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Do or Die
Do or Die is the first insider account of teenage gangs--the lives, loves, and battles of children who kill--from the only journalist ever allowed inside this closed and dangerous world. This is no West Side Story. Welcome to a world where teenagers wear colostomy bags and have scrapbooks filled with funeral invitations; where a young man, after being shot in the chest, drives himself to the hospital; where another youngster, caught in crossfire, uses his girlfriend as a human shield; where teenage gangsters are kidnapped, tortured, and held for six-figure ransoms; where kids hum the latest movie's theme music while killing people. It's a world of clickheads, sherms, bangers, ballers, and mummyheads; a world where the strongest feelings of family come from other gang members; a world where the most potent feelings of self-worth come from murder.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 30, 2017
Wow. I picked up this book as I believed it would be quick and easy to read for my goodreads yearly books commitments.
The synopsis of this is that a young journalist lady who used to be a model put herself behind enemy lines to find out about youth gang warfare. From the bottom level, right to the top with the O.G's and the Gangsta Stars. I found her mesmerising with her courage and her wit so one of her photos is now my cover image on Facebook. I never knew she was a lady until someone from a prison interview tried to feel her bottom and I thought.. that is weird. Lol
However, back to the book. Amazing, Brilliant. The start of the book, my new favourite lady Leon Bing spends in youth detention centres chatting to these gangs members. There is a true fluency to the way they flaunt the gang attitude, accomplishments and how they have accentuated said gangs reputation.
We meet a lot of young G's here. (Gangsers - P.s the book is full of useful gang terminology such as 187, clicking, slipping, etc...) Notable young G's are Hart, G-Roc, L'l Monster. A lot of it is as equally heart warming as it is wrenching. Hart in jail calls our lovely author his auntie, but in real life goes back to being stabbed in the mouth with a screwdriver and beating the shit out of his sister because she challenges him. The girl wins. So many cool points lost... damn
I am glad I listened to Eazy E, NWA, DJ Quik and others in my teens so I knew the language that is prevalent here. Some of the things they talk about are utterly brutal. A nice lady getting blinded and shot in the throat because she was there at the wrong time, an O.G getting shot nine times just because of politics that mean the gangsters stars had to be abducted and our pals getting shot in the throat just because they were in the wrong place :(
The synopsis of this is that a young journalist lady who used to be a model put herself behind enemy lines to find out about youth gang warfare. From the bottom level, right to the top with the O.G's and the Gangsta Stars. I found her mesmerising with her courage and her wit so one of her photos is now my cover image on Facebook. I never knew she was a lady until someone from a prison interview tried to feel her bottom and I thought.. that is weird. Lol
However, back to the book. Amazing, Brilliant. The start of the book, my new favourite lady Leon Bing spends in youth detention centres chatting to these gangs members. There is a true fluency to the way they flaunt the gang attitude, accomplishments and how they have accentuated said gangs reputation.
We meet a lot of young G's here. (Gangsers - P.s the book is full of useful gang terminology such as 187, clicking, slipping, etc...) Notable young G's are Hart, G-Roc, L'l Monster. A lot of it is as equally heart warming as it is wrenching. Hart in jail calls our lovely author his auntie, but in real life goes back to being stabbed in the mouth with a screwdriver and beating the shit out of his sister because she challenges him. The girl wins. So many cool points lost... damn
I am glad I listened to Eazy E, NWA, DJ Quik and others in my teens so I knew the language that is prevalent here. Some of the things they talk about are utterly brutal. A nice lady getting blinded and shot in the throat because she was there at the wrong time, an O.G getting shot nine times just because of politics that mean the gangsters stars had to be abducted and our pals getting shot in the throat just because they were in the wrong place :(
February 22, 2013
A well-written, fascinating look at LA gang culture.
2/13- Just read this book again for the xth time. It's one I go back to every couple of years and I still find it relevant and good reading.
2/13- Just read this book again for the xth time. It's one I go back to every couple of years and I still find it relevant and good reading.
July 11, 2008
This book was okay, but how awsome is the cover! If you're going to read a book about life as an L.A. gangbanger -and who doesn't -read "Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member" by Sanyika Shakur.
January 18, 2016
This is without a doubt one of the most interesting books ive ever read.
