Book Reading #1: Gang Leader For A Day

I really liked this book.  Although the subject matter was not overwhelmingly interesting to me, it was written well enough to be engaging and interesting.  I feel like I was able to learn a little bit and gain some appreciation for how truly difficult the situation in the projects can be, although I cannot say that it had an overwhelming impact on my outlook.
I know that J.T. is really the only character that he follows from the beginning of the book to the end, so it is unfair to say that I find him the most interesting of the characters.  However, he strikes me as someone who understands that he can change his situation if he is smart, lucky, and knows what he wants.  Even from the beginning he had plans, and they didn't involve being stuck in the slums forever.  I really would have appreciated it if Sudhir had actually made a sort of biography about J.T. because I think he had a really good grasp on life and how the world works.  True, his money handling skills were not exactly great, but he had the brains and drive to try and make a way for himself.
As for the rest of the folks in the projects, they could stand to learn a few things from J.T. about how to get what you want in the world.  Unfortunately for most of them, they don't usually have that kind of maturity and understanding until they are too old and stuck to do anything about it.  Trouble and hardships come early in life in the projects, so it is easy to adopt it as a permanent way of life that cannot be changed.  I suppose the same is true about any sort of culture or lifestyle, and it takes a certain amount of luck early in life to keep from getting completely trapped before you are old enough to make your own way.
On a slightly unrelated note, while I appreciate the whole idea of trying not to change the people you're studying, I also find it slightly amusing that it is well accepted that this principle is impossible to achieve in practice.  Rather than fighting a losing battle, it would probably be more effective to agree to open communication all the time and make it more of a simple, relaxed interaction.  I think it would be more interesting and beneficial if both sides can discuss why they do things the way that they do and, when appropriate, adopt those practices which really do make sense.