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Inside Alcatraz: My Time on the Rock
One man's searing account of life inside the world's most notorious prison, from desperation to redemption
Each day we saw the outside world in all its splendor, and each day that view served as a reminder that we had wasted and ruined our lives.
Jim Quillen, AZ586—a runaway, problem child, and petty thief—was jailed several times before his 20th birthday. In August 1942, after escaping from San Quentin, he was arrested on the run and sentenced to 45 years in prison, and later transferred to Alcatraz. This is the true story of life inside America's most notorious prison—from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with "the Birdman," and what really happened during the desperate and deadly 1946 escape attempt.
Each day we saw the outside world in all its splendor, and each day that view served as a reminder that we had wasted and ruined our lives.
Jim Quillen, AZ586—a runaway, problem child, and petty thief—was jailed several times before his 20th birthday. In August 1942, after escaping from San Quentin, he was arrested on the run and sentenced to 45 years in prison, and later transferred to Alcatraz. This is the true story of life inside America's most notorious prison—from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with "the Birdman," and what really happened during the desperate and deadly 1946 escape attempt.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
December 18, 2022
In May 2022, I visited Alcatraz and picked up this memoir in the souvenir shop on my way out. Of all the books on Alcatraz this had the highest GR rating.
All told this is a surprisingly well written memoir by former bank robber. It covers his early years and then his stint on the Rock. Quillen does not engage in much cathartic behavior and does an exemplary job of staying on point.
However I was angry at the author for the first 2/3 of the book because it was clear he was a selfish person who lacked the ability to see situations through other people's eyes. His M.O. seemed to be, "Well I wasn't evil or crazy like that other criminal and it was his fault I got caught." I am paraphrasing but his psyche involved a fair amount of victim mentality. This was especially true during the Battle of Alcatraz in 1946 in which he was indirectly involved, when two prison guards were murdered and another 1/2 dozen were shot. He did not seem to have much empathy for the ambushed guards but rather he was mad because the surviving guards were firing indiscriminately into cells.
Jim Quillen seemed to mature around age 30, circa 1949, when the warden at Alcatraz let him work in the prison hospital where he learned to help others. After another ten years Jim was released from the prison system and was able to work as a radiation tech for the rest of his career.
This was an insightful book and written by someone whom I did not like. The aha moment I had when reading was that I came to understand that many people in this world need a steady job and some level of respect to be functional contributors to society or at least not to tear it and everyone in their orbit to pieces. This revelation has a parallel to the kooks who believe elections must be rigged only if their candidate loses or those that believe January 6th was in any way justified.
4 to 4.5 stars. Highly recommended.
All told this is a surprisingly well written memoir by former bank robber. It covers his early years and then his stint on the Rock. Quillen does not engage in much cathartic behavior and does an exemplary job of staying on point.
However I was angry at the author for the first 2/3 of the book because it was clear he was a selfish person who lacked the ability to see situations through other people's eyes. His M.O. seemed to be, "Well I wasn't evil or crazy like that other criminal and it was his fault I got caught." I am paraphrasing but his psyche involved a fair amount of victim mentality. This was especially true during the Battle of Alcatraz in 1946 in which he was indirectly involved, when two prison guards were murdered and another 1/2 dozen were shot. He did not seem to have much empathy for the ambushed guards but rather he was mad because the surviving guards were firing indiscriminately into cells.
Jim Quillen seemed to mature around age 30, circa 1949, when the warden at Alcatraz let him work in the prison hospital where he learned to help others. After another ten years Jim was released from the prison system and was able to work as a radiation tech for the rest of his career.
This was an insightful book and written by someone whom I did not like. The aha moment I had when reading was that I came to understand that many people in this world need a steady job and some level of respect to be functional contributors to society or at least not to tear it and everyone in their orbit to pieces. This revelation has a parallel to the kooks who believe elections must be rigged only if their candidate loses or those that believe January 6th was in any way justified.
4 to 4.5 stars. Highly recommended.
September 6, 2017
Not quite up to my expectations. I thought there would be a lot more detail on Jim Quillen’s Alcatraz experience so you would get to know what it is like being incarcerated on the Rock. There is an interesting chapter that concerns the Birdman of Alcatraz, Robert Stroud.
The author goes over his early life and the trouble he gets into that would lead him to reform school plus San Quentin and Salt Lake City jail before ending up in the infamous Alcatraz. There are about 8 chapters of the 25 in the book solely on the 1946 Battle at Alcatraz which is extremely bloody and violent but to be honest it was all a bit confusing. I read the Kindle version and there is a floor plan in the picture section so keep this handy when reading this as it will aid you. He also goes over the 14 total escape attempts in the appendix.
It is great how Jim made a success of his life after Alcatraz. It does give some insight into life there and how the prisoners were treated but not quite as detailed as expected.
The author goes over his early life and the trouble he gets into that would lead him to reform school plus San Quentin and Salt Lake City jail before ending up in the infamous Alcatraz. There are about 8 chapters of the 25 in the book solely on the 1946 Battle at Alcatraz which is extremely bloody and violent but to be honest it was all a bit confusing. I read the Kindle version and there is a floor plan in the picture section so keep this handy when reading this as it will aid you. He also goes over the 14 total escape attempts in the appendix.
It is great how Jim made a success of his life after Alcatraz. It does give some insight into life there and how the prisoners were treated but not quite as detailed as expected.
July 17, 2016
This book was an inspirational tale of freedom, and how it can only truly be appreciated when it is taken away. I did find that, when the breakouts were being described that there were too many places being described (wings and corridors) which kind of lost me and I found it hard to follow what was going on. I also think that a lot was not explained, the author constantly said Alcatraz was awful and people would rather die than be imprisoned there, but a lot of the reasons why this would be were not really explained. I expected more examples and anecdotes, instead it was very generalised.
February 27, 2015
Jim's story is very interesting and I really wanted to finish the book, but the quality of the writing made it nearly impossible to concentrate.
