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  • How to Escape from Prison

  • By: Paul Wood
  • Narrated by: Simon London
  • Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (73 ratings)

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How to Escape from Prison

By: Paul Wood
Narrated by: Simon London
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Publisher's Summary

The remarkable story of how one man defied the odds.

At 18, Paul Wood thought he had lost everything. He had committed an act he knew would send him to prison for many years. To a young man like Paul, it might as well have been for the rest of his life.

Plunged into a nightmarish world of extreme violence, solitary confinement, gang allegiances, drugs, vindictive wardens, and regular stabbings, Paul spent the next 11 years confined in some of New Zealand's toughest jails. Based on an account of his experiences he wrote while still inside, How to Escape from Prison chronicles Paul's road to redemption and a new life as a doctor of psychology, helping others strive to fulfill their potential and develop the resilience to flourish, even in adversity. This is a gripping listen about a man who sank to the depths of despair, before scaling the heights of true freedom.

"Paul's transformation is unbelievable. We are sometimes brought up to think a zebra can't change its stripes. Paul Wood's story is proof that anyone can change. It gives you great courage that you can do anything." (Sir John Kirwan)

©2019 Paul Wood (P)2019 HarperAudio

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What listeners say about How to Escape from Prison

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read.this book!

Paul's story is amazing. The stories of life inside are so descriptive you feel like you are there.

The way he turned his life around through education is inspiring.

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life changing

outstanding book I loved the raw honest side of prison life and inspiration turn around

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book

Beautifully written and executed. Inspirational. A must read in my opinion. I gained valuable insights

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story of transformation

I liked the fundamental message from this book. That a second chance can create outstanding transformation for oneself and society as a whole. The positive psychology weaved throughout Paul’s experience is highly motivating, it enables the reader to be inspired to continue all forms of personal growth.

It was great that acknowledgment of privilege was touched upon as he didn’t experience the systemic racism so many people of colour experience that are over represented in the prison industrial complex due to this and how the historical context of colonialism plays out today in terms of oppressions.

He affirmed that his life’s recovery capital was much higher than other inmates due to networks and resources he was lucky enough to have access too, such as his loving family and by chance certain supportive inmates, workers within the prisons and teachers willing to support him, but also revealed the parole board and some workers in the prisons utter hindrance on supporting people to make the chances, if fact as if they don’t believe people can change or don’t want them too. This highlights how the prison system is really not built for rehabilitation for most people that end up incarcerated and Paul’s inspiring story I hope helps chance this system that for most, further entrenches institutionalisation and recidivism.

Believing in change and understanding that this process involves is a very complex set of contributing factors, is a great message from this book.
The Audio is engaging and excellent.

Overall fantastic book , it leaves you deeply engaged and questioning what can I change today , brick by brick , step by step.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

Loved it, spoken from the heart. It didn't take long to listen to the whole book once started it was hard to stop also the reader was very easy to listen to.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and important

Important book about how we raise boys to be men. Even more important about resilience and redemption.

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  • Jen
  • 01-08-2019

Couldn’t stop listening

I could not stop listening once I started. An amazing story and insights. The narrator was also excellent. Highly recommend!

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Highly recommended

I work for the Department of Corrections ao this has been very interesting. Thank you for sharing your story.

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Best book ever!

I loved every second of this book! It changed my life forever. Thank you Paul!

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    5 out of 5 stars

Good story

I listen to a lot of books in prison life but one from NZ was good to hear. I recognise a lot of the characters, even some which had their names changed, I thought some Maori characters were emphasised a bit negatively but there are definitely those types in jail, still overall congrats to Paul on a good book and on being successful in life.

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