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Tough Jews : Fathers, Sons, and Gangster Dreams Paperback – Illustrated, April 20, 1999

by Rich Cohen (Author)

4.4 320 ratings

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In an L.A. delicatessen, a group of Brooklyn natives gets together to discuss basketball, boxing, the weather back east, and the Jewish gangsters of yesteryear. Meyer Lansky. Bugsy Siegel. Louis Lepke, the self-effacing mastermind of Murder, Inc. Red Levine, the Orthodox hit man who refused to kill on the Sabbath. Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, who looked like a mama's boy but once buried a rival alive. These are just some of the vibrant, vicious characters Rich Cohen's father reminisced about and the author evokes so pungently in Tough Jews.

Tracing a generation of Jewish gangsters from the candy stores of Brownsville to the clubhouses of the Lower East Side--and, occasionally, to suites at the Waldorf--Cohen creates a densely anecdotal and gruesomely funny history of muscle, moxie, and money. Filled with fixers and schlammers, the squeal of tires and the rattle of gunfire, his book shatters stereotypes as deftly as its subjects once shattered kneecaps.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Exuberant. . .a vivid narrative. . . . Tough Jews brings familiar history back to life." --The New York Times

"Warmly and affectionately rendered. . .these vignettes bring a lost generation of antiheroes to life." --The Boston Globe

"Vivid and colorful. . .fascinating." --Los Angeles Times

"If the Mafia has its Mario Puzo, the Jewish troops of Murder, Inc. deserve their Rich Cohen. . .entertaining, defiantly romantic." --Newsweek

From the Inside Flap

In an L.A. delicatessen, a group of Brooklyn natives gets together to discuss basketball, boxing, the weather back east, and the Jewish gangsters of yesteryear. Meyer Lansky. Bugsy Siegel. Louis Lepke, the self-effacing mastermind of Murder, Inc. Red Levine, the Orthodox hit man who refused to kill on the Sabbath. Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, who looked like a mama's boy but once buried a rival alive. These are just some of the vibrant, vicious characters Rich Cohen's father reminisced about and the author evokes so pungently in Tough Jews.

Tracing a generation of Jewish gangsters from the candy stores of Brownsville to the clubhouses of the Lower East Side--and, occasionally, to suites at the Waldorf--Cohen creates a densely anecdotal and gruesomely funny history of muscle, moxie, and money. Filled with fixers and schlammers, the squeal of tires and the rattle of gunfire, his book shatters stereotypes as deftly as its subjects once shattered kneecaps.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Illustrated edition (April 20, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375705473
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375705472
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #67,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #42 in History of Judaism
- #135 in Native American History (Books)
- #202 in Criminology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 320 ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-researched, providing interesting information on a little-known period. They appreciate the author's humanizing of the characters and showing aspects of their personalities. However, opinions differ on the writing quality - some find it well-written and easy to follow, while others feel it jumps back and forth too much, making it difficult to follow the stories.

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Readability Information quality History Personality Writing quality

25 customers mention "Readability"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and well-written. They describe it as a good, casual read that covers an interesting topic. The story is engaging and the delivery service is satisfactory.

"...Tough times breed tough people. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and I thought about my immigrant great uncle who ran liquor from Windsor, Ontario..." Read more

"One of the greatest books ever written ! I found out about this book from one of the family members of the one the late Gangsters !..." Read more

"...A good casual read but a read that allows reader to pick up the book months later" Read more

"This is a very well-written book about the Jewish Murder Incorporated Mob from Brownsville section of Brooklyn, told from the viewpoint of a Jewish..." Read more

10 customers mention "Information quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides well-researched information on a little-known period and interesting topic. They appreciate the facts and trivia about the subject, including how Jews got involved in the gangster lifestyle.

"...An exciting “page turner” colorfully written and well-researched. The Jewish Mob was as tough and murderous as any. Tough times breed tough people...." Read more

"...Lots of information and history on an little-know period. The thugs and gangsters come to life with all their faults and vicious behavior...." Read more

"...Too bad, because it's otherwise a really interesting topic few authors have touched." Read more

"...Although this book is fairly well researched, it is disjointed, confusing, and, well, frankly the author -- although he had interesting material to..." Read more

6 customers mention "History"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find it informative and entertaining, with facts and trivia about the subject matter. The book provides a perspective on the old gang days and different ethnic groups coming to the United States. Readers also appreciate the author's father and friends' backstories.

