Rating: 
Summary: Occasionally Engaging, Often Tiresome
Review: As a fan of both books about prison and the author, I was understandably excited about reading this book. I maintained that excitement until I was about three quarters of the way through, and then I realized that I really didn't care for plot elements that involved Warden Matthews and the prison guards.If there's one thing I learned from this book it's that begin the warden of a U.S. Prison is just as exciting as working in the General Services Administration. On the other hand, I found the stories about the inmates to be fascinating. The book is worth reading if only for the chapters on inmate Silverstein, who has been on "no human contact" orders since he was convicted of killing a guard at Marion in the 1980's. Silverstein is a sort of prison culture icon: he lives in a cell where the lights are on 24 hours a day and nobody is allowed to talk to him except a pyschologist who's job (apparently) is to ensure that he doesn't go nuts. I did notice that the author did not seem to interview a single African American inmate. All of the profiled inmates are white. I don't understand how you could spend two years in Leavenworth and not interview a single black inmate. I mean, this is the United States prison system we're talking about.
Rating: 
Summary: Mandatory read
Review: Excellent book. If you want to know exactly what prison is all about, this is the book to read. You'll find that prison is not only as bad as the horror stories you've always heard about- its much worse. This book is enlightening, and shows the brutality of the US Prison system. People in there are (being)warped beyond repair, and shows why the prison system is a revolving door. Treat people like animals (whether deserved or not) and thats what you will end up with. Animals. There has got to be a more humane way of doing this...otherwise, we all will be victimised again and again by these convicts when they are eventually released. And most of them will be.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent read on prison life and culture
Review: Hot House is a great read if you are looking to see what prison life is like. Earley spent years in Leavenworth Prison observing and creating this book and it was well worth his time. He did a great job explaining the inner workings of a maximum security prison and the type of inmates it contains. You can learn all about the prison culture and slang terms used by inmates and officers. Once you finish Hot House you will have a newfound respect for the work that correctional officers perform on a day to day basis.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: I am the Director of the Criminal Justice Department at Dodge City Community College, and this book is required reading for my Intro to Corrections course. The book is one of the few that describes the life of the inmates, the staff, and the warden. Most books are written by inmates, and only describes their experiences, or they are written by wardens, and it only describes their careers. I have re-read this book many times, and still find it interesting. I receive good feedback every semester from the students who say thet are glad they read it. I have read many of Earley's book and this one is my favorite!
Rating:
Summary: An educational read of real life in prison
Review: I read this book as part of a bookclub I belong to at my college.(I'm a law and criminal justice major) Having known a couple of people who went to prison, and having kept up coorespondence with them, I can testify that this is well worth the read. I've heard many simular accounts that could have been added to this book from my correspondence, as well as, understand those I spoke with in a much better way. If you want to truly understand what life is like in prison, from a correctional officer's viewpoint or an inmate's, this book is a must!
Rating:
Summary: Thanks for writing this book!!!
Review: I read this book because I have a brother that is serving time at Leavenworth. I was not sure that I wanted to read it at first but once I started I could not put it down. After finishing the book it's all I could think about for days. Thanks to Pete Earley
I now have a much better understanding of what my brother must be going through. Very good book!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading
Review: I read this book straight through in less than a day, stopping only to eat and sleep. It's gripping -- it draws you into the real world of Leavenworth through the lives of real inmates who lived there. If you want a realistic look at prison life in maximum security, you'll find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful light into prison
Review: I thought the Hot House was a good look from a non judgemental perspective. I couldn't put it down and now my cousin who is a defense attorny is reading it. I would love to see a lot more from the Author, Pete Early, on the same topic, he makes you feel like your there. A peak inside what it is like for prisoner's, fish and cops and their families on a daily basis. It's a different world in Leavenworth, a hard, interesting, but somewhat compasionate world.
Rating:
Summary: As close as it gets.
Review: If you ever have wondered what life is like in a federal penitentiary? This book pretty much covers it. Forget all the text books and hard core prison movies, this is as close as it gets to the real thing. I just wish Earley would have used the "real" names of the inmates. The staff mentioned in this book are truly real and legendary in the federal penal system, most have since retired. You won't put the book down. Good read for real cheap.
Rating:
Summary: never go to jail
Review: Must be terrible if you are innocent and sent to a place like this. Great description of life in prison and what a man does to survive.
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