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Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons Audiobook
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(3.83) - 24 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Cullen Thomas had a typical suburban upbringing. He was raised on Long Island, and after graduating from college he was looking for meaning and excitement. Possessed of a youthful, romantic view of the world, he left New York at age twenty-three and set off for a job teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. As foreigners on the fringe of Korean society, Cullen and his friends felt intensely separate, then untouchable. That delusion was quickly shattered. Cullen would spend four years in the country: seven months teaching, then three and a half years in jail for smuggling hashish. BROTHER ONE CELL is his memoir of that time–the harrowing and powerful story of a young American learning hard lessons in strange prisons on the other side of the world. One of few foreign inmates, Cullen shared a cell block with human traffickers, jewel smugglers, murderers, and thieves. Humbled by the ordeal, he describes his fight to restore his identity and to come to terms with the harsh living conditions and the rules of Korea’s strict Confucian culture, which were magnified in prison. In this crucible Cullen shed the naïveté and ego of youth and to his surprise achieved a lasting sense of freedom and gratitude. With its gritty descriptions of life behind high walls and acute insights into Korean society, BROTHER ONE CELL is part cautionary tale and part insightful travelogue about places few of us will ever see.
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"This is a must read! So far its the best book I have read in 2008.A stellar tale of what happens when common sense takes a holiday in Korea. Also a good analysis of what happens when you are reduced to almost nothing for a long period of time and how that shapes you forever. "
— Paula (5 out of 5 stars)
Brother One Cell Listener Reviews
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" Not terribly written but not terribly compelling either.. I flipped through it and not enough happens to justify spending more time on it. "
— Amar, 5/14/2010 -
" Thrown in Korean prison at 23 for smuggling hashish into the country, Cullen Thomas shares his experiences. This book was an interesting and detailed account of an American man's 3.5 years in a Korean prison. Well written. "
— Kelli, 8/19/2009 -
" Ok, people, it's not a good idea to sell drugs in South Korea, and think you can get away with it. Cullen Thomas, who was in Korea to teach English tries as a way to supplement his income, and ends up in prison. His story is very compelling. "
— Luna, 8/17/2009 -
" A young man imprisoned in a South Korean jail for like three years. What a drag, but interesting. "
— Katie, 6/23/2009 -
" Sincere account of Cullin's 3 & 1/2 year ordeal as a prisoner in South Korea. Interesting insights into culture, 'criminals', and just growing up. I really loved this book. It was very thoughtful and quite well-written. "
— Anita, 4/5/2009 -
" Great book! Lesson learned. Never graduate from college and try to smuggle hashish in Korea. "
— Steve, 9/23/2008 -
" This is the memoir of a very young (23) man who goes to Korea to teach English, gets arrested for smuggling hashish from the Phillipines to South Korea, and the 3 1/2 years he spends in prison. It's interesting so far, though as some memoirs can be, a little too introspective and navel-gazing. "
— Maria, 3/19/2008 -
" Disclaimer: this is my friend's book so I might be a little biased. While this is not great literature, I think it is a really fun read and provides needed, at least for me, catharsis. "
— Lisa, 11/13/2007 -
" pretty fascinating. i hope to take some inspiration from the story and make the whatever situation i'm in tolerable at worst. not everyone has this ability, to adapt and overcome pitfalls both large and small. being a pessimist isn't as fun at 30 as it was at 20. "
— Steve, 6/19/2007 -
" This was an insightful, eye-opening read highlighting both the differences and similarities among people and cultures while examining the fundamentals of freedom, imprisonment, and redemptive growth. "
— Mara, 4/16/2007 -
" A very worthwhile read. The story of expat Cullen Thomas's 3 1/2 year imprisonment in South Korea at age 23 for a narcotics smuggling conviction is simply told but incredibly compelling. "
— jodi, 4/8/2007
About Cullen Thomas
Cullen Thomas’s writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post, Salon, the Korea Times, Penthouse, Chamber Music Magazine, and Current Biography, among other publications. He is endlessly curious and writes about anything that grabs him. His interests include current affairs, history, literature, general anthropology, travel, and sports. He is fond of the Mughal Empire, Dwyane Wade, coffee, Sir Richard Francis Burton, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, cemeteries, good conversation. Cullen is currently at work on a new book.
About Dan Woren
Dan Woren is an American voice actor and Earphones Award–winning narrator. He has worked extensively in animation, video games, and feature films. He is best known for his many roles in anime productions such as Bleach and as the voice of Sub-Zero in the video game Mortal Kombat.