5 comments about Outlaw Biker: My Life At Full Throttle.

1. Absolutly the worse Autobiography I have ever read. An unbelievably boring and uneventful biker story. Do not waste a nickel on this book.



2. Dick Hayes's story "Outlaw Biker: My Life at Full Throttle" is perhaps one of the few realistic, centerline stories of a man who adopted the 1%er lifestyle and the motorcycle that goes with it as his way of living life. He is not a Sonny Barger nor a Ruben Cavazos, but rather a run-of-the-mill guy / biker who lived the bulk of his life on the fringes of society with all that entails...that's why he calls himself an outlaw biker.
   
   In the macro picture he's your average 1%er and he describes how really unromantic the daily doings of a outlaw rider are despite the few, primarily criminal, "bright spots" - all that ultimately lead to either the hospital, the courts, or prison from what Dick describes.
   
   As with nearly all bios and auto-bios coming from this slice of the criminal culture, little if any remorse is extended to the victims of the outlaw biker world's dependence on drug dealing, theft, firearms trafficking, sexual slavery, assault, murder, rape, domestic violence and all those other society-killing activities that keep him and those like him rolling on two wheels.
   
   This exclusion of individual responsibility is yet another affirmation coming from the 1%er sub-culture of why Hunter Thompson ended his book on the Hells Angels with this advice from "The Heart of Darkness", the classic tome of Man at his very worst -
   
   "The horror! The horror!...Exterminate all the brutes!"
   
   Cleanly written, easy to put down and pick back up again, kudos to his co-writer for bringing it to life in print.



3. I really enjoyed reading Deadeye's book. As I read it I felt like I was sitting next to him in a bar listening to him tell stories. There were parts of it that made me laugh out loud and there were parts that made me think that this guy is insane. He has definitely lead an interesting life. My book club was lucky enough to meet him. By talking to him in person you would never guess that he has done so many "bad" things. I am looking forward to his next book.



4. This book is about an interesting character but, not really a biker book.
   Not bad but, not outstanding.



5. First off, the book is not terribly well written. It's almost as if the stories were simply dictated and typed out.
   
   As a biography, it's relatively weak. There is little insight into the author/main character and some of the material seems to stretch credulity. The author seems unable to examine his own lifestyle in any detail or with any real honesty.
   
   Some of the stories are interesting for a while, but it's not a very good book and you'll grow bored with it in a hurry.

5 comments about My Bloody Life: The Making of a Latin King (Illinois).

1. I'll keep this short: My Bloody Life was not a very thoughtful book. I don't want to disparage the efforts of the author, who clearly had a fantastic story to tell. But I got the sense from reading the book that the story was told because he felt that someone needed to tell it, not because he felt he understood it in some greater sense. There are moments of clarity where he states or alludes to some grand narrative of life that the events fit into, but those moments clash with each other indicating that he's not really sure what that narrative is.
   
   I read this book along with classmates in a teacher education course, and we discussed whether we thought it was educationally valuable to read this book as opposed to some other one. We decided that it was probably beneficial for what I termed the "oh crap" factor of surprising folks that didn't know what gang life could be like. At the same time though, the class agreed that reading this book might give readers the impression that every gang is like this one and that every kid in a rough neighborhood is gang-affiliated. Please don't walk away with that understanding.



2. A great book! Once you start reading the book you can't stop. Open your eyes to reality and helps you not to judge people and see what they act like that and why is the reason behind the life style they had taken.



3. I was definitely interested in reading this book, but the fact that the "spanish" written in the book was more like spanglish, incorrect grammar, with spanish definitions completely inaccurate made me believe that this was not truly an autobiographical memoir. But when the author proceeds to state that Puerto Ricans were being deported back the island during this time of his life in the book. That is when I finally said ENOUGH!!! Puerto Ricans are AMERICAN CITIZENS BORN TO A COMMOM WEALTH NATION THAT BELONGS TO THE USA!! Before an author begins to write a "true autobiographical/memoir" get your facts straight! A proud Puerto Rican knows his/her facts! Interesting book to read, but please, take it with a grain of salt, and remember; all that you read is not always true!



