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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
A content heavy powerhouse of a read. While the topic is interesting and the people are fascinating, a reader must devote some solid time to this book. The timeline is chronological rather than following the people. This takes some getting used to. However, overall, I was intrigued by all the antics and the extents that many of these criminals went to in order to evade the government!
A very interesting read, this told the story of both the criminals and the lawmen of the depression in a more accurate light, without romanticizing either side. I never really believed that the criminals were heroes of the poor, and this book shows them for the selfish, ignorant thugs they were. More importantly, however, was exposing the complete incompetency of the Bureau of Investigations (later the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the FBI) and the ego of its leaders, particularly J. Edgar Hoover and that media whore Melvin Purvis.
Though some of the writing was a little melodramatic, I ultimately changed my rating from three stars to four in appreciation of the research and accuracy conveyed throughout the book.
Though some of the writing was a little melodramatic, I ultimately changed my rating from three stars to four in appreciation of the research and accuracy conveyed throughout the book.
3.25 stars. 150 pages too long. Far too much detail, and it was difficult at the beginning to keep everyone straight. It is still an entertaining and informative read though.
I really enjoyed this book. I like history books in general and really like ones about true crime. This book covers the bank robbers and outlaws of the 30's, and how they lead to the need for an agency like the FBI. It goes very in depth on people like John Dillinger, Babyface Nelson and Alvin Karpis, and a little less so on Bonnie and Clyde, and others like Machine Gun Kelly and Pretty Boy Floyd.
One of the only books I gave up on. Just couldn't hold my attention.
Cuts through the myths and offers an exhaustively researched and accurate chronology of the gangster crime wave of 1933-34. Featuring Bonnie & Clyde, John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly and the Barker Gang.
Very interesting history revolving around the creation of the modern day FBI, the John Dillinger gang, Bonnie and Clyde, and the Barker gang. There was quite a bit I didn't know about the "war on crime". Fascinating, quick read for any one with a penchant for bank robbers and gangsters.
This book had me hooked, from start to finish. I found it fascinating to read about Dillinger, Bonnie & Clyde, and the Karpis gang in chronological order. The fledgling FBI really had its hands full in the 1930's...
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced