The Enforcer: Spilotro--The Chicago Mob's Man Over Las Vegas

Customer Reviews:

The Enforcer: Spilotro.......2007-01-30

I was looking for a good summary of mob connections between Las Vegas and other cities. The book does a pretty good job of summarizing Tony Spilotro's life and the activity of the Chicago and Milwaukee mobs in Las Vegas, but there is too much Bill Roemer in the book. It reads like a war story told over drinks in a tavern.

Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer for Whitey Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob

Average customer rating:

Much More Truthful than Kevin Weeks' "Brutal"
Best of Show
Better then a book about LA gang members
Tells it like it is!
ok but is it true

Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer for Whitey Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob
Edward J. Mackenzie , and Phyllis Karas
Manufacturer: Steerforth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1586420763
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Amazon.com

All due respect to the Gambinos and the Genoveses, but the Italian mob families aren't the only gangsters to make for compelling memoirs. In terms of relentless ruthlessness and its obsession with the almighty dollar, the Irish mob of Boston's James "Whitey" Bulger could match its New York counterparts hit for bloody hit. For decades, Edward J. MacKenzie, Jr. (a.k.a. Eddie Mac) was a drug dealer, enforcer, and key associate of Bulger (on the lam as this book was published). Mac's first-person account of those years is rife with more gory details per page than the entire last season of The Sopranos.

By the brutal code of honor and loyalty in the streets, the candid dishing of such dirt marks MacKenzie as a world-class rat, second only to Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano, the man who put John Gotti away. But Eddie Mac has some justification in spilling the beans; in exchange for his tips, the Feds turned a blind eye toward his crimes. (It's also worth nothing that Bulger himself was an informant for the FBI.) The author certainly doesn't portray himself as any sort of hero or "gangster with a heart of gold." Witness his charming account of one of many attempts to "enlighten" a wayward associate: "Probation notwithstanding, I had to open Steve's eyes a little. I headed over to Dunkin' Donuts and bought a cup of coffee for $1.24. Medium, black, scalding hot. . . .Steve was still in his car, sleeping like a baby. The window was down and he had his head against the door, hands under his cheeks. I poured the hot coffee down the side of his face, making sure to get some on his eyeballs. . . I swear if I'd had enough money to buy the gasoline that day that's what I would have done. . . but I'd only had $1.30, so the coffee had to do."

Although MacKenzie has not one but two ghost writers (Karas is a contributor to People magazine and the author of The Onassis Women, while Muscato is a self-described "strategic communications consultant"), the prose never rises above the level of the sleaziest pulp fiction. But that of course is exactly its appeal, and fans of the true-crime genre will find Street Soldier a supreme pleasure, guilty or not. --Jim DeRogatis

Book Description

For decades the FBI let James “Whitey” Bulger get away with murder, allowing him continued control of his criminal enterprise in exchange for information. He went on the lam in 1995 and today follows top-ranked Osama bin Laden on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List.
Edward J. MacKenzie, Jr. was a drug dealer and enforcer who would do just about anything for Bulger. In this compelling eyewitness account, Eddie Mac delivers the goods on his one-time boss and on such former associates as Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi and turncoat FBI agent John Connolly.
Street Soldier is also a story of the search for family, for acceptance, for respect, loyalty, and love. Abandoned by his parents at the age of four, Mackenzie became a ward of the state, suffered physical and sexual abuse, and eventually drifted into Bulger’s orbit.
The Eddie Mac who emerges in these pages is complex: An enforcer who was also a national kick-boxing champion; a womanizer who fought for custody of his daughters; a kid never given much of a chance who went on, as an adult, to earn a college degree in three years; a man who lived by a strict code of loyalty but also helped set up a sting operation that would net one of the largest hauls of cocaine ever seized.
Street Soldier is as disturbing and fascinating as a crime scene, as heart-stopping as a bar fight, and at times as darkly comic as Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction or Martin Scorsese’s Good Fellas.