4. This is one of the best books I've ever read. once you start reading, you just don't want to stop you want to find out what will happen in the next chapter. It's such a great real story.



5. For all of those people who ask -- Why gangs? This book exists. This boy who really didn't even want to be a gangster gets pulled into the undertow and becomes one of the most violent. If all teens could read this, gang activity might keep slowing down.

5 comments about Once a King, Always a King: The Unmaking of a Latin King.

1. Once A King Always A King.
   The Unmaking of a Latin King.
   Author:Reymundo Sanchez. 283 pp.
   Independent Publishers Group. $24.00
   
   Reymundo Sanchez is motivational in urging gang members to abandon their lives on the street and start again. Temptations are constantly presented, however, the long-term satisfaction of accomplishments outweigh the temporary obstacles. Reymundo also reminds the other members of society that there are countless problems caused by this dangerous activity. In short, "Once A King Always A King" is written to merge a world full of crime with the unresponsive public to exhibit the need for the world to "refocus."
   The author's name, Reymundo Sanchez is the pseudonym for a former Latin King member no longer living in Chicago. Due to the fact that the story is a personal account, the hidden identity is acceptable. Although there is no way to locate this man, it is easy to recognize some of his work. "Once A King Always A King" is written as a sequel to a book entitled "My Bloody Life."
   Reymundo reaches his goal through the rawness of events and crude conclusion. An example of the effectiveness in simplicity is when "Rey" begins to develop strong feelings for a brilliant Puerto Rican woman named Marilyn. Sanchez says: "I respect you so much for what you have accomplished in your life, in the same period of time that I have done nothing. And now, well; now not only do I respect you but also I feel so good when I'm with you. I don't think I can say that about any other woman who has come into my life." Seeing thrugh the eyes of a substance-abuser who lacks education, a supportive family, and real freedom adds a genuine presence to each word.
   Even after living a comfortable lifestyle where I have been offered opportunities ranging from culture to extracarricular activities, this book has allowed me to accept Reymundo Sanchez as a person who stands to represent thousands. Unfortunately, the intensity results in a very graphic novel filled with inappropriate language, which limits age reccomendation. Nonetheless, editing would make the book flowery. Gang life in Chicago deserves accurate representation. Hopefully, closing the book will not push the isses aside. Instead, you will be instilled with a desperate desire to keep future generations off the streets. Life has so much to offer. Bring people back today.



2. Heads up to anyone that is about to read/purchase this book! I previously read Reymundo Sanchez previous book about his life as a Latin King, and though I did not believe all which he had written; I did consider it an interesting book. Unfortunately, in this current book, if you read VERY carefully, Sanchez states that this is not an autobiographical memoir, but rather a true-life story about the LIVES OF A FEW Latin King members made into the fictional life of ONE PERSON!!!! Therefore, like I had previously thought,this book is not at all true! Sanchez is a good writer and he must be given credit for that. But, he shouldn't have written this story as his own true-to-life events, when in fact it was based on happenings that occurred to a few of friends. Sanchez converts all of this information into one fictional person for his book, wants us to believe this his his true-life sob story!



3. I found this book very interesting and informative, but it's poorly and childish written... It's very easy to read, I finished it in just a couple of hours...Reymundos story is great, but he lacks professionalism.



4. I live in the neighborhood and see the same things that the author went through in the youth today. Gang life destroys neighborhoods and familys and it saddens me to know that life continues to get worse for these young confused children that don't have God in their life.



5. In a world dominated by drugs, sex, and violence Raymundo Sanchez begins to see an exit to the Latin Kings, one of Chicago's most feared Latino Gangs. He knows that to leave the gang will mean taking a three minute head to toe beating by three Latin Kings, something which could easily leave him dead.
   
   Having earned the name "Lil Loco" in the prequel My Bloody Life for his random acts of violence and his alcohol, drug, and sex addictions Sanchez is now faced with the ultimate decision. Leave the Latin Kings once and for all or become more involved and continue his path to self destruction.
   
   After being arrested, Sanchez has to face jail time which allows him to slow down his life and see things from a different perspective. He begins to see the Latin King's original message, to protect the Puerto Rican community, has faded and is now overcome by power and greed. The Latin Kings have turned on each other.
   
