In prison, it may seem there’s nothing to see and nothing to do — but plenty of time to read. Books and prisons have a complicated relationship, one that reveals what’s trending among people behind bars even within a tightly regulated physical and informational environment.
Duma and Jesus
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently completed a brief 20-day stint at Paris’s La Santé prison. While his sentence captivated the nation, his reading list sparked equal intrigue. Sarkozy brought two symbolic companions: Alexandre Dumas’s «The Count of Monte Cristo,» a classic tale of unjust imprisonment and revenge, and Jean-Christian Petitfils’s «Jésus,» a meticulously documented account of the life of Christ.
Admittedly, Sarkozy’s choices mirror global prison trends where escapism and redemption dominate. Reports from the U.S. reveal that inmates frequently request Robert Greene’s «The 48 Laws of Power» (often banned for its manipulative tactics), Robert Jordan’s «Wheel of Time» fantasy series, and spiritual texts like the Bible or Quran.
Kazakhstan’s bestsellers
The list of frequently read books in Kazakhstan’s prisons fits this broader pattern. According to data from the Interior Ministry’s Penitentiary System Committee (PSC), the selection is surprisingly diverse. It includes classic fiction such as Fyodor Dostoevsky’s «Crime and Punishment», Agatha Christie’s «Sleeping Murder,» and Ernest Hemingway’s «The Old Man and the Sea»; contemporary fiction; religious literature, including the Quran and a collection of fatwas published by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan; and motivational titles.
In the category labeled «psychological and motivational literature,» Napoleon Hill’s «Think and Grow Rich» and Phil Knight’s memoir «Shoe Dog» top the list. Paulo Coelho’s «The Alchemist» also appears in this section.
King is the best
The «speculative fiction» category drew particular attention — apparently, this is simply how catalogs in Kazakhstan’s correctional facilities are structured. Stephen King dominates this list, with three of his novels among the most requested: «The Green Mile,» «It,» and «The Shining.»
PSC notes that all books available in prison libraries have been specially selected, reviewed, and approved by the authorized government body.
