The Soul Knows No Bars

By Drew Leder

Book Overview

The Soul Knows No Bars compiles all of the authors' reactions to texts by Foucault, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and others.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742512479
• ISBN13: 9780742512474
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.1" x 0.5" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

Philosophy and Crime meet face to face...

What does one get when they cross a Philosophy Professor with a group of inmates sentenced to life? The answer is, not surprisingly, an incredible, tour-de-force read. I came upon this title, "The Soul Knows No Bars: Inmates Reflect on Life, Death, and Hope" quite by accident, and what a treasure of a read it is. Philosophy professor Drew Leder - with quite a life story of hid own - has compiled a rich and varied dialogue between himself and a handful of inmates from the Maryland Penetentiary. How he came to teach a philosophy class inside the prison walls is a story in itself, but it is the discussion and debate that broke forth in the midst of those classes that make this book a jewel. As Sister Helen Prejean put it, "Put a philosophy professor into a locked room with incarcerated thieves, drug dealers, and murderers, throw in Socrates, Nietzsche, Cornel West and Heidegger - and what do you get? Conversations that knock your socks off. A book you simply can't put down." I'm in agreement with the good Sister. The book explores the dynamics of power, violence, race, and sexuality, as well as the flights of spirit possible even from a prison cell. The inmates (and Leder) took the texts of some of the greatest philosophical minds known, used those texts as springboards, and reflected on their life experiences. The average law-abiding citizen will be surprised to hear what these men have drawn out and declared. This book is a rich exploration of our present-day's criminal mind. What got them to where they are, how they came to be of the mind they were when in criminal activity, and where they've come since incarcertaion is a fascinating journey through the soul. The book serves as a clarion call for society at large to re-examine our very fabric of social interaction, governing, and penalizing of our fringe members. The discussions are enlightening, powerful, and (at times) disturbing. What struck me most as I read through the words of this book is the incredible waste of intellect and potential - that which has been lost to poverty and drugs is nothing short of heartbreaking. Though author Leder didn't set out to do this, he has shone the spotlight on the need for prison reform - to salvage and restore broken lives is nothing short of a necessity. Some of the greatest minds of our time could well be locked up behind bars. This is a tremendous read and I recommend it to anyone who loves to explore life from a philosophical bent (Leder uses phenonmenology most often) and who wants to better understand the criminal mind. And it is for those who continue to hold out hope that reformation is possible even for the most hardened criminal. Excellent read, from start to finish.

The Philosophy of Crime...

What does one get when they cross a Philosophy Professor with a groupof inmates sentenced to life? The answer is, not surprisingly, anincredible tour-de-force read. I came upon this title, "The SoulKnows No Bars: Inmates Reflect on Life, Death, and Hope" quite byaccident, and what a treasure of a read it is. Philosophy professorDrew Leder - himself with quite a life story - has compiled a rich andvaried dialogue between himself and a handful of inmates from theMaryland Penetentiary. How he came to teach a philosophy class insidethe prison walls is a story in itself, but it is the discussion anddebate that broke forth in the midst of those classes that make thisbook a jewel. As Sister Helen Prejean put it, "Put aphilosophy professor into a locked room with incarcerated thieves,drug dealers, and murderers, throw in Socrates, Nietzsche, Cornel Westand Heidegger - and what do you get? Conversations that knock yoursocks off. A book you simply can't put down." I'm in agreementwith the good Sister. The book explores the dynamics of power,violence, race, and sexuality, as well as the flights of spiritpossible even from a prison cell. The inmates (and Leder) took thetexts of some of the greatest philosophical minds known, used thosetexts as springboards, and reflected on their life experiences. Theaverage law-abiding citizen will be surprised to hear what these menhave drawn out and declared. This book is a rich exploration of ourpresent-day's criminal mind. What got them to where they are, how theycame to be of the mind they were when in criminal activity, and wherethey've come since incarcertaion is a fascinating journey through thesoul. The book serves as a clarion call for society at large tore-examine our very fabric of social interaction, governing, andpenalizing of our fringe members. The discussions are enlightening,powerful, and (at times) disturbing. What struck me most as I readthrough the words of this book is the incredible waste of intellectand potential - that which has been lost to poverty and drugs isnothing short of heartbreaking. Though author Leder didn't set outto do this, he has shone the spotlight on the need for prison reform -to salvage and restore broken lives is nothing short of anecessity. Some of the greatest minds of our time could well be lockedup behind bars. This is a tremendous read and I recommend it toanyone who loves to explore life from a philosophical bent (Leder usesphenonmenology most often) and who wants to better understand thecriminal mind. And it is for those who continue to hold out hope thatreformation is possible even for the most hardenedcriminal. Excellent read, from start to finish.