   He must deal with their motto, "once a king, always a king." If he leaves the gang life he will always be haunted by his past. Others will always see him as a Latin King even if he's not involved. His life will always be in danger by rival gangsters.
   
   The inability to keep a relationship due to his pimp lifestyle causes him to leave the one person who truly loved him. He must fight nightmares night after night, reliving the moments of death and pain he caused others.
   
   Raymundo Sanchez's journey as he tries to leave the Latin Kings illustrates the struggle of leaving the gang life but in the end it proves well worth it.

5 comments about BLOW: How a Small-Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All.

1. Blow is a classic smuggling tale and one of the first of this genre that I ever read. The book offers more insight than the movie. I recommend this book to anyone wanting a fast easy read.



2. Ive seen the movie and read the book about this story, and the book is much better. The movie isn't that bad and is played well by Johnny Depp, however, the book just goes into greater detail of which the movie doesn't and leaves some important things out. It is a good book and I highly recommend it. Other great works on cocaine cartels are Mark Bowden's "Killing Pablo" and Gus Gugliota and Jeff Lean's "Kings of Cocaine".



3. This book drags all the way through. I was hoping to hear more of the 'horrors' of the times in prison and the nastiness of the creeps that George Jung had to deal with (including himself) in the drug business. This book falls flat.



4. I loved the Movie, and finally read the book. The book is great! Better than the movie, partly because it's so much more in-depth. The characters are captivating (especially the star, George Jung), the story flows nicely. I learned so much about the cocaine business and what goes on in the underground world of cocaine dealing. George Jung was an incredibly risky guy. A strong-willed personality who decided he was going to make it happen. And he did just that!
   
   If you enjoyed the movie, you will love the book!



5. If you want to understand George Jung this is the book to read. After you read this you'll have a new appreciation for how cleverly the movie was made. Sadly, the real George had some sexual habits discussed in the book that would of been better left unsaid, that don't add to the story and only tend make him sound bad. Never the less, it gives you a clear picture of how he was used as an example and given a much harsher sentence than was warrented. George Jung should be a free man today. He's more than payed his debt to society!!!!!

5 comments about Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.

1. Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unlikely sources and in this case from a death row inmate! A great lesson in humility, a wonderful reminder that all life has value, and an opportunity to be reminded that each person can find a way to make a difference.



2. Its quite an amazing book. Just at a literary level, it is good but not spectacular. But when you combine the content and the actual context, it moves you; it fills you with hope, a sense of beauty in our existence and experiences as human beings, a sense of peace and serenity. My hats off to Jarvis! I am amazed at what he has accomplished and I am inspired to continue to try to be a better human being myself.



3. I first spotted this book when I had half an hour up my sleeve on the way to a visit at Bunbury Prison. It moved me big time.
   
   
   In my working capacity over the years as a teacher and facilitator within the Western Australian Prison system I have often used chapters of this book as a pivotal point in my classes.
   
   
   I am sure Jarvis would be pleased to know that this book has moved the lives of many - including that of many prisoners. To demonstrate how freedom can be found under circumstances of incarceration until death with stories that prisoners can truly relate to is an awesome feat.
   
   
   The story about the 4th of July really provoked much deep and meaningful discussion.
   
   
   'Scars', and 'My Sisters' really got them thinking too.
   
   
   
   
   
   But this book is not only of great benefit to prisoners; it's messages are universal to us all.



4. This book was an easy read, and gave me a good sense of what it was like for Masters to go from angry to peaceful in prison. It's not professionally written, but one wouldn't expect it to be. I think it would be interesting to people who study prison psychology, violence, Buddhism and meditation, and/or personal growth and transformation.



5. This book was deeply moving on many levels, but I was especially struck by how Jarvis Masters was able to find freedom possibly the worst situation one could be in, while many of us, with relatively good lives, never question our own imprisionment. We're all in one sort of prison or another. Jarvis was shown a path to his own freedom, and in the true Boddhisatva tradition, he makes that path clear to the rest of us. Jarvis is an inspiration and one hopes that his message will be read by all.