Customer Reviews:

Much More Truthful than Kevin Weeks' "Brutal".......2007-10-19

I'm an Irish-Catholic guy in his 40's who grew up in Boston in the late 60's and 70's. I've read Streeet Soldier and Brutal several times each, and I personally believe much more of what Eddie Mac has to say about the "real" Whitey, as opposed to the relatively reverant tone in which Weeks still speaks of Whitey. Sure, Eddie Mac and Weeks are both equally dangerous sociopaths, and will surely go to Hell (assuming it exists) for all the evil they inflicted on their fellow human beings over the years. Having said that, Weeks still seems to be loyal to Whitey, and probably knows exactly where he is hiding out these days. For that reason, I don't believe a word he says when he defends Whitey against allegations that he was a rapist, a child molester, etc. Eddie Mac definitely gives the reader more insight into what Whitey was really like...and isn't that why we all read these books, anyway?

Best of Show.......2007-09-17

Better than the Kevin Weeks expose, and far grittier than the journalistic looks at the Bulger gang, this one takes the cake for depravity with readable writing to make it go down like acid. As Mob tales go, the Boston version is more blue collar, but every bit as riveting as insider looks at the best of the New York gangs. The early section on the author's depraved and deprived childhood is particularly chilling. If only these guys had been so literary back when they were actually gangsters, maybe they wouldn't have gotten into so much trouble.

Better then a book about LA gang members.......2007-03-17

After reading this you get a sence that these guys have more brains then LA gang memebers.
Who are basically just playing the roll.
Street soilder is exactly what he says he is.
Solider in a street of reality.
Ups and Downs from childhood to grownup.
Much better then anything you can pick up on California gang culture.

Tells it like it is!.......2006-07-24

I read the other South Boston Irish Mobs books recently, and find them all self serving and egotisitcal. Weeks, Shea, want us all to think they are the real deal, and can out fight anybody, then again, don't they all? In Mackenzie's book Street Soldier, he pulls no punches, basicaly tells it like it is! Calls himself a predator, a scumbag. etc. Mackenzie's book tops them all as far as taking the reader into the dark,hard world of the Irish Mob. He then describes the good with the bad, and explains brilliantly, "that in every bushell of apples, there's always a few bad ones." The other so called authors can Complain all they want about who's who, but the reviews tell it all, and Mackenzie has them all beat. I give Street Soldier five stars, the best of the bunch.

ok but is it true.......2006-05-12

the book will keep you interested,but is it true after reading Brutal and brother bulger and rat [...] you don't hear much about this guy so I can say this guys thinks he's bigger than who he is.

George Washington's Enforcers: Policing the Continental Army

Average customer rating:

George Washington's Enforcers: Policing the Continental Army
Harry M. Ward
Manufacturer: Southern Illinois University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0809326884

Book Description

A well-disciplined army was vital to win American independence, but policing soldiers during the Revolution presented challenges. George Washington’s Enforcers: Policing the Continental Army examines how justice was left to the overlapping duties of special army personnel and how an improvised police force imposed rules and regulations on the common soldier. Historian Harry M. Ward describes these methods of police enforcement, emphasizing the brutality experienced by the enlisted men who were punished severely for even light transgressions. This volume explores the influences that shaped army practice and the quality of the soldiery, the enforcement of military justice, the use of guards as military police, and the application of punishment.

Washington’s army, which adopted the organization and justice code of the British army, labored under the direction of ill-trained and arrogant officers. Ward relates how the enlisted men, who had a propensity for troublemaking and desertion, not only were victims of the double standard that existed between officers and regular troops but also lacked legal protection in the army. The enforcement of military justice afforded the accused with little due process support.

Ward discusses the duties of the various personnel responsible for training and enforcing the standards of behavior, including duty officers, adjutants, brigade majors, inspectors, and sergeant majors. He includes the roles of life guards, camp guards, quarter guards, picket men, and safe guards, whose responsibilities ranged from escorting the commander in chief, intercepting spies and stragglers, and protecting farmers from marauding soldiers to searching for deserters, rounding up unauthorized personnel, and looking for delinquents in local towns and taverns.

George Washington’s Enforcers, which includes sixteen illustrations, also addresses the executions of the period, as both ritual and spectacle, and the deterrent value of capital punishment. Ward explains how Washington himself mixed clemency with severity and examines how army policies tested the mettle of this chief disciplinarian, who operated by the dictates of military necessity as perceived at the time.

