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cpardonme's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book- though I actually "read" the abdridged audiobook version. I would've liked to hear more about how Pistone handled his home life as well as the FBI side of things ... maybe this is covered in the un-abridged version.
godotwillseeyounow's review
3.0
This is a glimpse into a time in history that feels so alien to my own, something you only see on Hollywood movies (and they turned this book into exactly that).
So it was fascinating to me. Maybe in part because by the time the Mob piqued my interest it has
become, although not dead, pretty much unheard of these days.
Also, I read this as an audiobook read by Joe Pistone, a.k.a. Donnie Brasco himself, and it includes recordings of actual conversations that took place during the whole operation, so that was cool.
So it was fascinating to me. Maybe in part because by the time the Mob piqued my interest it has
become, although not dead, pretty much unheard of these days.
Also, I read this as an audiobook read by Joe Pistone, a.k.a. Donnie Brasco himself, and it includes recordings of actual conversations that took place during the whole operation, so that was cool.
thomasroche's review
2.0
I know this book is a watershed in the history of Mob literature, and that Pistone's investigatory efforts were a breaking point for the Mob. But this book of his just leaves me dozing. I don't know what it is; maybe he's just a boring guy. Everyone blathers on about how great this book is, but I don't get it. It was made into a far worse movie, incidentally. One of the things the book does have going for it is that Pistone explains at great length what undercover agents can and can't do. Sawing up bodies? Pretty firmly on the "can't do" list. The movie completely ignores that, but then...hey, who cares, right? It's not like it REALLY HAPPENED or anything.
Anyway -- if you are a Mob buff or researcher you HAVE to read this book, because the case is so critically important in history. Drink lots of coffee while you do it.
Incidentally -- it doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, understand -- but his ghostwriter on this also wrote [b:The Bad News Bears Go to Japan|766792|Bad News Bears Go to Japan|Richard Woodley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1260289307s/766792.jpg|752860]. I'm just saying.
Anyway -- if you are a Mob buff or researcher you HAVE to read this book, because the case is so critically important in history. Drink lots of coffee while you do it.
Incidentally -- it doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, understand -- but his ghostwriter on this also wrote [b:The Bad News Bears Go to Japan|766792|Bad News Bears Go to Japan|Richard Woodley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1260289307s/766792.jpg|752860]. I'm just saying.
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