5 comments about Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail.

1. I coldn't put this down once I started it. The three other people I lent it to, felt the same way. It is an amazing story of one of the most bizarre prisons in the world and what it took to survive there for 4+ years.



2. In early 1998, while traveling solo through South America, I was told I had to visit Thomas McFadden when I got to LaPaz. After I visited Thomas, I told two other travelers, so I can see how his tour business was so large. When I came back to the USA, I only told a few people about visiting Thomas because being a female traveling alone it wasn't the smartest thing I ever did. So, when I read about this book in Oprah, I was so excited to read his story. I thought the book was very well written, easy to read and very entertaining; I think everyone who reads this book will like it.
   
   Some of the reviews don't believe his is for real, but I know he is. As far as embellishing I can't comment on that, but he is a very likeable guy. I spent the day with him as his visitor. He was extremely courteous and nice. In the afternoon, I didn't know how to repay him for showing me around so I asked what I could do for him. He wanted a pizza from outside the prison. When I came back with the Pizza it was when visiting hours were ending, so Thomas bribed the guards to let me in. I didn't know all this until later. I was brought to his section and locked in. At that moment, I was pretty scared. But, once I found Thomas, we had a fun time eating p



3. Marching Powder was a great read. Despite the actions that led Thomas McFadden into the San Pedro prison system, you root for him to succeed in this sub-world that is ruled by the best and worst of capitalism.



4. This is an amazing story. It really opened my eyes to whole nother world. Well written, never boring, this fascinating true story reads more like a novel than non-fiction. The main character, Thomas McFadden is a very likeable person. He seems very down to earth and very easy to relate to. I saw a lot of myself in him. The way he handled situations and his thought process is very similar to my own. I couldn't put this book down. I picked it up and stayed up til 6am reading it. Very impressing. I would reccomend this to anyone.



5. I read this book about 3 years ago. I never read a book with so much interest as this. It was very interesting, entertaining, frightening and attention grabbing. I am not sure if the story is 100% true but it certainly made a good read. I am planning to read the book again sometime soon.

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

1. I picked up this book thinking that I would enjoy it, but was disappointed in less than 20 pages. I pressed on past 100 pages only to find myself going crazy from the disjoined timeline.
   
   Long story short: They think blaming a single man (no matter how vile he is) for the woes of an entire continent is easier than blaming disjointed societies for tribal conflicts that are thousands of years old. The dilution that this one person is somehow changing the world for the worse lends itself to the dilution that a government can control people's blood-letting-hatred for each other. And thinking that all the killing in Africa is going to miraculously stop when Victor Bout is behind bars (now matter how much he deserves it) is insane. I see this book as a chronicle of how pie-in-the-sky liberal ideas are ineffective at solving the world's problems or even putting one man in jail. It gets an extra star for being hilarious albeit for the wrong reasons.



2. Interesting book, however very repetitive. Also jumps back and forth along the time line. Book is nothing more then testimonials from people who were employed or had contact with Victor Bout the arms dealer. However his rise to power is truly amazing.



3. This is a good read, but it could have been better. It's an interesting and thought provoking subject that is presented a little to matter of factly.



4. I thought that I would love this book. As it turns out, I only made it through about 100 pages. The information contained in the book is interesting to say the least, but it seems like it was less about Victor Bout and more about the coutries he was supplying with weapons. Every once in a while Bout's actions would be mentioned, then a long history of the civil war in some African nation would follow. The timeline is also somewhat confusing. On one page its 1993 then 3 pages later, its back in 1985. Then the next chapter its 2001, then to 1998.
   
   I didnt hate the book, I just found it difficult to read. I think a more linear timeline, and less info about war torn nations would have made for a better book. Just my opinion tho.



5. If you're buying this book to get a novelized version of the "Lord of War" film, look elsewhere. This book is a very, very non-fiction account of a wealth of data that has been assembled.
   
   Don't get me wrong, this was a fascinating and interesting read. The mountain of data the authors have collected is amazing. The story this data weaves is engaging and scary all at once.
   
   For a dry, VERY non-fiction book, it's still a very easy read.

5 comments about Mr. Capone: The Real - and complete - story of Al Capone.

