The Valachi Papers

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I dont read much as I find books get boring after about half way through. I read this entire book within a week and never got boring.

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Summary: The initiation of it all
Review: I had been looking for this book for years, althought I live in Mexico I found it at a used books store in Albany, NY. This one is a view to the old way of mafia life, for those who appreciate old values in that life, better than the rotten ones of the 90's. Well fitted for a good collection

Rating:
Summary: excellent book on the old mafia
Review: i really enjoyed this book and was well worth it looking for it everywhere.i finally found it at a salvation army store for 50 cents.this book tells the story of the first mafia member to expose the mafia to the world.you"ll find out how the real gangsters operated and socialized back in the day.an intense book.

Rating:
Summary: First Inside Look at the Mafia
Review: Many have denigrated Joe Valachi's testimony as being only the limited view of a street-level Mafia soldier, largely hearsay and often possibly erroneous. There is a certain amount of truth in these judgements. It is also true that, unlike earlier stool pigeon Abe Reles twenty years earlier, Valachi's testimony didn't directly send anyone to prison and some of what he told was old news anyway. On the other hand, Valachi was a "made member" of what he called Cosa Nostra for over thirty years and his criminal career dated to the 1920's. He may not have always been a major participant but he was there and saw the formation of the modern Mob as we know it. The Castellammarese War, Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz and Tom Dewey, Murder Inc., the Costello years, the intrigues of Vito Genovese, Valachi was on hand and his is the first detailed inside account of the formative years of the American Mafia. Compare The Valachi Papers to the nonsense written about the Mafia in the '50's. His expertise may have been limited to New York but before he turned no one outside the organization really knew anything about the Mafia, its bosses or its family structure. No one outside the organization had any idea that five crime "families" existed in New York or that the organization was divided into "families" until Valachi came along. Or that there was a national commission. Say what you will, Valachi exposed the Mob and put it in the spotlight for all to see. It's been there ever since and we have Joe to thank for this. And Peter Maas for turning his memoirs into a wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: The Valachi Papers
Review: The Valachi Papers is a good book written by Peter Maas. This is a book of Joseph Valachi's life of crime and his involvement in the Mafia. When Valachi was eighteen he was already in a gang. Valachi claimed he was always the driver, but his involvement in this ended soon. He was replaced, but Valachi started his own gang. Later, Valachi was recruited into the Cosa Nostra, which means "this thing of ours". At first Valachi did not like his role in this membership because he played the role of a pimp. Valachi took his role in many murders, but he never played the main part. After many years of service to the Cosa Nostra, Valachi was caught and put in jail. Even though Valachi was one of the Cosa Nostra's most loyal "soldiers", he broke the code of silence. Valachi was in prison for 33 murders, he talked for a lighter sentence. Valachi told the police and FBI almost everthing he knew about crimes. Valachi helped solve some of the cases which have been open for years. He told of some of the deepest secrets that the Cosa Nostra meant to be secret for all eternity. When Valachi joined the Cosa Nostra, he was passed a piece of burning paper and he swore: "This is the way I will burn if I betray the secret of the Cosa Nostra." He had also given the blood oath to "live by the gun and knife and die by the gun and knife". For betraying the Cosa Nostra of these oaths, a 100,000 dollar price was put on his head. This book is very good because it is told from the inside, which tells of all the little details and actions. Valachi is now in a maximum security cell, where he will spend the rest of his life.

Rating:
Summary: The Valachi Papers
Review: The Valachi Papers is a good book written by Peter Maas. This is a book of Joseph Valachi's life of crime and his involvement in the Mafia. When Valachi was eighteen he was already in a gang. Valachi claimed he was always the driver, but his involvement in this ended soon. He was replaced, but Valachi started his own gang. Later, Valachi was recruited into the Cosa Nostra, which means "this thing of ours". At first Valachi did not like his role in this membership because he played the role of a pimp. Valachi took his role in many murders, but he never played the main part. After many years of service to the Cosa Nostra, Valachi was caught and put in jail. Even though Valachi was one of the Cosa Nostra's most loyal "soldiers", he broke the code of silence. Valachi was in prison for 33 murders, he talked for a lighter sentence. Valachi told the police and FBI almost everthing he knew about crimes. Valachi helped solve some of the cases which have been open for years. He told of some of the deepest secrets that the Cosa Nostra meant to be secret for all eternity. When Valachi joined the Cosa Nostra, he was passed a piece of burning paper and he swore: "This is the way I will burn if I betray the secret of the Cosa Nostra." He had also given the blood oath to "live by the gun and knife and die by the gun and knife". For betraying the Cosa Nostra of these oaths, a 100,000 dollar price was put on his head. This book is very good because it is told from the inside, which tells of all the little details and actions. Valachi is now in a maximum security cell, where he will spend the rest of his life.

Rating:
Summary: Opening up the mafia to regular people
Review: There are books that without them you would never have a basis for any other to follow. The Valachi Papers is the book that set the Mafia on its heels and allowed the world to see and finally get a look into the "real" underworld.

By far one the best reads I have had this year and certainly a must read for anyone weho thinks they know what the mafia is all about. This is the book that started it all and gave me my start into a whole world.

What this book does is tear down the walls of mystery and open your mind to new ideas about the mob. The book shows how it happened and what took place. Due to some of testimony being somewhat graphic younger reader may want to take caution before they begin the book.

The book is far better than the movie and knowing that this was told by someone on the inside makes it all that more exciting to read. Overall if you want to know where it all began, than look no further that this book.

Rating:
Summary: It IS Great
Review: This book in it's own subtle manner describes when the Mafia was born in America. It describes the formation of La Cosa Nostra by Salvatore Moranzano, 'lucky' Luciano and Al Capone amongst others. a must read for enthusiasts of this subject.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is a well written book.I only noticed some minor things I did not like. If you like books about Italians who are criminals this is the one for you. Serpico was great also

Rating:
Summary: Valachi Papers
Review: This is great book Mr.Maas has written.It takes you into the underworld like few have since.With Joe Valachi's words.He tells the story of the birth of the underworld as we know it today.How it was organized into families.What rackets he was involed in and how he worked day to day in his crew.