Trade skills can be a powerful key to successful reentry. They help inmates build tangible abilities, open career pathways, and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. At Corrections Bookstore, we understand the importance of practical learning. That’s why we offer facility-approved books that teach real-world skills inmates can use to rebuild their lives.
Below is a curated list of new titles from our storefront—distinct from our usual offerings—that focus on trade-related learning. These books are accessible, educational, and ideal for incarcerated individuals eager to prepare for life after release.
1. Knot Handbook: 50 Essential Knots and Their Uses
Category: Crafts & Hobbies / Trades
Why It Matters:
Knots are fundamental in many industries—construction, shipping, fishing, security. This handbook teaches 50 practical knots, complete with step-by-step illustrations.
Benefits:
- Builds manual dexterity and patience
- Useful for warehouse jobs, maritime work, or outdoor professions
- Introduces technical instruction reading and hands-on practice
Educational Value: Develops precision and problem-solving as the learner masters each knot and its application.
2. Knots & Beads Jewelry Made Easy
Category: Crafts & Hobbies
Why It Matters:
Jewelry-making can become a small-scale trade or a side hustle post-release. This is an accessible craft skill that requires minimal tools but can yield tangible income.
Benefits:
- Teaches hand-eye coordination and artistic design
- Builds competency for small business creation
- Supports creative expression and entrepreneurship
Educational Value: Encourages planning (pattern design), fine motor skills, and small-batch production thinking.
3. Pennsylvania Life Insurance Producer License Exam Review
Category: Study Aids / Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Why It Matters:
While not a trade in the traditional physical sense, financial services are a booming sector. Preparing for a life insurance license can open professional career paths in sales and advising.
Benefits:
- Enhances logical thinking and regulation awareness
- Prepares inmates for certification exams
- Supports goal-driven self-study and test-taking strategies
Educational Value: Builds discipline through structured learning and exam preparation.
4. Cartel Wives (Memoir with Entrepreneurial Learning Themes)
Category: Nonfiction / Memoir / Trade-Related Lessons
Why It Matters:
While not a formal trade manual, Cartel Wives delivers hard-earned lessons in survival, resilience, and strategy. Written by two former wives of high-ranking cartel members, this memoir sheds light on the complexities of leadership, loyalty, negotiation, and risk — all themes relevant to navigating business and life after incarceration.
Benefits:
· Promotes critical thinking and situational awareness
· Encourages reflection on leadership, consequences, and personal values
· Supports entrepreneurial mindset through real-world storytelling
Educational Value:
This book inspires inmates to reflect on personal transformation and consider how to use their life experiences to fuel legal, strategic, and empowered choices after release.
Why These Trade Books Make a Difference
1. Promote Practical Skills
Each title develops a skill set—whether knot tying or jewelry making—that can lead to self-employment, apprenticeship, or job training programs upon release.
2. Build Self-Esteem Through Learning
Mastering a new skill, even a small one, fosters self-confidence and the belief in one's ability to change.
3. Encourage Entrepreneurial Thinking
Whether it’s stocked on prison commissary or sold locally, crafts and certification prep support thinking beyond incarceration.
How to Maximize Learning Behind Bars
-
Pair Books with Restored Routines
Set daily practice goals—e.g., learn two belt knots per week, complete a jewelry project monthly, or work through exam review chapters. -
Keep a Skills Journal
Use a plain composition notebook to record step-by-step processes, reflect on mistakes, and plan improvements. -
Form Peer Learning Groups
Practice hands-on skills together, teach others, and reinforce your understanding. -
Connect Learning to Future Goals
Think about where the skill fits post-release—e.g., fishing, construction, sales—or use it as a side gig. -
Use Certification as Motivation
Studying for a license (like insurance) strengthens discipline, structured learning, and long-term career planning.
Ordering from Corrections Bookstore
All books listed are softcover and approved for delivery to correctional facilities.
How to order:
- Include the inmate’s full name and ID number
- Provide the proper facility mailing address
- Select softcover editions only
- Review our Shipping Policy for compliance
Final Thoughts
Learning trade skills behind bars changes lives. It builds confidence, fosters financial independence, and prepares inmates for real-world success. At Corrections Bookstore, we're proud to support this transformation with tools that empower growth and prepare individuals for life beyond incarceration.
Explore more:
Best Books for Inmates – Trade & Educational
Corrections Bookstore – Building Skills, Lives & Futures.