The Happy Prisoner

The Happy Prisoner can be ordered on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/072235732X

I spent three years in prison for a severe driving offence. It was a horrible mistake I made that I will forever be sorry for.
I’ve made the decision to be upfront, honest and transparent about it.

During my time in prison I have kept a diary which I have turned into this book.
The controversial idea is that for prison to work, prisoners need to be at least to some degree happy. Otherwise rehabilitation is impossible.

What UK prisons are trying to do is to both punish and rehabilitate, which is impossible. If you punish someone, you prevent their rehabilitation.

We know this to be true, but it creates a conflict within us, because our moral instincts want revenge and a correction of the injustice that has been done.


The first part of the book is my prison diary which explains what it’s actually like to be in prison. What are the biggest psychological challenges? The diary is interspersed with info boxes that explain how prison works.

The second part looks at the current state of the failing UK prison system and the political reasons why prison reform is so difficult. It also looks at the role that the media and public opinion have to play.
It offers a vision for an alternative prison system that we can gradually start to implement now. It would cost significantly less, see fewer people incarcerated and lead to fewer future victims of crime.

“The Happy Prisoner” is published by Andrews UK under the Acorn Imprint.