Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. California    4. Ethnic Studies - General    5. Gangs    6. Los Angeles    7. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    8. Multicultural Nonfiction    9. Social Science    10. Sociology - Urban    11. Cultural studies    12. Organized crime    13. Social groups & communities   

Reviews (1)

ground breaking work
I read this book eight years ago on rainy Saturday--I was a student at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and I decided to pass the afternoon in the Center's library. I picked this volume off the shelves because the title sounded interesting. At the time, I did not realize that this book is a classic in the field of social science.Read more

Subjects:  1. Gangs    2. Italian Americans    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - General    6. United States    7. Anthropology    8. Social Science / Sociology / General    9. Social, group or collective psychology    10. USA    11. Urban communities   

Reviews (5)

Excellent job on the Fleagle gang
Mr. Betz tells the story of the Fleagle gang in a creative writing style, with the use of various reporters of the time period, which made the book very readable and flow well.Betz also goes into the various law enforecment techniques of the time period and various changes in forensic science used to solve crimes and prosecute criminals.This is one book to read if you like the gangsters period of the 1920s.I higly recommend it.
Comprehensive Study of the Fleagles
Jake and Ralph Fleagle and their gang were among the most successful outlaws of the 1920s, in terms of both profit and evading identification, until a bloody bank robbery in 1928 and a telltale fingerprint that unmasked them. In 1930, Jake Fleagle rivaled Fred "Killer" Burke as America's most wanted fugitive and rewards for his capture far exceeded those offered later for John Dillinger, today regarded as the premier bandit of the Depression era. Largely forgotten today, the crime put Lamar, Colorado and Garden City, Kansas on the map and rocketed Jake Fleagle into the national headlines. Slight vestiges of his immortality remain still in the "Evil Eye Fleegle" character created by Al Capp and the treasure hunters seeking Jake's alleged hoard of buried bank loot in the vicinity of Branson and Hollister, Missouri. The massive coverage given here to all aspects of the Lamar bank job, the investigation, and the tracking down of the killer gang may be a bit overwhelming to the casual reader but this carefully researched account is an essential for crime historians.

"Betrayed By a Fingerprint" - A Must Read!
Four bandits, gunplay, two murders, a car chase, and a shoot out with police - and that is just the first chapter!This book is filled with everything that Hollywood dreams of for blockbuster movies - good vs. bad, drama, murder, and a thrilling cross-country chase.The author, N.T. Betz, expertly tells the story of the Fleagle Gang, not only through his own words, but also through the words of the reporters, posse members, police, and others who experienced this crime spree.Mr. Betz's research is in-depth and complete.He even included the influences the Fleagles had on culture (i.e. Evil-Eye Fleegle and the Beagle Boys).In addition to the fascinating look into the actions of four criminals and the courts of the late 1920's, this story marks several landmarks in forensics and law enforcement techniques - including the first time a single fingerprint was used to identify an individual and the first transportation of a suspect by airplane.A must read for history and true crime buffs alike! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bank robberies    2. Colorado    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Lamar    8. Robbery investigation    9. United States   

Reviews (1)

Life Changing Experience
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING WORKS THAT I HAVE EVER READ!IN THE BOOK, YOU WILL FIND THE STORY OF SEVEN CHILDREN THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES IN WAYS THAT MOST OF US CANNOT IMAGINE.THE STRENGH, COURAGE, AND FAITHSHOWN BY THESE CHILDREN ARE AN AWESOME THING TO BEHOLD.I GUARANTEE THATBY THE TIME YOU HAVE FINISHED READING THIS BOOK YOU WILL DEFINITELY LOOK ATYOUR OWN LIFE IN A NEW LIGHT. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Children's writings, American    3. Connecticut    4. Health/Fitness    5. Inspirational    6. Literary collections    7. Sick    8. Sick children    9. Biography: general    10. Coping with illness    11. USA   

Reviews (6)

first serious attempt to document tattoo culture 1950-1965
Academics get tired too but most don't do a 180 turn and join subcultures that seem completely opposed to their previous community.Samuel Steward became a tattoo artist but kept his scholarly mind working as he did so upon the urging of Kinsey, yes, that Alfred Kinsey.The result many years later is this book.Part history, part personal recollection, and part social sciences, this is an interesting and easy to read book.If you don't except detailed interviews with people or rigorous research protocols you won't be disappointed.I think the first half of the book which focuses on what he observed is much better than the second more "historical" half.It could use photos and a better spine to hold the book together.

