Writing Style-Sidewalk

I have thoroughly enjoyed the readability of Sidewalk. I find Duneier's style engaging and enlightening. The conversations Duneier presents are relevant and have a fit with his micro and macro theory discussions.

Duneier does an excellent job of leading the reader into and out of all quotes while using theory wisely. I find that Duneier writes in a way that theory is used not only after a quote but is used to introduce quotes or conversations and is done so in a way that any educated reader can find useful and then practically applied in the quote or conversation.

Duneier's work gave respect and a needed view of the life of the people such as Hakim, Mudrick, Marvin, Ron or Joe Garbage. Instead of using the dominant (and easier) view of these individuals as simply deviants who cannot fit into society, Duneier brilliantly (in my opinion) demonstrates and documents how these men fit wonderfully into society, the society that has been handed to them! Duneier states "But after spending five years on the blocks, I would propose that the role of the public character need not be filled by conventionally respectable people. Not only do the vendors and scavengers, often unhoused, abide by codes and norms; but mostly their presence on the street enhances the social order" (p. 43).

In a quote I noted previously I appreciated the transparency Duneier that he was uneasy about the looking at the gaps between himself and the people he sought to understand. Possibly he was worried that what separated "them" from "us" was not such a great abyss after all. Once Duneier began presenting the story of the sidewalk and the individuals who worked there, plus those who interacted with them, the individuals became real persons, not deviants that could easily be labeled and ignored. Mudrick's love for his granddaughter is a love easily shared as we all have children or relatives we adore. Further Ron has his incidents where he indulges in drink or drugs but Marvin takes it in stride. Instead of becoming furious Marvin has an even temperament and prepares for how to respond-just as we would with a treasured friend struggling with an addiction.

This book is a gift in the it offers a respectable view and honestly lives out the golden rule: treat others as you would want to be treated. I find Duneier's kindness and respect towards these relationships one created out of his care and respect.