I highly recommend it to anyone interested in gang culture
I highly recommend it to anyone interested in gang culture
August 22, 2019
This is a terrible book. There are no words to really describe it. Leon Bing is a former model who ventures into the gang underworld hoping to catch a glimpse into what it's like to "do or die." She's lucky that she didn't die, because her naivete could have gotten her killed. Bing underestimated her own perceptions of inner-city gangs, as is evident throughout this book. One simply cannot go from a charmed life and write a hardcore book without immersing oneself into the culture as well. Do or die is written as if someone was doing a very half-jacked college paper, a few days of observation here, a few there, and bam-Do or die. Sadly, this book is an inadequate representation into the gravity of gangs in America. Granted it is rather dated, but the problems remain the same
July 10, 2023
This is a terrible book. There are no words to really describe it. Leon Bing is a former model who ventures into the gang underworld hoping to catch a glimpse into what it's like to "do or die." She's lucky that she didn't die, because her naivete could have gotten her killed. Bing underestimated her own perceptions of inner-city gangs, as is evident throughout this book. One simply cannot go from a charmed life and write a hardcore book without immersing oneself into the culture as well. Do or die is written as if someone was doing a very half-jacked college paper, a few days of observation here, a few there, and bam-Do or die. Sadly, this book is an inadequate representation into the gravity of gangs in America. Granted it is rather dated, but the problems remain the same
April 18, 2022
Easy read, with some interesting perspective on Los Angeles' Bloods and Crips. The text comes off as a series of semi-connected vignettes looking into the specific circumstances of several youth gang members, and the efforts of a few corrections officials attempting to stem the rampant violence. While the look into these young people's lives was interesting, it felt like there was something missing in the book. Maybe it was some longitudinal information about the lives of the subjects, or maybe some hard data to back up many of the author's claims. An interesting, but not perspective-shaking read.
March 17, 2019
This was one of those books that I had no framework or background to really put it in context when I first read when I was probably about 12 - 14 years old in the 1990s.
I pretty much took it face value as an absolutely accurate and fascinating expose of what gangs are like.
I would probably have given it at least 3 stars.
But now I realize that it fits within a long history of alarmist American discourse about criminal ethnic minorities (not just blacks and Hispanics but also Poles, Italians, Jews and Irish in the 19th and early 20th century).
I pretty much took it face value as an absolutely accurate and fascinating expose of what gangs are like.
I would probably have given it at least 3 stars.
But now I realize that it fits within a long history of alarmist American discourse about criminal ethnic minorities (not just blacks and Hispanics but also Poles, Italians, Jews and Irish in the 19th and early 20th century).
June 14, 2017
Dated 1991, the author dived into South Central gang life with both feet. Unless you reside in such areas, you are a tourist to what "gang banging" actually entails. With a common opinion of "lock them up for life" and "gang members deserve to be in prison", this book has the potential to redirect your closed mind thinking to one based in critical assessment of the actual facts. If books on gang life interest you, then I recommend this due to the fast reading style and to the point outline.
December 8, 2023
A raw look at gangs that is not for the faint of heart. Leon Bing takes you right in the middle of the war between Crips/Bloods; and unlike the accepted mainstream view of gangs you will be surprised at the complex reasons why individuals participate in this way of life. This book will take you to the 'frontline' of this war - haunting and heartbreaking.
February 22, 2017
This book made me want to quit my job at the country club and start smoking fools.
February 4, 2019
Good reading, not everyone will be able to relate or understand.
May 30, 2019
To understand the dynamics of gang culture and why it attracts so many youths, look no further than this novel.
July 7, 2021
Too graphic for me
December 5, 2023
Bing fails to apply any meaningful critical lens to the topic so the reader is left with a series of vaguely connected anecdotes.
March 23, 2010
Reader Response
I am currently reading the book Do Or Die by Leon Bing. I find the book really interesting because the author is a journalist, and he is actually really talking to kids ages 13-16, and they are all in gangs. He is specifically talking to kids in Blood and Crip sets. The kids are in a type of camp for juveniles, the judge has to assign you to go to the camp depending on what charges you are facing. In this camp the only way to get out is join “points”. You earn points by obeying the rules of the camp and going to your classes. Its basically like living a “normal” life except their are stricter rules.
The thing that I like about the author is the courage he had to actually talk to these kids. You might think that they are some normal kids, but with the environment they live in their minds have gone twisted. It’s like their minds have gone completely absurd. They think killing someone is natural, robbing people is ok for some reasons, selling drugs is fine, and so on. They respect O.G.’s ( gang members that have been in the gang for a long time) , and they disrespect anyone that messes with them. I just think that its cool how the author Leon Bing was able to get information from these kids.