Steer clear: an amateur work
As a scholar of what might be called outsiders, I was eager to read this work on tatooing.But the scholarship here is hackneyed and unprofessional.His sources are scattered and incomplete and his discussion is of similar quality.Given the excellent quality of research being done on this topic, this book falls into a dont-bother-with category.

What a Read
Having 4 tattoo's applied last year at the ripe young age of 50, I was fascinated by this book.Tattoo's in the 50's & 60's apparently were taboo except for the underbelly of life.Looking at how they are accepted today as opposed to then is astounding.The syndicate was even involved in the 50's.The book actually had me laughing out loud at some of the situations this highly educated man faced when he gave up teaching English at a major university and took up tattooing.If you have any interest in tattoo's be sure to purchas this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - General    2. Biography    3. Fashion & Grooming    4. Psychological aspects    5. Social Science    6. Social Work    7. Social aspects    8. Sociology    9. Steward, Samuel M    10. Subculture    11. Tattoo artists    12. Tattooing    13. United States    14. Social Sciences    15. c 1945 to c 1960    16. c 1960 to c 1970   

Subjects:  1. Government - Comparative    2. Political Science    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Political Science / Foreign Legal Systems   

Reviews (16)

How new generation can relate also.
I was born in San Francisco. It isn't like that anymore as you can see, I didn't live in Chinatown but regularly go to my Grandma or grandpa after school in chinatown. I lived in Japantown til I was six years old. I moved to Oakland ever since. excellent book
this is a very well-written book for a non-fiction plot. It was recommended to me by a friend and I have to say the plot was not boring, the author was very descriptive in his writing. Don't miss out on this.

Very powerful
Yeah-- so forget about some of the editing problems-- this book is a must read!There are so many similarities between this and cultish groups. It doesn't matter if you're a poor kid in Chinatown or a rich kid in a brainwashing group-the lessons remain the same:One's inner voice--thinking for onesself and then of course--running away when you can --are universal stories.We have seen it in Nazi Germany, with Waco, in Chinatown and in Jonestown. KIDS of all ages should read this truly eye-opening account of how easy it is to get pulled in to an ideology that then kills its own.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asians In The U.S.    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. California    5. Chinese Americans    6. Criminology    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. Ethnic Studies - General    9. Gangs    10. Lee, Bill,    11. Organized Crime    12. Parental Memoirs    13. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    14. San Francisco    15. Social Science    16. Social conditions    17. Sociology    18. Biography/Autobiography    19. Chinatown (San Francisco, Cali    20. Chinese American criminals    21. Chinese American families    22. Dysfunctional Families    23. Lee, Bill    24. United States   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. General    5. Management - General    6. Management Science    7. Operations Research    8. Management decision making   

Reviews (1)

Great Format for Acupunture & Herbal uses on Conditions/Diseases
This is a great reference tool.. even almost easy for a person who's only taken an introductory a chinese medicine class. The table of contents is listed by conditions/symptoms which is very effificent & fast reference tool. Each condition is then divided by specific causes whether it's from say in example the liver rather then the spleen. It's lists specific differences in symptoms to know which organs are affected & true source of the malady. It then tells you what acupunture/accupressure points to do even getting in to specifics such as add a point if another symptom shows up to also what herbal forumals to use. Most acupressure books only list one or 2 points to use on EVERYONE for each condition which is not always accurate. Knowing the exact cause & which organs are affected is the most important. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Complementary Medicine    2. History of medicine   

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Gangs    3. Sociology    4. United States   

Reviews (4)

Good in some parts, boring in others
I have to admit I mostly had Al Capone in mind when I bought this book.It was a good read, but a lot of the first two chapters are pretty boring, they were basically an in depth history of Chicago's beginnings.However, the further along I read the more I began to enjoy it, I only wish Asbury would have talked a little more about Chicago's most notorious gangster, Al Capone.

