Letters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope, and Healing for Inmates and Their Loved Ones

by Hill Harper

Overview

A compelling, important addition to Hill Harper’s bestselling series, inspired by young inmates who write to him seeking guidance

After the publication of the bestselling Letters to a Young Brother, accomplished actor and speaker Hill Harper began to receive an increasing number of moving letters from inmates who yearned for a connection with a successful role model. With disturbing statistics on African-American incarceration rates on his mind, Harper set out to address the specific needs of inmates. Harper’s powerful message from the heart provides advice and inspiration in the face of despair along with encouraging words for restoring a sense of self-worth. Uplifting and insightful, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother provides the hope and inspiration inmates and their families need.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592408719
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/01/2014
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	34,915
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Hill Harper is the bestselling author of Letters to a Young Brother, Letters to a Young Sister, The Conversation, and The Wealth Cure. He is now a series regular on Covert Affairs. Harper holds degrees from Brown, Harvard Law School, and the Kennedy School of Government.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction“There is no doubt that if young white people were incarceratedat the same rates as young black people, the issue would bea national emergency.”—Dr. Cornel West, Foreword, The New Jim Crow
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Letters to an Incarcerated Brother"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Hill Harper.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1 Reconnecting

Letter 1 Aftermarket 11

Letter 2 The Nature of Freedom 17

Letter 3 Losing Is Learning: Letter from Lemon Andersen 23

Letter 4 Whose Life Is It?: The Stigma of the Incarcerated 38

Letter 5 Mentors and Options 45

Letter 6 Escape Plan: Letter from Dr. Jamal Bryant 55

Letter 7 Having an Impact 70

Letter 8 What Is a Slave? 76

Part 2 A Leap of Faith

Letter 9 Doing Time: Letter from Jeff Johnson 85

Letter 10 A Leap of Faith 93

Letter 11 Her Point of View 98

Letter 12 Hill's Assignment 105

Letter 13 Smart Enough: Letter from Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi 112

Letter 14 You Can't Keep a Good Mind Down 122

Letter 15 Should I Join a Gang?: Letter from Lupe Fiasco 126

Letter 16 What Makes a Man? 137

Letter 17 Lockdown 143

Part 3 Quantify Your Life

Letter 18 Your Highest Aspirations 153

Letter 19 Commit to Endure 158

Letter 20 Cleaning House: Letter from Dr. Benjamin Chavis 162

Letter 21 Straying: Letter from Russell Simmons 169

Letter 22 Forgiving 177

Letter 23 Mental Health: Letter from Chloe Flower 184

Letter 24 The Seven C's 196

Letter 25 Flicking the Switch 201

Letter 26 End Points 204

Letter 27 Warm-ups 206

Part 4 Becoming an Active Architect of Your Life

Letter 28 Developing Your Blueprint 219

Letter 29 Erasing: Letter from Enitan Bereola II 224

Letter 30 True Access to Education 229

Letter 31 Grit and Grind 236

Letter 32 Fear: Letter from the Honorable Michael Steele 244

Letter 33 Allies 252

Letter 34 Changing Your Tune 256

Letter 35 Unequal Just Us 265

Letter 36 Out There: Letter from Kevin Hagan 269

Letter 37 A Little Help from My Friends: Letter from Catherine Rohr 279

Letter 38 Childhood Eyes 290

Letter 39 Six Months Later: One Day at a Time: Letter from Charles "Roc" Dutton 294

Letter 40 Final Judgment 304

Part 5 Addendum

Owner's Manual 313

Suggested Reading 353

Resources 357

State Correctional Education Coordinator by State 359

Appendix 367

Glossary of Terms 369

Bibliography 373

Acknowledgments 377

Notes 379

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A must-read for all parents to share with their sons (and daughters)."
—Essence

Editorial Reviews

 Praise for Letters to an Incarcerated Brother

“A must-read for all parents to share with their sons (and daughters).”
–Essence Magazine
"A clear, soul-stirring story that compels you (the reader) to take action and help change America for the better."
–IamEntertainmentMagazine.com
 

"Sage, dignified adjuration for the imprisoned. . . . An inspiring jail companion guidebook brimming with straight-talking tough love."
–Kirkus Reviews
 

Select Praise for The Wealth Cure:

“This is a different kind of financial book, one that not only urges us to look at how we use our money but also at how we define wealth. It's as much about personal philosophy as about advice on building a solid financial future.”
–USA Today

“The Wealth Cure could fit comfortably in the self-help or personal finance aisle, melding together life strategies, wisdom from family and strangers he meets on a cross-country train ride, and nuts-and-bolts budgeting advice. It's a guide that doesn't promise to get you rich quick, but to quickly help your life get richer.”
–AOL Daily Finance

