Take a photo of a barcode or cover
80 reviews for:
Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the Fbi, 1933-34
Bryan Burrough
3.86 AVERAGE
80 reviews for:
Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the Fbi, 1933-34
Bryan Burrough
3.86 AVERAGE
Crime. That's a theme in the books that I have been reading this year. Atwood's Alias Grace, crime novel. Choke? Definitely has seedy elements that should be crimes. American Psycho, check. Maltese Falcon, check.
Anyway, sometimes it's interested to examine the types of books that you read. :)
This book was great. I will say that while I was reading this, I knew it was going to be a movie with my fav actor, Johnny Depp, and that might have influenced my feelings for the book.
But to look at why this is a good novel. It is a very well-researched novel, but it doesn't read like an essay paper. It is engaging. I found myself wanting to read more, and more, until I finished this beast of a book.
One of the most interesting things that Burrough does is that he takes these crimes and puts them into context. While Dillinger was robbing a bank, the Barker Gang was _________. It's interesting. He also puts into context globally. Like Hitler was using all of these criminals s an example for why Germany should sterilize criminals (so they can't breed more criminals).
Burrough also reminds us that these crimes were happening at a time when most Americans were suffering harshly from the effects of the Great Depression. And I had never thought about these criminals in that sense before.
A good read.
PS. When he was talking about Baby Face Nelson....who hung out a lot in Nevada--well, I knew all the small towns he hung out. :)
Anyway, sometimes it's interested to examine the types of books that you read. :)
This book was great. I will say that while I was reading this, I knew it was going to be a movie with my fav actor, Johnny Depp, and that might have influenced my feelings for the book.
But to look at why this is a good novel. It is a very well-researched novel, but it doesn't read like an essay paper. It is engaging. I found myself wanting to read more, and more, until I finished this beast of a book.
One of the most interesting things that Burrough does is that he takes these crimes and puts them into context. While Dillinger was robbing a bank, the Barker Gang was _________. It's interesting. He also puts into context globally. Like Hitler was using all of these criminals s an example for why Germany should sterilize criminals (so they can't breed more criminals).
Burrough also reminds us that these crimes were happening at a time when most Americans were suffering harshly from the effects of the Great Depression. And I had never thought about these criminals in that sense before.
A good read.
PS. When he was talking about Baby Face Nelson....who hung out a lot in Nevada--well, I knew all the small towns he hung out. :)
Interesting read if you're interested in the crime wave of 1933-34 (John Dillinger, Bonnie & Clyde, the Barker Gang etc) or if you're wonder about the FBI's orgins.
This was a good book. Very interesting how the bank robbers in this era were almost like rock stars to the general public at that time. Also interesting how the FBI got its start and the mistakes they made in the process.
I read this before I knew a movie with the same title and premise was coming out. I thought it did a much better job than the movie explaining the relationship between all of the mobsters we have heard about that ran in the 1930s. It mostly stuck around the Chicago area with the big mobsters there (Capone, Dillinger, etc.). It might deserve a re-read at some point when I can sit down and really pay attention to the time line, but it was still interesting.
Fascinating and gripping, cutting through the populist myths and delivering a convincing milieu of venal, violent, misfits and their often squalid existence. Beatty's Bonnie and Clyde this is not. No glamour, no glory.
slow-paced
Where to start? I can honestly say I've seldom enjoyed a book more. "Public Enemies" is a great series of brilliantly interwoven narratives about the good guys and bad guys who fought the legendary 1933-1935 "War on Crime." They're all here: Dillinger and Hoover; Bonnie and Clyde; Baby Face Nelson and Melvin Purvis; Pretty Boy Floyd and the G-Men.
The real beauty of Burrough's book lies in sheer storytelling genius, combined with a scholarly level of research much of it from recently-released FBI files from the period. The level of details in display is staggering. Burrough spins a vast array of minute details into a thrilling saga which, unlike most so-called "non-fiction" about this period, is actually, completely true.
Burrough takes pain to separate the reality of these criminals from the lords of organized crime. While the Capones and Lanskys spent years in luxury and high living, these men and women spent their criminal years on the run -- hiding in the wilderness, living out of their cars and constantly listening for footsteps. Not that he makes heroes out of these violent, murderous folks, but the book makes clear in a hundred small ways why crime just doesn't pay.
There's a great line at the end of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Speaking of the Old West, a wag notes "When the truth conflicts with the legend, print the legend." This great book does just the opposite and the reader is all the richer for it.
Note: There is a movie in theaters this summer which is said to be based on "Public Enemies." It's worth noting that Michael Mann's movie only follows the John Dillinger story line, leaving out the vast majority of the book. Safe to say, regardless of whether you enjoy the movie, "Public Enemies," the book, is something extraordinary.
The real beauty of Burrough's book lies in sheer storytelling genius, combined with a scholarly level of research much of it from recently-released FBI files from the period. The level of details in display is staggering. Burrough spins a vast array of minute details into a thrilling saga which, unlike most so-called "non-fiction" about this period, is actually, completely true.
Burrough takes pain to separate the reality of these criminals from the lords of organized crime. While the Capones and Lanskys spent years in luxury and high living, these men and women spent their criminal years on the run -- hiding in the wilderness, living out of their cars and constantly listening for footsteps. Not that he makes heroes out of these violent, murderous folks, but the book makes clear in a hundred small ways why crime just doesn't pay.
There's a great line at the end of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Speaking of the Old West, a wag notes "When the truth conflicts with the legend, print the legend." This great book does just the opposite and the reader is all the richer for it.
Note: There is a movie in theaters this summer which is said to be based on "Public Enemies." It's worth noting that Michael Mann's movie only follows the John Dillinger story line, leaving out the vast majority of the book. Safe to say, regardless of whether you enjoy the movie, "Public Enemies," the book, is something extraordinary.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
An absolutely riveting crime story, interwoven between several gangs and famous names you’ve heard before. I know it was a movie that was pretty good starring Johnny Depp, but that cuts out so much of this. I wish this was a solid mini series. Really takes its digs at the FBI and especially J Edgar Hoover.