Rating: 
Summary: Please don't heed the ignorant
Review: Having just this second finished the book, i jumped onto the internet for more information. I then found these reviews by the ignorant and felt I should put my own two penneth in. In 1974, during my 4 year investigation into the Kennedy assasination, I was fortunate enough to meet and interview Johnny Roselli, who answered without hesitation every possible question I could think of. After my intensive studies, he confirmed everything I was in sure of and left me in do doubt as to the assasins, and plot. Another reviewer complained about the disrespect given to the Americanized Family leaders. I have only just got off the floor, from laughter. America, as we all know is the worst, most arrogant and greedy, country in the world. The Americanized leaders took away their own respect by destroying a perfectly working community handed to them on a silver spoon. They once again used their own selfishness, abusing all they could in their attempts to make push and bully themselves to the top (hello John Gotti!). The Sicillian traditions were what made the Mafia work so well, and whilst they might not have been as honourable as they like to believe, they looked after each other and co-operated for group gains. Bonanno's book is quite beautifully written at times, and paced well to keep readers interested. The people who disliked this book, were really looking for something more gory, I believe. If you're this somewhat typical American then stick to your TV movies and your all you can eat $4 fat-fests. If, however you wish to read an interesting account of inter-Family relationships, mafioso spirit, and something much closer to the truth behind conspiritary American governments then read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Please don't heed the ignorant
Review: Having just this second finished the book, i jumped onto the internet for more information. I then found these reviews by the ignorant and felt I should put my own two penneth in. In 1974, during my 4 year investigation into the Kennedy assasination, I was fortunate enough to meet and interview Johnny Roselli, who answered without hesitation every possible question I could think of. After my intensive studies, he confirmed everything I was in sure of and left me in do doubt as to the assasins, and plot. Another reviewer complained about the disrespect given to the Americanized Family leaders. I have only just got off the floor, from laughter. America, as we all know is the worst, most arrogant and greedy, country in the world. The Americanized leaders took away their own respect by destroying a perfectly working community handed to them on a silver spoon. They once again used their own selfishness, abusing all they could in their attempts to make push and bully themselves to the top (hello John Gotti!). The Sicillian traditions were what made the Mafia work so well, and whilst they might not have been as honourable as they like to believe, they looked after each other and co-operated for group gains. Bonanno's book is quite beautifully written at times, and paced well to keep readers interested. The people who disliked this book, were really looking for something more gory, I believe. If you're this somewhat typical American then stick to your TV movies and your all you can eat $4 fat-fests. If, however you wish to read an interesting account of inter-Family relationships, mafioso spirit, and something much closer to the truth behind conspiritary American governments then read this book.
Rating:
Summary: it was a bit slow at points but overall it was well worth it
Review: his insites on kennedy were very interesting and this is a great book if you are just getting into reading about the mafia. worth the price
Rating: 
Summary: Propaganda??
Review: I found this book an enjoyable read, but having finished it I now have my doubts about all of the name dropping. Why would a "man of honor" suddenly be divulging the twenieth century's most guarded secrets, and why wasn't there a huge media outcry about these revelations at the time of publication. (if there was I don't remember it)... Sammy the Bull however states that the Bonanno's seat at the "Commission" was revoked due to heroin trafficking. Makes you wonder if these tell-alls are just ploys to protect their own interests.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading for students of 20th century America
Review: I found this book to be informative without being gawdy and violently graphic. How refreshing! The Don did a great job for an ex-wise guy who was born into a tradition of big time crime and back alley violence. I suspected for years that Puzo used the Bonanno Patriarch as the model for "Don Corleone". It only makes sense that his son Bill was the inspiration for "Michael". Which brings me to my next point: Bill Bonanno is a college educated, former organized crime figure after the finest tradition of that phrase, if there is such a thing. To have written his manuscript as well as he did, without much editing is to the book's benefit as well as the reader's. I personally despise books of this type that are pumped full of hype. This book skips the hype and simply tells a man's life story that was, for good or ill, a signifigant part of our culture through most of this century. Great reading for any student of New York's "five families" and must reading for students of 20th century American History & Sociology. As for Bill Bonanno, may he and his family live out the remainder of their lives in peace and happiness.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading
Review: I just finished reading the book and I found it to be very interesting. The politics and inner-workings of the crime family were very intriguing. It will make you think twice about American history and how it was really influenced. I didn't give it 5 stars because he (Bonnano) made himself appear to be an angel. He also is trying to substantiate the crimes he and his family committed by downplaying his and his father's involvement in violent crimes. He makes no mention of giving orders for violent crimes (perhaps for legal reasons), when we all know that murder was a way of life. By the end of the book, we are given an impression that these are very honorable men and that they did nothing wrong. If you are reading this Mr. Bonnano, I didn't fall for this portrayal. Especially since I am an Italian American and still feel stereotyped by what the mafia has done to tarnish our image. Otherwise I thought your depiction of organized crime in this country was very believable and at most times interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: A must read!
Review: I sat in stunned silence at the bookstore where I was leafing through this book to see if I should buy it, when after 36 years I finally read a convincing explanation of the JFK assasination. These confessions of a Mafia Don, not an informer but a 'retired' major Godfather, blow the lid off US History they same way the Apalachin crime convention in the 50's blew the lid off the old Mafia. But the JFK story is only a subplot of this chronicle of the rise and fall of the American 'Cosa Nostra'.
Rating:
Summary: Bound By Honor.....Very interesting book....
Review: I was going through the reviews and ran across one from a Mr. Corrado. Sir, the family is very honorable, and very much sophisticated more so than yourself. I purchased the book and found it to be quite interesting and able to introduce you to the lifestyle. As for the Kennedy assasination, the people that were all involved with eachother at the time, I wouldn't be suprised if Kennedy was taken out by the Mafia. You have to know the side of the Kennedy family that was involved as well as the Bonanno's to know that an assasination could have very well happened taken place on order. I loved the book and look forward to reading more like it.
Rating: 
Summary: [YAWN]
Review: I'm wondering if any of the other "reviewers" read the same book I did. This was the single most incredibly boring book I've ever read. If you're looking for a book on "The Mob," this isn't it. This book redefines boring. Unbelievable. I want my money back.
Rating:
Summary: Are you crazy or what?
Review: I've been studying the mafia for 20 years. I have a calabrese (not sicilian) background, and this helps me understanding the guys. I really could not understand this book. The guy is crazy. He says Carlo Gambino is a coward, Salvatore Lucania knows nothing, Lepke and Lansky are not even mentioned! This is a tribute to his family. In his point of view his father is the real Godfather and only the Bonannos and the Profacis (his wife family) are cool, smart and traditional. I'll just tell you what, if this guy is right, everyone else is wrong! Lost of time and money! And just a tip, as far as I know, and all the world knows, the first cappo di tutti i capi was Lucky, and the next one Gambino.
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