The narrative was void of any emotion and very repetitive. There was too much focus on insignificant details and overall it read like a witness statement - all fact and no feeling.
The narrative was void of any emotion and very repetitive. There was too much focus on insignificant details and overall it read like a witness statement - all fact and no feeling.
January 19, 2015
Inside Alcatraz: My Time On The Rock – Jim Quillen
I have always been fascinated by Alcatraz, and have been dying to go there for years. My brother went there last year and bought back loads of information. When I saw this book I though ‘I must read this, I need to know more’. This book is GREAT.
I loved knowing how he got into trouble, what sparked it all off. Not only that, when you look up the prisoners in Alcatraz, you only find out the outside version. This book contains lots and lots of inside information, about the work shops, what the cells were like, the people in there, to name a few.
The main part of this book is all to do with the siege that took place in there, it was great to hear an inside story, although there is no way he could know all this information without being told some of it. It was fascinating to find out his role in it, but also what the 3 men who wanted to escape were like. I cannot imagine being in a situation where you cannot move and fear for your life for 3 days, however, this is what these men went through because of the others. All the different squads and techniques to get these prisoners must have been a horrific encounter.
I didn’t realise that there had been so many escape attempts from Alcatraz, most of which resulted in death, or until recently, where they thought that a few men may have managed to make it to land.
I couldn’t put this book down at the weekend it really had me gripped, I just wanted to know more. Not only does this book divulge this life prior to crime, but also what happened when he got out. He was lucky enough to have people trust him despite his past.
Anyone who wants to know more about Alcatraz or even just to get into the head of a criminal, this is the book for you. Everything was written and divulged really well.
5 stars
I have always been fascinated by Alcatraz, and have been dying to go there for years. My brother went there last year and bought back loads of information. When I saw this book I though ‘I must read this, I need to know more’. This book is GREAT.
I loved knowing how he got into trouble, what sparked it all off. Not only that, when you look up the prisoners in Alcatraz, you only find out the outside version. This book contains lots and lots of inside information, about the work shops, what the cells were like, the people in there, to name a few.
The main part of this book is all to do with the siege that took place in there, it was great to hear an inside story, although there is no way he could know all this information without being told some of it. It was fascinating to find out his role in it, but also what the 3 men who wanted to escape were like. I cannot imagine being in a situation where you cannot move and fear for your life for 3 days, however, this is what these men went through because of the others. All the different squads and techniques to get these prisoners must have been a horrific encounter.
I didn’t realise that there had been so many escape attempts from Alcatraz, most of which resulted in death, or until recently, where they thought that a few men may have managed to make it to land.
I couldn’t put this book down at the weekend it really had me gripped, I just wanted to know more. Not only does this book divulge this life prior to crime, but also what happened when he got out. He was lucky enough to have people trust him despite his past.
Anyone who wants to know more about Alcatraz or even just to get into the head of a criminal, this is the book for you. Everything was written and divulged really well.
5 stars
March 26, 2024
What an emotional rollercoaster of a book. It was such a pleasure to be thrown into the early 1900’s of a lifestyle that I have never been apart of or thought about. I visited Alcatraz in late 2023 and began reading this book in early 2024 after seeing it in the gift shop. Reading this story, there were so many moments that I could vividly follow because the images from my tour were still so fresh in my mind. Really being able to envision all the locations of the prison as Jim described really made it enjoyable, real, excrusiating, and exciting. There were so many times I was tense and felt absolute dread in thinking what it would be like to be in this notorious prison as a criminal. The in depth information in this book really paints a picture to the past and I loved following every step of it and every low and high that JQ went through.
January 12, 2015
Inside Alcatraz is the first book I have awarded five stars to in 2015, and I am doing so because it is one of the best books I have ever read. I feel as if I have lived every minute of Jim Quillen's life with him after reading this book. He is a truly remarkable man, and one I am full of respect for after reading this book. I have read a lot of True Crime books over the years, and anybody else who reads this genre will tell you, there's far more bad books than good. This one is incredible and I encourage everybody to pick it up and read it.
Jim comes across as a very grounded, humble man in the opening telling us all about his somewhat troubled upbringing. With an alcoholic mother and a father who at times struggled to cope, Jim found himself sent to various homes, before as a teenager running away from home more than once and getting into a bit of trouble. In the beginning it was normal teenage stuff, but some poor decisions led to Jim breaking the law one too many times and he was soon sent to a reformatory school, many escape attempts later - resulting in a small sentence becoming much longer - and Jim was a free man. Recognising that next time he would be sent to San Quentin, he made the decision to join the US Marines, in the hope that would put him on the straight and narrow, and allow him to better himself. Unfortunately those in charge found out about his criminal record, and he then, in his own words, 'fell into the depths of depression'. This in turn led to him committing armed robbery, finding himself in San Quentin before he escaped yet again, as a fugitive he felt he had nothing to lose, and a cross country chase soon found him captured by the FBI and sent to Alcatraz.
Even without Alcatraz this book is eventful, it taking some 100+ pages before we reach the notorious jail but it was once I reached the chapters surrounding Alcatraz that the book gripped me even more, to say the tales detailed within are shocking would be an understatement. Jim says that 'Alcatraz was designed and built to be a maximum-security and minimum-privilege facility. In reality it went far beyond this and became a prison where the sole purpose was to degrade, deprive, humiliate, and break the inmates physically, mentally, and spiritually, if possible. In many cases, it was remarkably successful'. He goes on to discuss the prison's inception, how prisoners are introduced to life at Alcatraz and its many rules and regulations and also what the prison officers were like. Jim then says that 'whilst it is true this prison houses violent men, many of whom had killed during the commission of their crimes, they were still human beings - a fact that seemed to be forgotten once incarcerated at Alcatraz'. He then goes into a lot more detail about his time in the prison, from the early years through to the world famous Battle of Alcatraz, there was an almost cinematic quality to these chapters and it felt almost like a film. There are many tales I enjoyed reading in this book, some shocked me, some made me laugh but really it's best for readers to discover them for themselves rather than me reel them off here. It's important to note that Jim does highlight the positives, for example the guards that did help, and the guards that carried out their job to the best of their abilities, rather than simply being critical of the whole system.
