5 comments about Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A..

1. I can see why this book is so popular among high school students: it provides a graphic, unflinching look at LA gang life in the 1960s, and it ends happily, with Mr. Rodriguez living to tell the tale. Unfortunately, the second half of the story contains too many things that make me question the reliability of its teller. I hope this book helps to keep kids out of gangs and in schools, even if its veracity is suspect.
   
   
   And yet... the more I think about this, the more I see in it. I think this is actually a depiction of the violence inherent in people, rather than a specific comment on a time and place. The author's main excuse for gangs is unemployment. However, Mr. Rodriguez ends up portraying the police forces as little more than a rival gang with an unslakable bloodlust, though they obviously have jobs. The problem therefore can't be unemployment, unless all positions of power are necessarily corrupt, or the LA sheriffs are abnormally violent people. Other notable instances of violence are when young Luis gets pushed off his roof by his older brother, when a riot erupts at a peace rally, and when Luis upholds the tradition of a yearly brawl at a football. I guess this is the main problem I have with this book. The blame is misplaced. Mr. Rodriguez's gang involvement started before he was in junior high, so his own unemployment couldn't have been a factor. Since his father was well educated and employed, I have to lay the blame at his feet for failing to protect his son and teach him the right way to live. This sad family failure is then repeated between the author and his own son, Ramiro. The whole attitude of "learn from my mistakes; don't do what I did, son" just isn't enough for me.



2. Always Running was required for my English 28 class, and I've got to admit that I found the book very interesting.It gave me a look into gang life in East Los Angeles and the dynamics of that lifestyle.



3. Luis grew up in LA being raised by a Mexican family. He grows up way too quickly and starts stealing and committing crimes before becoming a teen. Soon enough drugs, sex and violence come into play, and lines and territories are divided across neighborhoods. Ultimately he ends up losing most of his friends to shootings and violent acts. He also blames the cops for constantly targeting Mexicans and African Americans. The educational system does not provide proper courses for minorities. They are tracked to take on vocational occupations while whites and Asians are taking English Lit and Trig on the path to college. If we provided protection, safety and good opportunities for these kids then they would not feel the need to join gangs to gain acceptance, protection and a sense of belonging.



4. This book is on the ALA's list of 100 most frequently banned books of 1990 through 2000.
   
   This is a memoir of gang life & of growing up poor and Chicano in East LA in the '60's & 70's. It's also about learning who you are and finding ways out - through writing, through painting, & through social activism.
   
   Rodriguez is primarily a poet and writer of short stories & it shows in this collection of snap shots of moments from his past. For those wanting a standard tale with a classical throughline and neat conclusions, this book will disappoint.
   
   I enjoyed the author's imagery and the ways he plays with the genre of memoir. What is memory? What do we remember? How do we remember it? For me so much of my memory is just what he provides - little snapshots of moments in time.
   
   From a political/social perspective, this book does a good job of elucidating the reasons kids join gangs and the possible paths out. He talks about gangs as a kind of mass suicide & that's an idea that stuck with me - all these kids looking for family & hating themselves.
   
   In one of those funny moments where influences collide that can happen while reading, I kept thinking of another gang memoir that I read when I was younger. I remembered that it was written by a Puerto Rican guy that grew up in Spanish Harlem & was also about all of the ways that books saved him, but I couldn't remember the name of the book. It was right there on the tip of my tongue. I could remember that the author was named Piri, but that was all. Then I turned a page & there it was - Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas - turns out Luis Rodriguez read that one, too.
   
   This book is also full of shades of Sandra Cisneros - a Chicana writer & poet whose work I've read off & on since her first book - The House on Mango Street. Like Cisneros, Rodriguez' work is full of rhythm & bright color.
   
   I liked this book a great deal, although I don't think it offers any long-term solutions to these problems. Like The Corner, David Simon's killer tome on life on a Baltimore drug corner, this book illustrates the condition. Perhaps education really is the only way out, but to get there we're going to have to spend some money & stop using our educational system to ghettoize people based on class, race, income level, & the phase of the moon on Fridays when the cat's too tired to sing.
   
   The world is a complex & beautiful place & in the end maybe only words can save us.



5. This book lacks depth and much-needed perspective. The actual subject matter is interesting, and could have resulted in an incredibly powerful, insightful book. However, he stopped short every time the opportunity for reflection presented itself. As a result, I found myself unable to sympathize with his plight. His transitions from journalistic prose to "poetic" descriptions were jarring and indulgent. Overall, this book was a great disappointment.

5 comments about No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels.

