time in prison and making their lives better.
I ordered this for my son who is incarcerated and I downloaded a copy to my Kindle. This book has helped me to understand things/feelings he is going through on the inside of the razor wire and allowing me to understand where I can better encourage him during our visitation time.I would recommend this book to anyone. We all need to understand others better and help where we can.
This book was recommended by my partner in our local jail ministry. It helped to give me a better understanding of prison life and the challenges that inmates face. It had inspiring stories of people who used their time to make positive changes in their lives. It also had interactive sessions at the end of each chapter to help and encourage readers to apply the themes from each chapter to make changes to their lives.It included contact information for various programs mentioned such as kairos, proliteracy worldwide, etc.
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