Pretty dry, heavy on listing
Like many history books, Gangs of Chicago tends to list out factual data while ignoring a compelling narative.There are many colorful names and notorious characters in Chicago's past, but they are presented here in outline form.This book was originally published in 1940, so it predates a lot of criminal activity suggested by its title.After all of these years, it would also have been nice to have more photos and exhiits to flash out some dry reading.

Great, with one exception
I enjoyed reading this book, but it was written some time ago. The original copyright is 1940. In fact, it was written at a time when investigative journalism was still colored by the author's blatant opinions, details considered too gruesome were left out (although there are some), and fact and fiction blended without too much trouble.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chicago    2. Chicago (Ill.)    3. Criminology    4. Gangs    5. General    6. History    7. History - U.S.    8. History: American    9. Illinois    10. Social conditions    11. United States - 20th Century    12. United States - State & Local - General   

Subjects:  1. Administration - General    2. Criminology    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Gangs    6. Prevention    7. School violence    8. United States   

Reviews (1)

Market Makers = Crooks-R-Us
An eye-opener. Even after all the security laws/regulations passed during/after the Great Depression, there is still an insiders club that exists within the Stock Exchanges. And that "club" continues to fleece the average retail investor. The Exchange rationalizes the "club" as necessary to stabilize market prices. When in reality, the "club" introduces instability for its own gain. Corporate insiders have to disclose stock transactions. Why not the market makers? Even though the book is thirty-years old, it still rings true today. The club still exists and the government still has done relatively little to reign in the abuses of the insiders "club." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Speculation    2. Stock-exchange    3. Stockbrokers    4. United States   

Subjects:  1. Card Games    2. Card Games - Poker    3. Gambling    4. Gambling - Card Games    5. Games    6. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    7. Games/Puzzles    8. Games / Card Games / Poker   

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness    2. Medical / Nursing    3. Otolaryngology    4. Complementary Medicine    5. History of medicine   

Reviews (4)

Embraces the power of love, courage, faith, and hope
African American, globetrotter, midwife, activist, scholar, feminist, author, mother, Claudia J. Ford is an extraordinary woman who has lived many places in the world while honing her expertise of issues of international development while raising three sons. On December 2, 2001, in a ghetto porn theatre in Johannesburg, a five-month-old girl was sexually violated -- gang raped and left for dead. Within two weeks of this incredible assault, little Vyanna would find herself in the care of Claudia Ford. In Why Do I Scream At God For The Rape Of Babies? Claudia candidly addresses an horrific reality. In South Africa more than 15 percent of all reported rapes are against children under the age of eleven. 26 percent are against children ages twelve through seventeen. In the year 2000, fifty-eight children a day were raped or the victims of attempted rape. This seminal, ground breaking memoir is a testament woven of journal entries, poems, epigrams, letters, and even portions of scholarly papers, and is specifically intended to lift the veil of silence and secrecy on this widespread atrocity. Why Do I Scream At God For The Rape Of Babies? embraces the power of love, courage, faith, and hope to change the world into something better for the sake of future generations. Would there were more autobiography voices against other such social injustices in the modern world.
How did it get this bad?
How can we live in a sophisticated high tech world where desperate ignorant men rape babies to rid themselves of AIDS, addicted and abused women allow their babies to be brutalized, and governments play games with HIV/AIDS statistics to make sure tourism is not undermined in their country?When I finshed the book and wiped my tears, I too felt angry and wanted to scream.This poignant journey of one strong woman and one strong-willed woman-child changes the screams of anger into shouts of victory.Ford embodies the strength that we all need to make changes in our "sophisticated" societies ... we can each stop screaming and start doing something about the challenges we see every day.Ford did that.A powerful book from a powerful spirit.