1. Being a biker (not a one percenter though) I can relate to a lot of the story. I've lived in Phoenix and outside of Tucson. I've ridden my harley to many of the places identified in the book. I've met Sonny Barger, the real deal badass (still a formidable force at an advanced age). I've witnessed Hells Angels beat on somebody for a bad attitude-not pretty. If you mess with the HA, you better have more bullets!
   
   Bird, the main character in the book was a sick f++k! If he hadn't been an ATF agent, he surely would have been a member of Hells Angels.
   
   Well written story with few dull spots. Couldn't put the book down.



2. I rarely review books on Amazon but I was compelled to review this one because, frankly, it was so bad. Not to denigrate the difficulty and the danger - and truly the heroism - of undercover officers but this narrative was truly a tempest in a teacup. I think, had it not sold itself as a harrowing descent into the hell of penetrating the Hell's Angels I might of had a better reaction to it but let's face facts: The biggest villans in this piece are old age pensioners one on a respirator and the other breathing through a hole in his throat. The only violence we are told about is against woman, in fact when the "bad boys" are told of Jay's "killing" a rival gang member you would think that they were about to soil themselves. Mr. Dobyns is amped up on over the counter weight loss drugs and his own Quixotic quest and is guilty only of being a pretty absent father and husband as he gets off on buddying up to the Angels, who accept him with the lack of questioning that one might expect from a Boy Scout Troop, not the most dangerous organized bandits the land has ever seen. Hype. Hype. Hype - and very little substance. The end result: Nada. These guys were such a pure embodiment of eveil that the Feds couldn't even make a basic case stick against them. Not questioning the man's bravery, just and his imprint's spinning of this somewhat humdrum tale. Would I be able to pull off what jay did? Nope. Don't have the balls. But I'd also have the good sense not to try and make something more of it than it was. This book stinks of backyard barbeque editors, years after the fact, saying "Jay, man, you should really write a book..."



3. Make no mistake about it, Jay Dobyns is a Hero! What he was able to do was simply amazing! To infiltrate the Hells Angels and be "patched" is an incredible feat for any undercover. Thank your Agent Dobyns for sharing you story with us!



4. This book certainly was a fast-past, no holds barred account. But in the end, the main conflict in this book was the author's inner struggle.. It really is all about him.. He goes on for almost a whole page about how he made a grilled cheese sandwich for his kid. While just giving you sidelines about the Angels. I do commend him that he blames himself for his fanaticism for the case- plunging into the Angels' thug-life and almost losing his mind.. (Unlike someone like Sarah Palin who writes a book just to cast all her failures on others) But in the end, this shows the government's wasting of money and time. In a post 9-11 world, why should the ATF really care about a bunch of guys in the desert moving low amounts of drugs and alot of firearms in a carry-permit state?? If the Hells Angels were REALLY a problem, wouldn't the communities where they had their clubhouses have put pressure on the state and the police to clean up? Thank goodness he got out in one piece, but he should have been reeled in long before things got way too deep..



5. I hate cops - that being said there is only one thing worse...undercover. When your word is your bond...and you violate everything to bring someone down for your ago - well this is a good book - by a typical cop with a typical cop attitude...damn what an ego!
   
   I'll take the Hell's Angels for backup anyday of the week -

5 comments about BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family.

1. I heard so much hype about this book that I could not wait to get it. I was not impressed when I read it. My problem was I was looking for a biography type book but this read more like a federal report on the case. Yes it had some interesting points in the book but my attention just wasn't held. I guess this would be for some; just not for me.



2. I too could not put this book down. It was so detailed and full of play by play information. But what shocked and surprised me was the amount of crew members that became goverment witnesses. I was not expecting those major players to roll on the Terry like they did, so much for their slogan Death before Dishonor....Before the movie comes out, how about a sequel to update us on how many of those who turned government snitches are still alive!!! Overall a very good book!! I was pleased with the content.



3. The author does a credible job of crafting the BMF story over the course of 277 pages. The book is at it's best early on and tapers off significantly toward the end. It was apparent that this was a voyeuristic endeavor for the author whose interest in the lifestyle and personalities of the BMF members was apparent throughout. In as much the finite details of the story don't receive nearly the amount of attention they deserve. Had the author done so, she would have found many inconsistencies in regard to the BMF operation and the legend that has emerged.
   
   Ignorant and naive, are the most appropriate terms to describe the behavior of BMF's co-founder Demetrius "Meechie" Flenory throughout the story. At least this is the impression one gets from the author. The story opens with an interview session where a jailed Meech reminisces over all that he has lost. The cars, the money, the notoriety are all listed by the author but it is apparent what he seeks is validation. For all that he has lost, the most precious of all "freedom," isn't mentioned. It's a curious omission from a man facing the remainder of his natural life behind bars.
   
   It's sad because it demonstrates the mentality and mindset of so many men and women, "some young and some more experienced," who are sure to pick up this title and relate or adopt Flenory's irrational manner of thinking themselves. The author falls into the trap of trying to justify the actions of the group by employing the over-used excuse "if it wasn't the Flenory brothers...some else would-perhaps someone not so willing to give back.
   
   Give back? Give back to what, where and to whom? The truth of the matter is BMF spent whatever earnings they made in the clubs of Buckhead, Vegas and Miami! What benefit did this provide to the sections of Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis or any of the other cities where the product they sold settled? Not a single Buckhead club was owned or controlled by BMF, Miami's south beach is an area notorious for its Jim Crow era policies in regard to black club and business ownership as is the case with the Vegas strip.
   
   Little "if any," of the alleged $270 million in earnings generated by BMF was invested or applied toward the betterment of the communities victimized during their reign. The sad fact of the matter is BMF's "absurd" spending habits and promotion of a highly fictionalized lifestyle masked the continued assault upon black communities through the promotion of the high consumption lifestyle and fatalistic behaviors that have robbed more than 2 million black males of their futures due to incarceration. Our communities are suffering and one of the primary causes for this suffering is the combination of ignorance and apathy.
   
   Far to many of us remain ignorant to the fact that there is no future in selling drugs, Jay-Z's puffery be damned! I've witnessed far to many fall victim to the temptation of fast money who learn far to late that there is no such thing as easy money and the only thing fast about it is the rate at which it disappears. The BMF story is sad because as the judge in the BMF trial pointed out "Flenory is his own worst enemy" as well as an enemy to the reputation and well being of a healthy black image.
   
   Despite this book, multiple DVD's and countless magazine articles, the truth has continued to be ignored. The fact of the matter is the details as contained in the BMF indictment from October 2005 is not nearly as glamorous as we are led to believe. 30 people lost their freedom, and for what 632 kilos, $5.3 million in currency and $5.7 million in assets. Though a considerable sum, it is a far cry from $270 million most often attributed to the operation. So was it worth 40 years behind bars? Well according to Flenory it was. Well someone check back with him in 10 years when his exploits are a faded memory and the magazine editors and struggling authors loose interest.



4. I couldn't put this down - (I had to at some points to go to work), it reads like a non fiction, certainly as exciting as the godfather series, an updated version. I loved learning the details of how BMF and Sin City pulled off their dealings and also interesting to hear how the investigators connected the dots.
   
   Great book! I can't wait for the movie.



5. I am born and raised in the "A". I knew these guys were a force, but didnt know to this extent. A lot of events I remember that happened in the early 2000 involved this crew. Very good book, bravo, cant wait till the movie!!

5 comments about Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw.

1. Excellent book. Goes into good detail and gives a lot of background for both Escobar and the men hunting him.



2. I generally like Bowden's work, and this was a well-written and thoroughly researched book that really gives the reader a good idea of how violent the drug trade was under Pablo Escobar. For a person who didn't know much about Pablo aside from his name, this was a good read; informative and entertaining at the same time.



3. Gives you a pretty good idea of what went into finding and killing Pablo Escobar and why he needed to be put down.



4. Ok so herre we go...so i havnt read this book but i did see that "Matthew F Borwn said that this book bashes Mr. Pablo. Well" this is crude.I believe that if your going to tell a part of the story dont be that much of a retard to tell the other part of the story...IF your gonna meantion the bad parts of his life, mention the good things he did. Pablo was not all a bad guy so what he sold drugs and murdered people he also did it in a perfective manor he was smart enough to cover his own ass until the end his i mean he used his brother as his own acountant come on thats genius use your own family so you know you can trust em and his brother owned ran and had in his own possesion a bicycle shop COVER UP but all in all pablo was a good man who covered his ass in the bad things he did i mean hitler was a bad dude did alot of bad things but he was a hell of a leader so again if your gonna tell a story about someones life hit both sides not just one angle.



5. Ok, I havent read this book YET but I surmise from the reviews and whatnot it bashes Pablo. Please read The Accountants Story, it tells the whole story straight from Roberto Escobar, Pablo's brother and accountant, who was with Pablo through it all. Pablo killed to protect himself and his family. He knew what he was doing was wrong so he had a plan to get out. Become the president of Columbia. Had he been granted that opportunity, we would know him, not for the alleged murders, but for his constant good deeds to the poor of his country, which he was known for even though his money was dirty. Pablo cared so much for his fellow Columbians and its a shame to hear him bashed and not credited for what he was doing good and his good intentions.

