Gang leader for a day by Sudhir Venkatesh: Author’s overdeveloped curiosity and underdeveloped sense of fear opens up a different world for us.

Posted on June 29, 2015

I had read about Sudhir Venkatesh’s research of the drug dealer network in Freakonomics some years ago and I was curious to read the whole story. This book satisfies that curiosity and opens up the world of Chicago’s housing projects that had drug and crime running in its veins. It is well known that every society has an underbelly ridden with crime but what is perhaps not known is the professionalism of the modern crime world. A gang leader with a college degree, ranking and discipline among its soldiers, modus operandi of the deals – the crime world’s disturbing yet fascinating tale is experienced and then told by the author in an interesting manner.
The book starts of well and holds the reader’s interest most of the time. The author’s confusion about separating research and personal involvement in the subjects, leads to a somewhat lack luster end.
My recommendation? Do read the book.