Off the Books
Book description
In this revelatory book, Sudhir Venkatesh takes us into Maquis Park, a poor black neighbourhood on Chicago's Southside, to explore the desperate, dangerous and remarkable ways in which a community survives. We find there an entire world of unregulated, unreported, and untaxed work, a system of living off the books…
- Coming soon!
Why read it?
1 author picked Off the Books as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
When I moved to London, I started noticing the ‘underground economy’ that happens on the big city’s sidewalks. When I read Venkatesh’s account of exactly this economy of sellers, hustlers, buskers, and people who beg in New York, I was hooked.
Right there, where we walk and shop ourselves, there are people living a parallel life. Sometimes, our lives overlap, but mostly we stay unconnected. This separation, our ‘looking away,’ is where the problems start.
From Johannes' list on understanding poverty today, from the bottom up.
Want books like Off the Books?
Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Off the Books.
Browse books like Off the Books
5 book lists we think you will like!
Interested in black markets, poverty, and the economy?
10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about black markets, poverty, and the economy.