Customer Reviews

Underboss

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Many reviewers have compared this work to Nicholas Pileggi's fine book "Wiseguy" (which was the basis for the movie "GoodFellas"). And rightfully so. "Wiseguy" concerned real life crime figure Henry Hill and how he eventually turned government informant against the mob. "Underboss" likewise tells the tale of a mobster turned informant, except this time the stool pigeon, Sammy Gravano, is a capo (and later a consigliere) in the Gambino crime family, and the mafioso he fingers is none other than John Gotti himself.

As you might expect, "Underboss" is a fascinating read. (Author Peter Maas previously wrote the books "Serpico" and "The Valachi Papers", among others, so he knows how to tell a good crime story). Gravano does not portray himself as a saint. He candidly reveals in horrifying (though not gory) detail crimes he committed in the mob, including some nineteen murders and literally hundreds of burglaries, armed robberies, and kickback/extortion plots. All the major New York crime bosses of the time (Carlo Gambino, Joe Columbo, Paul Castellano, Vincent Gigante, and of course Gotti) figure in the proceedings, as Gavano had dealings with them and others, as well.

Unlike some true crime books where you end up skipping chapters to get to the "good stuff", this book was gripping every step of the way. So much so that I ended reading it cover to cover, all 301 pages, in less than a week. If you're looking for a good insider's book on the Mafia, this is it.

Anyone who has already read "Gotti - Rise and Fall" by Jerry Capeci and Gene Mustain really has no need to get this book. There are few new revelations in "Underboss," and the "Gotti" book is a more exciting read. Capeci and Mustain's "Gotti" book, to name just one instance, offers a far better account of the intricate investigation and scheming that went into bringing down the mob and the betrayals within the "borgatas." "Underboss" author Peter Maas took the easy route - he sat down with a tape recorder and let Mr. Gravano rant, combined these quotes with extensive borrowings from "Gotti Rise and Fall," gave it a catchy title, and sent it off to a publisher. If readers are interested in Sammy the Bull's self-serving apologia for his sudden "conversion" from sinister mobster to neon yellow canary, then this book might appeal. Mr. Gravano is a text-book example of a tough guy who exists for years and years on his reputation and willingness to use sucker-punch violence, a reputation well-earned but never tested; after all, who challenges the mob? Another "Underworld" disappointment is the account of the dramatic shooting of "Big Paul" Castellano. There's no additional "inside" revelations about this incredible event in mob history. If you've read "Gotti - Rise and Fall," you know all the interesting details of this story. In the end, for all of his hard-guy talk, Mr. Gravano realizes that he might have to pay a penalty for his crimes. Rather than go to prison, he breaks his Cosa Nostra oath of omerta (silence) - cleverly rationalizing this sell-out by blaming his entire predicament on John Gotti. John Gotti is no angel; however, he might just as easily have sold out Sammy the Bull and walked - but he didn't. Mr. Gravano's account of his cooperation with authorities to put Gotti away and save his own skin gets just a few pages at the end of the book. These obviously are not Sammy's proudest moments, since the bulk of his unworthy book is a screed of boastfulness about sucker-punch violence and theft - which were the genuine reasons he was facing life in prison. The question Sammy the Bull never addresses - let alones answers - is: If John Gotti was such an evil man, what the heck was Sammy doing associating with him? And when they get arrested, the fact that Gotti was such a bad man entitles Sammy to redeem his own violent past by selling out? In an epilogue, Sammy the Bull Gravano now strolls the streets of America, claiming that he's a "man" because he's not making any special efforts to hide from his former associates. This reads as the weakest section among an entirely weak effort by Peter Maas - Gravano's final attempt to justify his actions and act the tough guy; nonetheless still in hiding! Sammy the Bull scarcely did an honest day's work in his life. It's fitting that his co-writer followed this course in telling his story. If you haven't read "Gotti Rise and Fall" and have no desire to, go ahead and read "Underworld.". Otherwise, if you can read just one, read "Gotti Rise and Fall."

While I can't say that I admire Sammy Gravano -- his behavior for most of his life was reprehensible, -- I have to give him credit for calling a spade a spade. In this captivating true life story, Gravano describes his growing up as a tough kid and becoming a "made man" over time, only to go on to becoming "Underboss" of the Gambino Crime Family with John Gotti.Sammy tells his story with a thoroughness that seems to indicate he finally wants to come clean. Certainly turning "state's evidence" against Gotti and many other significant underworld crime figures was a matter of self preservation (likely literally his life), yet Gravano presents himself as a person with a strong degree of loyalty and honor -- despite the horror of "the life" and his part in it. John Gotti certainly doesn't come across very well in this account of how Gotti Became Godfather. Basically, a low-life, who's likely chances of becoming the Boss were slim to none, he kills his way to the top and proves himself to be an egotistical low class bum who actually believe's he's untouchable and attractive to 'his public'. An absolutely disgusting human being who belongs where he is -- in jail for life with no chance for parole. His prodigy has ended up in the same situation and his stupidity was so ridiculously blatant that it bordered on 'the gang that couldn't shoot straight.' May they enjoy their life 'on vacation!'Gravano served time so his helping as state's witness didn't wipe away everything, yet he makes a tremendous sacrifice in going in this direction -- including the loss of his wife and children. In the long run, perhaps there is a thread of hope and redemption in Gravano's decision; hopefully, he's living a decent life totally different than his past.An excellent narrative of the last two decades of New York's Organized Crime Families.Peter Maas does an excellent job of weaving the story together. As a result, it's a fast and fascinating read.Good luck Gravano -- where-ever you are!

