You Can't Win

This memoir offers a vivid glimpse into the hobo underworld of the early twentieth century through the experiences of Jack Black, a drifter and small-time criminal. Written in 1926, it reflects his life as a vagabond, beginning at age 16. Black's plain-spoken yet colorful narrative captures the essence of a time when anonymity was easily achieved while traveling from town to town, influencing notable figures like William S. Burroughs and other Beat writers.