Sidewalk

One of the best ethnographies I've read. (Did I mention that I don't read ethnographies often?) Duneier's dedication to researching and corroborating statements made by his subjects, his care in conducting follow-up interviews with subjects and incidental passers-by, and his sensitivity in reporting (and humor) have created a first rate ethnography. He blends his extensive knowledge of street life studies, black studies, and theory with first-person observations and participation in life on the sidewalks of Greenwich Village. Ovie Carter's copious photographs make this a book to treasure.

Visiting New York during my college days, I had often wondered about various street vendors, especially the book peddlers around Columbia and Greenwich Village. Mitchell Duneier decided to enter their world and get to know who they were, where their goods came from, and other questions of sociological interest. This book may be of most interest to New Yorkers, but it is a fascinating look at street culture in the areas Duneier studies.