The book offers the private prison experiences of the author, who adopted a pseudonym and is referred to in the book as Anonymous Numbered Inmate in order to protect his identity. The author entered prison after high school following his conviction for first-degree murder and served 18 years in various State prisons before being transferred to a new private prison in 1997 run by a private profit-making corporation. The story of Anonymous begins as he is “shipped” to a private prison in a southern State from the northern State prison. He explains that family ties and family values were of little concern to this northern State that sought only to cut costs by contracting with a private prison in a southern State. The author, writing from the perspective of Anonymous N. Inmate, chronicles the culture and politics of the private prison in part 1 as well as the problems that quickly emerged in the private institution. Part 2 focuses on the brutality experienced by inmates at the hands of other inmates. The chaotic nature of the prison is discussed as the author recalls instances of theft and violence among the inmates as the staff turned a blind eye, either out of apathy or laziness. In the third part of the book the author discusses the prevalence of drug abuse in the prison and the problems with both the “gangbangers” in prison and the prison administration. Part 4 focuses on the riot that occurred, which followed a boycott and ended with a prison lockdown. The author describes the prison environment as chaotic and lawless, with prisoners “doing whatever they wanted inside the prison.” Part 5 discusses aspects of control within the private prison while part 6 offers an analysis of the factors that contributed to violence and its control. Notes, glossary