This is the history of one of the most remarkable prisoner uprisings in our country’s history. On September 9, 1971, nearly 1,300 inmates took over their facility in demand of their most basic human rights. Through dedication and a little luck, Heather Ann Thompson’s book draws on records that had been intentionally obscured from the public. She reveals new information about an old struggle that’s particularly useful, as the issue of our prison system and prisoner abuses is still alive: this fall, prisoners around the country held the largest strike in our history, with many of the same demands that prisoners in Attica made 45 years ago. The book recounts details that challenge popular beliefs about the people we lock behind bars, and the government we might expect to uphold basic human rights. Ann Thompson compellingly recounts the first definitive history of this event, interspersed with stories from the people involved. An excellent gift for someone engaged in the human rights struggles of our time, this book highlights many lessons we would benefit to take to heart.