Sign-In
Cart
Cruel And Unusual Punishment: A Memoir of the Psychological Realities of Federal Prison
Hardcover
Publisher Price: $29.99
ISBN13: 9781964730752
Publisher: Wildblue Press
Published: Sep 2 2025
Pages: 264
Weight: 1.00
Height: 0.63 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
In this haunting memoir, a clinical psychologist sentenced to 51 months for healthcare fraud confronts the harsh realities of federal prison. Incarcerated amid the chaos of the COVID pandemic, he endured a relentless odyssey through eight different prison facilities, caught in a near-perpetual cycle of transfer. Through his expert lens, Cruel and Unusual Punishment: A Prison Odyssey unveils the stark truth of an uncivilized, harsh, and insane system that erodes the very essence of humanity.
The author reveals a grim truth: extended exposure to the cruel environment of prison-crafted by government policy and the ruthless prisoner code-strips away humanity, pushing individuals toward savagery. Drawing from his own struggle to preserve his sense of self and the hard-earned wisdom of those who survived years of confinement, he offers a raw, introspective exploration of survival under psychological siege.
Countless prison memoirs exist, but many are marred by exaggeration, falsehoods, or a lack of objective clarity. Few offer the raw, unfiltered honesty found in this account.
This powerful narrative is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the harsh realities of prison.
1 different editions
Also available
Cruel And Unusual Punishment: A Memoir of the Psychological Realities of Federal Prison
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Also from
Smith, Paul
Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire
Smith, Paul
Paperback
BULLEH SHAH PUNJABI SUFI POET Selected Poems: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Shah, Bulleh
Paperback
Zagreb Travel Guide 2024: The Ultimate Travel Book To Unveiling Zagreb's Hidden Gem (Croatia)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Croatia Travel Guide 2024: The Ultimate Travel Book To Unveiling Croatia's Hidden Gem
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Malta Travel Guide 2024: The Ultimate Travel Book To Unveiling Malta's & Gozo's Hidden Gem
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Meher Baba: THE ULTIMATE PIRATE (and the Shanghai of Imagination): A FABLE (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Is Your God Big Enough? Close Enough? You Enough?: Jesus and the Three Faces of God
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Cruel And Unusual Punishment: A Memoir of the Psychological Realities of Federal Prison
Smith, Paul
Paperback
DHAMMAPADA Gospel of the Buddha: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Stop Being an Explosive Kid: Angry management for kids (Emotions and feelings for kids and teens)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Four Days with Kenny Tedford: Life Through the Eyes of a Child Trapped in a Partially Blind & Deaf Man's Body
Smith, Paul
Tedford, Kenny
Paperback
How to Lose Weight: Step-by-step Instructions on How to Lose Those Extra Pounds
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Great Tribulation: The Complete Biblical Map of Tribulation, Wrath, and the Gathering of the Saints
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Valletta Travel Guide 2024: The Ultimate Travel Book To Unveiling Valletta's Hidden Gem (Malta)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
OMAR KHAYYAM Ruba'iyyat: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Khayyam, Omar
Paperback
MANSUR HALLAJ A Collection of his Poems & The Tawasin: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Hallaj, Mansur
Paperback
The Sufi Ruba'iyat of Abu Sa'id: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Sa'id, Abu
Paperback
Rose Garden of Mystery: Shabistari, Selected Poems: Mansur Hallaj: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Hallaj, Mansur
Shabistari
Paperback
Yunus Emre Selected Poems: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Emre, Yunus