Often there's the question of how much is true when a criminal writes a book about a prison, yet the history of Alcatraz is well documented and so there's not much to question here. Some people are obviously born criminals, but some are victims of circumstance. Jim is one such person. We are all responsible for our own decisions, and Jim holds his hands up and admits to all of his mistakes, never glossing over anything or passing the blame onto somebody else (unless that blame was deserved, which it is a couple of times in the book). He's very honest all the way through, and very evaluative about what led him to make those choices, and how they changed him as a person. In fact when talking about his thought processes at the time of his crimes, he was actually thinking that if he was caught he would hold his hands up and blame nobody but himself. I did wonder then why he would prefer to escape from prison and be on the run living as a criminal rather than serve 12 more months in San Quentin, to think all of what he experienced wouldn't have happened had his desire for freedom not been so strong. You could also say though that the life he went on to live after Alcatraz, would also not have happened.
It really is so much more than a book about Alcatraz, and I have a million and one thoughts running around in my head that I'm struggling to put into words. It's also a story of times gone by, the kind of policing described in this book is now surely a thing of the past. It's an absolutely compelling read, and one that has consumed me over these past two days. The fact he managed to turn his life around, and find happiness with a wife and children, even becoming a tour guide when Alcatraz became a tourist destination, is quite remarkable and it is the final chapter, about him leaving prison and his life after that which was one of my favourites. Some might say a criminal is a criminal, let them rot but in his latter years at the jail the hard work is evident and it's a shame that a man who appeared in this book as quite clever, led the life he did but if this book shows anything it's that no prisoner is beyond rehabilitation. Sadly Jim passed away some time ago, but his legacy lives on and his story is definitely worth reading for True Crime fans, or readers of nonfiction in general. It's certainly one of the best I have ever read in the genre, and I very much enjoyed it.
Jim comes across as a very grounded, humble man in the opening telling us all about his somewhat troubled upbringing. With an alcoholic mother and a father who at times struggled to cope, Jim found himself sent to various homes, before as a teenager running away from home more than once and getting into a bit of trouble. In the beginning it was normal teenage stuff, but some poor decisions led to Jim breaking the law one too many times and he was soon sent to a reformatory school, many escape attempts later - resulting in a small sentence becoming much longer - and Jim was a free man. Recognising that next time he would be sent to San Quentin, he made the decision to join the US Marines, in the hope that would put him on the straight and narrow, and allow him to better himself. Unfortunately those in charge found out about his criminal record, and he then, in his own words, 'fell into the depths of depression'. This in turn led to him committing armed robbery, finding himself in San Quentin before he escaped yet again, as a fugitive he felt he had nothing to lose, and a cross country chase soon found him captured by the FBI and sent to Alcatraz.
Even without Alcatraz this book is eventful, it taking some 100+ pages before we reach the notorious jail but it was once I reached the chapters surrounding Alcatraz that the book gripped me even more, to say the tales detailed within are shocking would be an understatement. Jim says that 'Alcatraz was designed and built to be a maximum-security and minimum-privilege facility. In reality it went far beyond this and became a prison where the sole purpose was to degrade, deprive, humiliate, and break the inmates physically, mentally, and spiritually, if possible. In many cases, it was remarkably successful'. He goes on to discuss the prison's inception, how prisoners are introduced to life at Alcatraz and its many rules and regulations and also what the prison officers were like. Jim then says that 'whilst it is true this prison houses violent men, many of whom had killed during the commission of their crimes, they were still human beings - a fact that seemed to be forgotten once incarcerated at Alcatraz'. He then goes into a lot more detail about his time in the prison, from the early years through to the world famous Battle of Alcatraz, there was an almost cinematic quality to these chapters and it felt almost like a film. There are many tales I enjoyed reading in this book, some shocked me, some made me laugh but really it's best for readers to discover them for themselves rather than me reel them off here. It's important to note that Jim does highlight the positives, for example the guards that did help, and the guards that carried out their job to the best of their abilities, rather than simply being critical of the whole system.
Often there's the question of how much is true when a criminal writes a book about a prison, yet the history of Alcatraz is well documented and so there's not much to question here. Some people are obviously born criminals, but some are victims of circumstance. Jim is one such person. We are all responsible for our own decisions, and Jim holds his hands up and admits to all of his mistakes, never glossing over anything or passing the blame onto somebody else (unless that blame was deserved, which it is a couple of times in the book). He's very honest all the way through, and very evaluative about what led him to make those choices, and how they changed him as a person. In fact when talking about his thought processes at the time of his crimes, he was actually thinking that if he was caught he would hold his hands up and blame nobody but himself. I did wonder then why he would prefer to escape from prison and be on the run living as a criminal rather than serve 12 more months in San Quentin, to think all of what he experienced wouldn't have happened had his desire for freedom not been so strong. You could also say though that the life he went on to live after Alcatraz, would also not have happened.
It really is so much more than a book about Alcatraz, and I have a million and one thoughts running around in my head that I'm struggling to put into words. It's also a story of times gone by, the kind of policing described in this book is now surely a thing of the past. It's an absolutely compelling read, and one that has consumed me over these past two days. The fact he managed to turn his life around, and find happiness with a wife and children, even becoming a tour guide when Alcatraz became a tourist destination, is quite remarkable and it is the final chapter, about him leaving prison and his life after that which was one of my favourites. Some might say a criminal is a criminal, let them rot but in his latter years at the jail the hard work is evident and it's a shame that a man who appeared in this book as quite clever, led the life he did but if this book shows anything it's that no prisoner is beyond rehabilitation. Sadly Jim passed away some time ago, but his legacy lives on and his story is definitely worth reading for True Crime fans, or readers of nonfiction in general. It's certainly one of the best I have ever read in the genre, and I very much enjoyed it.
