EconTalk Dwayne Betts on Reading, Prison, and the Million Book Project
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Oct 19, 2020 
Dwayne Betts, an accomplished author, lawyer, and poet, dives into his transformative experiences in prison and the life-changing power of books. He shares insights about his Million Book Project, which aims to enrich prisons with literature. Betts reflects on his turbulent youth and the impact of the justice system, illustrating how reading reshaped his identity. He also discusses the importance of curation for prison libraries and how classic literature fosters community connections, encouraging deeper conversations around race and resilience.
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A Young Man's Mistake
- At 16, Dwayne Betts carjacked someone and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
- He reflects on how young he was and how impactful experiences at that age can be.
Books as Essential
- Dwayne Betts's view of books changed in prison; they became essential, not just leisure.
- He hadn't understood their potential before, but in prison, they became a conduit to something more.
Curating a Prison Library
- In prison, Dwayne Betts read whatever he could get, but began curating his selection when possible.
- He found books based on authors mentioned in other works or by intriguing titles.