The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Urban Homelessness, Transient Labor, and Hobo Subculture in Early Twentieth-Century ChicagoBy Nels Anderson
Length10h 18m
About this audiobook
Nels Anderson's The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man is a pioneering work of urban ethnography that examines the transient laborer as a distinct social type within early twentieth-century America. Set chiefly in Chicago's "Hobohemia," the book combines empirical observation, interviews, and sociological classification with a remarkably vivid descriptive prose. Published in the intellectual milieu of the Chicago School, it treats homelessness not as moral failure but as a social condition shaped by labor markets, migration, urban space, and informal institutions. Anderson was unusually equipped to write this study. Before becoming a sociologist, he had himself lived as an itinerant worker, experiencing the precarious world he later analyzed with scholarly discipline. Under the influence of Robert E. Park and the University of Chicago's commitment to fieldwork, Anderson transformed personal familiarity into systematic inquiry, giving voice to men often reduced to stereotype or civic nuisance. This book is essential for readers interested in sociology, urban history, labor studies, or homelessness. It remains valuable not only as a classic of qualitative research, but also as a humane, analytically rigorous portrait of marginal life in modern capitalism.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenrePsychology
Length10 hrs 18 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 6, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man (Annotated)
88PART IV
2Introduction
89CHAPTER XII PERSONALITIES OF HOBOHEMIA
3Synopsis
90DR. JAMES EADS HOW, “THE MILLIONAIRE HOBO”
4Historical Context
91DR. BEN L. REITMAN, “THE KING OF THE HOBOS”
5PART I
92JOHN X. KELLY, SOAP-BOXER AND ORGANIZER
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER I HOBOHEMIA DEFINED
93MICHAEL C. WALSH, ORGANIZER AND PROMOTER
7“MAIN STEMS”
94DANIEL HORSLEY, “PROFESSOR” AND BOOKDEALER
8THE “SLAVE MARKET”
95A. W. DRAGSTEDT, “THE HOBO INTELLECTUAL”
9HOBOHEMIA’S PLAYGROUND
96CHARLES W. LANGSMAN, EXPONENT OF LOVE
10“BUGHOUSE SQUARE”
97JOHN VAN DE WATER, THE FRIEND OF THE DESERVING
11A “JUNGLE” ON THE LAKE FRONT
98BRIGADIER J. E. ATKINS AND THE SALVATION ARMY HOTELS
12WHY MEN COME TO CHICAGO
99DR. JOHNSTON MYERS AND THE IMMANUEL PLAN
13THE PROBLEM DEFINED IN TERMS OF NUMBERS
100THE GREENSTEINS AND “MOTHER’S RESTAURANT”
14CHAPTER II THE JUNGLES: THE HOMELESS MAN ABROAD
101HOBO LEADERSHIP
15LOCATION AND TYPES OF JUNGLES
102CHAPTER XIII THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF THE HOBO
16THE LAWS OF THE JUNGLE
103THE HOBO WRITER
17THE MELTING POT OF TRAMPDOM
104THE “INDUSTRIAL SOLIDARITY”
18CHAPTER III THE LODGING-HOUSE: THE HOMELESS MAN AT HOME
105THE “HOBO NEWS”
19THE “FLOPHOUSE”
106CHAPTER XIV HOBO SONGS AND BALLADS
20RESTAURANTS AND LUNCHROOMS
107WANDERLUST
21OUTFITTING STORES AND CLOTHING EXCHANGES
108POEMS OF PROTEST
22PAWN SHOPS
109THE HOBO’S OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS ON LIFE
23MOVIES AND BURLESQUES
110BATTLE SONGS OF THE HOBOS
24BARBER COLLEGES AND BARBERS
111HOBO VERSE IN A LIGHTER VEIN
25BOOKSTORES
112POETRY AND HOBO SOLIDARITY
26SALOONS AND SOFT DRINK STANDS
113CHAPTER XV THE SOAP BOX AND THE OPEN FORUM
27THE HOUSING PROBLEM
114STREET SPEAKING IN HOBOHEMIA
28CHAPTER IV “GETTING BY” IN HOBOHEMIA
115EDUCATING THE PROLETARIAT
29WORKING AT ODD JOBS
116SOAP-BOX ETHICS AND TACTICS
30PEDDLING A DEVICE FOR “GETTING BY”
117FREE-LANCE VERSATILITY
31STREET FAKING
118THE OPEN FORUM
32GRAFTS OLD AND NEW
119THE SOAP BOX AND HOBO OPINION
33“WORKING THE FOLKS”
120CHAPTER XVI SOCIAL AND POLITICAL HOBO ORGANIZATION
34“WHITE COLLAR” BEGGING
121INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD
35BORROWING AND BEGGING
122APPEAL OF THE I.W.W.
36STEALING
123CHICAGO’S ATTITUDE TO I.W.W.
