Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets
Jan 2008 · Sold by Penguin
4.4star
64 reviews
Ebook
320
Pages
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About this ebook
A New York Times Bestseller
"A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from vivid tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined." —The Economist
"A sensitive, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype." —Finanical Times
Foreword by Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of Freakonomics
When first-year graduate student Sudhir Venkatesh walked into an abandoned building in one of Chicago’s most notorious housing projects, he hoped to find a few people willing to take a multiple-choice survey on urban poverty--and impress his professors with his boldness. He never imagined that as a result of this assignment he would befriend a gang leader named JT and spend the better part of a decade embedded inside the projects under JT’s protection. From a privileged position of unprecedented access, Venkatesh observed JT and the rest of his gang as they operated their crack-selling business, made peace with their neighbors, evaded the law, and rose up or fell within the ranks of the gang’s complex hierarchical structure. Examining the morally ambiguous, highly intricate, and often corrupt struggle to survive in an urban war zone, Gang Leader for a Day also tells the story of the complicated friendship that develops between Venkatesh and JT--two young and ambitious men a universe apart.
Sudhir Venkatesh’s latest book Floating City: A Rogue Sociologist Lost and Found in New York’s Underground Economy—a memoir of sociological investigation revealing the true face of America’s most diverse city—is also published by Penguin Press.
"A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from vivid tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined." —The Economist
"A sensitive, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype." —Finanical Times
Foreword by Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of Freakonomics
When first-year graduate student Sudhir Venkatesh walked into an abandoned building in one of Chicago’s most notorious housing projects, he hoped to find a few people willing to take a multiple-choice survey on urban poverty--and impress his professors with his boldness. He never imagined that as a result of this assignment he would befriend a gang leader named JT and spend the better part of a decade embedded inside the projects under JT’s protection. From a privileged position of unprecedented access, Venkatesh observed JT and the rest of his gang as they operated their crack-selling business, made peace with their neighbors, evaded the law, and rose up or fell within the ranks of the gang’s complex hierarchical structure. Examining the morally ambiguous, highly intricate, and often corrupt struggle to survive in an urban war zone, Gang Leader for a Day also tells the story of the complicated friendship that develops between Venkatesh and JT--two young and ambitious men a universe apart.
Sudhir Venkatesh’s latest book Floating City: A Rogue Sociologist Lost and Found in New York’s Underground Economy—a memoir of sociological investigation revealing the true face of America’s most diverse city—is also published by Penguin Press.
Ratings and reviews
4.4
64 reviews
J S
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July 2, 2021
This was a required read for an introduction to sociology course taken while obtaining a public history bachelors degree. Since history can be learned no other way than reading, my semesters consisted of 6000 to 8000 pages each fall and spring for a number of years. New information bombarded my brain constantly however, this 320 pager had the most influence and was the most profound and dynamic out of any and all that came to me. Sudhir's ability to paint word pictures and make sure that you understand the importance of this subject matter was absolutely remarkable. Growing up in a rural, area during the 80s the environment that was Chicago's housing projects was foreign to me unless Good Times is counted. The reality of the urban life was exposed to these naive eyes thanks to Mr. Venkatesh.
1 person found this review helpful
Jupiter
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April 12, 2016
Lying is necessary to hustle. That's what it taught me. Prejudice has been removed with gangs and the underground after reading this book. It makes you more empathic
7 people found this review helpful
Kurtis Laporte
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January 9, 2013
Great book couldn't put it down. Not sure how much is legit and true however.
10 people found this review helpful
About the author
Sudhir Venkatesh is professor of sociology and African American studies at Columbia University. His writings, stories, and documentaries have appeared in The American Prospect, and on PBS and National Public Radio’s This American Life.
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