I am currently reading the book Do Or Die by Leon Bing. I find the book really interesting because the author is a journalist, and he is actually really talking to kids ages 13-16, and they are all in gangs. He is specifically talking to kids in Blood and Crip sets. The kids are in a type of camp for juveniles, the judge has to assign you to go to the camp depending on what charges you are facing. In this camp the only way to get out is join “points”. You earn points by obeying the rules of the camp and going to your classes. Its basically like living a “normal” life except their are stricter rules.
The thing that I like about the author is the courage he had to actually talk to these kids. You might think that they are some normal kids, but with the environment they live in their minds have gone twisted. It’s like their minds have gone completely absurd. They think killing someone is natural, robbing people is ok for some reasons, selling drugs is fine, and so on. They respect O.G.’s ( gang members that have been in the gang for a long time) , and they disrespect anyone that messes with them. I just think that its cool how the author Leon Bing was able to get information from these kids.
October 13, 2014
Not a review so much as thoughts on my reading experience with this book:
the views expressed made perfect sense. the lessons in this book were very important and to hear them come from the O.G.'s themselves reminds me that even though we're living in hard times, the people - they're not sleeping.
My thoughts are with everyone who's ever been touched or lost someone due to gang violence.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand why the word "senseless" comes into play so much when talking about gang violence and what a society's socio-economical state contributes to gang culture and in turn the violence that we see.
Monster Kody's views are also very insightful. This is a good read.
the views expressed made perfect sense. the lessons in this book were very important and to hear them come from the O.G.'s themselves reminds me that even though we're living in hard times, the people - they're not sleeping.
My thoughts are with everyone who's ever been touched or lost someone due to gang violence.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand why the word "senseless" comes into play so much when talking about gang violence and what a society's socio-economical state contributes to gang culture and in turn the violence that we see.
Monster Kody's views are also very insightful. This is a good read.
November 17, 2009
An interesting read from Leon Bing and her intrepid journey through the life of LA gangs and the ins and outs of what goes on in a juvenile detention for young boys: Camp Kilpatrick. Although these kids live behind enemy lines when living under the same roof of their gang rivalries, teenagers get a chance to tell about their life and how they have become the person today. Set in the seventies so these children would be grown men.
October 13, 2009
The thing I liked about this book is all the conflict it has. Even though this book seem bad for kids its really not I think it's better. By that I mean that the kids can see what not to get into when they grow up or when there out in the streets. This is why I think its a good book. I wish i could write this with a group for i can see there reaction to this book when we read it.
March 22, 2009
I think this gave me nightmares.
There's one bit that I always remember: in brief, there's mention of a gang's raid on an Army base to get weapons. That's just pure madness (and anti-American!).
Then again, when there's a whole lot of money involved, I guess folks'll go that distance.
There's one bit that I always remember: in brief, there's mention of a gang's raid on an Army base to get weapons. That's just pure madness (and anti-American!).
Then again, when there's a whole lot of money involved, I guess folks'll go that distance.
March 22, 2008
Don't let the cover dissuade you- this is a great read.
Want to read
February 12, 2009This book is depressing the hell out of me. It has to go back to the library for now, perhaps I will pick it up again later.
March 30, 2009
It's been forever since I read this book, but as I recall it gave a pretty good background on how gangs began in CA and was a fascinating read.
August 3, 2009
Love the show love the book
September 15, 2012
I read this for a college class. And it was an interesting read. it had several interviews with different views on the gang life.
April 11, 2013
I read this book a while back and found it very interesting, as someone else commented, it's one of those books that never grows old, I go back to it often.
June 30, 2013
geen boek om eens gezellig te lezen.
Schrijfster interviewed een aantal jongeren over de strijd tussen de verschillende jeugd-bendes in hun stad.
Schrijfster interviewed een aantal jongeren over de strijd tussen de verschillende jeugd-bendes in hun stad.
April 22, 2014
It is a good book and it gives you a glimpse of what it is like to be in prison and to be a gang member.
April 16, 2014
stories about gang life intrigue me for some reason good read and Leon Really gets into the lifestyle of these gang members which I can't imagine isn't easy to do...
June 26, 2014
Another great gang member read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews