Customer Reviews

The Rebels: A Brotherhood of Outlaw Bikers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, the book was written by an "friend" of the club (at the time), so he was not privy to most of the club business. However, the author spent his time with the Rebels in the late 70's, and very early 80's, so his analysis is very dated.

I prospected with the club in the late 80's, and it was a VERY different club by the time the book was published. And as of the late 90's, the Rebels Motor Cycle club no longer exist. Many of the former members now belonging to the Edmonton, Calgary, and Saskatoon Chapters of the Hells Angels MC.

The book is slow to read, and overly analytical. It was originally the author's thesis, so, unless you're a sociology or anthropology student, you'll get bored. Read Sonny's book, its more real.

Canadaian anthropology student and motorcyclist Daniel R. Wolf fascinated with the biker lifestyle chose the Rebels MC of Edmonton as his subject in his incredibly thorough study of the outlaw motorcycle club subculture. After attempting to prospect ('strike', in Canada) undercover with the Rebels MC to write this book, he re-thought his plan and came clean with his intentions to the club members after feeling the love and respect of his brothers one can only acquire in a tight-knit motorcycle club. Much to his surprise, they allowed themselves to become the subject of his antropological study, and revealed never before known facts about this incredibly secretive society known as 'one-percenters'. With most the emphasis on the positive aspect of belonging to a motorcycle club, you feel tremendous admiration for the members, and wish ALL bikers could give the respect and honor to each other as the outlaw clubs do amongst their members. Unfortunately, this is the real world in which that could never be. This is the very reason clubs are formed, and membership requirements are so stringent. An extremely well written documentary of the inner workings of a typical motorcycle club, this is a must read for anyone who has ever fantasized about or had the notion of joining one. Fabulous quotes and references which are useful to bikers and citizens alike. Well documented observations of actual events, all categorized and properly footnoted with extensive biliography.

Daniel Wolf's look at the dynamics of an outlaw biker group is bar none the most comprehensive and well-written analysis I have found to date. He is refreshingly objective even though he shares many of the same characteristics and drives of his brother bikers. I am a Harley rider and a biker at heart, though not a one-percenter in reality; Mr. Wolf's book has provided me with as close and detailed an experience of riding with the one-percenter crowd as I'll probably ever get.

Note, some of the concepts and conclusions presented by Mr. Wolf may seem too abstract or unimportant to a reader not intersted in the study of human behavior. One can tell that he wrote the main chapters of this book as his dissertation and that his intended audience were fellow scholars.

Overall, this is a fantastic book, even if one skips some of the more technical portions.

Five stars and a strong recommendation!!

If you ride a bike, and if you ride a Harley you should read this book. It could help you in or out of a situation you may or may not want to be in. As a biker and someone who lives in the MC world I would suggest this to anyone starting out and wanting to be a rightous biker and brother. Daniel Wolf does an excellent job talking about the morals and values of real bikers. He tells it like it is and what is important to bikers:FREEDOM.

I have ridden for 30 years. I grew up in Oakland California, and I worked in motorcycle shops in Berkeley California so I know something of the outlaw culture from being around one of the centers.

This is the best book on outlaw culture I have ever read if being complete matters. It is not boring, it is fascinating. It is lively, far-reaching and Wolf isn't just another SOB who gathered some gore from Rotten.com, rewrote a few newspaper articles and called it a book.

And, it is about a club other than the Angels. I would not argue that the Angels in many ways define outlawdom but I also know there are many more outlaws (not Outlaws, another one of the Big 4) than members of the H.A.M.C. so this may be more representative than even authoritative works like Barger's. I am purchasing this book after having checked it out and read it from the library so I guess I am voting with my wallet, too.

This book is poorly written and slow going, but offers just enough interesting information to keep you reading. Apparently this guy spent a number of years hanging out with and gaining the trust of this local biker gang and then, with their permission, used them as the subject of his anthropology thesis. The book seems to be a quick re-formatted/re-write of his thesis and as such often contains boring socialogical analysis and an overall plodding style. In many chapters he makes a single point and then bangs it into the ground for 10 or 12 pages as if he was getting extra credit for the number of pages instead of the quality of the content. Additionally, he repeats himself several times, with the same quotes and anecdotes popping up over and over in the book.

In spite of the tedious and shoddy writing style though, the book does offer enough genuine first-hand observations about biker club life to reward your patience, but they are few and far between.

Additionally, for those interested in learning about organized crime aspects of biker gangs this book contains no information on that aspect, since the club the author was riding with apparently did not engage in these types of activities.

If you are interested to find out what the day-to-day lifestyle of your average outlaw biker is like, then this book provides some honest, unsensationalized info.

IF ONE EVER WANTED TO LEARN ANYTHING ON BIKERS PORTRAYED BY AN OUTSIDER WHO BECAME AN INSIDER (AND WAS NOT A COP) THIS IS THE BOOK.

Having ridden with various non-outlaw cyclist and being associated with very loosly with two of the big four, I know that this book is truthfull. Great detail and very very informative. It cover's mainly the general inside working's and procedure's within the outlaw club's. Focus is on the Rebels MC, because that was his primary source of information and personal contact's.

The best & most honest book about the 1% outlaw biker culture. Excellent work.

I have read this book several times. It is an endlessly fascinating, illuminating, non-judgmental study of the outlaw motorcycle society. By gaining the club's trust and respect, Wolf makes the bikers comfortable with him and they allow him into their secret world. The fact that Wolf is an anthropologist elevates the subject matter and what he finds out about it. I think this is why this particular book is my favorite. If you simply want the fact without the hype, this book invaluable.