Time Theft Nation

REVIEW: Gang Leader For A Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets - Sudhir Venkatesh (Nonfiction)

Sudhir Venkatesh has brass balls. The man decides to visit the Robert Taylor Homes, in the south side of Chicago, which are notorious for being the worst public housing projects in the country. What he ends up finding, after a few (for people like you and me, “pants-shitting”) close calls, is that the gang leader, J.T., wants him to stick around so he can share his story with the world. What he finds is an independently governed society that has been neglected by normal services, such as the police or even the ambulance in times of need. Because of this, the resident power brokers cut deals and have their say on how the buildings will be ran, and you get to see every aspect of their decisions effects on the tenants who are trapped in the culture.

I just finished reading this book at around 1:30 a.m. last night. I started it a few days ago and it wrecked my sleep cycle because it was way too hard to put down. This should be considered required reading for any politician, undergrad student, or citizen of Earth in general.

Pick up the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Gang-Leader-Day-Sociologist-Streets/dp/014311493X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325783573&sr=8-1