Rating: 
Summary: A Talented Man!
Review: After reading Mr. Kerik's autobiography, I'd work for him emptying his trash or shining his shoes, just for the experience of learning from him. This man has so much to offer regarding work ethics and practices, running a company, prison, city, or department, raising employee morale, and living your life to your fullest potential. He could have used the setbacks that he encountered during his life to go down the wrong path, but he clearly demonstrates that you make your own choices and you make your own decisions on how to live out those choices.Mr. Kerik grabs both horns of the bull and never lets go. I believe this book would be enjoyed most by those who have interest in public service and law enforcement. It contains great stories, and was very exciting to read. As someone with a great interest in law enforcement and who's trying to become a law enforcement agent, I would benefit the most if I had a mentor like Bernard Kerik. I hope New York City is able to retain itself without the leadership of Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Kerik.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspirational Leader in these difficult times
Review: As a police officer for the last 24 years, I can tell you that Bernard Kerik is truly, an amazing individual. Whether you are in the field of law enforcement or not, you will enjoy reading this inspirational book, about a young boy who came from a broken home, and followed his own path, to become the Police Commissioner of the largest and greatest Police Department in the world.
From experience, I can tell you, that in this day and age, individuals like Bernard Kerik do not usually make it to such a high level in law enforcement. It is normally those individuals who spend more time studying for the promotional exam, than doing police work. Bernard Kerik went to the school of "hard knocks" and graduated with honors! At a young age, he was smart enough to realize the physical and mental benefits of martial arts. Bernard Kerik enrolled himself into a program, and ultimately obtained his black belt. But the true prize was the confidence and sense of discipline that he obtained. From the military to private security in Saudi Arabia to a warden in New Jersey, Bernard Kerik was a leader and a warrior. One of the most fascinating and inspiring moments in Bernard Keriks life was when he gave up a $52,000 a year job as a warden, to start as a rookie cop in New York, at half the pay! No matter where he has worked, Bernard Kerik has been an inspiration and a true leader. He cares about the people who work for him and he cares about the victims of the crimes they investigate. He truly is someone, you would gladly follow into battle. In these difficult times, we need more leaders like Bernard Kerik.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Guy Writes Boring Biography
Review: As biographies of interesting people go, especially for a guy as colorful and gutsy as Bernard Kerrick, this book is disappointingly BORING.
The book is poorly written, with an over-emphasis on Kerrick's childhood and alcoholic/prostitute mother who was murdered after he was taken from her custody. The book becomes mildly engaging in the chapters where Kerrick takes over running Rykers Island and subsequently the NYPD, but the book waits far too long before bringing us up to modern events.
Another strong criticism is Kerrick's persistance in constantly singling out NYPD officers by name and carrying on about how great they are, what heroes, their sacrifices etc. Yes, fine, we get it. They are heroes. But this book is about YOUR life. Its as if he promised like 200 drinking buddies to include their names in his book and didn't want to reneg. Also, the butt kissing to Guliani teeters a bit on the excessive. Yes, Guliani is a grat man and kissing his butt is OK-just do it on your own time Bernie.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Blue Print for Next Homeland Security Secretary
Review: Bush should have tapped this guy sooner, BUT hey better now than never. Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik's life of a lost mom, bullets, SWAT Raids, and the epicenter of world terrorism are all chronicled in a flowing narrative. LOST SON is a gritty and detailed account of a New Yorker going from school kid, to Army MP, Street Cop, Detective, NARC, Corrections Commissioner, and later NYPD Commish. Kerik is a flawed guy like anyone else, but you forget it reading the fact is stranger than fiction accounts of him and the NYPD. This beats Serpico, hands down! Kerik is also chronicled in his friendship with Mayor Rudolph W Guiliani from the days of Rudy as federal prosecutor tapping Kerik for DEA and Mob busts, to September 11, 2001 when both are trudging from the World Trade Center ruins at Ground Zero. Kerik is a credit to New York, the US, and just mankind in general. Go Bernie! I'm not a New Yorker, but this guy was cool. Bruce Willis could play him in a film, or Michael Chiklis from The Shield, or Tom Sizemore. James Woods, Rudy all the way.
Rating: 
Summary: OUTSTANDING .... arrest warrant
Review: By now (December 12, 2004) we've learned a few facts about self-promoting blowhard BERNARD KERIK. How marvelous that "The Lost Son" has already been optioned for development as a major motion picture - it has the potential to become the funniest biopic since "Mommie Dearest." I do hope the screenwriter will include a role for JENNIFER LOPEZ as the illegal domestic worker (J-Lo was great in "Maid in Manhattan") and wouldn't MARGARET CHO be wonderful as Bernie's abandoned Korean daughter?
Rating:
Summary: Gritty Portrait of an Outstanding, No-Nonsense Leader!
