The Rebels: A Brotherhood of Outlaw Bikers

by Daniel R. Wolf

Book Overview

The image of the outlaw biker is widely recognize in North American society. The reality is only known to insiders. To study the phenomenon of outlaw biker clubs, anthropologist Daniel Wolf bridged... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802073638
• ISBN13: 9780802073631
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: University of Toronto Press
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best book I've read so far on the subject

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.

MUST READ FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BIKERS

THIS BOOK IS THE BE ALL/END ALL FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE BIKE CLUB. THIS BOOK LAYS OUT, IN GREAT DETAIL, WHAT BECOMMING A MEMBER OF AN OUTLAW CLUB ENTAILS. GOING THROUGH EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS, WOLF IS ACCUTELY AWARE OF HIS SUBJECTS' MOTIVATION, NEEDS, DEDICATION, LOYALTIES, AND LOVE OF BROTHER AND BIKE. THIS BOOK BRINGS YOU INTO THAT PROCESS. READ THIS BOOK AND DECIDE IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT. READ THIS BOOK AND GAIN INSIGHTFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THESE MEN WHO CHOSE TO LIVE ON THE FRINGE OF SOCIETY YET MUST LEARN TO INTERACT WITH IT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR WAY OF LIFE. I HAVE READ THIS BOOK TWICE, HIGHLIGHTED THROUGHOUT ITS CONTENTS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT READING. ABSOLUTLEY INVALUABLE! AN IMPORTANT BOOK.

THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!

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.

AMAZING OUTLOOK ON THE INSIDE LIFE OF GANG RELATED BIKERS

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.

The most intelligent analysis of outlaw biker dynamics.

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!!