5 comments about Assata: An Autobiography (Lawrence Hill & Co.).

1. the book came promptly and was in good condition. Also it is an amazing read!



2. ASSATA BIOGRAPHY WAS FASCINATING, EYE OPENER THINGS I DID NT ABOUT HER, GREAT READ VERY POWERFUL WOMAN WHO DID NT GIVE UP. SO MUCH RESPECT FOR MS ASSATA ALL RESPECT IS DUE



3. I was hesitant at first to read this book being that it was political and sounded nothing familiar to my world as a white youth in America. I actually got my hands on it when I was in jail, and reading about Assata's strength during her imprisonment awed and inspired me. I loved how her present trial was simultaneously told along with her life story switching back and forth from chapter to chapter. Her childhood rebellion, love of nature, and desire to make it in society reflected many similar qualities that I too possess. I found that a black woman and I had a lot in common though the nature of our oppression differed. I felt her pain when she hurt people and didn't realize it until it was too late all because of the brain washing American society had upon her. When she came to realize all the tranformations that African culture was going through to be more European like she found her true self and freedom from social pressures.
   Most impressive is Assata's pure genius. She is an amazing writer, and wrote an opening statement during her trial that resembled the eloquence of MLK. It will literaly blow your socks off the way she confronts the racism in the jury.
   With her wit and vivacious personality despite deathly circumstances, this young woman Assata will captivate the hearts of African's and American's alike.



4. I'd only heard her story in snippets; she was a Panther, a revolutionary and a wanted woman. She has been lauded and lambasted and I believed that she was someone that I needed to learn more about. My education started by reading her biography.
   
   From a literary standpoint, the book is beautiful. Well written, easy to follow and interspersed with her own poetry. For it's beauty however it is still a difficult story to read. Because it is a story of a woman whose eyes, mind and heart were wide open to the possibilities of freedom and equality but was faced repeatedly with inequality, injustice, persecution and racism. Most times her story was horrifying, particularly her imprisonment, sometimes she kept it light, when speaking of her childhood, her friendships, etc. But through all times, I would suggest that her story remains relevant and inspiring and makes the reader thirst for more knowledge of her and the movement for which she sacrificed so much for.



5. Even if you have never heard of Assata you should pick up this book. It's the autobiography of a woman who now lives in exile in Cuba, telling her story of how she was arrested in the U.S. and charged with murder. When you pick up this book you can easily read it cover to cover. You will love her style; the book reads as if she is speaking to you one on one and telling you what happened. Her story is something that will show readers a view of society and government that they may have not seen or heard of before - the other side of the Black Power movement in the 1960s-1970s. The book speaks out on the corruption of the justice system and the government. Follow up after the book with materials and resources on her website for more information. Assata's few published books are difficult to find but well worth the read. She is a strong figure that is still active in making change in our society today. As a person who had not know much about the Black Power movement I was absolutely blown away by Assata's book, her work, and her continued vigilance and courage.

5 comments about In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir (P.S.).

1. FANTASTIC TITLE!!! Neil White took me on a wonderful, forbidden trip. I got to visit a leprosarium and state prison at the same time because the two were one but divided on the inside. I learned about the co-existence of the "prisoners" in each and how this terrible experience was life-changing for White.
   
   The narrative is simple and to the point. It is a quick read and leaves a lasting impression. I recommend it.



2. Neil White is not, by any means, a good guy. He's a man who wanted the best for his family and turned to check kiting to provide it. This crime (he owed his creditors around one million) sent him to federal prison for eighteen months. He tells his children Little Neil and Maggie, "Daddy is going to camp," little does he know his "camp" experience is going to be truly unique. Neil's prison is also home to the last leprosarium in the United States, with only breezeways and lattice walls separating patient from prisoner.
   
   Neil uses this book to share the stories of his fellow inmates and the patients they live with, from "Link" the inmate who says he's going to sue the government if he becomes a "leopard" to Ella, a patient who helps Neil find enlightenment while sharing her own story.
   
   This book was beautifully written and I found it hard to put down. I couldn't wait to read more about the lives of both the patients and inmates, and the more I read, the more I felt my heart being drawn in to most of the character.



3. I have always had a fascination with Carville after reading Miracle at Carville about the institution and the experiences of a patient there back in the 50's. So, when White's book appeared on the scene, I bought it quickly.
   I found it sort of an enjoyable read, and nothing if not interesting. The author chronicles his one year stay at a part of Carville that had been converted into a federal prison. He focuses on several of the prisoners and Hansen Disease patients in weaving the story. He also dwells on his personal transformation ( and maybe not ) from a felon convicted of bank fraud into a just someone who wants the "simple things" out of the rest of his life. It's the personal transformatin part that is weak. He does a lot of whining. I found the lives of the prisoners and patients much more interesting than his accounts of his own life. that part of he book could have stood a lot more attention from the author. His "it's all about me" deliberations got old after awhile. One could understand how he got into trouble in the first place, and one might wonder if much had really changed based on his experience. All of his pronouncements about caring for the patients aside, I couldn't shake the feeling that White was just taking advantage of another vulnerable group to further his own selfish interests. All of the above aside though, it is a memorable book, and worth the reader's time.



4. This book is well written. I didn't really expect to enjoy it and read it only because our mayor designated it book of the year. Not only did I enjoy reading it, I learned a great deal about a place located close to Baton Rouge where I live.



5. The author tries to redeem himself by writing about the patients and prisoners he met while serving time in the Federal prison that adjoined the Carville Hansen's Disease hospital. The story is interesting enough, but it is not particularly fine writing. I was much more intrigued by the patients than by the prisoners or the writer himself. One wonders if he will be able to stay out of trouble in the future.

5 comments about Shattered Silence-- The Untold Story of a Serial Killer's Daughter.

1. Although this book needed a good editor I loved Melissa's story. She has a lot of love in her and it came through. I really was as concerned about her step father as much as her father. He was a nasty piece of work. Her mother was a coward. God bless Melissa for breaking that cycle. I had only one problem and she never talked about it in the book. At the back of the book is a picture of her, her children, her husband and her father. At some point I guess she took her children to see him. I can't see exposing my children to someone so vile and unsafe. Sorry, didn't agree with that one. Other than that I think she is an inspiration. I can't believe some reviewers said her story isn't exceptional. Of course it is. How many people do you know have a father that is a serial killer? How easy do you think that is to overcome?



2. This is disgusting, how does anyone buy this book and support this woman?
   
   Her dad killed 8 people and we're suppose to feel sorry for her hardships? She now lives in a big house with a wonderful family and life is perfect all because her dad killed people. What about the victims? Where's their books? Oh sorry they don't have one, they're not making millions off their daughter and sister and mothers being murdered, but the daughter of the murder is.
   
   How easy is it for a parent to do the same? Tired of working 9-to-5 and still being foreclosed upon? Spent too much money and life looking hopeless? Kill people and your children and grandchildren will be millionaires!
   
   This book makes me sick, she should be in jail just like her father for writing it. I don't know how she can sleep at night knowing the roof she lives under was paid for by her father murdering people.
   
   Good thing Hitler didn't have any children otherwise I'm sure they would have written books and movies and toured the country to become millionaires too.
   
   Melissa Moore has a 7 year old daughter, what if someone killed her and the killer's son or daughter wrote a book about how hard it was and became a millionaire off her daughter's death? What do you think Melissa, how would you feel if someone got paid to kill your daughter? Would that feel right to you?



3. the book is interesting because it's told from the daughter's perspective. the transaction was smooth.



4. I read this book in less than five hours. I could not put it down. When I was through, all I could say was "What a message". I would highly recommend this book to any reader.
   
   It just shows you that anyone can raise up out of the ashes and make quite a life for themselves. God is always with us and if you believe, it will happen. All good things come in time.



5. This book was selected for our book club, and when I finished it, I would have sworn the person who chose it hadn't read it. Found out later she had read it and was friends with the author.
   
   I have read numerous inspiring stories about women in hardships that bring me to tears, yet I was left uninspired and disappointed by this book. The cover leads you to believe it's the trauma of her dad being a serial killer that she has to overcome, yet there is very little focus on her relationship with her father and more time dedicated to the other terrible things that happened to her. By the time she discovers her father is a serial killer, she has no self-esteem left anyway. And she hears about it like everyone else: on the news.
   
   The writing is very poor, there is no heart, only statements of facts. I did not feel her pain because she didn't seem to convey very much pain in her writing even after she finally starts "talking" about her father being a serial killer. The story was also poorly organized. I found myself rushing through the book to get to the good part, and there just wasn't one.
   
   I also found it appalling that she is disgusted by her father's book-writing and making money on his murders. Isn't that exactly what she's doing? Only some of the proceeds go to Dr. Phil's charity.

5 comments about Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster.

1. Our history book club read this book since it looked good, was around the length we usually like, and we didn't know much about Al Capone. I initially was a bit scared since books by journalists will, many times, not flow very well in a deeper treatment of a subject. Eig was able to keep me engaged since it read like a good novel and also gave me a very good introduction to Al Capone. Our book club usually has some dissenting opinions but all liked his story of Al Capone.