Average customer rating:

Its not fiction???
Enjoyable but Flawed
My Mind Wanders
I used to box in college!!! OH YA,did I mention Spilotro
Long on Fill ... Short on Substance

Enforcer
William F. Jr Roemer
Manufacturer: Ivy Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0804113106
Release Date: 1995-04-01

Book Description

Bugsy Siegel built Las Vegas, but it was Tony "The Ant" Spilotro who ran the show. Now William F. Roemer, Jr., veteran FBI agent and scourge of the Cosa Nostra, tells the shocking story of how a teenage wiseguy grew up to become "the man" in Vegas. From the gritty streets of Chicago to the neon-lit Nevada wonderland, Roemer assembles a rogue's gallery of the highest-ranking capos and the lowest creeps of organized crime. As incredible as any work of fiction -- but it's all fact!

Customer Reviews:

Its not fiction???.......2007-01-08

Incredible to think that as I turned each page of this fine book, that in fact it was not a work of fiction. It's factual, a story to rival any from the master himself, Mario Puzo, only this one is true!

Enjoyable but Flawed.......2006-03-25

Retired FBI Agent William Roemer (1926-1996) details the activities of mobster Tony Spilotro, alleged to be the Chicago mob's "heat" in Las Vegas during the 1970's. During those years the syndicate in Chicago and other Midwest cities skimmed millions of dollars from several Las Vegas casinos, an activity documented in the book (and movie) CASINO. After the skim was uncovered in the early 1980's, several Mafia bosses and teamster officials ended up in federal prison, while other figures ended up dead. At about that time, Spilotro's burglary crew was busted, turned informant, and in 1986 Spilotro and his brother were were found beaten and buried alive in an Indiana farm field.

Several reviewers have correctly noted that this book rambles, is light on documentation, and that the somewhat self-centered author was far from an "expert" on Spilotro and Las Vegas. Also, there seems to be debate on whether Spilotro was the syndicate's "heat" in Vegas or mostly a free lance gangster. I liked the book, but there are better books (CASINO by Nicholas Pileggi) available.

My Mind Wanders.......2005-07-06

Good object lesson in how Amazon reviews can save you money. I bought my copy on impulse, off the shelf. Fortunately, I only wasted $10. Considering today's book prices, it could have been more. Yes, the book is as ill-conceived and meandering as overwhelming number of reviews indicate. Unfortunately, there's precious little evidence of research anywhere in the text. No need to repeat points already made and so glaringly present in the book. Experience is a little like sitting with a good ol' boy at a boozy party, who can't wait to tell you all about rosy memories and great guys from days in the FBI, and, oh yeah, something about some guy named Spil ott ro, or was it Spil oh tro.

I used to box in college!!! OH YA,did I mention Spilotro.......2005-04-26

PLEASE DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!
Ive read several mafia books and this is by far the worst.
All Roemer talks about is him self theres actually very little about Spilotro???? He mentions and kisses up to every cop and agent he's ever meant??? He thinks J Edgar Hoover was god???
This book is extremely boring? hardly anything about Spilotro.
I dont even know why he bothered, after reading this book I would have given him my money not to write it!!! Complete waste of time!
Did you know that Roemer used to box in college? well you will when you read this book I dont think theres a single page that he doesnt mention it?(joke)
Each chapter starts with a couple paragraphs about Spilotro and then page after page about himself and everybody in the world BUT Spilotro???? THANKYOU

Long on Fill ... Short on Substance.......2005-03-04

I've read Roemer's other book: 'Accardo'. Roemer's biggest problem is that he fails to take himself out of his books, insisting on intermingling his own stories with those of his subjects. With 'Accardo' Roemer had a lot of strong data (he really knew Tony `Joe Batters' Accardo the 50 year Don of Chicago's Outfit), so in that book's case, he could get away with such mixings, mainly because he belonged mingled somewhat within his story (limits which I think Roemer crossed very often).

But in 'The Enforcer' Roemer seemed almost as if he'd obtained most of his information from second hand sources. Here this continuous digression into his own history further dilutes an already weak factual accounting of his subject: Tony 'The Ant' Spillatro.

