At age 16, Reginald Dwayne Betts was sentenced to nine years in prison. He turned to books to help hold onto his sanity — and developed a belief that we find what we look for, even in the toughest places. Now a lawyer and poet, he’s opened hundreds of Freedom Libraries inside prisons across the US, putting books he once dreamed of reading into the hands of incarcerated people. In this profound talk, he makes the case that hope is something people pass on to one another. “We put millions of people in prison. I would put millions of books inside,” he says. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)
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@Gudness22
October 15, 2026 at 11:08 am
You will find what you look for hittts different 👌🏻
@ritageraghty3261
October 15, 2026 at 11:09 am
He is such a great speaker that he can talk his way out of prison. I wish I have his confidence.
@ilovescotland777
October 15, 2026 at 11:13 am
I’ll crack a light joke yeah prison can do that to you 😂
@nowelleUSA
October 15, 2026 at 11:21 am
Books for prisons. Yes. Ty.
@ab_1808
October 15, 2026 at 11:22 am
❤❤❤
@dhruva.skowshik7880
October 15, 2026 at 11:25 am
These idea has already implemented in india.
For best version watch movie called birathi ranagal
@pierrejordan2433
October 15, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Proud of you my friend
@BigT-000
October 15, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Dude made his entire persona about jail…sad.
@floralcailini01
October 15, 2026 at 1:25 pm
@BigT-000 When something affects you in a lot of ways, like his experience, he wants to help the experience be better for the people that are going to be going through it. You saw his TedTalk about prison. Therefore you only know he’s talking about prison. Don’t call people sad when they’re trying to help the system. Please look at yourself and be happier. You need to fix your outlook on people and first you gotta fix how you see yourself. I pity you and I hope you get better.
@Thewhippedhippie
October 15, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Comfort in prison?
Who is the next contestant?
Who wants to read daily?
Who wants to come to my prison?
This just looks immature. You don’t advertise comfortable prison settings. 😂
@michaelkatz4068
October 15, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Oh wow that March 4th line was incredible.
@michaelkatz4068
October 15, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Excellent video, excellent lesson, excellent story. Thank you for your service, sir.
@janberger2339
October 15, 2026 at 3:37 pm
This is the kind of good old TED talks I remember, not the other new social media propaganda bullcrap or toxic productivity they have been airing recently.
More of this please!❤
@Jasonxbr
October 15, 2026 at 3:54 pm
Well why not- better yet just give them a E-reader and save on the cost of books. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 just subscription it
@doubleuenbeeeh
October 15, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Bro just rambling but no one notices because his delivery is polished
@shar1ngthemusic
October 15, 2026 at 6:30 pm
❤❤❤
@wonderberry8975
October 16, 2026 at 1:26 am
❤❤❤ wanna join the message
@AbdulWahabraja-u7v
October 16, 2026 at 3:21 am
V v good bro ❤
@KimtheTravelingFoodie
October 16, 2026 at 6:02 am
Find a way to connect with Ali Siddiq! Your stories remind me of each other.
@NafisBin-p5p
October 16, 2026 at 8:24 am
His accent is so unique than others
@daniellelivesey6396
October 16, 2026 at 8:59 am
Just the inspirational TED talk I was needing today. Thank you sir ❤
@sorok-littlejoy
October 16, 2026 at 9:29 am
“Did you know, everyone? The South Korean government has abolished the Prosecutors’ Office and stripped prosecutors of their investigative powers. I’m not joking. This is real.”