October 4, 2023
Interesting and good memoir about the ability to change. Makes me want to be better at not discrediting people because of past actions. Also a very eye opening look into Alcatraz and the prison system then from someone who experienced it first hand as a prisoner.
August 1, 2023
This was a story written by someone who was not an established or famous writer, but rather by a real-life ex-convict at one of the most notorious prisons in the U.S.
This makes the story a very easy read. You are able to get into the authors mind and experience what it was like facing troubles in his youth, making wrong decisions, and as a result facing harsh consequences by society. The end of the story showed a great moral that even when faced with the harshest realities in life, we always have the chance to change and get better.
A true example of humans, by nature, being the products of our environment.
This makes the story a very easy read. You are able to get into the authors mind and experience what it was like facing troubles in his youth, making wrong decisions, and as a result facing harsh consequences by society. The end of the story showed a great moral that even when faced with the harshest realities in life, we always have the chance to change and get better.
A true example of humans, by nature, being the products of our environment.
June 2, 2016
Decent enough true story I suppose but the writing was so flat. Kept drifting off whilst reading it. Obviously the author is not a writer and I appreciate that. The descriptions of Alcatraz and the escape attempt(S) were interesting but I think the part that I enjoyed the most was when he left prison and turned his life around.
November 17, 2019
I read this in 48 hours and enjoyed every minute. I have always been fascinated by prisons and crime so this ticked every box for me. Each chapter, I had to close the book and just spend time considering some of the shocking things I had just read. Crazy and entertaining. Would recommend.
November 24, 2015
When I was in high school our family took a boat out to Alcatraz for a tour while visiting San Francisco. After the tour we were walking out and my dad, friendly guy that he is, stopped to talk to a man with ice blue eyes who was standing behind a table selling this book about a former prisoner of Alcatraz. Turns out the mug shot on the cover had the same ice blue eyes. Eerie. They talked a little about his autobiography and experience inside Alcatraz and my dad asked him what advice he would give us kids so we never had to see the inside of a place like that. Jim talked about making good friends, staying in school, etc. My dad thanked him, bought his book, and as we were walking away I'll never forget: the guy looked at me with those ice blue eyes, said, "Be good" and then winked at me! Creepy! It was a long time ago, but I remember finding the account depressing (bc he had such a bad childhood) and also interesting how he turned his life around. I like what another reviewer said,
"The life of Jim Quillen proves that no man is beyond rehabilitation, regardless of how far he has fallen from the norms of the society. This book opened my eyes and lessened my own hard views on convicted criminals. I think an individual is a prisoner of his own thoughts and personal circumstances. Quillen came from a dysfunctional family, which contributed negatively to his development. This is well illustrated by the story of Jim Quillen."
"The life of Jim Quillen proves that no man is beyond rehabilitation, regardless of how far he has fallen from the norms of the society. This book opened my eyes and lessened my own hard views on convicted criminals. I think an individual is a prisoner of his own thoughts and personal circumstances. Quillen came from a dysfunctional family, which contributed negatively to his development. This is well illustrated by the story of Jim Quillen."
June 17, 2016
An interesting account of one man's time in one of the most notorious prisons in the Western world. Jim Quillen's recounting of the events of the infamous escape attempt of 1946 is particularly important as it attempts to redress the balance somewhat, with an inmate's view of the events that happened, which, of course, differ very much from the accepted view peddled by the authorities. Yes, of course, Jim is always going to see the affair through the eyes of an inmate - it would be very difficult not to - but it does supply a certain amount of balance to the overall story of those events and allows the prisoners held in Alcatraz a certain voice that hadn't been readily available before.
Ultimately this is an easy-going read - not too demanding, the writing style is simple and uncomplicated. Personally I would have liked to have read a little bit more about his post criminal life, and the ending seems a bit rushed as a result. But Jim's rehabilitation does reveal a humanity rarely seen in books of this kind, and I have to admit a certain amount of joy at reading about the way he turned his life around. The book also acts as a prime example of how criminal rehabilitation is a goal any civilised society should aspire to, rather than the senseless idea of punishment for it's own sake as revenge and nothing else.
Ultimately this is an easy-going read - not too demanding, the writing style is simple and uncomplicated. Personally I would have liked to have read a little bit more about his post criminal life, and the ending seems a bit rushed as a result. But Jim's rehabilitation does reveal a humanity rarely seen in books of this kind, and I have to admit a certain amount of joy at reading about the way he turned his life around. The book also acts as a prime example of how criminal rehabilitation is a goal any civilised society should aspire to, rather than the senseless idea of punishment for it's own sake as revenge and nothing else.
July 14, 2022
I would like to start this review stressing the fact that Jim Quillen was not a “writer” by any means. What I mean by that is that he did not write for a living, he authored a book, which is a great accomplishment and one he states was difficult for him to do and also something he’s proud of.
He did not spend his life crafting words to say on a page, he spent a lot of it incarcerated at an institution that made it hard for humans to succeed. Despite that, he beat the odds, earned the rest of his diploma, which at the time of his incarceration, was a 10th grade education, part spent in a reformatory school, and went on to work in the medical field.
This being clearly stated, of course his writing is not going to be perfectly penned, but he went through all odds against him and came out the other side a different man. Despite his writing skills, that is a testament to his character and is a story worthy of sharing. To not give this book the benefit of the doubt as far as how it was penned is to do a disservice to the man that wrote this and was willing to share his story.
I think that readers should challenge themselves to put aside their expectations of the way he may struggle in his writing and read his story. I personally think it’s one worth reading.
He did not spend his life crafting words to say on a page, he spent a lot of it incarcerated at an institution that made it hard for humans to succeed. Despite that, he beat the odds, earned the rest of his diploma, which at the time of his incarceration, was a 10th grade education, part spent in a reformatory school, and went on to work in the medical field.
This being clearly stated, of course his writing is not going to be perfectly penned, but he went through all odds against him and came out the other side a different man. Despite his writing skills, that is a testament to his character and is a story worthy of sharing. To not give this book the benefit of the doubt as far as how it was penned is to do a disservice to the man that wrote this and was willing to share his story.