“Too many of us think we don't have the ability to better identify how to spend our money, but in Hill Harper's latest book he gives advice on simple ways to save more and admits some of his own financial and personal challenges.”
–Chicagotribune.com

Select Praise for The Conversation:

“Hill Harper trades solving crimes on-screen for a new mission: fixing relationship drama.”
–Essence

“Hill's work presents a light, insightful, and accessible user's manual for African American men and women to better understand that which keeps us apart (and hopefully what can bring us closer together).”
–wearerespectablenegroes.blogspot.com

Select Praise for Letters to a Young Sister:

“When Hill told me about Letters to a Young Sister, my first thought was how badly I could have used a book like this growing up.” – Gabrielle Union

“This book would make a wonderful gift for any teen looking to find her place in life.”
–Star Tribune

"Get it, read it, and share it."
–Detroit Free Press

"Hill, speaking like an older brother, lays out his vision to young women who are confronting rough issues on how to become the architect of their own lives."
–Ebony

"Hill Harper is right. Now is our time (both sisters and brothers, young and old) to uplift ourselves."
–BlackVoices.com

“In his straight-talking style, Hill helps his young sister build self-confidence, self-reliance, self-respect, and encourages her on her journeys towards becoming a strong and successful woman.”
–Concrete Loop

Select Praise for Letters to a Young Brother:

“Harper’s message is a solo soaring above the choir...”
–The LA Times

“In clear, accessible language, Harper encourages his youthful readers to maintain productive values and never give up hope. . . . With frank, loving advice about relationships, careers, sex, education, spirituality and money, Harper helps young readers take that first step toward fruitful change.”
–The Washington Post

“In a direct and often colloquial tone...the letters stress the importance of having options and working smart, not just hard.”
–The New York Times

“An inspirational guidebook for young men...he tackles real life issues that young men encounter today.”
–The Charlotte Post

“...inspiration to young men clamoring for advice and encouragement at a time when popular culture offers little positive direction... Although aimed at young black men, this book, with its contemporary language and approach, should have appeal for youth of both sexes and all races.”
–Booklist



"A must-read for all parents to share with their sons (and daughters)."
—Essence

From the Publisher

01/01/2014
Known for starring on CSI: NY and Covert Affair, Harper continues his "Letters" series (Letters to a Young Brother; Letters to a Young Sister) by advising inmates who have corresponded with him. His theme is from civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis's quote "When you are incarcerated, don't just serve time; make time serve you." Horrified by the number of young African Americans who are in prison, Harper felt he had to offer guidance and messages of hope for men and women behind bars. He suggests excellent resources, such as where to seek grants for education and how to prepare to reenter society, as well as contact lists. The "Owner's Manual" section, an outline of how to become successful, is a highlight. VERDICT Prison libraries and libraries that provide services to jails and/or corrections facilities should consider purchasing several copies, as this self-help book is designed for them. Because of its limited appeal, it is an optional purchase for public libraries. [See LJ 11/1/13, "African American Experiences: 50 Titles for February 2014."]—Michael Sawyer, Pine Bluff, AR

Library Journal

2013-10-10
Sage, dignified adjuration for the imprisoned. Alarmed by the massive explosion of the prison population in recent decades, best-selling author and TV actor Harper (The Conversation: How Black Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships, 2009, etc.) believes that, visible or not, the prison populace is part of the fabric of America and shouldn't be dismissed as merely a blight on humanity. Though his criticisms of the penal and prison systems label them as malevolent, for-profit cauldrons of unregulated private companies bent on manipulating criminals, the author is adamant about creating a solution to what he views as a mushrooming "hyper incarceration crisis." With stern, direct advice and direction on real-life issues (and focusing on the African-American incarcerated population), Harper coaches readers through the fear of prison life and how to stay focused and hopeful and resist gang recruitment. The author writes in the form of unique and heartfelt answers to letters he received from prison inmates in response to his first book, Letters to a Young Brother (2006). In counsel delivered through relatable and colloquial prose, Harper encourages his readership to prepare a mental "escape plan" in anticipation of an inevitable re-entry into society armed with motivation, responsibility and clarity. With frequent references to the spiritual lessons of Deepak Chopra, the author shares pages of positive reinforcement, encouraging inmates to "beat the odds and avoid returning" to the cellblocks after release. His affirmations of hope and humility resonate throughout this unique display of compassionate humanitarianism for those residing behind prison walls and those who wait patiently for their release. The closing section--a useful, well-rounded "Owner's Manual"--begs for an expanded edition. An inspiring jail companion guidebook brimming with straight-talking tough love.

Kirkus Reviews

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