Monster: The Autobiography of an LA Gang Member, is an autobiography detailing the criminal and personal life of Kody Scott. The book chronicles how and why Kody Scott became involved in gang life, what happened during his time as a gang member, and how his life changed after his incarceration. It gives a good insight into the inner workings of gangs in America and shows how difficult life is for those who choose to be a part of them. Shakur extensively details his early years, his time as one of the leaders on the streets, and his transformation in prison. Kody Scott first became involved with the Crips at the age of eleven (Shakur Preface xiii). From the beginning of his time in the Crips, Scott seemed to fit naturally into the life of a gang member. He quickly gained notoriety for his numerous acts of violence and received the nickname "Monster" following the brutal beating he inflicted on a man that left him permanently disfigured and in a coma (Shakur 13). Scott became well known in the community and was feared by rival gangs, as he quickly rose to the top of his own gang. Throughout his early teenage years, Scott frequented juvenile halls and youth camps due to his violent behavior. Due to his affiliation with the Crips and his actions as a member, his relationship with his mother became very bad (Shakur 25). He became so famous that one night he was attacked and shot seven times (Shakur 92). After that, he became even more famous in the gang world and he quickly became the most respected member of the Crips. Shortly after being released from the hospital following his shooting, Kody Scott was arrested for murder and sent to juvenile hall (Shakur 124). During Scott's attempt...... middle of paper ...... listed theories as to why Kody Scott acted the way he did when he was a young man. The central theme of all of them is that he was not in an environment that taught him how to live what is considered a normal life. The people around him who had the most influence on him were the ones who taught him to be the way he was and to act the way he did. If he had lived in a different town or had different role models growing up, he might not have been led into a life of crime. Unfortunately, he found himself in a difficult situation and was forced to do everything he could to survive. Works cited by Adler, Freda, Gerhard OW Mueller and William S. Laufer. Criminology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print. Shakur, Sanyika. Monster: The Autobiography of a Los Angeles Gang Member. New York: Atlantic Monthly, 1993. Print.