1. This is a very well-written and interesting book. It's not a page turner but is very entertaining. If you like mafia books or movies...you will love this book.



2. This book is fantastically written. I picked it up in the book store and could not put it down. From Italy to his death, this book tells the entire story in fantastic detail. Without restating what other reviewers have already stated, I just wanted to say that this is one of the best biographies I have ever read. Meticulously researched and written, the details bring the book to life, making you feel like you are living in the 1920's, viewing everything. The book also does a good job of telling the story of the rival gangs and gangleaders in Chicago, like Bugs Moran and the Irish, as well as the contemporary politicians of the day. From the shootouts to the drug running, the bootlegging to the day-to-day of Al Capone, this book nearly reads like an action novel!
   
   Also, having lived in Chicago for two years, I really enjoyed the references to the neighborhoods and streets.
   
   Highly recommended.



3. this book gives an interesting aspect to the Capone story particularly in regard to Capone's Florida excursion. It seems Al went to Florida to escape the "heat" of Chicago but found the heat and humidity of Florida eventually put him in jail. The IRS investigated his holdings and possesions in Miami and Big Al found that all the rackets were already covered by business developers from Ohio. These snowbirds once they got a handle on Florida's vice industries weren't about to tolerate Capone and the attention he could bring to some of their more dubious business enterprises.In alot of works on Capone the writers make the point solely that there was moral outrage and this was enough for the state of Florida to want Capone out.However from the Schoenberg book read there is alot more involved in the reasons for the riddance of Capone. It seems his high profile was not welcome because it brought to much attention to the fishbowl and no respectable fish wants to be seen devouring the smaller ones.



4. Before I say much else, let me congratulate the author, Robert Schoenberg, on this work. This study of Al Capone is an elevation of the standards of biographical presentation, and I found it as enjoyable as it was informative. The word "fearless" also comes to mind, and by that I refer to Schoenberg's capacity to advocate his own carefully-formulated views on the real Al Capone, behind the enduring legend, the misunderstandings, and the deliberate misinformation long spread as character assassination.
   
   Exhaustively-researched, Mr. Capone---the book---does everything but bring Mr. Capone---the man---from his time into ours. Capone was comparatively no monster, nor was he a saint. He was no more ruthless than circumstances in his business ever required him to be, and was by degrees shrewd, wise, cautious, generous, fun-loving, tough, pious, forgiving, sadistic, kind, and patriotic. Capone's philanthropy has never received the coverage it deserves, and his philandering has been too focused upon. Capone, let's not forget to mention here, made his name and rose to power on the strength of his talents as a peacemaker among the warring ethnic gangs of the east coast. A deft negotiator who could be trusted to deal fairly with all sides and to keep his word when given, Capone had far more friends than enemies in the underworld, and it was the strength of these alliances that he drew upon in the 1920's when he made his move to become the top power-broker in the city of Chicago: not the most powerful underworld figure, THEE most powerful person in America's second-city.
   
   Capone was a larger than life figure, and a man with as many weaknesses as talents. Foremost among his weak points was his all-possessing vanity. This vanity drove him to revel in the publicity and fame he both intentionally created and magnified via his extensive influence on the Chicago press. (It's said by 1930 there wasn't a Chicago newsman worth his salt who hadn't had dinner with Al Capone.) This desire for the spotlight put Capone into international headlines, and made him the focus of seemingly every legitimate law enforcement agent with any ambition. Schoenberg's emphasis on the role played by members of the Treasury Department, men unknown today in comparison to the self-promoting Elliot Ness, a being every bit as obsessed with his own celebrity as was his foe Al Capone, is especially refreshing.
   
   Schoenberg portrays Capone's pragmatism and realistic attitude about the conviction for tax evasion that eventually sent him to prison, first in Georgia, later in Alcatraz. Beneath his bravado ("I plan to spend a third of my sentence asleep.") Capone made the best of the bitter hand he was dealt. We come in the last chapters to meet the most surprising incarnation of "Scarface Al" Capone, that of Capone the model inmate, a man too learned in hard wisdom to make trouble for himself among either the prison population, or those who governed it. Finally we see the sad final years of the one-time boss of Chicago, as he wastes away on a modest Florida estate, a victim of cardiac troubles and neurosyphilis. One final myth, that Capone's phobic reaction to needles prevented his receiving treatment for syphilis, is exploded, and the truth revealed at last: this being that because of America's involvement in the Second World War the penicillin used in the treatment of syphilis was virtually impossible to attain on the homefront, even for the dying, and even for a legend like Al Capone.
   