2. I want to buy this book, but I won't spend over $10 for a digital book. There's no need to charge over that for a digitally produced book where all hard copy costs aren't applicable.



3. I have to admit I haven't read the entire book, but what I have read is well written and interesting. I'm not really in to mobsters, but I bought this book for my husband and read several chapters out of curiosity. I enjoyed the author's style that was interspersed with enough humor to keep me reading. The author makes Al Capone and the time period come alive. Now that I've started the book, I plan to finish it. I think there should be a separate venue for complaints about price. If you don't like the price, don't buy the product! I come to the review page to get information about whether or not readers liked the content of the book.



4. Sixty-plus years after his death, Al Capone's name has become synonymous with "gangster". His life and times have been examined by countless books, TV shows, films, documentaries. At this late date, the question must be asked; Can anything new be learned? Is another biography of Al Capone really necessary? Jonathan Eig's Get Capone stands out amongst the crowd by challenging some long-held conclusions about Al's life and career. However, as a so-called "gangsterologist" and published author myself, I cannot recommend this book. While factual errors are inevitable in any history work, there are quite a few in Get Capone. Most of them could have been avoided by comprehensive research and fact-checking. While reading the book, I got the feeling that the author merely skimmed over the top of his subject matter without going into great detail. For much of its length, Get Capone is a rehash of the usual stuff (for want of a better term) found in previous Capone biographies. While Eig's descriptive prose makes for easy reading, there is nothing new to be learned.
   
   Much of the recent hoopla surrounding Get Capone has to do with its proposed solution to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Based almost entirely on the word of a single letter and some creative speculation, this theory alleges that Al Capone had nothing to with Chicago's most notorious gangland hit, and that the actual culprits were Capone gunsel William "Three-Fingered Jack" White and a handful of Chicago cops. According to the letter writer, Frank T. Farrell, the murders were allegedly carried out in retaliation for the murder of White's cousin, William Davern, by one of the Gusenberg brothers. Not only does this theory contradict the known evidence in the massacre case (there's more than people realize), it makes no sense. If real cops were responsible, why would they wear uniforms identifying themselves as such while committing a mass murder? The book's claim that the Farrell letter was "recently discovered in the FBI archives and never before revealed" is flat-out untrue. The Farrell letter has been available for public viewing on the FBI's website (along with the rest of the massacre file) since 1998. Indeed, the letter was investigated and dismissed back in 1935 by CPD detectives and Cook County Coroner Herman Bundesen. Cook County Jail records solidly refute Jack White's participation in the massacre, as he was securely locked up for a cop killing on February 14, 1929. Last but not least, William Davern was almost certainly clipped by Capone hitman Jack McGurn (the bullet that killed him was matched to one of McGurn's pistols by ballistics pioneer Calvin Goddard), and not the Gusenbergs. Again, careful research could have caught all this. The end result is akin to taking a single thread (the Farrell letter) and attempting to weave an entire quilt. Upon close examination, this quilt comes apart with one good tug.
   
   In sum, I don't believe this book really needed to be written. John Kobler's Capone and Robert Schoenberg's Mr. Capone remain the definitive works on "Snorky".



5. Just putting in my 2 cents. If I'm going to get fleeced, I may as well buy a used copy. Tried to make a zero rating but Amazon makes you rate at least a 1.

5 comments about Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.).

1. This review is on the abridged audio version of "Manhunt" read by Richard Thomas. Actually, "Manhunt" is an excellent book to listen to on audio CD because it is told in an exciting, story-telling fashion. It is not, as another reviewer noted, a scholarly, historical examination. That is not to say that it is not well-researched. James L. Swanson immersed himself in contemporary documents and other materials in writing the story. One intriguing source he used, for example, was the writings of John Wilkes Booth's sister that described the assassin's childhood aspirations. I looked forward to listening to each disc and, in many instances, was captivated with what will happen next even though I knew, ultimately, the fate of the two fugitives. I had not studied Booth's escape in detail to know how far he got and who helped him so a lot of the information was new to me. The story-telling style of the book does lend itself to some narrative license. The thoughts and personal intentions are described which can often get historians into trouble (how does an author know what someone's thoughts were at the time?), but such liberties are not taken too often.
   
   The book focuses on John Wilkes Booth and David Herold's escape south after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the efforts to find and capture them. Also covered are the conspiracy preparations, the assassination itself, the capture and fate of the other conspirators and, briefly, the executions of the convicted conspirators. There was not as much detail on the executions as I expected but, since the book is on the manhunt, that is understandable. The last two tracks on the final disc offer an interview with author Swanson. He discusses how he became interested in the Lincoln assassination, the artifacts from that event he hopes will surface, and the intriguing characters he studied in his research. The most interesting part of the interview was a description on the historical sites that can be visited including the modernized Ford's Theatre, Petersen house, Mary Surratt's boarding house, and, in Maryland, Mary Surratt's country tavern and Dr. Mudd's house.
   
