Always Running

La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.

By: Luis J. Rodriguez

Narrated by: Luis J. Rodriguez

By age 12, Luis Rodriguez was a veteran of East L.A. gang warfare. Lured by a seemingly invincible gang culture, he witnessed countless shootings, beatings, and arrests, then watched with increasing fear as that culture claimed friends and family members. Before long, Rodriguez saw a way out of the barrio through education and successfully broke free from years of violence and desperation. Achieving success as an award-winning poet, he was sure the streets would haunt him no more - until his son joined a gang. Rodriguez fought for his child by telling his own story in this vivid memoir. At times heartbreakingly sad and brutal, Always Running is ultimately an uplifting true story, filled with hope, insight, and a hard-learned lesson for the next generation.

©2005 Luis J. Rodriguez (P)2011 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"Rodriguez's account of his coming of age is vivid, raw...Here's truth no television set, burning night and day, could ever begin to offer." ( The New York Times Book Review)

"Every spiky anecdote from a life of guns, razors, uppers, downers, glue, heroin, sex, and early death supports this former gang member's view of the violence as collective suicide. That Rodriguez's memoir takes place... before the '92 L.A. riots only makes this beautifully written and politically astute account more compelling." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"Luis J. Rodriguez gives voice to a unique American experience...compelling...[a] fascinating, brutal and ultimately triumphant chronicle." ( The Philadelphia Tribune)

Vivid

First off, a student of mine recommended this book to me. Said it was the only book he’s enjoyed in all of high school. I had never heard of it, so I started listening and was immediately hooked. It’s absolutely remarkable how real this story was for me. Louis’s description of LA in the 60s, 70s and beyond explains so much of my own childhood in the 90s and 00s that I’m now motivated to ask my parents and grandparents all about what they remember of Los Angeles before I was born. I highly recommend this book all if you want to hear that alternative view of history that you never hear about.

Mr Rodriguez offers a needed look into the barrio

A must read for those too privileged to have lived such a hard life. It is easy to pass judgment on troubled youth and those adults trapped in the industrial prison complex, but until we hear and understand the life Mr. Rodriguez, who shares many experiences with them, we cannot begin to fathom the struggle for survival a child living in a marginalized barrio must withstand. This is a story of temptation, survival, and hope. It is not pretty for the barrio life is cruel and it's beauty often dies with the children who are robbed of a healthy childhood by societies failures.

Great book

Very inspirational how you can turn your life around from gangs and drugs to a great activist.

Book for all educators

This is a book that should be read by all who educate children/teenagers. We need to make sure we are still Honoring our Latino students heritage and are aware of their cultural background and struggles.

Expect the unexpected

Loved it! Great lessons to be learned by reading this book. We are all walking history and the Author chose to stop running from his self and decided to live a meaningful life.

Better than than The Great Gatsby

Good read, especially if youre a Los Angeles native.. reminds me of High School days

One of my favorites

Such a unique look in the life of a chicano. A must read for all young Chicano youth

I could read this over and over

As a minority, they live in a very similar upbringing. This story hits very close to home, and I could read it over and over.. it takes a lot to share stories like this, and even more to do it uncensored without hiding details. I wish this title was more popular.

Fascinating and horrifying

The story is compelling and a great window into the gang world of the 60’s and 70’s. Incredible as a memoir, though the prescriptions and solutions ring hollow and unrealistic- a hurting man’s hope still filled with pain and bitterness. It’s real. It’s definitely real.

Hearing from your voice is a lot better

I remember reading the book in High school. After everyone in Benito Juárez H.S had walked out to protest the banning of the book I knew I had to read it. Hearing the audio with his voice takes you to another level of visualization.