EXTRA 15% OFF 3+ ITEMSSee all eligible items and terms

Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets

by Venkatesh, Sudhir | PB | VeryGood
ThriftBooks
(4141998)
US $5.69
Condition:
Very Good
Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ... Read moreabout condition
5 available2 sold
Popular item. 2 have already sold.
Breathe easy. Free shipping and returns.
Shipping:
Free Economy Shipping.
Estimated between Sat, Nov 22 and Wed, Nov 26 to 94104
Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared paymentcleared payment - opens in a new window or tab. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.
Located in: Aurora, Illinois, United States
Returns:
30 days returns. Seller pays for return shipping.
Payments:
       Diners Club
Earn up to 5x points when you use your eBay Mastercard®. Learn moreabout earning points with eBay Mastercard

Shop with confidence

Top Rated Plus
Top rated seller, fast shipping, and free returns. Learn more- Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab
eBay Money Back Guarantee
Get the item you ordered or your money back. Learn moreeBay Money Back Guarantee - opens new window or tab
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:376075161282
Last updated on Nov 08, 2025 03:19:55 PSTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Very Good
A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitionsopens in a new window or tab
Seller Notes
“Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ...
Binding
Paperback
Weight
0 lbs
Product Group
Book
IsTextBook
No
ISBN
9780143114932
Book Title
Gang Leader for a Day : a Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
Item Length
8.4 in
Publication Year
2008
Format
Uk-B Format Paperback
Language
English
Item Height
0.7 in
Author
Sudhir Venkatesh
Genre
Social Science, Biography & Autobiography
Topic
Social Scientists & Psychologists, Poverty & Homelessness, Criminology, Sociology / Urban, Ethnic Studies / African American Studies
Item Weight
10 oz
Item Width
5.4 in
Number of Pages
320 Pages
Category

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN-10
014311493X
ISBN-13
9780143114932
eBay Product ID (ePID)
18038263989

Product Key Features

Book Title
Gang Leader for a Day : a Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets
Number of Pages
320 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2008
Topic
Social Scientists & Psychologists, Poverty & Homelessness, Criminology, Sociology / Urban, Ethnic Studies / African American Studies
Genre
Social Science, Biography & Autobiography
Author
Sudhir Venkatesh
Format
Uk-B Format Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height
0.7 in
Item Weight
10 oz
Item Length
8.4 in
Item Width
5.4 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
Reviews
"Riveting." -- The New York Times "Compelling . . . dramatic . . . Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." -- Newsweek "An eye-opening account into an underserved city within the city." -- Chicago Tribune "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Day is to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." -- The Boston Globe "A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from vivid tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined." -- The Economist "A sensitive, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype." -- Finanical Times, "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Day is to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." - The Boston Globe "Compelling . . . Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." - Newsweek "Whether you enjoy fiction, history, or biography you''ll be drawn to Venkatesh''s gripping retelling of his experiences . . . Gang Leader for a Day poignantly reminds us that there continue to be separate and unequal Americas that ultimately impact us all." -Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Dayis to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." -The Boston Globe "Compelling . . . Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." - Newsweek "Whether you enjoy fiction, history, or biography you'll be drawn to Venkatesh's gripping retelling of his experiences . . . Gang Leader for a Daypoignantly reminds us that there continue to be separate and unequal Americas that ultimately impact us all." -Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Dayis to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." The Boston Globe "Compelling . . . Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." Newsweek "Whether you enjoy fiction, history, or biography you'll be drawn to Venkatesh's gripping retelling of his experiences . . . Gang Leader for a Day poignantly reminds us that there continue to be separate and unequal Americas that ultimately impact us all." Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), "Riveting." -- The New York Times "Compelling... dramatic... Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." -- Newsweek "An eye-opening account into an underserved city within the city." -- Chicago Tribune "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Day is to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." -- The Boston Globe "A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from viivd tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined." -- The Economist "A sensitive, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype." -- Finanical Times, "Riveting." -- The New York Times "Compelling... dramatic... Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." -- Newsweek "An eye-opening account into an underserved city within the city." -- Chicago Tribune "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Day is to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." -- The Boston Globe "A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from viivd tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined." -- The Economist "A sensative, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype." -- Finanical Times, "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Day is to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart." - The Boston Globe "Compelling . . . Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." - Newsweek "Whether you enjoy fiction, history, or biography you'll be drawn to Venkatesh's gripping retelling of his experiences . . . Gang Leader for a Day poignantly reminds us that there continue to be separate and unequal Americas that ultimately impact us all." -Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Grade From
Twelfth Grade
Grade To
UP
Synopsis
A New York Times Bestseller Foreword by Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of Freakonomics When first-year graduate student Sudhir Venkatesh walked into an abandoned building in one of Chicago's most notorious housing projects, he hoped to find a few people willing to take a multiple-choice survey on urban poverty--and impress his professors with his boldness. He never imagined that as a result of this assignment he would befriend a gang leader named JT and spend the better part of a decade embedded inside the projects under JT's protection. From a privileged position of unprecedented access, Venkatesh observed JT and the rest of his gang as they operated their crack-selling business, made peace with their neighbors, evaded the law, and rose up or fell within the ranks of the gang's complex hierarchical structure. Examining the morally ambiguous, highly intricate, and often corrupt struggle to survive in an urban war zone, Gang Leader for a Day also tells the story of the complicated friendship that develops between Venkatesh and JT--two young and ambitious men a universe apart. "Riveting."-- The New York Times "Compelling... dramatic... Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand."-- Newsweek "An eye-opening account into an underserved city within the city."-- Chicago Tribune "The achievement of Gang Leader for a Day is to give the dry statistics a raw, beating heart."-- The Boston Globe "A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from viivd tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined."-- The Economist "A sensative, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype."-- Finanical Times Sudhir Venkatesh's latest book Floating City: A Rogue Sociologist Lost and Found in New York's Underground Economy-- a memoir of sociological investigation revealing the true face of America's most diverse city--is also published by Penguin Press., A New York Times Bestseller "A rich portrait of the urban poor, drawn not from statistics but from vivid tales of their lives and his, and how they intertwined." -- The Economist "A sensitive, sympathetic, unpatronizing portrayal of lives that are ususally ignored or lumped into ill-defined stereotype." -- Finanical Times Foreword by Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of Freakonomics When first-year graduate student Sudhir Venkatesh walked into an abandoned building in one of Chicago's most notorious housing projects, he hoped to find a few people willing to take a multiple-choice survey on urban poverty--and impress his professors with his boldness. He never imagined that as a result of this assignment he would befriend a gang leader named JT and spend the better part of a decade embedded inside the projects under JT's protection. From a privileged position of unprecedented access, Venkatesh observed JT and the rest of his gang as they operated their crack-selling business, made peace with their neighbors, evaded the law, and rose up or fell within the ranks of the gang's complex hierarchical structure. Examining the morally ambiguous, highly intricate, and often corrupt struggle to survive in an urban war zone, Gang Leader for a Day also tells the story of the complicated friendship that develops between Venkatesh and JT--two young and ambitious men a universe apart. Sudhir Venkatesh's latest book Floating City: A Rogue Sociologist Lost and Found in New York's Underground Economy-- a memoir of sociological investigation revealing the true face of America's most diverse city--is also published by Penguin Press.