   For a couple of reasons, I am giving this audiobook 4 stars rather than five. First, there is a lot of flowery language that seemed a bit much. Other reviewers have mentioned the word "Judas" labeling those who betrayed Booth. Even David Herold "denied him thrice." Other instances made me roll my eyes. For example, the people in Lincoln's box after the gun fired "remained perfectly still as though posed in the studio for one of Alexander Gardner's wet-plate Albumen photographs that required a motionless exposure of several seconds." Well, I guess that quote gave a sense of the time, but it is a bit wordy and embellished. Another example is on disc 2, track 2: "Like Lot's wife who paused and turned and dared to look upon the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Booth could see the sleeping city from which he fled." Then on disc 5, track 5: "Booth's mind surrendered to fatigue and roamed freely through the landscape of his dreams where no man could follow him." Richard Thomas (The Walton's John Boy) read the latter quote so gushingly it actually made me laugh.
   
   Secondly, I found a couple errors in the dates used. The execution day was first dated as July 17 and soon after was dated as July 7 which left me quite confused (disc 7, track 4). The latter date was correct but the two dates were read so close to each other it is puzzling the mistake was not caught--if even by Thomas as he was doing the reading. A telegram Secretary of War Stanton sent to General Grant regarding Lincoln being shot was dated 12:00 p.m. on April 14 (disc 2, track 7). Of course, this date makes no sense as, at that time, Lincoln had not been shot yet. If the telegram was misdated (i.e. it should have been 12:00 a.m. on April 15), which is understandable considering the stress Stanton was under at the time, it should have been noted. Also, Booth's journal entry written on the run is read twice for some reason. Otherwise, this audiobook is a keeper and I highly recommend it. The book includes 7 discs with 7-8 long tracks each. I prefer shorter tracks, but a portion of the first line on each track is printed on the discs which helps in trying to find information.



2. If you're a Civil War buff, this book is a must. The author has successfully combined good writing and good scholarship (a rare skill in itself), along with an incredible amount of fascinating detail, and has come up with a book that's not only great history but a great read. I loved it, learned a lot, loaned it, lost it, and promptly got myself another copy. It's that good.



3. There is no doubt in my mind: this is truly a fascinating book, a page turner. After a Prologue and two chapters which summarize first the shooting of President Abraham Lincoln and then the life of his assassin, John Wilkes Booth, author James L. Swanson spends the next eight chapters describing the death of Lincoln and the escape of Booth and his companion, David Herold. We follow the two as they individually sneak out of Washington, D.C. and meet up in rural Maryland during the night of April 14-15, 1865.
   
   Booth and Herold arrive at the rural house of Samuel Mudd, a farmer-medical doctor and acquaintance of Booth from the days when Booth was planning to kidnap Lincoln and take him to the Confederate capital in Richmond. At about 4 AM on April 15, Dr. Mudd is awakened and administers to Booth's broken bone in his leg and allows the two to sleep in his home. After learning that Booth is wanted for murdering the president (Booth apparently hid this from him), the doctor orders the two to leave (they spent about 15 hours at his place), but he does NOT report them to authorities, a decision that will eventually cause him to be arrested and imprisoned though not hanged.
   
   Later Booth and Herold are hidden and fed by Confederate sympathizer Thomas Jones. Instead of quickly removing themselves southward, the wanted men spend four or five days in a Maryland pine thicket before crosing the Potomac into Virginia -- some nine days after the assassination. Later, with assistance they cross the Rappahannock and head deeper into Virginia. But once again they linger probably longer than they should have at the Garrett farm, near Port Royal, and during the interval one William Jett leads Union soldiers to their hiding place (Garrett's tobacco barn) which is then set afire by the soldiers. Herold surrenders, but Booth chooses to stay inside the burning barn. Soldier Boston Corbett shoots Booth in the neck and spinal column, and the presidential assassin expires but not before uttering these words: "Tell mother I died for my country."
   
   If the Lincoln assasination interests you, get a copy of this book and read it. Even if you are not all that interested in this event, the book will probably keep you interested, for it is very well crafted. One test of how good a book is might be whether it stimulates a person to want to read more on the subject. MANHUNT certainly passes the test for me. I definitely want to find out more about Booth, Dr. Mudd, the Surratts, Edwin Stanton, plus I want to check the Surratt Society's publications.
   