I think that readers should challenge themselves to put aside their expectations of the way he may struggle in his writing and read his story. I personally think it’s one worth reading.
August 23, 2017
I picked up this book on a whim during my family's visit to Alcatraz at the beginning of August. I can't say exactly what drew me to it, but I knew that I would find it fascinating.
What I didn't know was just how much I would be enthralled with Jim Quillen's story. He changed from a criminal with seemingly no hope to a man who wanted nothing more than to be free and start his life anew. It was incredible to see the change in character, but at the same time, unsettling to know that for as many success stories like Jim's, there are still those hopelessly incarcerated without any possibility of change.
While the book moved slowly in some parts, it offers a stunning insight into the mundane, every day life at one of America's most infamous prisons.
What I didn't know was just how much I would be enthralled with Jim Quillen's story. He changed from a criminal with seemingly no hope to a man who wanted nothing more than to be free and start his life anew. It was incredible to see the change in character, but at the same time, unsettling to know that for as many success stories like Jim's, there are still those hopelessly incarcerated without any possibility of change.
While the book moved slowly in some parts, it offers a stunning insight into the mundane, every day life at one of America's most infamous prisons.
November 6, 2016
Following a crime spree in the 1940s that resulted in multiple charges of robbery & one of kidnapping, James Quillen was sentenced to 45 years in prison and was sent to the infamous Alcatraz.
January 8, 2012
Having been to Alcatraz (as a visitor) this book really makes the whole place feel spookier.
September 24, 2017
My daughter picked out this book when we were in the gift shop after touring Alcatraz this summer. It had the appeal of being written by a former inmate. I had been intending to buy a book about the prison, and after searching the almost 100 books there, settled on this one. The book's pacing for me can best be described as fits and spurts. Some parts go slow, and some pick up your interest more. The first third of the book is background on Jim Quillen's early life and presumably what lead him into prison. I found this somewhat interesting, but kept looking forward to his time in Alcatraz. Jim was a thief, that spent time in several work camps and prisons before his time in Alcatraz. His reason for going to Alcatraz is that Jim also had escaped prisons or work camps, but was caught in the attempts.
Once Jim arrived in Alcatraz, I almost missed it. It was mid page, and the next paragraph went on to describe early days at Alcatraz. I found my reading pace increased once he was here. One interesting and detailed part of the book was the fact that Jim was an inmate during a famous excape attempt in May of 1946. This excape is described on the audio tour of the prison, and landmarks in the prison are pointed out during the tour. Some of the photos in this book are featured on Tourist information boards in the prison. The interesting part of this escape is that it took place over three days, and involved the police, military, and Coast Guard, in addition to the Alcatraz guards and administration. Six inmates planned and attempted the escape, three left the island dead, and three stood trial in San Francisco after the fact. Two of these men would be sentenced and put to death in the Gas chamber of San Quentin.
Although I was familiar with some of the details of this escape, after taking the tour of the prison, I was unaware of some of the facts that the tour sort of glosses over. What made this book's telling of the story engaging, was the eye witness account by Jim. Ironically, he was not a co-conspirator or a major player in this attempt. However, he did get released from his cell and participate for some of it, which gives him a unique perspective. I appreciated the level of detail that Jim takes in describing the retaking of Alcatraz from the escaping inmates. I also appreciated the background information Jim had because he knew the players before they got involved in this botched escape. He also had invaluable insight into one or two minor players that paid a dear price for being involved.
Jim ultimately spent 10 years and one day in Alcatraz. He was transferred out to a different prison on an island off Washington state. He also got transferred back to San Quentin to spend a year of parole for his escape attempt from that prison. The last bit of the book dealt with his release and further rehabilitation to a completely free man, who married, had a successful career, had a child and grandchildren. He has an understandably colored view against prison and some of the practices, but truly overcame his past. It is an uplifting story. An appendix in the back lists out the 14 total escape attempts from Alcatraz with years and participants. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in life at Alcatraz, and for anyone interested in the prison system. As a generic story, it may not interest everyone.
Once Jim arrived in Alcatraz, I almost missed it. It was mid page, and the next paragraph went on to describe early days at Alcatraz. I found my reading pace increased once he was here. One interesting and detailed part of the book was the fact that Jim was an inmate during a famous excape attempt in May of 1946. This excape is described on the audio tour of the prison, and landmarks in the prison are pointed out during the tour. Some of the photos in this book are featured on Tourist information boards in the prison. The interesting part of this escape is that it took place over three days, and involved the police, military, and Coast Guard, in addition to the Alcatraz guards and administration. Six inmates planned and attempted the escape, three left the island dead, and three stood trial in San Francisco after the fact. Two of these men would be sentenced and put to death in the Gas chamber of San Quentin.
Although I was familiar with some of the details of this escape, after taking the tour of the prison, I was unaware of some of the facts that the tour sort of glosses over. What made this book's telling of the story engaging, was the eye witness account by Jim. Ironically, he was not a co-conspirator or a major player in this attempt. However, he did get released from his cell and participate for some of it, which gives him a unique perspective. I appreciated the level of detail that Jim takes in describing the retaking of Alcatraz from the escaping inmates. I also appreciated the background information Jim had because he knew the players before they got involved in this botched escape. He also had invaluable insight into one or two minor players that paid a dear price for being involved.
Jim ultimately spent 10 years and one day in Alcatraz. He was transferred out to a different prison on an island off Washington state. He also got transferred back to San Quentin to spend a year of parole for his escape attempt from that prison. The last bit of the book dealt with his release and further rehabilitation to a completely free man, who married, had a successful career, had a child and grandchildren. He has an understandably colored view against prison and some of the practices, but truly overcame his past. It is an uplifting story. An appendix in the back lists out the 14 total escape attempts from Alcatraz with years and participants. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in life at Alcatraz, and for anyone interested in the prison system. As a generic story, it may not interest everyone.
