First published 2005
Charlie LeDuff moves through New York City with his reporter's notebook and sharp eye. He sits with a gambler at the racetrack, counting losses and small victories. He follows a heartbroken firefighter through his shifts. He watches two brothers argue over their Coney Island bar while regulars nurse their drinks. LeDuff gets close to his subjects, learning their routines and listening to their stories. He finds the firefighter staring at old photos. He sees the gambler's hands shake before each race. He hears the brothers blame each other for everything wrong with their failing business. Each person carries private fears and small dreams. LeDuff writes about their work, their mistakes, and the spaces where they gather. The city reveals itself through these individual lives, showing how people survive and find meaning in difficult circumstances.
Genres: american, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: slice-of-life
Setting: Coney Island, New York City
Period: 21st-century
384 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group