In short in The Enforcer it was as if Roemer were merely trying to add some girth to an otherwise 'thin' book.

Hitler's Enforcers: The Gestapo and the SS Security Service in the Nazi Revolution

Average customer rating:

Nazism - a 2 way attitude.

Hitler's Enforcers: The Gestapo and the SS Security Service in the Nazi Revolution
George C. Browder
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Foundations Of The Nazi Police State: The Formation Of Sipo And SD

ASIN: 019510479X

Book Description

This first socio-organizational history of the Gestapo, the SD, and the regular detectives of the Third Reich, 1932-1937, this book explores the roots of their roles in police terror and programs of mass murder. These personnel helped to form the character and missions of their organizations, which were not simply created from above by Hitler, Himmler, or Heydrich. Hitler's Enforcers is based on research at 34 archives in Germany and the United States, including the personnel files of over 1,000 former members, and is the first such study to benefit from the German documents captured by the Soviets and Poles and kept secret until recently.

Customer Reviews:

Nazism - a 2 way attitude........2000-06-25

Nazism - you can either look upon this subject fondly or not so fondly. This is a great book for both causes. I started reading this book not knowing what to think and I have come out thinking in two seperate directions. I feel that, of course, Adolf Hitler was in the wrong yet he had motives behind his actions. This is a great book to set your mind clesr of any old myths.

Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers

Average customer rating:

Earth-Shaking Paradigm Shift from a Very Prominent Biologist
Rhetoric Against a Needed Science
A brilliantly written book
The work of a good scientist, an abysmal social commentator
The author breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics.

Exploding the Gene Myth: How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers
Ruth Hubbard , and Elijah Wald
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807004316

Book Description

How Genetic Information Is Produced and Manipulated by Scientists, Physicians, Employers, Insurance Companies, Educators, and Law Enforcers With a new Preface "With their rich array of citations and examples . . . [Hubbard and Wald] show how the marriage of science and business . . . has created that most treacherous of American progeny: commerce masquerading as human liberation." -Daniel Callahan, The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

Earth-Shaking Paradigm Shift from a Very Prominent Biologist.......2004-10-28

Ruth Hubbard is a professor emerita of biology at Harvard and a member of the Council for Responsible Genetics, a prominent national bioethics board. In this book (co-written with her son-in-law, Elijah Wald), she takes everything you think you know about genes, genetic health care screening, DNA fingerprinting, the Human Genome Project, and the search for a gay gene and other behavior-related genes, and blows your mind by explaining, point by point, exactly how unreliable, meaningless, and discriminatory each of these much-lauded technologies is. After reading this book, you'll never read a newspaper article about the latest genetic study the same way again. Don't miss it.

Rhetoric Against a Needed Science.......2001-11-18

Ruth Hubbard uses the rhetoric of exaggeration to try to convince us to abandon genetic research. But if genes didn't matter then monkeys could talk and if environment didn't matter then we wouldn't have schools. Obviously they BOTH matter.

Let us use the objective methods of science to document the specifics of what is genetically determined and what is environmentally determined.

Any serious AIDS researcher knows that without genetic research we have no chance of defeating AIDS. Obviously we need to study genetics to maintain progress against disease.

A brilliantly written book.......1999-10-28

Dr. Hubbard gives her readers much to think about, and she backs up everything she's written. She explains how the popularly-held reductionist view of genetics does not tell the whole story. Her book explains how the public often only hears one side of the story when it comes to the potential of the latest genetic technologies.

The work of a good scientist, an abysmal social commentator.......1999-08-29

Hubbard does deserve credit for throwing some skepticism on "the next big thing" in science, genetic technology. Unfortunately, she combines her skeptical analysis with her hopelessly egalitarian political views, obscuring any positive contributions this book could have. Hubbard goes through every expected cliche - Nazi imagery (social pundits never tire of this), playing the "race card, and discouraging scientific progress as "unneccessary". Read this book only if you wish to glimpse the future of awful politically-correct rhetoric.

The author breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics........1998-10-02

A 5-star book. If there weren't so much hype about gene therapy there would be no need for this book. But bad science and misinformation coming from those with commercial or political interests has given the American public the idea that gene therapy has possibilities. To date, gene therapy has not cured one disease. Ruth Hubbard finally breaks ranks to reveal the truth about genetics.

