Customer Reviews

Capone

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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THIS BOOK WAS GREAT!!!!!
John Kobler did an excelent job with this one. The title, The Life and World Of Al Capone, really sums it up. Not only was this an extremely accurate factual book, but also was greatly engaging. I am a big fan of Capone books and have read quite a few, but this was easily the best one that I've read. This book includes minute details on Capones life and "business" as well as the long list of dives, hot spots, and other gangsters all inhabiting Chicago.

I found no flaw in the writing of this book and thought it was marvelously written. I can't begin to tell you how great of a book this was. At different points it transformed me into a Chicago citizen reading the newspaper, to a young hoodlum in the gang, to an inmate at Alcatraz. The only thing I was disappointed with was that it went by to fast! You must read this book!

If you're looking for a complete picture of America's most notorious mobster, this is it. This is the definitive biography, a well-rounded study that brings Big Al into three-dimensional focus, something Schonberg only elaborated on and Bergreen failed completely at. The best book ever on the life, times and career of the father of syndicated crime.

Although this book contains lots of detail it is emminently readable. I have read other books on Al Capone but this particular book removes much of the mystique and glamour although the sums of money involved throughout are staggering. I obtained this book (softback) in a book sale in the UK and my reason for accessing Amazon is to try and obtain further books in the Da Capo Press Series.

this book writen in 1971 was the first major work to adress capone and the mob world of organized crime. smooth reading and the author either doesn't have the sources available to writers today or just doesn't take the liberties and resultant credibility strain that can happen as a result.in the Bergreen book Capone for instance there seem to be alot more ties between city counsel,the police,government agents and the mob.As if the mob has penetrated so deep into government,that only a handful of honest police and officials are left to confront Capone. In the Kobler book,however,the lines are more cleanly drawn between Capone and the "forces of law and order" while the author does admit to some indiscretions on the part of alot of government people by actually being on Capones payroll.It seems in the Kobler book that the government can't figure out how to get at Capone entrenched as he is behind his organization. Another instance of the Bergreen book differing substantially from Kobler is in regard to Capones charity giving. In the Bergreen book Capones charities are represented as being alot more generous which can make the reader somewhat empathetic with Al as he literally gives away at least tens of thousands away to people hard hit by the depression. Kobler presents his charity giving as an attempt more at PR and to make the "man in the streets" empathetic hence more willing to buy Capone beer and patronize his gambling and cat house businesses.Also Bergreen, while admitting to the debilitating effects of Capones syphillus,points out that he was still able to maintain his status as "crime boss" and was capable of decision making even up to the last. Kobler however shows a Capone after Alcatraz as an invalid with a miniscule amount of decision making and influence. These two books go together and are both important to understanding the era.At times you have to admit that with the family ties and the organization of these crime syndicates,it's understandable how hard it would be to break them up.Capone comes off as just a figurehead for a steamroller force known by various names like the "Mob",the "Organization" etc. An excellent work by Kobler on the Depression Era.

This book was absolutely mindblowing. I am doing a school report and I really didnt want to read it, but after I started, I was pulled in by all of the interesting facts this book contains about Big Al. Was he really all that bad? Read the book and find out for yourself.

The definitive biography of "Scarface Al" Capone, who ruled the Chicago underworld with an iron fist during Prohibition. John Kobler is a fine writer whose flair with words will keep his readers glued to the pages, regardless of the subject matter. In "Capone," he masterfully recounts the rise and fall of the Windy City's overlord of vice and crime as only he can, presented in an honest, objective, and straightforward (but never dull) manner. This is a highly entertaining effort which any crime historian is sure to enjoy. My only regret is that Mr. Kobler didn't tackle the biographies of other gangland luminaries as well (although he did an excellent job narrating the history of Prohibition in "Ardent Spirits"). If you must read just one book about Big Al, then this is the one. As far as I'm concerned, you can skip all the others.

Capone: The Life And World Of Al Capone, written by John Kobler. This was a great book. It had numerous amounts of details and you can learn a lot from this biography. But to the casual reader at least in my opinoin this is not the book for you. This book has tons and tons of information and is great if you are looking for a source for a history project or something. Also if you have a high interest in the subject of Al Capone then this could be a great book for you to read.

i am currently using Kobler's work for inspiration on my new book snorkie. I don't think Kobler missed anything. the book is a masterpiece to be consumed and retained. Great reading.

This book is excellent! There aren't enough words in English to discribe this man! This book gives great insight into what really went on in Al Capone's life and his gang--RUTHLESS with TASTE! Just wish it were a lot longer.

I personally feel that this book does a very good job of explaining the details of Al Capones life and the time era in which he lived. I believe that everyone that has the chance should read this book because it is very entertaining and interesting.