This book is engaging, moving and unforgettable.
This book is engaging, moving and unforgettable. It will toll in your heart like a bell.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1954-    2. 2001-    3. Abuse - General    4. Case studies    5. Child Abuse    6. Child sexual abuse    7. Children's Studies    8. Criminology    9. Ford, Claudia J.,    10. Ford, Vyanna,    11. Gang rape    12. Infant girls    13. Johannesburg    14. Parent And Child    15. Social Science    16. Sociology    17. Sociology - Marriage & Family    18. South Africa    19. Violence against    20. Violence in society   

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Sociology    2. Criminals    3. Gangs    4. Juvenile delinquency    5. Juvenile literature    6. Social Situations - Violence    7. Sociology    8. United States   

Editorial Review

Rookie author Douglas Century delivers a gritty account of street life in urban America. Read more

Reviews (31)

Excellent book.
If you have any interest in Hip Hop then this is an essential read for you.I do not agree with reviewers who found it condescending or parasitical.The author is a Jewish guy from Canada but that does not exclude him from writing such a book; he never hides who he is, he was the one who spent five years researching and writing it, and got it published, so more power to him. If you read it it appears that he did not decide to write such a book and then set out to use people to do so, rather that the book wrote itself through him having had interesting experiences through his involvement in Hip Hop, that he rightly put down on paper to share with others.It is a true life gripping account of the runnings of a Brooklyn street crew called The Franklin Avenue Posse, loosley associated with rap group Black Moon.It is full of great anecdotes and is well written. It will be of interest to readers of such magazines as Felon, Feds and Don Diva. It ranks up with William Shaw's "Westsiders", a similar excellent book about real life musicians on the fringes of the LA Hip Hop scene.

Condescending and disappointing
The previous reviewer who said this book is condescending hits it right on the head. Century thinks that by hanging around these guys, and having a black girlfriend, he is now one of them. He even comments on how when he is out with the crew, people would get out of his way, like he was now suddenly a tough guy. His girlfriend said it best (I don't have the exact quote but can remember it pretty good) "You can go to all the reggae parties and hip-hop clubs you want, you'll still be a white Jewish guy from Canada!"

my pet monster
this book came across as very condescending of the main character by the author. century came across to me as a parasitical tick waiting for his mealticket to die or go to jail, in order to profit off him. other than that it was easy reading and i'll read his other books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)    2. Case studies    3. Crime And Criminals    4. Criminology    5. Gangs    6. General    7. New York    8. New York (N.Y.)    9. New York (State)    10. Social Deviance    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Sociology - Urban    14. Juvenile offenders   

Reviews (11)

Wallbangin': Graffiti and Gangs in L.A.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author's research approach and theory are both novel and intriguing.It is a book that will make one think again about the social construct of gangs as well as the political message of graffiti.The negative reviews of this book seem to be based in the notion that the book should demonize the informants as well as gangs in general.If one is looking for tired rhetoric regarding gangs and graffiti, this is not the book for you. Rather, the author's work expands the parameters of the dialogue regarding gangs.

Not well put together
Book was poorly put together. Scattered pictures throughout the book. She put herself in serious danger trying to take these pictures...i know how south central is and people who are white will get either robbed or killed in some way or another usually not in a car of course. I don't really understand the point of the book what is it for? We already know about the crips and bloods etc; people are looking for answers to problems not listening to her rave about her Geertzian ghetto or whatever the hell it was. It's no problem that she is white in my opinion...she seems to have a little self-hate problem, for instance don't believe the hype
"i'm a student doing research, and i need to know". another lame attempt by a privaledged white girl to " exploit something she knows very little about. her book is weak! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American    2. Art    3. California    4. Gangs    5. General    6. Graffiti    7. Los Angeles    8. Mexican American youth    9. Popular Culture - General    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - Urban    13. Anthropology    14. Cultural studies    15. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    16. Painting & paintings    17. Social Science / Sociology / Urban