"Gang Leader for a Day" (Mainboard Book Club)

Discussion in 'TMB Book Club' started by John Rogers, Jun 4, 2009.

  1. John Rogers

    John Rogers Member
    TMB OG

    So I am half way through with this amazing book written by a fromer graduate Sociology student at the University of Chicago. This budding sociologist who is Indian decides he wants to study real people and the way they live instead of statisical data. He befriends a leader of the Black Kings and for the next decade basically lives among them following the gang and giving an amzing insight into their crack enterprise at the Robert Taylor Homes (projects)and how their society works. It is an amazing book full of raw real life scenes that are better than any movie. I got it yesterday and am already half way finished. If you like the Wire you will love this
     
  2. chasenwilliam

    chasenwilliam Well-Known Member
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    Sounds interesting.
     
  3. slogan119

    slogan119 Her?
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    Yeah, I read it a year ago. It's a tremendous book, and an interesting look into the lives of those we view as 'less fortunate' and the social net they have in place.

    I'm continually amazed at some of the crap people are willing to put up with, however.
     
  4. acheely

    acheely Member
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    You sold me. I want to check out more about it and/or read the damn thing, pronto. I can relate to this in a big way with me working at an allblack school and being so close to people living in low-incoming housing and facing gang related issues on a consistant basis.

    Poverty = Idle Hands = Being Bored and Getting in Trouble = Gangs
     
  5. professor boots

    TMB OG

    on it, sounds pretty interesting.

    as an aside has anyone read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace? I started that behemoth last week and it's already one of the best books i've ever read...
     
  6. John Rogers

    John Rogers Member
    TMB OG

    give me some cliffs......you know I used to be one of the dumbasses who went to B&N everytime I wanted a new book. I was surpised but The Little Rock public library has basically every book I have ever wanted to read. I now read 4 free!!! Take advantage
     
  7. professor boots

    TMB OG

    do they not have Half Price Books in the Rock? place has better selection then any B&N and you can trade in old books for new ones...
     
  8. John Rogers

    John Rogers Member
    TMB OG

    none in Arkansas according to their website
     
  9. triceratops

    triceratops Tribe Of Dan
    Staff Donor TMB OG
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    Read it. Great Book.

    Checked it out at the library. The library is the bomb, the also have a better DVD collection than everyone outside of Netflix...TV series, Old Movies, New releases, Documentaries they are them all from free.
     
  10. professor boots

    TMB OG

    just heard about this on the radio, i had no idea the library had dvd's you can check out, that's pure greatness, everything i hear makes it seem better then netflix...

    and while we're at it, is austin the only place where half price books stores exist?
     
  11. photekxl

    photekxl New Member
    TMB OG

    I might check that out. I finished Under & Alone not too long ago about an undercover agent who infiltrated the Hell's Angels. Fucking crazy, and a great read. I enjoy these types of books.
     
  12. triceratops

    triceratops Tribe Of Dan
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Clemson TigersCarolina Panthers

    Netflix has a wider selection of obsure movies and the waiting list for new releases can be substantial (3-4 months) at the library, but other that it is free and they have a ton of movies. Just use Redbox for a New Release that you want to see right away.

    The DVD that I have gotten from the library recently:

    Curb Your Enthusiam - Season 6
    King of Kong
    Eddie Murphy - Raw
    Scared Straight
    The Big Labowski
    Gone Baby Gone
     
  13. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I'll give it a shot.
     
  14. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    It's really good
     
  15. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    This has to be one of the oldest threads still on the board. Right? Acheely is posting in it, and wasn't the board formed that spring?

    Considering how many posts have been lost.