Sasha Abramsky of the
Columbia Journalism Review argued that "Perkinson tells a generally compelling (if overlong and occasionally unfocused) story, which blends history, cultural commentary, folklore, and ethnography." Abramsky recommends reading
Texas Tough and ''
Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison'' (2010) at the same time, because of the
juxtaposition of the two different types of prison environments and prisoners described. Dr. Paul M. Lucko of
Murray State University described the book as "a superb historical analysis". David Pitt of
Booklist deemed the work "[a] fascinating and often deeply troubling book." Mitchel P. Roth of the
Southwestern Historical Quarterly described the book "wide-ranging, well-organized and well written" work "that should be among the standard works on Texas criminal justice history for years to come" and that "Anyone trying to gain an understanding of the Texan love affair with the prison system will find many of the answers in this provocative and thoroughly researched book." ==See also==