This is the life story of notorious Sammy the Bull Gravano, the man who brought John Gotti down.

Peter Mass's "you are there" style of reportage is in full play here as Sammy tells his story of his rise to the near-pinnacle of hood-dom.

This book has all the grisly killings, take downs, beatings and machinations you get from an inside-the-family-memoir. It is a sad book, in that these people exist, preying on the often innocent. While it is true that usually mobsters are the ones who get killed, everybody pays from the extra expense of jacked goods, protection money and loss of confidence in our system because the government seems so unable to do things like crack the cartage hold in New York of the mob's deep involvement in garments and other industries.

Sammy tells a good story. He plays it as he was a "good" mobster -- and he probably was. If more mobsters were content to live quiet lives of ruthless efficiency and stay out of the limelight -- like Sammy's style -- the government would be less successful at taking down mob bosses. Many want to be John Gotti, whose extravagance and ego gave the Feds the opportunity to penetrate and ultimately incarcerate that godfather. The heart of this book is Gravano's association with Gotti and his decision to turn informant and testify against his former patron.

This is a good book and fast paced. It seems true, but of course you have to believe mobster Gravano is telling the truth in order to accept this as fact. I'm sure there is a lot of self-serving veneer to his story, but for the inside look at the mob one gets, it is a fascinating read.

I enjoyed reading the book not just for the entertainment value, but also for the things it taught me about life in the mob. Some of the things I learned are the organization structure, codes of conduct, methods of intimidation, sources of mob income, and the absolute ruthlessness of the lifestyle.

I like reading these kinds of books not because I think this life these people like Sammy Gravano lead was somehow cool or glamorous. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It's a dangerous, deceptive, wicked lifestyle. I enjoy reading mob books like this because I get a look into a different world I am rarely if ever exposed to. And of course this book, being a true story and interview of a former high-level mob underboss made it a very interesting read.

Though this is a good little read, and interesting about the Mafia under John Gotti, take this book with a huge grain of salt. Mr. Gravano is currently sitting in an Arizona jail, awaiting charges of organizing an Ecstasy drug distribution ring. For a man who claims to have reformed in this book, it just goes to show you cannot take the mob out of the man.

Soon after reading this book, which says in the epilogue that Sammy and his wife Debra divorced and that she took the kids and stayed in New York while he moved to Arizona to start a new life as an upstanding citizen, I read that Sammy, Debra and their children (several years later) were all accused of operating an Ecstacy drug ring in Arizona. It's possible that the book was telling the truth and that Sammy and his wife remarried and she later joined him in Arizona. It's also possible that they were never divorced, and that this was a lie put in the book to protect Debra and the kids. My point in mentioning this is that, although the book makes for compelling reading, it's good to remember that the primary source of the information is a multiple murderer, a crook and a stool-pigeon. I wonder how much of it is true and how much Sammy made up to make himself look noble or to protect his friends. If my suspicions are correct, I don't have a very high opinion of Peter Maas as a journalist. My advice is to take this book with a very big grain of salt. On another note, I'm glad I bought this book used. Although Sammy doesn't appear to be getting royalties (at least not above the table!), I wouldn't want to put my money in this man's pocket, or encourage other people of his character to make money in this way.

underboss tells how sammy the bull gravano brought down the"teflon don"john gotti by becoming an informent.from the early days of sammys crime life to the job of gottis right hand man and hitman.sammy describes how they planned the murder of paul castellano so gotti could move up and become boss of the gambino crime family.a good mob book with whackings,racketeering,and all the mafias operations.peter mass does a good job like he did in the valachi papers.

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have never really been interested in mob books, but this book made me feel like I was right there experiencing these things right along with Sammy Gravano. The book was very well written, and the pictures were chilling. I had difficulty putting the book away until I was finished with it.

My comment is: Peter Maas wrote a book here that I could not put down. If fine story writing is something to appreciate, then this book definitely accomplishes that. If there are any type of slants of view in this book towards Gravano by the author - "such is life." You can either believe Maas' bias - or - you can believe some reviewer's bias. I gave it to a co-worker after I finnished it. He said he had never bothered to read a book before in his life. He's anything but - an un-intelligent person. He told me 'HE' could not put it down.