Rating: 
Summary: Monster - The Autobiography of an LA Gang Member
Review: Four stars because of it's honesty. If you are a suburbia dweller, I would recommend this book over ANY movie to show you the harsh realities of inner-city life. It's very disheartening to see the lack of respect for life throughout the book, but it doesn't make any attempt to cause the reader to be judgmental. Like I stated earlier, it's just brutal honesty. Cody Scott narrates a definite read for anyone that would like to see a side of humanity (and sections of the United States) that are often ignored.
Rating: 
Summary: Stark Perspective of Gang Life
Review: I picked this book up and couldn't put it down until it was finished. It was both shocking and exciting. Even if half of Monster Scott's tales of violence acts are true then the future of inner city youth is in serious trouble. I would question whether or not Monster truly changed his ways in the end. Or is he a Crip for life? Great book!
Rating:
Summary: Great book.
Review: I read this book in French and I wasn't disapointed at all. It really showed me what happends in the ghetto. It's a story for the president of the united states.
Rating: 
Summary: powerful, disturbing
Review: Not easy to rate this book at all. It's powerful and never lets up, and it definitely throws a sharp light on gang life. But Scott is no hero. At the end of the day his story is about sheer brutality: there's just not much that you could describe as hopeful here. It's true that Scott finally turns his back on gangbanging, but the misery and devastation that he has already spread around him aren't any lighter for that. And even Scott's well-meaning prescription for our future - racial seperatism - sounds like an ugly echo of his terrible experience. At least it sounds that way to someone who grew up surrounded by (mostly) good-will and friendliness.Scott paints an honest, shocking picture; ...
Rating:
Summary: The first book ive ever read all the way without yawning!
Review: Ok damn this book was down! im from London but i know the stuff that happens down in South Central. And this insight was more than accurate but it was also bloody brilliantly written! The way Kody's life transforms from the 9yo he was to the brutal O.G. that he is today, absolutly brilliant. The book also enlightened me of the "blood" "crip" war. Kody has you on his side from the word go, he is a crip and he lives the life of a crip, so thats makes the reader a crip, the way they have hatred for "the rollin' Sixties" the way they are down with their "homies" is wonderfully written in this book, if you havnt already bought it id encourage you to as its brilliant If your reading Kody, Crip C man
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing.. an excellent book
Review: We used this book for our Psychology of Gangs class. I started reading it before class even started. You cannot put this book down! It is raw, hard core reality. I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the inside life of a gang member.
Rating:
Summary: 1 of a kind
Review: this is a truelly great book what makes it so great is that it is real life situations what many guys go through but no1 ever knows and even after this book came out the author didnot change cause he was incarcarated 4 parole violation
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: Kody Scott, well I should say Sanyika Shakur, has given the world a first hand look at life as a LA Gang Member. The transformation that this young man goes thru in his young life is AMAZING. You hear about these things in the news, but his stories actually put you there. A must read for everyone!
Rating:
Summary: Painful, disturbing, inspiring
Review: This book left me dazed. It was one of the most shocking and harsh autobiographies I've ever read. And Shakur pulls no punches; he tells all in a very matter of fact tone. I really liked the way Shakur takes the reader through the psychological changes he went through from being Kody Scott, to Monster, to Sanyika Shakur. It was very enlightening for me to learn just how profound an impact gang life has on our youth in California: it's almost mandatory for their daily survival. Unfortunately, the very thing that they need for their "survival" and "protection" is what is getting them killed. I, like another reader who wrote a review on this book, was disappointed that he went back to prison. I understand his reaction to drugs being sold in his community, but he handled the situation incorrectly. He could do his family and his community a whole lot more good OUTSIDE of prison than inside. And I'm sure that drug dealer is still selling drugs in his community (or some other drug dealer is).
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: I have had an interest in gangs and their life style for a couples years. I had to write a 25 page paper for a class and I chose gangs as my topic. A friend had referred me to this book. I found it to be very educational. I seldom read for entertainment purposes. When I read this book, I could hardly put it down. It was so interesting. It gave me a different view of the gang world. It is a complete different world for them. It's all a survival game. This book does an excellent job in describing the life of a gang member. The process of joining, the activities during, and the lengths members go to gain respect and make a name for themselves. I would recommend to this book to anyone that has any curiousities or interest in gangs. I will read it over and over again.
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