Paperback
THE FIRST TWO URDU & SUFI POETS Qutub Shah & Wali Deccani: Selected Poems & Biographies (Large Print Edition)
Shah, Qutub
Deccani, Wali
Paperback
DAGH DEHLVI 'Last Great Poet of Mughal Period of Urdu Poetry.': Selected Poems (Large Print Edition)
Dehlvi, Dagh
Paperback
AL-SHUSHTARI The Great Sufi Poet of Andalusia SELECTED POEMS: Selected Poems (Large Print Edition)
Al-Shushtari
Paperback
RUBA'IYAT OF KHUSHAL The Sufi Saint, Poet & Warrior of Afghanistan: TRANSLATION & INTRODUCTION PAUL SMITH New Humanity Books (Large Print Edition)
Khattak, Khushal Khan
Paperback
NIYAZI MISRI A Perfect Master Sufi Poet of Turkey: Selected Poems (Large Print Edition)
Misri, Niyazi
Paperback
THE PRESENT SITUATION... The Word & the Breaking of the Silence of MEHER BABA: New Humanity Books
Smith, Paul
Paperback
THE MEVLIDI SHERIF by Suleyman Chelebi: Rhyming Poem on the Prophet's Birth & Life (Pocket Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
POEMS OF OMAR KHAYYAM Sufi Pocketbook Series: Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Smith, Paul
Paperback
COMPLETE GHAZALS OF HAFEZ (Large Print & Large Format Edition): New Humanity Books (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
FUZULI... A Great Sufi Poet of the 16th Century. SELECTED POEMS: Translation & Introduction Paul Smith (Large Print Edition)
New Humanity Books
Paperback
Enlightened Poems of Mu'in Ud-Din Chishti: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Chishti, Mu'in Ud-Din
Paperback
Abu Nuwas: ARABIC'S GREAT, CONTROVERSIAL POET Selected Poems: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Nuwas, Abu
Paperback
SECRET OF BIRDS, FLOWERS, NATURE, ANIMALS & INSECTS A Sufi Allegory in Prose & Poetry: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Al-Muqaddasi, Azz-Eddin
Paperback
AHMED YESEVI & ALISHER NAVOI First Two Chagatai (Early Turkish) Sufi Master Poets: Selected Poems
Navoi, Alisher
Yesevi, Ahmed
Paperback
AHMED YESEVI FIRST TURKISH SUFI POET Selected Poems: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Yesevi, Ahmed
Paperback
Nazir Akbarabadi: SELECTED POEMS: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Akbarabadi, Nazir
Paperback
Abhangs & Bhajans of the Great Indian Bhakti Poet-Saints: Selected Poems (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Two Sufi Jesters: OBEYD ZAKANI & MULLA NASR UD-DIN: Stories, Jokes & Satires (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
The Poems of Parvin E'Tesami: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
The Three Greatest Female Sufi Persian Poets: Mahsati, Jahan & Makhfi (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
MOUSE & CAT (Mush u Gorbeh) by Obeyd Zakani.: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
THE ENCLOSED GARDEN OF THE TRUTH Hakim Sana'i: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Selected Stories & Satires of Obeyd Zakani: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Bhagavad Gita of Vyasa: (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Poet & Prisoner... Mas'ud Sa'd Salman: Habsiyyat, (prison-songs) & other Poems (Large Print Edition)
Salman, Mas'ud Sa'd
Paperback
MIRZA ABDUL-QADER BEDIL Selected Poems (Large Print & Large Format Edition): Translation & Introduction Paul Smith (Large Print Edition)
New Humanity Books
Paperback
SELECTED POEMS OF ZEB-UN-NISSA The Princess Sufi Poet 'Makhfi': (Large Print & Large Format Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Makhfi
Zeb-Un-Nissa
Paperback
SELECTED SUFI POEMS OF IQBAL (Large Print & Large Format Edition): Translation & Introduction Paul Smith (Large Print Edition)
New Humanity Books
Paperback
SUFI POEMS OF GHANI KASHMIRI (Large Print & Large Format Edition): Translation & Introduction Paul Smith (Large Print Edition)
New Humanity Books
Paperback
ASIK VEYSEL The Blind, Last Great, Turkish Dervish Wandering Minstrel: Selected Poems/Songs
Smith, Paul
Paperback
POEMS OF HUMA (MEHER BABA) Illustrated Edition: Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Irani, Merwan S. S.
