The Warriors Paperback – April 7, 2003

The book is written, according to the author, based on his own experience as a youth worker dealing with inner city gang-members. The book does something that many others in the same vane do not: it stays true to the characters. The characters are, at times, vague. But their experiences are described in detail as if they are sharing the same mind. The book is not meant to romanticize the lives of these youths, it is meant to shed light on the environments from which they are bred.The most graphic moments that would make the average person squirm to even witness are conveyed from the characters' point of view in a childlike, passive, and sometimes militant way. They have their own language, their own rituals, their own hierarchy. A traumatic rape and an impulsive stabbing are described with as much nonchalance as a casual walk down an unfamiliar street is described with suspense. The lives of these youths is completely out of the ordinary, unfair, and contrary to normal civilian life.When the reader stops and realizes that the reason the book lacks the intensity of the film is because the events of the novel are normalized to the characters, then the reader will understand why the book is so culturally significant.

My hubby really wanted to read the book after loving the movie for years. Afterall, the book is usually better than the movie. It was the correct book, and he loved it. Thank you!

Like many, I love the movie and I decided to read this book because it was the basis for that movie. Yes, there are significant differences between the film and this book, but I still found it a worthy read as it delivered a far more believable story.Aside from the basic premise of a Coney Island gang’s plight through enemy turf after a city-wide gang meeting goes awry, the book stands alone. From the beginning, Yurick sets a serious tone that veers away from its film adaptation. Instead of glam-punks in their twenties sporting satin jackets/vests, long hair/afros and playing tough in 1970s New York City, the book paints a more realistic scene of gang life in 1960s New York (the book was written in 1965)… poverty-stricken teenagers banding together and involving themselves in far more sinister activities.Yurick’s edgy writing style paints a bleak vision where we see the story played out in black and white, not in color … even though the storyline centers on events occurring during a July 4th celebration. With celebratory fireworks playing in the background, this group of teenagers appear in their own separate world … an ominous and dangerous world that seems to be void of purpose. While I found it hard not to play the movie in my mind while I was reading (it is pretty much unavoidable), those moments were relatively fleeting as the book veers in to more serious territory that includes rape and quite possibly murder. There is no ultimate showdown and the end brings no uplifting moment with the sun rising and the promise of a new tomorrow. Instead, we realize that the events of this night are somewhat routine and getting home safely simply serves as a starting point for the next day’s activities.I found the book gritty, dark and interesting. The film is interesting, but it has a campy and fun quality that the book certainly does not project. I would definitely recommend that any fan of the movie give this book a read as Yurick certainly tells a good story. It is a quick read with the added benefit of a late-edition introduction from the author that includes his interesting take on the film.

Absolutely love the movie. Seen it dozens of times. Then one day, reason unknown, I searched, found and read the book. Totally different story, totally different characters, but loved the book as much and read it once a year along side a few other favorites. If you've seen the movie but never read the book I think you'll be totally shocked at the difference. I have to admit I personally like the movie over the book. That's just me though, only one book I ever liked better than the movie, but books like these are the reason people like I ( I don't read much) read novels. So sorry Mr. Yurick wasn't a fan but kiddos to him for helping with the movie I love and a book I'll read the rest of my life.

I remember seeing the movie in the early '80s and again, found it even more interesting after seeing a remastered version which led me to find and read Sol Yurick's original novel. The novel is not as colorful as the movie version, but far more fascinating after reading Sol's introduction that connects the story to the Classic Greek work the Anabasis of Cyrus by Xenophon, which parallels the adventures of the Coney Island gang's retreat back to their home turf with Xenophon's retreat through hostile territory back to their native Greece. Besides the parallel theme with Xenophon, Mr. Yurick provides a detailed sociological profile of gang life from the point of view of those living it, causing the reader to be both appalled by the violence as well as sympathetic to the social and cultural conditions that influenced their actions. This book is definitely worth reading.