January 22, 2021
I picked this up when I visited Alcatraz back in 2019 because I was so fascinated by the experience and wanted to learn more. I quickly forgot about it until pulling the "true crime" prompt in my monthly TBR game that I recently created. I was excited to finally open the book but wasn't sure what to expect.
Admittedly the first quarter of the book was interesting but not really what I was interested in. We got a deep dive of Quillen's childhood and his introduction to crime and frankly I just wanted to know about Alcatraz. I did get invested in Quillens story and shortly after got what I was looking for. I think Quillen did a great job telling what it was like without being overtly biased as a former inmate himself. He gave you the side of the inmates in a situation where the inmates were voiceless.
As soon as we got into Alcatraz I was hooked and didn't want to put the book down, eager to figure out what happened inside the building and more importantly to Quillen himself. Overall I found the book to be interesting, engaging and thought provoking I really enjoyed it.
Some Spoilery thoughts:
Admittedly the first quarter of the book was interesting but not really what I was interested in. We got a deep dive of Quillen's childhood and his introduction to crime and frankly I just wanted to know about Alcatraz. I did get invested in Quillens story and shortly after got what I was looking for. I think Quillen did a great job telling what it was like without being overtly biased as a former inmate himself. He gave you the side of the inmates in a situation where the inmates were voiceless.
As soon as we got into Alcatraz I was hooked and didn't want to put the book down, eager to figure out what happened inside the building and more importantly to Quillen himself. Overall I found the book to be interesting, engaging and thought provoking I really enjoyed it.
Some Spoilery thoughts:
October 14, 2022
Despite some dragging here and there, this is quite a moving book, an autobiography of a man coming from a very troubled childhood, indulging in the highs of criminal life, to eventual redemption. While Alcatraz is in the center of the book, the real thing that pulls my heart string is Mr. Quillen's musing about what an overly punitive prison system does to the inmates.
What do we want to achieve by putting people behind bars? Isn't it not our desire to rehabilitate them so that they are able to rejoin and contribute to the society? If that is the case, what good does it make if we impose unreasonably harsh treatment on inmates? Being locked up and stripped of many privileges, let alone freedom, is punishment enough. Jail time should be devoted to education and helping inmates learn a skill that will help them feel useful in the society. Locking people up just for the sake of locking them up does nothing to help the inmates or the society as a whole. It only deprives the inmates of the feeling of purposefulness. A person without purpose in the society is on a fast track back to the prison.
Mr. Quillen had his redemption because despite his unfortunate past, he was dichoso enough to have a family eager to support him, a faith he can fall back on, a few friends and employer willing to guide and nurture him, and a strong mind and will to push through the education. He was successful not because of the system but despite of it. How many other inmates simply perished because the stars were not aligned for them?
Mankind can withstand tremendous amount of physical abuse, but it is the mental torture that finally breaks him. Yet mental torture is all Alcatraz, or maybe most of the prison system, did. The feeling of no future and no hope. What does that do to a man if not pushing him over the edge, making him more desperate and do stupid things (e.g. escape) that traps him in a vicious downward cycle? Mr. Quillen didn't escape towards the end of his incarceration, because he had hope. Why can't we do the same for every inmate? Give them hope. Let them know the society has not abandoned them as long as they don't abandon themselves. It won't work for everyone, but it will for some. And saving one soul is saving the whole world entire. It's a much more honorable endeavor than putting more guns in the guards' hand or building more cell blocks.
I appreciate that Mr. Quillen left us with his story and thinking in this book. I truly believe that for a prison system to function properly, it must be a place to restore hope, rather than a pit of torture and humiliation. Unfortunately, we are often times too shortsighted and self-possessed to dow out forgiveness, thus opting for a push-button "solution" for the convicts that eventually perpetuates the problem we wish to solve in the first place.
What do we want to achieve by putting people behind bars? Isn't it not our desire to rehabilitate them so that they are able to rejoin and contribute to the society? If that is the case, what good does it make if we impose unreasonably harsh treatment on inmates? Being locked up and stripped of many privileges, let alone freedom, is punishment enough. Jail time should be devoted to education and helping inmates learn a skill that will help them feel useful in the society. Locking people up just for the sake of locking them up does nothing to help the inmates or the society as a whole. It only deprives the inmates of the feeling of purposefulness. A person without purpose in the society is on a fast track back to the prison.
Mr. Quillen had his redemption because despite his unfortunate past, he was dichoso enough to have a family eager to support him, a faith he can fall back on, a few friends and employer willing to guide and nurture him, and a strong mind and will to push through the education. He was successful not because of the system but despite of it. How many other inmates simply perished because the stars were not aligned for them?
Mankind can withstand tremendous amount of physical abuse, but it is the mental torture that finally breaks him. Yet mental torture is all Alcatraz, or maybe most of the prison system, did. The feeling of no future and no hope. What does that do to a man if not pushing him over the edge, making him more desperate and do stupid things (e.g. escape) that traps him in a vicious downward cycle? Mr. Quillen didn't escape towards the end of his incarceration, because he had hope. Why can't we do the same for every inmate? Give them hope. Let them know the society has not abandoned them as long as they don't abandon themselves. It won't work for everyone, but it will for some. And saving one soul is saving the whole world entire. It's a much more honorable endeavor than putting more guns in the guards' hand or building more cell blocks.
I appreciate that Mr. Quillen left us with his story and thinking in this book. I truly believe that for a prison system to function properly, it must be a place to restore hope, rather than a pit of torture and humiliation. Unfortunately, we are often times too shortsighted and self-possessed to dow out forgiveness, thus opting for a push-button "solution" for the convicts that eventually perpetuates the problem we wish to solve in the first place.
October 18, 2018
I think that more than anything, this book is a hopeful book. And that this man, while not exactly a writer, had a very important story to share.
