Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America’s Strangest Jail
by Rusty Young, Thomas McFadden
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail by Rusty Young, Thomas McFadden holds a highly rated rating of 4.22 out of 5, based on 7.3K reader ratings. First published in 2003. The book spans 400 pages.
About Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail
Rusty Young was backpacking in South America when he heard about Thomas McFadden, a convicted English drug trafficker who ran tours inside Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison. Intrigued, the young Australian journalisted went to La Paz and joined one of Thomas's illegal tours. They formed an instant friendship and then became partners in an attempt to record Thomas's experiences in the jail. Rusty bribed the guards to allow him to stay and for the next three months he lived inside the prison, sharing a cell with Thomas and recording one of the strangest and most compelling prison stories of all time. The result is Marching Powder.This book establishes that San Pedro is not your average prison. Inmates are expected to buy their cells from real estate agents. Others run shops and restaurants. Women and children live with imprisoned family members. It is a place where corrupt politicians and drug lords live in luxury apartments, while the poorest prisoners are subjected to squalor and deprivation. Violence is a constant threat, and sections of San Pedro that echo with the sound of children by day house some of Bolivia's busiest cocaine laboratories by night. In San Pedro, cocaine--"Bolivian marching powder"--makes life bearable. Even the prison cat is addicted.Yet Marching Powder is also the tale of friendship, a place where horror is countered by humor and cruelty and compassion can inhabit the same cell. This is cutting-edge travel-writing and a fascinating account of infiltration into the South American drug culture.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Rusty Young, Thomas McFadden |
| Published | 2003 |
| Pages | 400 |
| Kindle Price | $12.99 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, Travel, Biography & Memoir, Mystery & Thriller, Biography & Memoir |
| Average Rating | 4.22 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 7,313 |
Reader Ratings & Analysis
Rating Overview
How It Compares
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail?
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail is categorized as Non-Fiction, Travel, Biography & Memoir, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail worth reading?
Based on 7.3K reader ratings, Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail has an average score of 4.22 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."
How many pages is Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail?
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail has 400 pages.
Who wrote Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail?
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail was written by Rusty Young, Thomas McFadden. It was first published in 2003.
What is the ISBN for Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail?
The ISBN-13 for Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail is 9780312330350.0.
How much does Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail cost on Kindle?
Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail is available on Kindle for $12.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