   Mr. Capone is among the best examples of biography I've ever read, and should be studied for what it brings to the field of research, as well as for its presentation of an oft-mythologized man. Easily a five-star book that I'd recommend without question. It's not only great, it's good.



5. Building and expanding upon the solid foundation previously laid by Pasley and Kobler and correcting old errors, and guided by the likes of top-notch Capone experts Mark Levell and Bill Balsamo, Schoenberg has crafted one of the best Capone biographies to date, far superior to Bergreen's ludicrous fluff. The author puts perhaps too much faith in the questionable testimony of "Born Again" hoodlum George Meyer but that is abbreviated and an almost a minor aside in this comprehensive, well-researched bio of America's all-time greatest gangster.

5 comments about Fish: A Memoir of a Boy in a Man's Prison.

1. I read a great review of this book on a writer's blog & couldn't wait to read it! It truly is a courageous story and I admire Parsell for sharing such difficult memories. Bravo!



2. I suppose my title is strange for a book about this subject---but it was really wonderful and I see everyone else liked it too. This is going to be a book I KEEP on my shelves, usually I get rid of the book after I read it. I couldn't wait to pick it up again. Most autobiographies I don't like, they don't tell the whole story, but T.J. Parsell really, really bares his soul to us and I thank him. And he's really come so far in life since his prison days.
   
   There was just about every emotion and feeling there can be in this book. Love, hate, tenderness, violence, understanding, friendship, rage, openness, awareness, brutality, isolation, confusion, sadness and maybe even a little bit of joy.
   
   What a book!! I'm going to write T. J. I'm so glad he turned out alright. The letters at the end made me cry.



3. This book is well written and you don't need to use your imagination that often. T.J. Parsell goes into explicit detail of his life experiences. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has questions about young people in prison.



4. I finished this book about a year and a half ago, it was so intense a read for me at the time, that I gave it away as soon as I finished it, I didn't even want it sitting on my shelf. It's one of the most depressing things I've ever read, ironically making it a great story, one of the best I've read. Really changed my perspective on things, I'm heterosexual and used to be fairly closed-minded about those who were otherwise, but now I'm not so quick to judge a homosexual person. Also, it is a real eye-opener for many I'm sure on the topic of male-rapes inside prison, and the injustices with this system in general. He got, what, $50 for robbing some photoshop with a toy gun? Ok so I can see giving him a month in the county jail, not 4 years in prison, get real. We need to demand for a reform in this country as far as this "corrections" system goes, even the horrors at Abu Ghraib are NOTHING compared to what goes on daily inside American prisons. I highly recommend this book, and "Inside by Michael G. Santos", as two very-worthy books on what life is like inside of walls and fences. This book will haunt.



5. This book is beautifully written, despite the raw and brutal scenes it depicts. Its' well-organized structure reads like a novel and there is an abundance of dialogue, presumably based on the author's memory of the events which occurred more than twenty-five years ago. The brutal nature of the prison system is realistically described with every page steeped in the personal feelings of the author tempered by time. Most poignant in the memoir, in my reading, was the depiction of the true first love that the author, who comes to realize he is gay, experiences with a boy of his own age, while still in prison. Eventually the lovers are separated as the writer is released from prison and the lover, Paul, remains in jail for years to come. After twenty-five years Tim, the author, writes to Paul, telling him how much he loved Paul and what an enormous impact he had had on Tim's developement while they were lovers. Paul responds with sentiments of his own reflecting how important their relationship had meant to him. These two letters together were one of the highlights of the book for me. They expressed tenderness, gratefulness, and love of one another, while recognizing that the past is gone and they have eached moved on in their lives. The memoir as a whole was a great read and a touching personal story.

