Rating: 
Summary: Dare to read this book
Review: After reading about 1/4 of this book, I just couldn't put it down and finished the rest in one sitting. It's that amazing. Don't be fooled by the title, this book has very little about actual prisons. In fact only the first 12 pages or so are about actual prisons, the rest of the book uses the metaphor of a prison to show how society largely traps us.The section on homeschooling is amazing. Prior to reading this book I had always just thought of school as the only path for a kid. I didn't even know that it was possible to go to college without going to either a public or private high school (although, now that I think about it it does seem that the kids who win the national spelling bee each year are usually homeschooled). And there are numerous other topics covered in this book. This book is a hip hop book, but I feel this really needs clarification. Hip hop is one of the most misunderstood concepts in recent time. Hip hop is not about making money, it is about universal brotherhood (and is in many ways similiar to zen buddhism). There is a fundamental difference between hip hop and rap. Rap is what most people think of when they think of hip hop, which is a shame because people like Puff Daddy have nothing in common with hip hop (people like Afrika Bambaata). Oh well, enough with my rant about hip hop. If you live in an urban center this should be required reading. If you believe that there is nothing you can really do to make a difference for the better, read this book and see if you still feel the same way. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Go Self-School Yourself!
Review: I'm sure there's a whole flock of teenagers making this book their Bible. Wimsatt has that "edge" people my age love, with chapters talking about self-schooling, challenging others, and making goals for yourself. Some of his writing is actually pretty inspriring stuff. I'm particularly fond of his 19-step self-schooling process, which works as good ground-rules for anybody, out of college or not. However, most of the chapters are sloppily written and seem to lack authority at times (although this could just be the author's style). Overall, a good place to start if you care about inner-city issues.
Rating:
Summary: Go Self-School Yourself!
Review: I'm sure there's a whole flock of teenagers making this book their Bible. Wimsatt has that "edge" people my age love, with chapters talking about self-schooling, challenging others, and making goals for yourself. Some of his writing is actually pretty inspriring stuff. I'm particularly fond of his 19-step self-schooling process, which works as good ground-rules for anybody, out of college or not. However, most of the chapters are sloppily written and seem to lack authority at times (although this could just be the author's style). Overall, a good place to start if you care about inner-city issues.
Rating:
Summary: More well thought out then Bomb the Suburbs
Review: I've read both "Bomb the Suburbs" and "No More Prisons" and loved both of them. Its safe to say that they changed my life in a great way. I happened to like "No More Prisons" more then "Bomb The Suburbs" because it's a bit more well thought out, "Bomb the Suburbs" is more rough, while "No More Prisons" has a bit more thought put into it. Point is, you should read both books.
It's kinda funny to see a big store like amazon selling this book even though Upski hates big book stores
Rating:
Summary: Short, entertaining, but not adequate.
Review: If you really care about the issues presented in this book, you'd better educate yourself with more in-depth books exploring them. I enjoyed the book and am very glad that it exists. My only misgiving is that it isn't nearly complete in it's arguments. Don't go fighting with someone that knows much more about the topics than you do after you read it. Especially regarding Home schooling, his arguments just don't stand up against my teacher parents, and several friends. That being said, the book is truly inspirational and completely worthy of a read, if only to help spawn your own ideas and get yourself excited about things.
Rating:
Summary: random righteous rants
Review: No More Prisons by William Upski Wimsatt is a must read for the hiphop generation. Upski adresses more than just the prison system, he provides "righteous rants" about everything from personal hitch hiking stories to info on the benefits of homeschooling. No More Prisons is a collection of stories and philosophies sprinkled with various interviews. The theme of the book is that our fear as Americans is ruining our country. I think that despite the books chaotic feel, it can be very inspiring. Many of my peers agree, commenting on Upski's ability to make everyone feel him. No More Prisons keeps a readers attention more consistantly than other political analysis books I've read. I recommend this book to any young hip hop heads that are looking for political direction.
Rating:
Summary: read it
Review: the best book i read in the past year. the truth hurts.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspirational, instructive
Review: The book takes a look at many themes and topics -- urban life, self-schooling, hip-hop activism and leadership, the cool rich kids movement and grassroots philanthropy, a hitchhiker's approach to community organizing. Any one could have been expanded in to a book of its own. As a followup to Bomb the Suburbs, No More Prisons is less focused and much delayed (Some of the writing inside dates back to '95, if not sooner.) but still an inspirational and instructive read. And despite the book's wide range of topics, the fact that Upski so firmly espouses the philanthropic tip is a beautiful and encouraging thing. Makes me think I'm not doing enough... for enough people... in enough places. Another reviewer has it totally right: No More Prisons is the kind of book that you keep buying and handing off to friends, family, and other people you want to turn on. There are few books that I buy multiple copies of at the same time. This is one of them.
Rating:
Summary: Donate a copy!
Review: The previously posted reviews cover the book pretty well, so I'll keep this short. It's totally inspirational - my mind kept flooding with ideas with each section. I want to give a copy to every kid I know. It should be in every public library, but it won't be anytime soon. Of course, most libraries will add a book to their collection if you request it - or better yet, buy an extra copy and donate it to a library or organization.
Rating:
Summary: just to whet your appetite -- a different perspective
Review: This book does what it intends to do well--which is to paint a picture of american society and to inspire the change needed to fix things. Other reviewers are correct. It doesn't have all the answers. You can't adequately cover 5 very different topics in a 5-hour-read, but Upski lists resources at the end of every chapter for further reading, etc. What this book does well is tying together these themes in a way that will certainly make you think. Very briefly: younger people can hitchhike around and educate themselves; rich people can donate to more effective charities; city politicians can work towards a unification with suburbs; people in the ghetto can start homeschooling their kids instead of having all their love of learning knocked out of them by public schools; and charities directed towards urban poor have something to learn about hip-hop leadership. Not each of the (basically) 5 sections is for everyone, but they all fit together. Fear is a big theme, but the book is really about isolation--suburbs are seperated from ghettos, the middle class from the poor, whites from blacks, etc.--and the problems that are generated by being abstracted from the other side. If the only people you know are just like you, how can you have a grasp of the problems facing others? Read this book for a change in perspective and a motivation to do something (and give it to all your friends). But just like any other book, it isn't the whole picture. We need more books like this that inspire people to act and do not cynically accept defeat.
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