Paperback
DIVAN of MAHSATI Ruba'iyat of the Great Persian Female Poet: Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Ganjavi, Mahsati
Paperback
DIVAN of NUND RISHI A Great Sufi Poet of Kashmir: Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Rishi, Nund
Paperback
SHAHIN OF SHIRAZ - The Jewish Sufi Poet of the Time of Hafiz: Selected Poems
Shahin
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Ghazals of 'Attar & Those of His Translator, Paul Smith, Inspired by Them
Smith, Paul
'Attar
Paperback
Selected Poems from BOOK OF WISDOM (Divan-e Hikmet): AHMED YESEVI - First Turkish Sufi Master Poet
Yesevi, Ahmed
Paperback
The Urdu Poet Dagh Dehlevi & His Three More Famous Pupils Iqbal, Seemab & Jigar: Lives & Selected Poems (Ghazals)
Dehlevi, Dagh
Paperback
YUNUS EMRE - Ghazals: ?I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, took the name Yunus.?
Emre, Yunus
Paperback
Three Great Sufi Poets of Andalusia: Abu Madyan, Ibn ?Arabi & Al-Shushtari - Selected Poems
Madyan, Abu
Al-Shushtari
Paperback
Three Great Abbasid Poets: Abu Nuwas, al-Mutanabbi & al-Ma'arri, Lives & Poems
Al-Mutanabbi
Al-Ma'arri
Paperback
Hafiz of Shiraz: Book Two, The Middle Years: The Life, Poetry & Times of the Immortal Persian Poet
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Three Sufi Classics in Masnavi Form: Treasury of Mysteries, Rose Garden of Mystery & Book of Ecstasy
Shabistari
'Arifi
Paperback
Lalla Ded, Nund Rishi, Kabir - Three Great Sufi/Bhakti Poets of India of the 14th-15th centuries.: Selected Poems
Rishi, Nund
Kabir
Paperback
Three Great Sufi Poets of Kashmir: Lalla Ded, Nund Rishi, Ghani Kashmiri: Selected Poems
Rishi, Nund
Kashmiri, Ghani
Paperback
Ghazals: - Inspired by the Poetry of Huma (Meher Baba), Hafiz & other Sufi Master P
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Shiraz: A Novel/Biography of the Life, Poetry and Times of Hafiz, the Immortal Persian Poet.
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Shiraz: A Novel/Biography of the Life, Poetry and Times of Hafiz, the Immortal Persian Poet.
Smith, Paul
Paperback
Also in
True Crime
Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, and Their Vision for World Peace
Janney, Peter
Hardcover
Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings
Feichtinger, Gail
Paperback
Dawn of the Code War: America's Battle Against Russia, China, and the Rising Global Cyber Threat
Graff, Garrett M.
Carlin, John P.
Paperback
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth
Keefe, Patrick Radden
Hardcover
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Larson, Erik
Paperback
Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast
Colloff, Pamela
Hardcover
The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright: The True Story of Mass Murder in Paradise
Sherman, Casey
Hardcover
The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria's Romance Scammers
Barragán, Carlos
Hardcover
Blizzard of Lies: Karen Read, John O'Keefe, and the Shocking Unsolved Murder in Cop Town, USA
Wedge, Dave
Hardcover
Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie
Turrubiate-Simpson, Blanca
Weaver, Mary Frances
Paperback
Face to Face with Whitey Bulger: An FBI Agent's Account of Capturing and Debriefing Boston's Most Notorious Gangster
Ward, Bob
Teahan, Rich
Paperback
The Typewriter and the Guillotine: An American Journalist, a German Serial Killer, and Paris on the Eve of WWII
Braude, Mark
Hardcover
The Vampire's Cult: The Untold Story of Obsession, Control, and a Shocking Small-Town Murder
Hardin, Chet
Paperback
Confessions of the Green River Killer: A True Story of Manipulation, Madness, and a Search for Justice
Dilorenzo, Maria
Hardcover
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth (Large Print Edition)
Keefe, Patrick Radden
Paperback
Kingdom of Devils: A Tale of Murder in the Shadow of the American Revolution
Grandjean, Katherine
Hardcover
The Veiled Prophet: Secret Societies, White Supremacy, and the Struggle for St. Louis
O'Shea, Devin Thomas
Hardcover
The Ego Trip: Psychedelic Toads, a Trail of Deaths, and the Guru Who Peddled Transcendence
de Greef, Kimon
Hardcover
The Man Who Stole the Gods: A True Story of War, Obsession, and a Global Art Conspiracy
Campbell, Matthew
Hardcover
Captain's Dinner: A Shipwreck, an Act of Cannibalism, and a Murder Trial That Changed Legal History
Cohen, Adam
Hardcover
Fires in the Night: The Earth Liberation Front, the Fbi, and a Secret History of Eco-Sabotage
Wolfe, Matthew
Hardcover
If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood
Olsen, Gregg
Paperback
American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate
Lichtblau, Eric
Hardcover
White Elephant Gifts for Adult: 500 Serial Killers Encyclopedia Facts and Figures
Murdle, K.