5 comments about Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia.

1. This book rivals The Valachi Papers and is even written by the same author Peter Maas.It gives a good insiders view of the lies and deceptions of the mob.Gravano was able to navigate the "mob" system,make alot of money and get out before either he or his family were killed.In addition by turning "States Evidence" as did Joe Valachi,he helped put a spotlight on the "Mob" and from a read of this book,"Cosa Nostra" would not be a life to envy or emulate.
   Gotti is portrayed as truly a media infatuated figure of the eighties,a mob superstar smiling for the cameras seeming to say,"Hey look at all the fun we're having and the law can't touch us"!Did his tailor also design suits for PTL's Jim BAKKER?(My own obsevation).With all the murder,lies and deceit in this book you would have to conclude that anyone in the Cosa Nostra is capable of any crime confessed to by Gravano.I must say a whole book filled with such unadmirable and deceitful characters you will have trouble finding.
   One small anecdote from the book sums it well.John Gotti proudly tells "Chin" Gigante that he has made his own son John Gotti Jr. a "made " member of the Cosa Nostra.Chin,also a "made" member, in an honest and spontaneous reply says,"Jeez, I'm sorry to hear that"!Gravano has done an excellent job and this book definitely rivals Maas' The Valachi Papers.This book does to the Gambino "Family", what Valachi did to the Genovese "Family".



2. This is an interesting look at the mob from someone who was a made member of the Cosa Nostra. Sammy the Bull Gravano is no angel and he pulls no punches, as he regales the reader with his tale of growing up on the mean streets of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn as the dyslexic son of Italian immigrants. A high school drop-out, Sammy graduated from local street gangs to the Cosa Nostra, taking a blood oath of silence. So much for promises.
   
   This book is a series of taped interviews that are edited by the author, who interposes little analysis but serves to connect the dots. The feel of the book is gritty, and Sammy the Bull Gravano comes across as a reasonably intelligent person who made a knowing choice early on to enter into a lifestyle that was fraught with murder, larceny, greed, betrayal, and fear. The book documents his rise in the mob, until he becomes the underboss for the "Teflon Don", the ever dapper John Gotti.
   
   There is clearly little love lost between Sammy the Bull Gravano and the late John Gotti, who comes across as a narcissistic, egomaniacal, stupid, greedy thug. Of course, Sammy's take on himself, although a hard core made member of the mob, is that of a guy who was let down by the bosses who promised honor but did not know the first thing about it.
   
   While Sammy tries to whitewash himself, there is no getting around that he was a killer, a thief, and a thug. I doubt that Sammy would have talked, had he not felt that he was being set up by Gotti to take the fall for him. Clearly, Sammy's motive for blabbing to the Feds was not altruistic. Still, through his defection, Gravano was responsible for the conviction of many key mob figures. His impact on organized crime will be felt for some time to come. For those that are interested in reading about the Cosa Nostra, this is definitely a must read book for an insider's view of that lifestyle.



3. We all know by now the tragic story of John Gotti and Sammy Gravano. Here Sammy tells his side. I don't believe certain segments of this book because I know how the game goes and some things were not adding up. But he also admitted some things and did not seem to try to hide who he really was. All in all, it ends up with him flipping on John Gotti. But honestly, I don't think John left him any other alternative.



4. I love the stories about the NY crime families. Obviously I didn't like the murders and the actual "taxes" they added to cost of so many goods and services.
   
   Sammy the Bull was not a good guy. However in a twisted way, we can learn a lot about dedication and hard work. It's too bad he needed crime to be successful, albeit temporarily. His work ethic could have made him a very successful honest businessman.
   
   In any event, this is a great book for those who remember the NY crime families of the 1980's - especially if you lived in Queens, Brooklyn, or Staten Island. I'm not saying that Mafia crime didn't happen in the other boroughs. It's just that most will remember the dumping grounds in Staten Island, the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, and Gotti's neighborhood of Queens as important areas to the Mafia.
   
   The NY media was obsessed with John Gotti. This book tells a different version of the story.



5. book is very good in detailing La Costra Nostra in NYC during early 70"s. mostly 80's- enjoyed it.