Customer Reviews

The Mafia Encyclopedia

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Carl Sifakis is a crime reporter and freelance writer who, because he is a journalist and has connections, provides a unique perspective into the secret world of the Mafia. Mario Puzo brought to life the families behind the secret society, and Sifakis describes the events, terminology, members, murders, techniques, locales, and pawns of the most significant criminal organization in the world. Although most of the crime families have been publicly decapitated through imprisonment or death of the leaders, studying criminal compositions and actions provide an outline for criminal structures that can be found in terrorist groups today. Today there are different names, different motives, but follow the money, follow the murders, and history is repetitious.

Each letter of the alphabet begins a new heading, making this an easy to access reference book. A plethora of photographs, which include wanted posters, group 'shots' (sorry, just could not resist the pun), weapons, drawings, and home add to the knowledge base. As a writer, I find it extremely useful to study the picture and then write the description.

"Don Vito Cascio Ferro (1862-1932) is often called the 'greatest' of the Maria leaders in Sicily." The scheme of the protection payoffs in the USA is one of his masterpieces. Joseph Petrosino, New York police detective, went to Sicily (where Vito had established the key Mafia band) to gather information to bring La Familia before the law. He was killed before he accomplished his objectives. One of the theories is that the Mafia chieftain did the job himself. A rumor he espoused showing his power even over the NYPD.

Before 1915 the 'Five Iron Men: Kansas City crime rulers' had corrupted the political structure with only a small number of contingents; few cities west of Chicago could match their control. Paul Kelly showed that the Italian Mafia could work with other gangsters in the quest for money. At the demise of the group, their graduates (Torrio, Capone, Luciano, Yale, etc.) went on to "raise the highest criminal power during the Prohibition era."

The Volstead Act of 1919, commonly known as Prohibition, created new opportunities for criminals to make millions. Gangsters slaughtered old allies to take over the bootlegging rackets. Gunshots and explosions were too common in almost every American community of any size.

This book is rich and extraordinary. Sifakis is a good writer, and the encyclopedia is interesting to read. There are 354 pages of information followed by a good index. Names are linked to families, locations, and timeframes. Five stars.

Victoria Tarrani

The Mafia Encyclopedia has really been a fun read. Little known facts about everyone from Al Capone down to some of the goons that worked for John Gotti are all described in detail, as are some of the more famous events in Mafia history. I have yet to find a more comprehensive book about the Mafia.

Ever stop and think about how powerful the mafia is? Ever wonder who made the mafia what it is today? Do movies accurately portray the crime bosses or is what you see all hype? The Mafia Encyclopedia will help clear up these questions and more.

Over 400 pages covers the A to Z listing of the Who's who in the mafia. The book have over 95 illustration and over 450 listings, something for everyone. You read about Capone, Niti, Gotti and so many others.

Find out who ran Murder, Inc. Read about how the change in power was accomplished, who may the orders and who carried them out. Along with all that you'll catch a glimpse of the rituals used by the mafia.

The book is well researched and very detailed. I was impressed by how much information was contained in the book. I like the price and this is certainly going to be a nice addition to my library.

As one with an interest in organised crime in I purchased this book to act as a reference work to have along side me when reading other works. However I have found it to be anything but dry and would recommend it to anybody with an interest, at what ever level, in the subject. Further I would challenge anyone to put it down again after reading just one entry.

The author's ability to provide entertaining biographies and descriptive details of the underworld makes this a quick read. Useful for an overview, or a great book for those newly interested in the mafia. Unfortunately the sensationalism and matter-of-fact delivery that makes this book so easy to read is its downfall. Those who are somewhat versed in this topic will find themselves questioning details, or exclaiming: "Yes, but that's just part of the story." Still - I would recommend it as a starting point.

There is tons of information in the Mafia Encyclopedia. Also in it are a lot of great, hard to find photos. If you are interested in organized crime, this book is for you!

Within the 400 pages of information it contains, there are dozens of descriptions of mobsters and Mafia events, almost one hundred rare photos, and much more. Just by reading this book, you can become an expert on the subject of the Mafia. Everything you would ever want to know is in it.

This is an excellent reference source and a fun book to read. This book covers all topics dealing with the Mafia. It covers big-time mobsters, little known mobsters, their affilliates and everything in-between. This book is a great rescource for anyone wanting to know about the Mafia. It is great reading as well. I really enjoyed this book. Sifakis comes up big with The Mafia Encyclopedia.

An excellent resource for those fascinated by the murky, violent world of American organised crime is Carl Sifakis' Mafia Encyclopedia. The new edition is well-updated (though John Gotti is now dead, and Vinnie the Chin was recently jailed).
Sifakis' book is accurate without being too dull. The Mafia has the potential for humour (albeit rather black humour), as seen in Goodfellas. Sifakis doesn't get as "heavy" as some other books, narrating stories with a real verve - such as his description of Mad Dog Coll whistling when he heard his boss Maranzano was dead!

Sifakis' information is very accurate, and is ideal for a crash course in Mafia history and practices. I am a little hesitant about his insistence that the Mafia is flourishing - it's very hard to tell, but I think most people think the Mafia is dying, and no longer able to maintain its old strangeholds.

...page 405 states that "The forces of Harry Riccobene...did kill Salvatore Testa, the 28-year-old son of the slain Chicken Man Testa, regarded as a real comer in the mob."(He was in fact hit with a shotgun blast but he survived). Page 406 says "Scarfo had too suspicious a nature and he soon turned to ordering the deaths of loyal followers, starting with Salvatore Testa, his most competent hit man..." Testa did not survive this one, but who knew you could die twice? I don't know if there's any other mistakes in this book but that one is brutal.