I can't say that I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book and I was nervous that the "best part" was going to be Quillen's account of the Battle of Alcatraz (didn't really enjoy that part that much; it was pretty hyped up in the beginning of the book so I thought that that would be its bread and butter. It was, in some ways, but I didn't choose to think of it that way). Fortunately, that is not the best part, at least in my opinion. The best part came after: his honest, straightforward account of life as it is, with its ups and downs. Although I wish Quillen could have been more elaborative on certain aspects of his life (that would have been really interesting; his feelings in prison, the nuances of it all [don't get me wrong, they were all there, but just more because it's so interesting], and even what happened to Jack? How did he meet Marge?), I can't really say I blame him. Everything is pretty overwhelming.
Overall, an enjoyable read, but more than that, an important one. Was saddened to find out that Quillen died in '98 because reading this book really makes you respect him and what he's been through. RIP.
I can't say that I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book and I was nervous that the "best part" was going to be Quillen's account of the Battle of Alcatraz (didn't really enjoy that part that much; it was pretty hyped up in the beginning of the book so I thought that that would be its bread and butter. It was, in some ways, but I didn't choose to think of it that way). Fortunately, that is not the best part, at least in my opinion. The best part came after: his honest, straightforward account of life as it is, with its ups and downs. Although I wish Quillen could have been more elaborative on certain aspects of his life (that would have been really interesting; his feelings in prison, the nuances of it all [don't get me wrong, they were all there, but just more because it's so interesting], and even what happened to Jack? How did he meet Marge?), I can't really say I blame him. Everything is pretty overwhelming.
Overall, an enjoyable read, but more than that, an important one. Was saddened to find out that Quillen died in '98 because reading this book really makes you respect him and what he's been through. RIP.
December 29, 2023
I visited Alcatraz about two years ago and it remains a topic of interest. This is the second book that I've read about Alcatraz, with the first being "Alcatraz Screw: My Years as a Guard in America's Most Notorious Prison" by George H. Gregory, which I read before this one. "Inside Alcatraz: My Time on the Rock" by Jim Quillen is an interesting book and fairly well-written, although it took me longer than expected to finish it. Perhaps two books back-to-back about Alcatraz was a bit much.
Quillen's memoir mostly tells of his time at Alcatraz, yet the first third of the book detailed his life of crime and subsequent events that put him there. He also goes into detail about what happened after his release, where he sought redemption and received it. A decent portion of the book centers around the 1946 escape attempt at Alcatraz. While interesting, it was a bit hard to keep track of what was happening, and dragged down Quillen's narrative. Nonetheless, Quillen's memoir was often a real page-turner, filled with action and suspense, and a look at what happened behind the closed doors of a notorious prison. It's not a book that I would read again, but recommended if you like memoirs or true crime.
Quillen's memoir mostly tells of his time at Alcatraz, yet the first third of the book detailed his life of crime and subsequent events that put him there. He also goes into detail about what happened after his release, where he sought redemption and received it. A decent portion of the book centers around the 1946 escape attempt at Alcatraz. While interesting, it was a bit hard to keep track of what was happening, and dragged down Quillen's narrative. Nonetheless, Quillen's memoir was often a real page-turner, filled with action and suspense, and a look at what happened behind the closed doors of a notorious prison. It's not a book that I would read again, but recommended if you like memoirs or true crime.
August 20, 2024
There’s just something about a prison memoir. Some of them are fantastic, and all of them get me away from my own meh life and into an exciting one for a bit. I can never quite comprehend how easy it is for people to commit crimes which sound like they’d take a lot of effort and connections, and climbing on freight trains to travel around the country sounds impossible, even in the 1920s.
Quillen’s was detailed and fast-paced, although I’d have liked more details on the day-to-day in Alcatraz. I want to know why it was so awful compared to other prisons and I think that was only touched on (they weren’t even allowed commissary).
I enjoyed the escape portions but needed a map to understand just where everyone was.
Also, no disrespect, but I have no idea why Quillen was given a presidential pardon. He commits armed robbery, kidnapping and a whole host of other crimes, then escapes and attempts to escape from prison a whole bunch of times. He never really seems concerned for his victims - just for himself. When so many Americans are executed for things they didn’t even do it seems bizarre. And he was sooo ready to place the blame on anyone but himself even after declaring he’d ‘matured’ enough to write a book.
Quillen’s was detailed and fast-paced, although I’d have liked more details on the day-to-day in Alcatraz. I want to know why it was so awful compared to other prisons and I think that was only touched on (they weren’t even allowed commissary).
I enjoyed the escape portions but needed a map to understand just where everyone was.
Also, no disrespect, but I have no idea why Quillen was given a presidential pardon. He commits armed robbery, kidnapping and a whole host of other crimes, then escapes and attempts to escape from prison a whole bunch of times. He never really seems concerned for his victims - just for himself. When so many Americans are executed for things they didn’t even do it seems bizarre. And he was sooo ready to place the blame on anyone but himself even after declaring he’d ‘matured’ enough to write a book.
December 1, 2019
'I was engulfed with the realisation that I was no longer than a person, but instead AZ586, a criminal who had been sentenced to serve forty-five years in the federal penal system.'
1942, twenty two year old Jim Quillen is on the run from San Quentin prison. He has been serving 18 months for an armed robbery, he thinks he has made a lucky escape until he is caught and sentenced to 45 years in the federal prison of Alcatraz, an ex military base in San Francisco Bay and branded escape proof.
This is the true story of life inside America's toughest prison, from terrifying times in solitary confinement to his daily encounters with Robert Stroud, aka the Birdman of Alcatraz. He also describes what really happened during the desperate deadly 1946 escape attempt.
I enjoyed this read. I was pleased that Quillen was able to reform after spending years inside some of America's toughest prisons. Quillen goes into vast detail about what life was really like on Alcatraz, undeniably putting a doubt on what the US media told the public. He also looks at the 14 escape attempts, which includes the attempt that the movie Escape from Alcatraz is based on.
1942, twenty two year old Jim Quillen is on the run from San Quentin prison. He has been serving 18 months for an armed robbery, he thinks he has made a lucky escape until he is caught and sentenced to 45 years in the federal prison of Alcatraz, an ex military base in San Francisco Bay and branded escape proof.