After Capone: The Life And World Of Chicago Mob Boss Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti

Average customer rating:

All you need to know about the real Nitti
The enforcer
All you need to know about Mr Nitto
Excellent Biography
Great Book

After Capone: The Life And World Of Chicago Mob Boss Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti
Mars Eghigian Jr.
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581824548

Book Description

Meticulously combining previously scattered accounts with abundant fresh research, AFTER CAPONE provides a comprehensive and arousing portrait of underworld boss Frank Nitti and his gang's far-reaching power emanating from Chicago in the 1930s. The last word on the life of the cunning mob boss, his life experiences, the people around him, and organized crime in Chicago after Al Capone, this in-depth analysis, based on many years of research and supported by original sources from state and federal archives, is the definitive reference on Nitti's violent life and times.

AFTER CAPONE traces Nitti (born Francesco Raffele Nitto—his name was misspelled on early bond and arrest warrants, and the press always seemed to pen him as "Frank Nitti") from his Italian origins and entry and rise in Chicago's underworld mob to his near-fatal shooting by city detectives, his strange death, and the ultimate downfall of those associated with him. In addition to dispelling popular notions as that Nitti followed Capone to Chicago and was Scarface's cousin, author Mars Eghigian provides an all-encompassing view of Nitti's criminal activities, which stretched farther beyond Chicago than those of any other organized crime family until that time.

Following Capone's incarceration and his eventual release from prison on income tax charges, Nitti was the driving force that expanded the Chicago mob's operations. Moving away from the illegal booze that was the gang's mainstay during Prohibition, he led the mob into the legitimate distribution of alcohol after repeal, labor union racketeering, and attempts to control illicit gambling from coast to coast.

AFTER CAPONE is the first book to present the complete, never-before-told story of one of America's leading crime kingpins. A fascinating and chilling account of mob power, it stands as proof that sometimes fact is indeed stranger than fiction.

Customer Reviews:

All you need to know about the real Nitti.......2007-09-09

Mars Eghigian tirelessly did his research on this one and it shows. Nitti wasn't "the Enforcer" the press had bestowed on him. He was very trustworthy, but personally lacked the violence needed to balance the brainy part in organized crime. He had no problem delegating that part. Learn about his true origins, his family, wives and son. Eghigian dispells many rumors and halftruths concerning the man who was Al's choice to substitute him whenever he was away.
I really enjoyed learning new unknown facts about Nitti. This book has helped my website shine even more.

Mario Gomes
myalcaponemuseum

The enforcer.......2007-04-02

A great book. First one on Frank Nitto. Must read Capone by Laurence Bergreen first in order to understand what is going on in this book. They really go hand in hand. Typo errors are bad but authors research is impeccable. Hope he will do another book.

All you need to know about Mr Nitto.......2006-12-16

This book finally reveals the life of Frank Nitto, Chicago gangster and eventual mob crime boss in that city after the IRS puts Capone in jail at Alacatraz. The level and amount of research in this book is amazing, Mars Eghigian has written a well balanced and meticulous book about Nitto who for so long has been in the shadow of Capone. At 528 pages it is a long read but worth the effort for true crime history buffs.

Nitto comes across as an intelligent, quick thinking criminal who also happened to be a workaholic, once invovled in the rackets, Nitto took to it like a duck in water, he was a good organizer and reader of human nature and was a steady backup to Capone who eventually came to rely heavily on Nitto's judgements and ability. The formative early years of Nitto's life is also covered well, especially his early years in New York and his relationship with his family.

The book explains clearly his role in the Chicago crime scene and there is plenty of information about his relationships with other criminals in the Chicago mob such as Capone, Ricca etc. The strange demise of Nitto and the downfall of some of his henchman is well covered and there is a good and well informed account of the eventual fate of the members of the the Chicago mob.

