Livin' the Dream

Book excerpt: Written by former New York Corrections Officer, Jack McKraken, Livin' the Dream is a deep dive into the beating heart of American Corrections. This book shines a light on the absurdities, inadequacies, and organized chaos of the system that stands between ordinary Americans and the worst violent offenders. Author of science-fiction novel Beyond Mortal Measure, Jack McKraken breaks into the world of nonfiction writing from his own perspective as he describes a ground-level view of a single Corrections Officer while simultaneously examining the entirety of the US prison system. From the tedium of the day-to-day rounds to the politics of the NYSCOPBA (New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association) McKraken depicts the conditions and constraints within which Correction Officers are forced to operate by an entrenched bureaucracy. The book describes prisoner interactions and altercations candidly, often humorously, leaving the reader with a unique perspective into American Justice. Antelope Hill is proud to publish Livin' the Dream as its second original work. Jack McKraken's work is not just a memoir of exciting anecdotes and useful tips, but an account of how one can survive and keep their sanity within one of the most soul-crushing settings known to man. This title is a must-read for anyone who may find themselves in prison, regardless of which side of the bars.