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Summary: One more recruiting device for future black soldiers
Review: This will probably be the only book you have to ever read to get the full understanding of gang life in the city of Los Angeles. However, this book is highly influential to young people of all races but especially black. Not in the sense of aspiring to be a Sanikya Shakur but to be a "Monster". Mr. Shakur no doubt is just telling his life story truthfully but at the same time glorifies all the work did for his set. Towards the end of the book as he becomes a black activist he obviously is becoming not just a threat to south central but now the world. A threat to the order we have in the U.S. especially. This book is a non stop page turner because of the sinful excitement it brings to the reader. Lastly, if there was ever a book to be censored this should be the one because it is truly demonizing.
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Summary: TOTALLY AMAZING!!!
Review: WHEN I READ THIS BOOK I WAS TOTALLY FLABERGASTED.I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW HARD THIS MAN IS.IT REALLY DEPICTS GANG LIFE IN LA.I JOINED A GANG WHEN I WAS 15 IVE SEEN PEOPLE DIE OF DRUGS GET CHIVED GET REALLY SMASHED UP BUT ITS NOTHIN COMPARED TO LIFE IN LA IVE DONE JAIL IVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS BUT ITS QUITE LAME TO THE THINGS MONSTER KODY SCOTT DEPICTED IN HIS BOOK IF I HAD READ THIS BOOK 9 YEARS AGO IT COULD HAVE CHANGED THE WAY I WAS THEN ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS A GREAT BOOK AND ITS SO SCAREY IN SOME WAYS!!!
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Summary: one of our own tells how it really is to live a thugs life.
Review: I grew up in South Central Los Angeles and I heard stories from older homeboys in my hood about the notorious "Monster" Kody from Eight Tray. This book was painfull for me to read as it dug up my own personal memories from when I was living as a gang member in L.A. When I was younger I rolled with 18th street, now a 23 year old survivor and U.S. Marine I appreciate people like Sanyika Shakur. His story is that of thousands of young Black and Chicano males through out L.A. County. Look at life through a true gangbanger's point of view and read this book. I know you'll feel differently the next time you see grafitti or when you roll through the ghetto.
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Summary: great indepth look into the gang life first hand.
Review: great book to read for todays youths who are thinking of joining or those who are gang members, it's a realization that gang life is very dangerous it must be taken seriously. I've read the book more than five times.
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Summary: ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS ON THE LIFE OF A TRUE GANGSTER..
Review: As "Monster" Kody travels through the good and bad of his childhood, he takes you along for the most intense adventure you will ever experiance. You will be able to see everything, from how anyone can fall into this type of life-stye to where this life-style can take you. Each page is filled with bone chilling and exciting missions undertaked by "Monster" Kody.(Alone or with his fellow gang member.)he takes you on the life long trip he lived and explains the mind state of a child in search of belonging and wanting approval from his elder gang members. Once you start this book you won't be able to put it down till the end.Kody writes with an intense style of writing to help you feel his emotions.I would suggest this book to anyone and everyone.
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Summary: Transformations of the "Panic Zone"
Review: I found Shakur's account, as one of thousands of possible and potential SouthCentral L.A. accounts, to being very special because of its honesty. It's tales are important, griping, noteworthy, and valuable because the author is willing to bear his soul, and come clean, as honest as a sharp blade, in depicting his life as a major demon navigating the 'Panic Zone.' It may be hard for the uninitiated to embrace or even understand the nature of his personal motivations in the decisions in The Life, but be aware that there are thousands like him, all thrust into an octagon of potential and real violence; an environment/life that demands a full personal commmitment to surviving by whatever means are neccessary. In a society so lacking in honesty, this book is a testament to truth, incarnate in an individual whose various personal complexities create in this text a cornucopia of the richness of the human condition, in a specific context, place, and time-South Central, ETG.
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Summary: This work touched me more than any other has or will.GENIUS
Review: This is the best book ever written not just on gang activity but on the draw of the GANGSTA lifestyle. Sanyika is a remarkable man who is a true leader and righteous man. I live in England and saw the documentary on Sanyika and his brother and was touched by the feel of the community and especially there mother (A REMARKABLE WOMEN). I have been involved in criminal activity in my country and this book gave me the strength and knowledge to seek other way's in life to make money and feel tall, proud and get RESPECT from other's without using violence or threating behaviour. In my country the gun culture is turning to the way's of the U.S.A and I think everyone involved in crime (living the life or stopping it) should read this book. I would even say it should be put on the school's reading list for G.C.S.E exam's so this remarkable piece of literature should touch as many people as possible. I cannot recomend this book highly enough nor can I wait for his next book. If SANYIKA (I understand you no longer wish to be called MONSTER after reading in VIBE how angry SUGE KNIGHT made you, adressing you as this in prison) could get In touch through my hotmail adress. I would very much like to speak with you, as I, like you have (part) broken from THE LIFE.. and I am now holding a degree in Visual communication and work in graphic design and advertising and would be honoured to assist you in P.R in this country. As I belive in your work so strongly I would assist you for no payment. Maybe, I could help spread the word on your new book, or divise a campaign to help sell the book in this country? Hoping to hear from you (or your publisher's) WITH COMPLETE RESPECT.... I see you can't stop don't let them make you.
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Summary: Once you start you can't stop! Unbelievable read.
Review: I saw this book in the crime section of my local book store and took in the back cover for a brief on the book. Man was I hooked. I read it from start to finish in under a day. I found it very insightful and many lessons were learned from his struggles with first himself , his family, his hood to mention just a few. The mind is a powerful tool in the struglle for ones 'freedom'. It opens doors and also closes them. Life is a circle and we roll with the flow be it good or bad. Sanyika has learned a great many lessons and has had the good sense to share them with his 'people'. I wish him all peace. I aslo hope that you carry on with your literary pursuits, you have been given a great gift.
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Summary: great book depicting real life in the 'hood of South Central
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Sanyika's narrative of his life growing up with the Eight Tray Gangters.He also sheds real life about the reality of prison gangs(BGF, AB, EME...) in our "correctional system". As one of his cell mates failed to realize (in the book), life in prison is very harsh, you not only do time, you enter a whole new subculture that harvests the criminal mentality.You simply cannot go to the pen and do your time and go home. Prisoners find new ways to hustle once back out on the street. Definitely an eye opening, riveting and honest look at the reality today.A must read for any one who's willing to open their eyes and look at the other side of the law, from a gansta's point of view. Props to Sanyika for being real and honest, even to the point of including his homies real names and criminal activities...
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Summary: The Way it Goes
Review: This book is coming from one of the hardest gangsters there is. Though i am a blood and am an enemy to his gang i feel what he was writing and trying to say. No matter who you are this needs to be read so outsiders can understand South Central and gang life.
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