Excellent Biography.......2006-11-22

Being interested in this book's subject matter - Frank Nitti, Capone, Chicago in the 1920's and 30's, etc - I bought this book simply on its title, having read no reviews nor hearing anything about it. After reading this book I am surprised that there hasn't been any fanfare or at least word of mouth recommending it, especially here in Chicago. This is an extremely well-written, interesting, engaging and entertaining book. First and foremost it is a biography of Frank Nitti(o) but that story is expertly intertwined with a narrative of Chicago politics, culture, crime and many of the associated personalities on both sides of the law - with some being on either side at any given time. I won't spend time (words) chronicling all that's in this book; the author does a much better job than I ever will. My point is simply this - if you have an interest in this "era" and its "players" you will not go wrong with After Capone. In fact I would recommend this as a "prequel" to Gus Russo's excellent book, "The Outfit"
The only negative is the number of typos. Such carelessness by a publisher in this day and age is simply astounding.

Great Book.......2006-11-01

Mars Eghigian has written a great book on organized crime from this era.
If you are interested in organized crime, or just Chicago history, this is a must read.

The Enforcer: Johnny "Pops" Papalia: A Life and Death in the Mafia

Average customer rating:

A brilliant book about the Canadian Mafia and Johnny Pops
The Truth
A great read!
An amazing story of the history of MAFIA in Hamilton Ontario

The Enforcer: Johnny "Pops" Papalia: A Life and Death in the Mafia
Adrian Humphreys
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0006384935

Book Description

For close to 40 years, gangsters across Canada bowed to the fearsome will of Johnny "Pops" Papalia, the Mafia chieftain who rose from a working-class ghetto in Hamilton, Ontario to hold a tenuous grip on organized crime.

National Post reporter Adrian Humphreys followed Papalia's career and in his book, The Enforcer: Johnny Pops Papalia--A Life and Death in the Mafia, published by HarperCollins, he tracks the rise to power and gangland slaying of Canada's Capone after more than four decades in the Mafia.

Customer Reviews:

A brilliant book about the Canadian Mafia and Johnny Pops.......2007-05-28

This is one of the best books about organized crime/mafia l have ever read; it is concise, factual and full of much detail and well reasoned explanations, it was great to read a book by a journalist who has done his research well and is also a very good writer. This book brilliantly captures the rise of Johnny Pops and the Mafia in Canada, especially Hamilton, Ontario in the 20th century.

All the rackets of gambling, stand over, [...], labor and drugs are well covered and explained as the author links various criminals together and how they interacted, co-operated and fought each other. The book details the violent, and uncertain world of Johnny Pops and other criminals and Pops comes across as a man who was scared of nothing except the tax man and later in life going back to jail where he spent a quarter of his life. This book is great read for true crime buffs.

The Truth.......2000-06-14

I read this book 3 times and every time I learned something new. I can honestly say that I already knew all this. I am Frankie's adopted son. I didn't know much about this buisness and when I asked he himself told me to read this book. After never understanding I understand. And I garentee you that this book is a real life and indepth look at life in the real Canadian Mob. It will tell you about the family's buisness and personal affairs. If you have ever wondered about the inner workings of a true Mafia family, this book will tell you. Nothing sugarcoated just the truth.

A great read!.......2000-03-15

Probably the best Canadian organized crime history yet! And I have read several.With Pops killed and the Musitanos getting 10 years (Feb 5/00),the Papalia story continues. What's next for Organized crime in Canada?

An amazing story of the history of MAFIA in Hamilton Ontario.......1999-11-15

The Enforcer is a wonderful book for anyone who has a feeling for the life of the mafia. Johnny Papalia was a one of a kind who beat all the odds in life and the mafia. This book is highly recomended. 5 Stars

Bail Enforcer: The Advanced Bounty Hunter

Average customer rating:

Based on Pure Myth
I Wont Let Anyone Borrow This Book
An interesting book
A good book, but not revolutionary.
good book

Bail Enforcer: The Advanced Bounty Hunter
Bob Burton
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0873645782

Book Description

America's most successful bounty hunter reveals advanced details and tricks of hunting and capturing humans. Learn how to obtain an arrest contract, surveillance tips, what to wear during a bust, how to work with the police, hazards of the use of deadly force, how to avoid your own arrest, legal precedents of the trade and more.

