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Summary: Extremely gripping account of life in the Mafia, undercover.
Review: Donnie Brasco is the story of FBI agent Joseph Pistone who took part in one of the world's longest running undercover law enforcement operations in history, posing as jewel thief "Donnie Brasco" to ingratiate himself into the circles of Cosa Nostra and their affiliates. You're taken on a ride through all the real-life close calls and near-disasters when discovery seems almost imminent, when Pistone is caught in the middle of a war between his gangster 'friends' and their gangster enemies who, thinking he's one of them, considered him a target, and even as Pistone is arrested by local cops who know nothing of the operation and assume he's just another wiseguy working the town. The reality of the book is very powerful and definitely has an effect on you.
Rating: 
Summary: A GOOD BOOK ABOUT THE STREET LEVEL GUYS IN THE MOB
Review: TO THE READER WHO SAID AGENT PISTONE WAS TOO SMART AND THE WISEGUYS SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON IT,MAYBE YOU SHOULD READ THE BOOK AGAIN.HE DID LOWER HIMSELF DOWN TO THEIR LEVELS,READ AGAIN THE CHAPTER WHERE DONNIE PLAYS BOUNCER FOR TONY MIRRA.PISTONE AND WOODLEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH THIS.THE MOVIE WASNT AS GOOD AS THE BOOK.SEVERAL SCENES IN THE BOOK WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN MORE THAN TWO IN THE MOVIE.MAYBE ANOTHER SCREEN WRITER NEXT TIME.
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Summary: In responce to Salvatore Mut
Review: If you had half a clue, you would be twice as dangerous as you already are. You say the Bonnano's should have had him whacked. If they had half a clue, like in your case, he would have never made it as far as he did. Give it up, get a life, and get a clue. This book and movie are probably the best accounts of life in the mafia that money could buy. If you want to be glued to a book or television buy both.
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Summary: This a great book but...
Review: I love this book and highly recommend it. However, Pistone needs to stop praising the FBI and admit they made terrible mistakes that cost people their lives.Pistone states time and again that as an undercover agent he had to make an effort to stop the criminal activites of his co-horts. I just can't entirely digest this book as the whole truth. Its still a good read, though I hope people don't buy into Pistone's obviously sanitized version of events.
Rating:
Summary: First-rate.
Review: I saw the movie first and found it good, but troubling. Then I read the book and found it really good. There were two big differences between the movie and the book. First, the movie made a composite out of Lefty and Sonny as far as personality and relationship with Pistone went. Second, the movie was not able to show much of Pistone's thinking. If you can accept the movie as only being based on the story, then both are good. The book has greater depth. The movie has more texture (for example, the movie does a great job of showing the late 1970s). The first third of the book, where Pistone gives many rich examples of thinking his way through dangerous situations, is absolutely magnificent. The only weakness is toward the end where there are too many excerpts from taped conversations. These were obtained at considerable risk but still make for repetitive, and rather boring, reading. But all in all, this book does exactly what you want a book to do. It takes you into a whole other world. "Say a prayer for Lefty too. He only did what he had to do." Actually, these guys did a lot of stuff that they didn't have to do. And with how well they understand the way the world works and have much energy they have, they could have done any of a hundred constructive things--legitimate businesses, political activism in favor of poor neighborhoods, anything.
Rating:
Summary: The best account of Mafia life from someone with a brain...
Review: I have read many accounts of the Mafia way of life from different people over the years. I lived on the same block as many of them and knew their ways. It is amazing to me that Joe Pistone got as close to them as he did and that they didn't recognize the fact that he was so much more intelligent than they were and there was something wrong with this picture. The story is an amazing one (nothing like the movie at all). I didn't like the movie but decided to read the book anyway which I am extremely glad I did. It was an exciting account of the daily grind which is spent thinking of how to get, make or steal money (where most of it goes to the bosses anyway). Pistone wrote in such a way that made you think that he had accomplished so much and that he was incredibly brave (maybe he was,but I think he was incredibly stupid also). Why take your life in your hands everyday just to get more information for the "goodguys"? Now he has to live on the run. Was it really worth it (even since he has probably made a fortune off the book and movie). I don't think so.
Rating:
Summary: Good book and very true
Review: This was a pretty good book about the Bonannos and the everyday life of a wiseguy. It is hard to believe that an FBI agent got so involved with the Mafia. Much much better than the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: A minimum of 5 stars is what I give this man for bravery. He set out to do one thing...bring down as many mobsters as he could. And he let them know about it! He went into a dangerous world for six long years and I'm sure he may have been caught up in the money the power or the danger, but he never turned...as far as we know...
Rating:
Summary: Captivating!
Review: If you loved the movie, you will love the book. Since seeing the movie I cannot get enough of "Donnie Brasco." The book is closer to the truth and really shows the weight of going undercover, especially in the mob, on one's life. Bravo to Joe Pistone!
Rating:
Summary: A hero's tale.
Review: This is a hero's tale. And the best book on organized crimeever. The best - because it has not been written by a blasedoverexcited journalist, but by a man who was in the very core of things. And he isn't a criminal - he is a man of the law. This is the only book that gets as close to *our* points of view as possible - because, though being an agent, Joe Pistone is a normal, intelligent man. Not an incoherent simpleton like 99% of the gangsters. He's book isn't narrated from the position of a brainless crook like Henry Hill, hardened though honourable criminal like Gravano, or ultraegoistic ridiculous fool like Gotti. Well, as Pistone says, wiseguys don't make good readers. Their supporters are even worse. I also recommend everyone Pistone's new book "Donnie Brasco: Deep Cover".
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