Book Review: Jack Black - You Can't Win

You Can't Win was written in 1926 by Jack Black, junkie, stick-up man, house burgler, rounder of the worst order. He shared his adventures riding the rods, planning capers with Foot-and-a-half George, Soldier Johnny and the Sanctimonious Kid, wallowing in hop joints and in prison - in a compelling and matter-of-fact style.
The introduction to this Nabat Press volume was written by William S. Burroughs, who considered it one of his favourite books. Burroughs and Black were figures who shared a fascination with Outsiders...criminals, junkies, whores, gamblers, hobos. Black takes the reader to hobo 'conventions'. He tells us how to spring the door on a boxcar for a safe ride. He describes in detail his own desperate capers - on his knees beside the bed of a sleeping 'loser', extracting a bankroll from under the pillow, as the victim slept on.

You Can't Win is a very compelling read.