37“JACK ROLLING”
124INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD WELFARE ASSOCIATION
38“GETTING BY” IN WINTER
125“HOBO COLLEGE”
39THE GAME OF “GETTING BY”
126HOLDING COMMITTEE
40PART II
127CO-OPERATIVE “FLOPS”
41CHAPTER V WHY DO MEN LEAVE HOME?
128RÔLE PLAYED BY HOW
42SEASONAL WORK AND UNEMPLOYMENT
129MIGRATORY WORKERS’ UNION
43THE INDUSTRIALLY INADEQUATE
130UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN LABORERS
44DEFECTS OF PERSONALITY
131BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF RAMBLERS
45CRISES IN THE LIFE OF THE PERSON
132HOBO CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENTS
46RACIAL AND NATIONAL DISCRIMINATION
133FAILURE OF HOBO ORGANIZATIONS
47WANDERLUST
134CHAPTER XVII MISSIONS AND WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS
48THE MULTIPLE EXPLANATION
135TYPES OF MISSIONS
49CHAPTER VI THE HOBO AND THE TRAMP
136MAKING CONVERTS
50THE SEASONAL WORKER
137PERMANENT, PERIODIC, AND TEMPORARY CONVERTS
51THE HOBO
138MISSION BREAD LINES
52THE TRAMP
139WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS
53CHAPTER VII THE HOME GUARD AND THE BUM
140THE HOMELESS MAN AND RELIGION
54THE HOME GUARD
141APPENDIXES
55THE BUM
142APPENDIX A SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
56OTHER TYPES OF HOMELESS MEN
143FINDINGS
57RELATIVE NUMBERS OF DIFFERENT TYPES
144RECOMMENDATIONS
58CHAPTER VIII WORK
145APPENDIX B DOCUMENTS AND MATERIALS
59JOB HUNTING AMONG THE CASUAL WORKERS
146CHAPTER I. HOBOHEMIA DEFINED
60PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
147CHAPTER II. THE JUNGLES: THE HOMELESS MAN ABROAD
61PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
148CHAPTER III. THE LODGING HOUSE: THE HOMELESS MAN AT HOME
62THE CASUALIZATION OF LABOR
149CHAPTER IV. “GETTING BY” IN HOBOHEMIA
63A NATIONAL PROBLEM
150CHAPTER V. WHY DO MEN LEAVE HOME?
64A CLEARING HOUSE FOR HOMELESS MEN
151CHAPTER VI. THE HOBO AND THE TRAMP
65PART III
152CHAPTER VII. THE HOME GUARD AND THE BUM
66CHAPTER IX HEALTH
153CHAPTER VIII. WORK
67THE PHYSICALLY DEFECTIVE
154CHAPTER IX. HEALTH
68THE HOBO’S HEALTH ON THE JOB
155CHAPTER X. SEX LIFE
69THE HEALTH OF THE MAN ON THE “STEM”
156CHAPTER XI. CITIZENSHIP
70SICKNESS AND DISEASE
157CHAPTER XII. HOBOHEMIAN PERSONALITIES
71VENEREAL DISEASE
158CHAPTER XIII. THE INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF THE HOBO
72ALCOHOLISM AND HEALTH
159CHAPTER XIV. HOBO SONGS AND BALLADS
73THE PROBLEM OF HEALTH
160CHAPTER XV. THE SOAP BOX AND THE OPEN FORUM
74CHAPTER X SEX LIFE OF THE HOMELESS MAN
161CHAPTER XVI. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
75THE TRAMP AND HIS ASSOCIATIONS WITH WOMEN
162CHAPTER XVII. MISSIONS AND WELFARE AGENCIES
76THE HOBO AND PROSTITUTION
163APPENDIX A. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
77PERVERSION AMONG THE TRAMPS
164APPENDIX C BIBLIOGRAPHY
78THE BOY TRAMP AND PERVERSION
165HISTORY AND SOCIOLOGY OF WANDERLUST AND VAGRANCY
79ATTITUDES OF THE PERVERT
166THE LABOR MARKET AND INDUSTRIAL MOBILITY
80CHAPTER XI THE HOBO AS A CITIZEN
167THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND VAGRANCY
81NATIVITY, NATURALIZATION, AND PATRIOTISM
168THE I.W.W. AND THE CASUAL LABORER
82THE HOBO AND HIS VOTE
169MATERIALS FOR THE STUDY OF THE HOBO AND THE TRAMP
83THE HOMELESS MAN AND THE LAW
170STUDIES OF THE HOMELESS MAN IN CHICAGO
84THE PRIVATE POLICE
171Analysis
85WHAT THE TRAMP THINKS OF THE PRIVATE POLICE
172Reflection
86ATTITUDE OF THE PRIVATE POLICE
173Memorable Quotes
87THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND THE TRAMP
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