THE MATERIAL FOR THIS BOOK WAS GATHERED FROM 1976-1977 THROUGH EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWING WITH THE PRISONER, REFERRED TO AS GEORGE MAINLOW IN THE TEXT, AND WITH OTHER INMATES AND PERSONNEL AT THE GREEN HAVEN MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON. THE BOOK OPENS WITH INFORMATION ON THE PRISONER POPULATION OF GREEN HAVEN AND OTHER NEW YORK STATE PRISON FACILITIES, ON SECURITY MEASURES IN THE INSTITUTIONS, AND ON JOB ASSIGNMENTS GIVEN TO INMATES. A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PRISON POPULATION IN NEW YORK STATE FACILITIES IS PRESENTED; SEX, AGE, RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, CONVICTION RECORDS, EDUCATION LEVEL, MARITAL STATUS, AND THE KIND OF SENTENCE BEING SERVED ARE THE FACTORS CONSIDERED. BRIEF ACCOUNTS OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS AMONG PRISONERS AND AMONG INMATES AND GUARDS ARE PRESENTED, AS WELL AS DESCRIPTIVE PIECES ON PRISONERS' ESCAPE ATTEMPTS. THE GREEN HAVEN FACILITY IS DEPICTED, AND ROUTINE LIVING CONDITIONS AND SCHEDULES OF THE INMATES ARE DETAILED. THE AUTHOR ALSO TAKES A BRIEF LOOK AT THE GUILT AND INNOCENCE OF THE INMATES, THE SYSTEM OF PAROLE, THE PROCESSING OF A NEW PRISONER TO THE FACILITY, AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF PRISONERS TO CERTAIN CELL BLOCKS. THE ACCOUNT OF GEORGE MANILOW'S PRISON LIFE BEGINS WITH HIS SITUATION AT THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEW. HE WAS FAIRLY SATISFIED WITH HIS CELL AND ACCOMMODATIONS AND HIS JOB, OUTFITTING INMATES READY FOR PAROLE WITH A SET OF CLOTHES. HIS HISTORY IS THEN RECOUNTED. HIS FIRST OFFENSES WERE STEALING AND BREAKING AND ENTERING DURING HIS TEENAGE YEARS. SINCE THAT TIME, MANILOW HAD SPENT TIME IN FIVE NEW YORK PRISONS. THE NARRATIVE OF MANILOW'S LIFE IS INTERSPERSED WITH DETAILS OF INMATE LIFE IN GREEN HAVEN; THE HUSTLING AND DEALING AMONG PRISONERS FOR MONEY OR FAVORS, THE REACTIONS TO REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS, THE EFFECTS OF PRISON REFORMS ON INMATE LIFE, AND INMATES' ATTITUDES TOWARDS GUARDS AND OFFICIALS ARE DESCRIBED. (DAG)