Item description from the seller

About this seller

ThriftBooks

99.2% positive feedback20.1M items sold

Joined Mar 2015
Just Voted on Newsweek - ThriftBooks ranks #1 America's Best Online Shops 2025 in Office, Electronics & Media sector, Media category!!ThriftBooks is a fully independent seller of used books, having ...
See more
Visit store

Detailed seller ratings

Average for the last 12 months
Accurate description
4.9
Reasonable shipping cost
5.0
Shipping speed
5.0
Communication
4.9

Seller feedback (5,986,669)

All ratingsselected
Positive
Neutral
Negative
  • e***a (272)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past month
    Verified purchase
    Ordered from USA and arrived to me in UK about 10 days later. Book appropriately packaged and mostly as described. Was missing the cd as listed but communication with the seller was friendly and polite if not a little confusing - partial refunds are only offered after you start the formal eBay return request process, they aren't capable of giving refunds after simple messaging to customer service. All in all though, great value and a positive transaction. Would interact again 👍
  • e***- (123)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past 6 months
    Verified purchase
    Unfortunately I received a damaged book, the item and the package both were damaged and it was clearly evident its appearance that it happened during transit. The seller was very understanding and gave me a full refund for the damaged book, though it was no fault of their own. Other than the damage, the book was as described, the quality and condition aside from the damaged spot was like new. The cost of the book was reasonable. I would definitely purchase from the seller again.
  • 7***j (874)- Feedback left by buyer.
    Past month
    Verified purchase
    I recently purchased an item from this eBay seller, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the prompt communication to the fast shipping, everything was handled with utmost professionalism. The item arrived exactly as described and was well packaged to ensure its safety during transit. The seller was courteous and responsive, making the entire transaction smooth and hassle-free. I highly recommend this seller to anyone looking for quality products and excellent service.

Product ratings and reviews

5.0
2 product ratings
  • 2 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 3 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 2 out of 5 stars
  • 0 users rated this 1 out of 5 stars

Most relevant reviews

  • One of the best books of all time

    This book is by far one of my favorite books that I have ever read. It really opens your eyes if you have never been exposed to gang violence before and you can truly see the affects that it has on a community. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the subject of gang violence, social work, or sociology.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: thrift.books