Paperback
Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent's Search for Hope and Justice
Hilland, Robert
Edward, John
Hardcover
Plastic Inc.: The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil's Biggest Bet
Gardiner, Beth
Hardcover
Don't Talk about Joe Mac: The Life, Wars, and Secret History of the Man Behind the Winter Hill Gang
Toledo, Springs
Hardcover
The Best Kind of American: A True Story of Murder, War, and America's Undoing in the Middle East
Ghattas, Kim
Hardcover
The Death of Trotsky: The True Story of the Plot to Kill Stalin's Greatest Enemy
Ireland, Josh
Hardcover
One Nation Under Blackmail - Vol. 1: The Sordid Union Between Intelligence and Crime That Gave Rise to Jeffrey Epstein, Vol.1
Webb, Whitney Alyse
Paperback
Brain Games - Criminal Mind Puzzles: Crime-Themed Brain Teasers Visual, Verbal, Memory & Logic Puzzles Spiral Bound Activity Book for Adults & Teens
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
Clinton Bush and CIA Conspiracies: From The Boys on the Tracks to Jeffrey Epstein
Attwood, Shaun
Paperback
Thirteen Perfect Fugitives: The True Story of the Mob, Murder, and the World's Largest Art Heist
Kelly, Geoffrey
Hardcover
The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory
Chamblee Burch, Elizabeth
Hardcover
The Doctors' Riot of 1788: Body Snatching, Bloodletting, and Anatomy in America
McPhee, Andy
Hardcover
The Havana Syndrome: Secret Weapons, a Government Cover-Up, and the Greatest Spy Mystery of Our Time
Rey, Michael
Zill de Granados, Oriana
Hardcover
Bone Valley: A True Story of Injustice and Redemption in the Heart of Florida
King, Gilbert
Hardcover
Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime
Weinman, Sarah
Hardcover
The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized a City and Sparked the Tabloid Wars
Collins, Paul
Paperback
Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast (Large Print Edition)
Colloff, Pamela
Paperback
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
Johnson, Kirk Wallace
Paperback
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
McNamara, Michelle
Paperback
Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail
Lankford, Andrea
Paperback
The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther
Haas, Jeffrey
Paperback
Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & the Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream
McGowan, David
Paperback
Lucky Devils: The True Story of Three Rebel Gamblers Who Beat the Odds and Changed the Game
Chellel, Kit
Hardcover
The Rembrandt Heist: The Story of a Criminal Genius, a Stolen Masterpiece, and an Enigmatic Friendship
Amore, Anthony M.
Hardcover
Dig Me a Grave: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Who Seduced the South
Assael, Shaun
Harpootlian, Richard A.
