Brother One Cell

An American Coming of Age in South Korea's Prisons

By: Cullen Thomas

Narrated by: Dan Woren

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.

Critic reviews

"Brother One Cell is Mr. Thomas's affecting account of his prison experience. It's an offbeat coming of age story, the tale of a wide-eyed, innocent, middle-class American thrust into a world of deprivation and daily trials that speed his passage into adulthood and a deeper understanding of himself and the fallen creatures around him . . . told simply, and with extraordinary good humor...[T]he detail is fascinating."
-William Grimes, The New York Times

"Compelling."
-Chicago Tribune

"Scary, funny, [and] honest as hell . . . This is memoir at its highest level."
-Ray LeMoine, co-author of Babylon by Bus

"In reflective, often highlighter-worthy prose . . . Thomas lyrically describes his Zenlike effort to stay sane through shoe-factory work and prison basketball."
-Outside

"His account of that journey [to higher understanding] is gripping."
-Booklist (Starred Review)

Deeply introspective about life in prison

Great Listen with excellent, seamless narration...Every young person who plans on traveling to other lands should read this -- just as a heads up. Aside from that fact, the story is about a young man coming of age while in a South Korean prison -- it's a very adult book and full of insight to one's soul searching strategies.

An Excellent Cautionary Tale

What did you love best about Brother One Cell?

This book is a true cautionary tale for young, naive adults who are traveling to foreign lands and who do not think about the consequences of their actions. This young man was educated and book smart, but he did not process common sense at that point in his life. Unfortunately, that fact led to many years spent in horrible subhuman conditions in a prison in South Korea.The author was very good at vividly describing his experiences; from his initial involvement in the drug trade to his arrest and throughout his prison sentence. He really is able to convey his shock, despair and finally, his acceptance of what he had no choice but to endure (once he was arrested). If you enjoy the tv show "Locked up Abroad" you will definitely enjoy this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

superduper

I've become somewhat hooked to listening to audio books. I work most days with my hands all day and night long leaving me very little time for anything else besides a good night sleep. As much as I certainly do enjoy silence, music, and the news these audio books have definately filled a void. Whether its listening to some Beckett or attempting to learn a new language through Pimsleur.

I found Cullen's story Brother One Cell fantastic. It will certainly share a space on my harddrive with such recent downloads as Absurdistan, Middlesex, and The Coming China Wars. I think narrator Dan Woren is superb. And listening to another American's observations based on his unique experience in Korea is a relevent and insightful treat.

Articulate writer

I really enjoyed this book. the author is a great writer. Interesting story with a great flow.

this book could not be better

excellent, well written, well narrated autobiography/diary
mature and original introspection
as well as clear and deep views of other cultures and people
a crisp style which is also compassionate
a remarkable work and a very good audio book
This book could not be better.