Review: Caution: This book contains a lot of coarse and vulgar language and subjects. The purpose seems to be to provide honest texture about Mr. Kerik's life, rather than to provide shock value. Unless such things are very offensive to you, you will probably be able to look past them to the underlying story. I delayed reading this book because the publicity about it was somewhat misleading to me. I thought that the book would simply capture the story of another outstanding police leader. Fine, but I don't normally think of police leaders as ranking among the great leaders. Was I ever wrong! I wish I had read this book when it first came out. I intend to read it again . . . and again! I found this book to be one of the most inspiring and moving autobiographies that I have ever read. Mr. Kerik is the real life version of the sort of dedicated crime fighter that the movies love to create out of their imaginations. His story makes even The French Connection pale for me.
"You will read about true everyday heroes." That statement is profoundly true about this book. First, Mr. Kerik is clearly such a hero. Second, he has also worked with a lot of heroes and describes a lot of them. Third, as a leader, Mr. Kerik also takes great pleasure in finding and honoring heroes. Those three perspectives permeate every page. The book has three primary story lines. The main one is how a tough kid who dropped out of high school found his way to become the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City. A secondary one is his search for his roots, which reveal some pretty daunting facts that he handles very well. The third one is added at the end, which is to describe the events of September 11th from the perspective of trying to direct the police response from the scene near the World Trade Center. Any one of these story lines would have made this an outstanding book. Mr. Kerik's character has many unusual qualities. Although he is a person with little formal education, he is very interested in learning and applying new and better ways of doing things. With his talent, he could have made a lot of money doing things other than being a New York City police officer. But he wanted the challenge the job brings. Some of the roles he has taken on (such as running Rikers Island) would have been too much for almost anyone else. Yet he could look past the problems to focus on the important values of treating those who work and are imprisoned there with dignity, safety, humanity and fairness. In addition, he has lots of courage. He played undercover roles in the drug trade that could have cost him his life on almost any day. Perhaps the most appealing of his qualities is that he doesn't see any of this as being very special, and goes out of his way to point out others who did more. Although it would be a joy to share with you all of the things I found remarkable about Mr. Kerik in this book, you'll enjoy discovering them for yourself by reading his words more than if I interpret them for you. Where do you have a passion to do the right thing? Are you pursuing that passion? If not, how could you? Turn loose all of your creativity and energy to accomplish something important . . . for all of us . . . and for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: read this book and buy one for a friend
Review: I loved this book. Acutally this is the second review I have written for it, but for some reason, it didn't get into the system, so if eventually I show up twice reviewing it, sorry...
This is a wonderful book about a man with a most interesting story. I remember seeing Mr. Kerik on the news after 9/11,and of course, I had no idea of the path his life took to get him to that moment. I don't normally read very much non-fiction, but my sister told me about this book after seeing him on T.V. talking about his life. I am so glad she told me about it. His life has heartache, hard work, danger, excitment and sadness, and he tells you about it as if he is sitting in your living room talking to you.
I can't tell you enough how much I loved this book, I really suggest you read it, and then pass it on to a friend or better yet, buy them one also. He is a man to admire, and a man with a fascinating story to tell.
Rating:
Summary: Read and be inspired
Review: If I could sum up this book in one
word, I would say that it is Inspirational.
Inspirational because it's the true story
of a boy that grew up in one of the toughest
neighborhoods in New Jersey, with not much money
and without the required education to land oneself
a decent job. Yet, with a belief in himself,
a lot of hard work,guts and surrounding himself with
positive people that he could learn from and emulate,
Bernard Kerik rose to become the Top Cop of New York
city which is no mean feat. Read this book and don't
forget to take lessons from it and apply it to your
own life. The other thing about Mr. Kerik that impressed
me so much was that although he is surrounded by so much
violence, disregard for life, disgregard for the law
and other things that one is bound to come in contact with
as the city's Police Commissioner,and before this, as the city's Commissioner for Correction, it hasn't hardened him
or made him unfeeling to human emotion.
He displays a very tender side when talking about his son Joe, his friends and the victims of the World Trade Center. This book really touched my heart and inspired me to do something better with my own life.
Rating:
Summary: Read it and learn from it - no matter your position!
Review: So many - most, in fact - of our law enforcement managers would learn a great deal from "Beezie" Kerik! I'd say that a majority of them have no clue what real leadership is. Too many are merely in their position for the semblance of power and the better paycheck.
Kerik details his life - sad, joyous, adventurous, depressing, and magnanimous - in a very readable and enjoyable way. I've been in law enforcement for 17 years and have learned a great deal from this book. I only wish I had the honor to work with and for him. (Perhaps he'd consider a Chief's position here?!)
Rating:
Summary: Read it and learn from it - no matter your position!
Review: So many - most, in fact - of our law enforcement managers would learn a great deal from "Beezie" Kerik! I'd say that a majority of them have no clue what real leadership is. Too many are merely in their position for the semblance of power and the better paycheck. Kerik details his life - sad, joyous, adventurous, depressing, and magnanimous - in a very readable and enjoyable way. I've been in law enforcement for 17 years and have learned a great deal from this book. I only wish I had the honor to work with and for him. (Perhaps he'd consider a Chief's position here?!)
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