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

Sudhir Venkatesh

December 30, 2008

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.