The Sociology of the Hobo (Book)

The Sociology of the Hobo (Original title: The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man), is a work written by American sociologist Nels Anderson. The book examines the lives, working conditions, and social positions of individuals identified as hobos—homeless, itinerant, and familyless workers. It has been translated into Turkish by Ezgi Pınar.

The work explores the dual identity of individuals defined as hobos, both as workers and as wanderers. Hobos lived in various settings across early 20th century American society, including train cars, forests, mines, fields, and the outskirts of Chicago. The book reveals the conditions of exploitation, poverty, and social exclusion experienced by hobos. Anderson presents their lives from an insider’s perspective, having himself been part of this group, and describes his observations in a vivid, descriptive style.

Nels Anderson (1889–1986) was an American sociologist. He received his education at the University of Chicago and was a student of Robert E. Park and Ernest Burgess. Anderson’s work The Hobo contributed to the formation of the sociological tradition known as the Chicago School and has been used as a key source in the field of urban sociology.