Customer Reviews

Skinhead Street Gangs

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

 

 

This book, like many other books about the modern skinhead subculture, is written from an outsider's perspective. Many of the observations are colored by the author's perspective as a police officer. Moreover, this books fails to underscore the role of non-racist and anti-racist individuals and groups in the skinhead subculture, and contains many substantive factual inaccuracies. This book is good for any serious collector, however, and no subculture collection is complete without it. For a more balanced viewpoint which objectively traces the history of the subculture, George Marshall's Spririt of '69 is the obvious choice. For a look at the skinhead subculture today, George Marshall's Skinhead Nation provides interesting facts illustrated by beautiful photographs.

Not only did Loren Christensen totaly forget the traditional skinhead, or the roots so deeply embeded in the working class. He forgot to mention that these misled youth are not skinheads at all, its just a title that the media and himself like to pin on these kids because they dont know much more than that. I wouldnet have even gave this boo one star but thats as low as i was allowed to go.

This is one of the worst books i have ever read. while loren christensen does cover the racist skinhead community well, and the anti-racist skinhead community fairly well, he fails to mention anything about the true skinheads. Those that do not include politics in their being a skin. This book is an example of why i get sh-- for wearing what i wear, and looking the way i do. It's again the media at work trying to convince people that all skins are racist or anti-racist and that they are all violent alcoholic thugs. How can someone who isn't even a skin write a book on skinheads? It's great for all you brainless media -loving people out there. But if you want a true account of what skins are really like and what a REAL skin is, i suggest you read George Marshall's Spirit of '69 or Skinhead Nation. Both are wonderful books.

I have read several books on this subject and found Christensen's to be accurate and powerful. As a police officer, he is a recognized expert on skinheads and worked with both racists and antiracists for almost five years. He got to know WAR leader Tom Metzger and several other key players in the white supremacy movement. Skinhead Street Gangs has been used as a reference in movies and documentaries. I recommend it to all my students.

Loren Christiansens book is a matter of fact guide to skinheads. Though biased against skinheads, he remains relatively objective throughout the book. While he ignores the nonpolitical side of the skinhead cult, he deserves credit for acknowledge the nonfascist origins of skinheads as well as the attention he pays to antiracist skinhead groups

This book only briefly explains the SHARP skins..( anti rascist skinheads) but throughout upholds the image that all skinheads are rascist..making it seem that only a few are non rascist...this is wrong. The original roots of skinhead culture were anti rascist who believed in pride and support for the working class , family , friends , beer , and standing up for whats right. This repeats over and over "skinheads are violent individuals who believe in destroying culture different than their own"..this is just the media's attempt to destroy the skinhead name. Throw it in the fire with all the other hype books.

This is an excellent tome for understanding the under workings of Skinhead street gangs. The book delves into Right-wing (Neo-Nazi), Left-Wing (SHARPS, Anarcho-skins) and non-political skins.

Written from by a police officer that's been in the middle of it since darn near day one, this book is true to it's description of being a "crash course" into this violent underworld.

If you want to be informed, check it out.

This is a one-of-a-kind book, like no other one on the subject on the market. It's mostly about racist skins but there is plenty about antiracists, too. It's not a historical read on the subject, but rather a book that provides an in-depth insight to how skins think, act and what they want. I recommend it to students writing a paper, police officers and community folks. Those who haven't liked the book are those skins of a particular set who feel they have been slighted.

... Skinhead Street Gangs is the most complete book on the subject. In his new book, Gangbangers, Christensen writes more on all factions of skinheads. Both books are excellent and I recommend them to cops, parents and others who work or live around gangs.