Chinatown Gangs: Extortion, Enterprise, and Ethnicity (Studies in Crime and Public Policy)

Rating:
Summary: What Might Have Been
Review: This book was extensively researched. Unfortunately, the end results of this research is a very dry and somewhat boring academic study of Chinatown gangs. One feels that the author could have presented many "real life" stories of gangs and gang members. Instead we read about statistics and academic views. What a disappointment! I just wonder what a great book it might have been had there been more of a "human" look at the gangs.

Rating:
Summary: Good Research
Review: This is indeed a well researched book. This is not the same old anectdotal story telling that are so many of these books. This is good quality scholarship. I urge the author to develop this work into more precisely focused analyses that are publishable in quality scholarly journals. This is one of several books that I refer my student to when they tell me they want to learn about gangs. A well done book for those who want to learn, not just be entertained. If you are looking purely to be entertained, this likely is not an appropriate book for you. .... All others welcome too, but for legitimate scholarly business only.