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Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets

Sudhir Venkatesh
December 30, 2008
Categories:Non-Fiction

Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh recounts the astonishing tale of the author’s eight-year journey into the impoverished slums of inner-city Chicago. Through a series of extraordinary events, Venkatesh eventually found himself embedded in a violent gang, learning their struggles and gaining unique insight into the lives of street-level gang leaders and the people of the neighbourhood. In this captivating narrative, Venkatesh celebrates the dignity of a community beset by poverty and government apathy.In Gang Leader for a Day, Venkatesh eloquently describes his many experiences as a stranger in a foreign place. The author gives readers insight into the inner workings of a street gang and provides a non-judgmental look into their culture, rituals and perspectives. He also reveals how they relate to law enforcement and the wider world. Venkatesh shines light on how gangs and the individuals within them manage their affairs in the absence of any state intervention.Venkatesh challenges many of the stereotypes associated with the inner city and suggests that the gang members and other inhabitants are just trying to make a life for themselves in difficult circumstances. In doing so, Venkatesh builds a powerful argument in favour of social reform and economic investment in these neglected neighbourhoods. Gang Leader for a Day is a compelling and enthralling exploration of the forgotten inner city. Not only does it provide the reader with a unique and vivid insight into poverty and crime in the 21st century, but it also poses a moral question of how we should strive to make our societies more equitable for all.

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Rendors (3)

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Forbes World's Most Powerful People
1
Fortune 500 CEO
1
TIME 100: Most Influential People

Mark Zuckerberg

February 4, 2015
CEO/Facebook
Fortune 500 CEO
Forbes World's Most Powerful People
TIME 100: Most Influential People

I'm still working my way through The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, which is an amazing book so far — about how violence has declined throughout history due to effective governance, the growth of commerce and the spread of ideas.I see a lot of Facebook's work in these themes. The more we all have a voice to share our perspectives, the more empathy we have for each other and the more we respect each other's rights. Similarly, the more we benefit from global commerce and the services others provide us, the greater our incentive is to keep each other safe as it improves our lives.Gang Leader for a Day is loosely related to the themes Better Angels in that it explores what life is like for those who don't live under effective governance. I'm looking forward to reading this and finishing up Better Angels.

Founder/Readable

Sudhir Venkatesh's "Gangleader For A Day" significantly adjusted how I think about a bunch of stuff: poverty, economics, society, etc.

Steven Levitt

January 1, 2008
Economist and co-author

His new book, Gang Leader for a Day, which hits the stores this week, is as good as any book I have read in a long time.....Reading it is like sitting across the table from him, soaking up amazing story after amazing story. I gladly blurbed the book, describing it as follows: Gang Leader for a Day is an absolutely incredible book. 

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