Book Review: Gang Leader for a day

Reference:

Venkatesh, S. (2009). Gang Leader for a Day. Penguin Books.

Review:

The book was incredibly engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the verbal sparring between the characters. Although the author sometimes appeared ignorant, such as when he provided information about the hustlers without realizing he was betraying them, which seemed absurd to me. I suspect that some of his claimed ignorance was disingenuous. It felt like he was trying to evoke sympathy from the readers for JT or to portray Ms. Bailey as a terrible person. Despite these flaws, I still believe the book is a great read.

One aspect I appreciated was that the author didn't solely focus on JT; he also spent time with other gang members, giving a broader perspective. Sudhir Venkatesh really attempted to evoke empathy for the residents of the buildings and gang members, highlighting the harsh realities they face. However, it's important to remember that many of them chose this lifestyle. While it's undoubtedly a difficult life, the gang members and some of the residents are involved in drug addiction, selling, and manufacturing drugs. Some of the women, including prostitutes, use their bodies to obtain food or stay with abusive partners because they choose to.

The author did an excellent job detailing various scenes, although one particular incident left me puzzled. When his car was broken into, I couldn't grasp what Rege was trying to convey—whether it was the CIA or corrupt cops involved. This confusion detracted somewhat from my understanding of the narrative.

While there were elements of the book I didn't particularly like—everyone has their critiques of any book—overall, I loved it. The story, set in the ghetto, provided new insights and left me eager to read more of Venkatesh's works. Despite its imperfections, the book captivated me with its vivid storytelling and the profound glimpse it offered into a world rarely seen by outsiders.