   Two very minor quibbles based on previous reading: on page 2 Swanson calls Booth "the celebrated actor." Well, perhaps, but I learned from reading James Hall that Booth had not acted much for a year prior to the assassination; he was concentrating on his oil interests and anti-Lincoln activities. Also, Hall and Michael Maione provide a much clearer explanation than Swanson (on page 28) about why Booth wanted Secretary of State Seward dead: only the secretary of state could set up procedures for a new election in case both president and vice-president were no longer alive. (Don't forget: Booth had assigned one of his conspirators to kill VP Andrew Johnson, but the guy didn't do it; and Seward was nearly killed by another conspirator.)
   
   As I finished the book, I kept wondering about Booth's dallying, his not getting farther south faster. Yes, I realize his leg was probably killing him, but I wondered if he wanted (perhaps subconsciously) to be caught. Notice I said wondered; I don't have an answer. Does anyone? I also wonder why Mary Surratt, but not Mudd or Jones, was hanged. More reading to do.
   Strongly recommended.
   Tim Koerner July 2010



4. This book has everything you would want in a historical account of Civil War times. The author puts you in the shoes of John Wilkes Booth and you get a view of history from Booth, his accomplices, the couple who shared the balcony box with Lincoln, and many more. This is a book you will have a difficult time putting down to do other things. The book is authentic with pictures and documents, yet it transports you to Civil War times and lets you be a part of the action.



5. As I know my history, President Lincoln was shot dead by John Wilkes Booth and the police shot and killed Booth as he fell from the balcony of the theater below ,to escape. But the author has taken another twist in the story , with Booth escaping the police with a broken leg. He was on the run for 12 days and the author documents statements and also Wilkes diary to this fact . Excellent reading . Michael Tsapazis author of "Zion and the Magic Sword"

5 comments about Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes, and the Man Who Makes War Possible.

1. My background to the book - I'm a big fan of the movie Lord of War.
   
   Ordered this book, was very excited about it and ultimately just found it to be a real drag to finish, very boring. It's not so much of a story as it is just a listing of [alledged] facts.
   
   There are a few interesting parts but overall was just painful to wade through. I guess this book might be interesting to someone who wanted a summary of information known about Victor Bout - but not compelling as a story.



2. What could have been a great story reads like a fork in the eye. I tortured myself through about 1/3 of the book then jumped to the end by reading a paragraph or two in the rest of the chapters. If I had it to do over I would just read the jacket and throw the book in the recycle bin.



3. This book on Bout is basically a case study on what global crime has evolved into today. Drug cartels, traffickers, counterfeiters, terrorists and basically every illicit business uses a organizational structure such as is described in this book. It is quite terrifying what they can do and how they use globalization against us. I just read a book about how this fits into the big picture (Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy by Moises Naim). I would definitely read both to get a clear picture into what's going on.
   
   On a side note... there is awesome news. Viktor Bout has recently been arrested in Thailand as part of a DEA sting and is awaiting deportation. Goodbye Viktor Bout!!!



4. I am reading "Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes, and the Man Who Makes War Possible," will finish it shortly and have no intention of putting it down. That said, I still don't know why it was one of The Washington Post's top book picks of the year.
   
   Despite the title, which to me at least promised a more or less exiting and seamless story, what you get can better be described as "raw intel." It is essentially a synopsis and compilation of data the author has assembled on the book's subject. Clearly the author has formed his own conclusions about Mr. Bout, but the evidence is somewhat contradictory. Did he in fact work for the U.S. at one time, or only for its enemies?
   
   The book cites many United Nations reports, and the book itself could easily be one from among them. Facts are presented without even an overall chronological narative to place them in context and help organize
   their absorption.
   
   The author clearly wants the reader to know about his subject who he regards as a very bad dude. Perhaps unintentionally, the more troubling aspect that emerges is that of bureaucrats in the essentially policy arms of government using law enforcement, anybody's law enforcement; particular law doesn't matter, country doesn't matter, to achieve their policy objectives. I will have to be excused if I find that idea less than heroic.
   
   Merchant of Death will be of interest to those who have a particular interest in Viktor Bout, its subject, and the operations of obscure lower level national security staff. Otherwise you may find that you purchased Merchant of Death but what was deliverd came from a merchant of tedium.



5. This well-written book was delivered on time and in good condition. My review title is light-hearted, the subject of the book is not. This is an inside look at the rise of Victor Bout, a former Soviet Air Force officer, as the superstar of modern gun running. The details of how he did it, and how the US and other nations and NGOs tracked and treated his organization, are all in the book. This is an eye-opener for the common citizen on one of todays most pressing transnational threats. >Sam