This is the true story of life inside America's toughest prison, from terrifying times in solitary confinement to his daily encounters with Robert Stroud, aka the Birdman of Alcatraz. He also describes what really happened during the desperate deadly 1946 escape attempt.
I enjoyed this read. I was pleased that Quillen was able to reform after spending years inside some of America's toughest prisons. Quillen goes into vast detail about what life was really like on Alcatraz, undeniably putting a doubt on what the US media told the public. He also looks at the 14 escape attempts, which includes the attempt that the movie Escape from Alcatraz is based on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2020
I've read a few prison books this year and this one was a genuinely interesting read and one written with a lot of honesty. Jim takes us through his life from his troubled childhood and upbringing to his crimes, incarceration and even escape, all of which ends with him in the hellish Alcatraz prison. It isn't just about his daily routine and his rehabilitation but also his experience being caught up in a dangerous siege on the prison in 1942. He writes with balance and though he openly admits he has negative feelings towards his captors, he never says this in a way which might encourage hatred. Instead he explains his reasons for his emotions and tells of hidden events which were never fully exposed. If you can look past his simple style of narration, it is a very intriguing read and you have to commend Jim for reliving these events years later to educate others. Recommended for fans of Orange Is The New Black.
June 20, 2018
Having recently visited Alcatraz, it was fascinating to read this book written by an actual inmate of the prison-- and I was able to picture each part of the prison he mentioned. Hi story shared the realities of serving time there (and in other prisons) and it was different from what I have always assumed based on movies and other times I've heard about Alcatraz in my life.
But more than him sharing of his Alcatraz experience, I liked hearing about his entire life-- his life leading up to his criminal life, his owning up to his own crimes and willingly serving his time for them, his realization that there is so much more to life than how he was living-- and also his, redemption and rehabilitation and successes in life. The people who believed in him and encouraged him to change. This is how it should be. This is what breaks the cycle.
But more than him sharing of his Alcatraz experience, I liked hearing about his entire life-- his life leading up to his criminal life, his owning up to his own crimes and willingly serving his time for them, his realization that there is so much more to life than how he was living-- and also his, redemption and rehabilitation and successes in life. The people who believed in him and encouraged him to change. This is how it should be. This is what breaks the cycle.
March 19, 2024
i had a huge prison phase my freshman year of college. i watched multiple prison movies and documentaries to get an idea of what if was like inside. because of this, i impulsively bought a book with alcatraz in the title, written by a man i had never heard of.
i was expecting this book to be cover to cover about john quillen’s time in alcatraz. it was not, but i’m glad this was the case.
quillen takes the time to explain his early life and i think that was important to the story. he explains how his crimes started at an early age and proceeds to explain all his crimes as he got older. he takes you though multiple prisons before getting to his time on the rock.
i thought his story was extremely interesting. he really went into a lot of detail when it came to his time in alcatraz. ultimately, i was satisfied with the ending and i hope he lived a happy life. 3.5
i was expecting this book to be cover to cover about john quillen’s time in alcatraz. it was not, but i’m glad this was the case.
quillen takes the time to explain his early life and i think that was important to the story. he explains how his crimes started at an early age and proceeds to explain all his crimes as he got older. he takes you though multiple prisons before getting to his time on the rock.
i thought his story was extremely interesting. he really went into a lot of detail when it came to his time in alcatraz. ultimately, i was satisfied with the ending and i hope he lived a happy life. 3.5
August 18, 2017
This book is an inspiration, a proof that any criminal, how much ever hardened can return to the normal society if treated with love and care and has the determination to be a better person.
I have mixed feelings towards the book because it highlights the atrocities done on criminals in Alcatraz from a then criminal in the prison. It doesn't provide the point of view of the guards, the government, and other security forces. True, the criminals were treated unjustly, inhumanely quite often, which is unjust because they too are human beings. However, I found the author writing shyly about the difficulties created by the criminals through multiple escape attempts, assault on the guards, prison gang wars which forced enactment of drastic security actions against them.
I have mixed feelings towards the book because it highlights the atrocities done on criminals in Alcatraz from a then criminal in the prison. It doesn't provide the point of view of the guards, the government, and other security forces. True, the criminals were treated unjustly, inhumanely quite often, which is unjust because they too are human beings. However, I found the author writing shyly about the difficulties created by the criminals through multiple escape attempts, assault on the guards, prison gang wars which forced enactment of drastic security actions against them.
July 29, 2022
I picked up this book on a whim during my family's visit to Alcatraz at the beginning of August. I can't say exactly what drew me to it, but I knew that I would find it fascinating.
What I didn't know was just how much I would be enthralled with Jim Quillen's story. He changed from a criminal with seemingly no hope to a man who wanted nothing more than to be free and start his life anew. It was incredible to see the change in character, but at the same time, unsettling to know that for as many success stories like Jim's, there are still those hopelessly incarcerated without any possibility of change.
While the book moved slowly in some parts, it offers a stunning insight into the mundane, every day life at one of America's most infamous prisons.
What I didn't know was just how much I would be enthralled with Jim Quillen's story. He changed from a criminal with seemingly no hope to a man who wanted nothing more than to be free and start his life anew. It was incredible to see the change in character, but at the same time, unsettling to know that for as many success stories like Jim's, there are still those hopelessly incarcerated without any possibility of change.
While the book moved slowly in some parts, it offers a stunning insight into the mundane, every day life at one of America's most infamous prisons.
March 8, 2018
No real literary value. Not artfully written (to say the least) - rambling, confusing, disjointed. However, I found it worth the read to gain insight into the making of a career criminal and the forces of conscience and sheer determination in leading to rehabilitation. The author of this autobiographical account is introspective and convincing in his analysis of his own failings, a little less convincing in his analysis of the prison system. An interesting story. I don't normally post reviews, but it is astonishing and commendable that this author was able to share his story, and so I wanted to give context to the rating.
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