Customer Reviews:

Based on Pure Myth.......2005-10-26

Wow. Incredible. This book shows how Hasan ibn Sabbah's assassins secretly boarded an enemy's boat. Sabbah's castle wasn't exactly ocean-front or lake-front property. But never mind that.

This book is based on pure myth. If you want good pure myth, read the novel on Hasan ibn Sabbah -- ALAMUT by Vladimir Bartol. At least that book was a bestseller across Europe, so it has some credibility. If you want greater truth on Sabbah and his so-called "cult," read Bernard Lewis (The Assassins) or Farhad Daftary (The Assassin Legends). Neither book will tell you how to assassinate your spouse's secret lover, but you won't regret the money you spend once you've finished, and you'll actually have learned something about terror, myth and civilization.

I Wont Let Anyone Borrow This Book.......2005-09-13

Not because I think the information is secret or anything, just that I would hate to see one of my irresponsible associates mess it up. One of the first books by Dr.HaHa Lung I have purchased, I find it interesting and educational. The drawings are a little uh... well, the book makes up for them. Oh, and 2 things, if you were going to do anything in that book get Night Movements(the japanese/english translation), Art of War (the WAR not business or other BS association) and a decent medicinal anatomy book. You can learn more from those three than any NINJA book - or you can just get "Im An Idiot And Want To Be Shot In the Face - For Dummies". Secondly, if you think the Stephen Hayes' books are educational or more instructive - you dont need to buy the book in quotations above, you wrote it. So go ninja-hop off a cliff. or something.

An interesting book.......2004-12-23

First, for Roger in Las Vegas...if your review is for real, and you went around dressed as a ninja, you were asking for it.

For the fellow in Seattle...sorry to hear that. In the US, 75% of the time a martial artist goes to court, they lose. Public perception (even in cases of self defense) is, "That karate guy didn't have to beat up that guy (or guys) so bad."

As for the book, a most interesting history lesson indeed. As for the techniques in the book, as a reviewer stated here no one is going to become a fighter by reading a book about it.
I did find the illustrations (pencil sketches) most interesting in that quite often the victim is made to look like a Crusader with a huge cross on his shirt. Unlike other martial arts books, the knife techniqures are also illustrated with the knife being plunged into someone's body. There's no doubt the illustrations are to teach Islam's view of all "infidels" along with the techniques. If you don't think so, check out the illustration of the captive in a cage or box, and the assassin standing over him holding a knife....and the captive's head.
(The only other time I've seen such ilustrations was in a translated KGB manual and victims were shown in US Army uniforms, with 1st CAV. Div. patches).

I will say this for the book- at least it doesn't start out with 25 lapel grabs and other such things geared for 1800's Japan. In comparison to the run of the mill martial art book, it's a book on bare-handed assassination techniques and knife techniques. We are definitley not talking "dojo ballet" here.

A good book, but not revolutionary........2004-07-20

The book is mostly a history book on the hashishin cult, many techniques are covered but Lung tends to not highlight them, so they are dispersed freely around in the text, i.e., the psychological warfare techniques used to plot two enemies against one another. As for the physical fighting techniques, they're pretty ok but this book, as all other books does in no way make a reader a better fighter simply by reading it. A fighter is as good as the amount of training he puts into his fighting skill, there is no simpler way of saying it.

good book.......2004-06-09

This is a good book. If your familiar with Lung's other work you will like this too. However this isnt in my opinion Lung's best it was still quite good. Lots of interesting history, more history than in his other books. Also I just have to say, Roger, for someone who thouroghly read this book you must have missed the disclaimers, FOR ACADEMIC USE ONLY!!! You don't learn how to fight especially entire gangs from a book and if your that unintelligent to not understand that, then im afraid you got what you had coming. Your lucky you didn't get killed.

Average customer rating:

The Enforcer-Secrets of my life with the Krays

The Enforcer
Albert Donoghue , and Martin Short
Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 185782525X

Customer Reviews:

The Enforcer-Secrets of my life with the Krays.......2007-01-10

A very good back-ground work to the underworld in England in the 1960's, with particular reference to the "Firm"-the Kray brothers crime empire which was the dominant force in the London East end gangs of that era.
Recommended to anyone interested in the violent reality behind the almost mythical status accorded to the Kray's influence in the East End.

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