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The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The word "Mafia" has led to more confusion than the 2000 presidential election..." (more)
Key Phrases: major bootlegger, acting boss, other capos, New York, Cosa Nostra, Mafia Speak (more...)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 1 pages
  • Publisher: Alpha (January 1, 2001)
  • ISBN-10: 0028642252
  • ISBN-13: 978-0028642253
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #895,224 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

Jerry Capeci
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
The word "Mafia" has led to more confusion than the 2000 presidential election. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
major bootlegger, acting boss, other capos, narcotics conspiracy, many mobsters, pension fund loan, racketeering indictment, illegal liquor trade, family boss, labor racketeering, top gangsters, racketeering case, labor rackets, other rackets, skim money, racketeering charges, cooperating witness, mob influence, heroin trafficking, front boss, loan sharking, mob family
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Cosa Nostra, Mafia Speak, Joe Bonanno, United States, Carlo Gambino, Joe Valachi, Big Shot, New England, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Paul Castellano, Frank Costello, The Least You Need, Vito Genovese, Joe Colombo, Bill Bonanno, Stefano Magaddino, Salvatore Maranzano, Teamsters Union, Jimmy Hoffa, San Francisco, Albert Anastasia, Angelo Lonardo
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Boss of Bosses by Joseph F. O'Brien
 

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A Minimalist History of the Mafia, February 6, 2003
By David M. Elder (Pacifica, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Trying to establish a true history of the Mafia, one that is both explicit and accurate, is about as meaningful as a trying to put together a true history of the CIA or Kennedy Assassination. There are two kinds of writers of Mafia, those who overstate its power and influence and those who understate it. Capeci is among the latter, though it seems for no obvious reason other than opinion given the minimal use of sources and bibliographical materials he documents, hardly sufficient justification. I suspect the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

The strength of this book is the information it provides about recent Mafia history particularly of the 5 New York Families, largely derived from Capeci?s journalistic and law enforcement sources. Here he excels and seems to know his material quite well. It falls short, however, in being a comprehensive, or even good or entertaining account of that overall history. I would recommend Stephen Fox?s Blood and Power and Nash?s Encyclopedia of Organized Crime for that.

The non-NY families are given scant coverage in this book and some very important moments in LCN history, such as the 1930 Atlantic City Conference establishing the current ?System? as it is known today envisioned by Johnny Torio, are not even mentioned, while the importance of other?s such as Luciano?s role in the Castellemmarese wars, is understated.

Though it is true that they aren?t as powerful as they once were, Capeci?s assumption that the MOB is dead in many states and all but extinct in others seems a bit pre-mature at best and ignores the LCN?s resiliency and adjustment to new circumstance, both threats and opportunities, that it has shown in the past, as well as it?s ability to adapt defensively to changes in tactics of the legal system and law enforcement that has kept it around for so long.

Overall a good starter, with valuable info on recent events of the 5 NY families, but hardly thorough and very dry in delivery.

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Close to the Mark, December 31, 2002
By Nomad (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
The Complete Idiot's (and Dummies) format is currently one of the biggest rages in publishing. After reading the idiot's guide to the mafia I can see why. A generous (but not truly exhaustive) amount of material is presented in an adult textbook format complete with chapter goals and what amounts to a "quiz" - though not in the form of questions at the end of each chapter. The format easily hides the book's major flaws. The worst flaw is that there is almost no reference whatever to the Sicilian mafia and no discussion of what influence or control it had or has over its American cousin. Yet, when Petrosino traveled to Sicily in 1909 he found assassins waiting. They seem to have kept in touch. Second, there is exactly one reference to the "Pizza Connection" probably because it would be impossible to discuss that landmark case without reference to the Sicilian Mafia and its power with and over Joe Bonanno and subsequent leaders of American Mob families.This is puzzling because Capeci goes to great lengths to show how much Bonanno was involved in drugs yet he ignores his 1957 trip to Sicily, his meeting with Luciano and major Sicilian mafia leaders that led to the birth of the "Pizza Connection." Capeci seems to have a subtle pro-FBI bias and "Pizza" showed the FBI missed the boat from 1957 to the mid-80's. Capeci stretches at a few points to find real-life examples for scenes in The Godfather films...he is flat wrong on one. Oh well, it is overall a good intro to the Syndicate chock full of boilerplate info. It does not quite live up to the publisher's billing, however. One of the best things is that he finds the mobsters to be the thuggish dishonorable monsters that they are. No romance here.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fulfilling, January 3, 2002
By Joseph (Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews
Highly recommended, typical Capeci; unbiased, clear, direct, detailed. If you want to know about more than just John Gotti, or Vincent Gigante, purchase this book and learn all about Cosa Nostra's villains.

Rusty

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Its written out of order....
When writing an historic overview on a subject that you know the reader knows virtually nothing about, it should be done in chronological order. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Smitty

4.0 out of 5 stars Life Imitating Art
Each page was informative and at times riveting. I have to wonder; does the media base their stories on "Wiseguy" traditions, or do the "Wiseguys" try to match the hype??? Read more
Published 12 months ago by George Curcio

5.0 out of 5 stars MAKING YOUR BONES
This was the very first book on the mob I read. 44 books later, it's safe to say that it helped pique my interest. Jerry Capeci breaks it down in Layman terms. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jason Jackson

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad overall
This book give a decent somewhat detailed history of the start of the mafia in the US and overseas. There are references as you read directing to other chapters about a... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Bender

3.0 out of 5 stars It's all about the names
This book could be a college guide to the Mafia and is well researched. I recommend skipping around to the chapter's you are interested in, rather than a cover to cover read. Read more
Published on October 28, 2007 by S. Hernandez

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes the confusion out of the Sopranos
I bought this book for my wife who has become a belated Sopranos fan, and has now watched everything from The Godfather to Donnie Brasco. Read more
Published on September 9, 2005 by P. Savage

2.0 out of 5 stars Systematic disorder
This is probably one of the worst books on the Mafia I've ever come accross. Tons of information are thrown together without any kind of order, either conceptual or historical... Read more
Published on August 10, 2005 by Prof. R. Paris

4.0 out of 5 stars Informational but dull
I am constantly reading books and information on the Mafia i found this book to have alot of information about a very broad subject. Read more
Published on February 21, 2005 by Mafioso

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good but dry overview of the mafia
This book was well-researched, and certainly, it seemed like the author knew what he was talking about. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but how would I know? Read more
Published on January 10, 2003 by John B

4.0 out of 5 stars Close to the Mark
The Complete Idiot's (and Dummies) format is currently one of the biggest rages in publishing. After reading the idiot's guide to the mafia I can see why. Read more
Published on January 1, 2003 by Nomad

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