Customer Reviews

Chopper from the inside: Confessions of the Australian Underworld's Most Feared Headhunter, Mark Brandon Read

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I am amazed (and honoured) that I am the first person to reviewthis book for Amazon. Mark Brandon Read (Chopper) is a highlyintelligent witty man who had a who had one hell of an up bringing - developed a hatred for bullies and became one of the the most dangerous men alive (If you are a low life). This book was written at a time when Mark had nothing to lose. He takes you on a journey to the dark side of the underworld and Prison Life. He is like a friend showing you the way the world really is. This is quite a journey - You will not be the same after it. You will gain a respect and understanding of people different from yourself which will make you a better person.

If you have just stumbled upon this book, you might be interested to know that there is now a movie about "Chopper" Reade, which is what got me to buy this book. Frankly, as between the book and the movie, I prefered the movie but that was entertainment afterall, and this is reality, presumably. 'Chopper, From the Inside' is the autobiographical reminiscences of one of Australia's most notorious criminals. This book actually helped to make Mr. Reade into something of a celebrity if not quite a hero in his native land. One may ask oneself how a sociopathic brute of a man with decidededly homicidal tendencies could attain such status? Well, I suppose that it helps that Mr. Reade has both the talent for telling a good story and a well-developed if dark sense of humor. It helps too that the war Chopper wages is primarily directed at other members of the criminal world and the flotsam and jetsam that float into and out of this world. In other words, he seems perfectly harmless so long as you, personally, don't cross him. In addition, if he is to be believed, he is loyal to a fault, a romantic when it comes to the honor of his mates and lady friends, and just generally the type of fellow you would want around if it ever came to a bit of bother. This isn't the kind of book that one walks away from with deep insights into the humanity that lies within all of us. Rather, it is a well told tale of murder, mayhem, casual violence, friendship, loyalty, love, and honor, by and about a fellow who knows better. It is this knowing better, that helps to explain why even when his activities go beyond the pale, the depravity seems logical and, in this protagonist's queer world, somehow fitting. This book was an interesting read, but not quite good enough for me to pay full retail for the second installment of his story, if that tells you anything.

Mark "Chopper" Read, Austrailia's most Notorious Criminal Character! You want True Crime? With a Twist? Pick up this, his Best selling memoir. His life, exploits, opinions, and a cultural history of the, in america almost unknown, world of the Austrailan Underworld. I Cringed, Sweated, Laughed and felt I was there throughout, from Chopper's very Personal & very Unique writing style. See the Film, it's Excellent! But read the story too! But don't stop there head on to Chopper 2!

Mark Brandon Read (Chopper) is a self-styled, self appointed avenging knight for the oppressed, the weak and the enemies of truth, justice and fair play. Of course this is what he wants us to believe. In reality, he is a murderous thug with delusional albeit grand ideals.

This book can be read on many levels. As readers, however, we are positioned from the outset to see the book in a particular way: "From a civilized view, Read is a monster. The question is: What made him like that? Was he born or made that way? These are interesting points to ponder." After reading these lines from the editors, apart from the anemic nature/nurture theory they propose we ponder, I couldn't help returning to the word "civilized". As a so-called civilization, we are conditioned to see violence as something separate, an aspect of ourselves that is somehow unnatural, but can be unleashed when it suits us. As Read says in his book, "Posh people love gangters." What I find curious is Chopper (with a little marketing help) has positioned himself squarley in this tradition; and has made the image fit firmly in Australian popular culture.

In a way this book is a paradox: on the one hand it exalts violence to romantic proportions, then, weakly, condems it. "Don't do as I do, do as I say." "Don't live a life of extreme violence and crime like me, kids, but aren't I a really cool gangster?" Dangerous.

For those of you who would like to gain greater insight into Melbourne's underworld and prisons, then this book is for you. If you're the kind of person who enjoys graphic violence in the extreme, buy and read this book.

Otherwise, skip it.