Hardcover
Who's Watching Shorty?: Reclaiming Myself from the Shame of R. Kelly's Abuse
Landfair, Reshona
Hardcover
College Girl, Missing: The True Story of How a Young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight
Cohen, Shawn
Paperback
The Assassination of Leon Trotsky: Espionage, Scandal, and the Crime of the Century
Melton, H. Keith
West, Nigel
Hardcover
Starstruck: A Journalist's Pursuit of a Fugitive Pop Star, Her Diabolical Maestro, and Their Teenage Sex Cult
McDougall, Christopher
Paperback
The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream
Keefe, Patrick Radden
Paperback
Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church
Gore, Gareth
Paperback
Is the Government Legally Killing Us?: Is the Evidence Obvious? How Fear of Death and the Illusion of Freedom Turn Us Into Accomplices to Evil
(Scott Schara), Grace's Dad
Paperback
The Monsters We Make: Murder, Obsession, and the Rise of Criminal Profiling
Corbett, Rachel
Hardcover
The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty
Bauerlein, Valerie
Paperback
Confessions of the Green River Killer: A True Story of Manipulation, Madness, and a Search for Justice
Dilorenzo, Maria
Paperback
Out of the Woods: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home
Olsen, Gregg
Paperback
Warden Force: The Worst of the Worst and Other True Game Warden Adventures: Episodes 101-114
Hodges, Terry
Paperback
People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo--And the Evil That Swallowed Her Up
Parry, Richard Lloyd
Paperback
Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie
Weaver, Mary Frances
Turrubiate-Simpson, Blanca
Hardcover
Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor
Harmon, Mark
Paperback
She Kills: The Murderous Socialite, the Cross-Dressing Bank Robber, and Other True Crime Tales
Hollandsworth, Skip
Hardcover
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century
Callahan, Maureen
Paperback
Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation's Most Elusive Serial Killer
Graysmith, Robert
Paperback
Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War
Tapper, Jake
Hardcover
The Serial Killer Coloring Book II: An Adult Coloring Book Full of Notorious Serial Killers
Rosewood, Jack
Paperback
El Invencible Verano de Liliana / Liliana's Invincible Summer (Premio Pulitzer)
Rivera Garza, Cristina
Paperback
Compton Street Legend: Notorious Keffe D's Street-Level Accounts of Tupac and Biggie Murders, Death Row Origins, Suge Knight, Puffy Combs, and Crooked
Davis, Duane 'keffe D'
Jah, Yusuf
Paperback
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Larson, Erik
Hardcover
Warden Force: Deadly Intent and Other True Game Warden Adventures: Episodes 76 - 87
Hodges, Terry
Paperback
A Murderer's Guide to Cleaning: And Other Stories from My Life as a Probation Officer
Baxter, Elizabeth
Hardcover
Dog's Day: The True Story of a Bank Robbery, Gay Liberation, and Toxic Love That Inspired a Hollywood Classic
Prigge, Matthew J.
Hardcover
What the Dead Know: Learning about Life as a New York City Death Investigator
Butcher, Barbara
Paperback
Wired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X, One of the Fbi's Most Prolific Informants
Hardin, Tom
Hardcover
No Ordinary Bird: Drug Smuggling, a Plane Crash, and a Daughter's Quest for the Truth
Henderson, Artis
Hardcover
Swans Don't Swim in a Sewer: Solving the Cold Case of the Flint River Killer's Daughter
McCollum
Paperback
Vida Y Muerte del Cartel de Medellín / Life and Death of the Medellin Cartel
Lehder, Carlos
Paperback
The Cases That Haunt Us: From Jack the Ripper to JonBenet Ramsey, the Fbi's Legendary Mindhunter Sheds Light on the Mysteries That Won't Go Away
Douglas, John E.
Olshaker, Mark
Paperback
The Carpool Detectives: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case
Hogan, Chuck
Hardcover
Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest
Olsen, Gregg
Paperback
Trapped Under the Sea: One Engineering Marvel, Five Men, and a Disaster Ten Miles Into the Darkness
Swidey, Neil
Paperback
50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death: True Crime, Hauntings, Aliens, and More
Krahl, Sebastian
Paperback
Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud: The Basis for the Documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money
McKenzie, Ben
Silverman, Jacob
Paperback