"...Lots of information and history on an little-know period. The thugs and gangsters come to life with all their faults and vicious behavior...." Read more

"...a bit of a disappointment. It could have been a great slice of a unique history, but it turned out to be more of a personal family history, not what..." Read more

"...We found the book well researched complete with facts and trivia about the subject matter...." Read more

"A Good History Of Different ethnic groups coming to the United States." Read more

3 customers mention "Personality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging. They appreciate how the author humanizes the gangsters and shows their personalities. The book provides an interesting perspective on some really evil people.

"...Interesting perspective on some really evil people. Gave me an understanding of "doing what you've got to do" in the underbelly of society." Read more

"...I like how the author humanizes the gangsters and shows aspects of their personalities that were not discussed in Turkus and Feder's book." Read more

"Interesting bunch of jewish gangsters and murderers. Not a very nice group of guys I wouldn`t have liked to hang out with them." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written and authentic, while others mention that the writing jumps back and forth too much, making it difficult to follow the stories. The material becomes repetitive and boring for some readers.

"...No punches pulled. Well written." Read more

"...There are some typos, repetitions, etc that surprised me. Didn't he have an editor? Read it! It's a true member of the mob telling all!" Read more

"I'm halfway through the book and can't put it down. Well written, but I have to say, some facts are mixed up...." Read more

"...A lot of material became very repetitive and it was not so compelling and/or nostalgic...." Read more

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Hal
An exciting page turner and fun read
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
One of those books where you don’t want to end. An exciting “page turner” colorfully written and well-researched. The Jewish Mob was as tough and murderous as any. Tough times breed tough people. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and I thought about my immigrant great uncle who ran liquor from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit during prohibition and the stories he must have had. I also enjoyed how the author weaved his own father (a wannabe gangster) into the story. As someone who grew up in L.A. I could definitely relate to the four friends and imagine them sitting in the “schvitz” at the Beverly Hills Health Club or at Nate n’ Al’s schmoozing about Brooklyn and the old days.

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Osmodeus Zpaceball
I love this book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Inspiration for Jews who are tired of getting kicked around by ignorant antisemites. Highly recommend.

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Placeholder
Fascinating, written by a true voice/participant
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
The writing is not professional, but the stories and the vocabulary are positively authentic. There are some typos, repetitions, etc that surprised me. Didn't he have an editor? Read it! It's a true member of the mob telling all!

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5 people found this helpful

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DJ Davito
Amazing book!!!!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2022
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One of the greatest books ever written ! I found out about this book from one of the family members of the one the late Gangsters ! These guys were “ tough”! More than the Micks or Italians !

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One person found this helpful

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Joe Mathieu
A unique look at different time
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the backstory with the author's father and his friends. Lots of information and history on an little-know period. The thugs and gangsters come to life with all their faults and vicious behavior. No punches pulled. Well written.

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E. Pekarsky
Interesting Story
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
The writing style of the author was not exactly what I was looking for - this book focuses on the characters/players from a novelty fictional portrayal and less than an actual historical recount of the organization founding and formation. I was looking to get more out of this book, especially in regards to the history, instead got alot of physical descriptive imagery glorification of the people involved. A lot of material became very repetitive and it was not so compelling and/or nostalgic. A good casual read but a read that allows reader to pick up the book months later

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2 people found this helpful

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Joe Bruno Sr.
Nice book on the Jewish mob in Brooklyn
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2012
Verified Purchase
This is a very well-written book about the Jewish Murder Incorporated Mob from Brownsville section of Brooklyn, told from the viewpoint of a Jewish writer looking back on his own father's upbringing in Brooklyn.

Making an unexpected appearance is television icon Larry King, real name Zeiger, who grew up in Brooklyn with the author Rich Cohen's father, Herb Cohen, also a writer of some note.

Very fast read and highly entertaining.
[...]

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2 people found this helpful

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Robert NJ
Good book, but some facts are mixed up
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
I'm halfway through the book and can't put it down. Well written, but I have to say, some facts are mixed up.
For example, he has Dopey Benny Fein getting killed, not true, the candy store in Brownsville Brooklyn, the author has as on the corner of Pitkin & Livonia (it was Saratoga & Livonia), Scarpato's, where Masseria was killed, the author has as West 15th street in Coney Island, when it was on W.25th Street... but if you don't mind a little mixed facts, then you'll enjoy it.

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8 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

irwin boock
Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 21, 2015
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very well written

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TomChurch
Great - rich in description and detail
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Tough Jews is a fascinating book that looks at a period of American history rarely covered in such details. Cohen describes the Brooklyn gangster lifestyle in Jewish neighbourhoods wth clarity. The hilarious encounters, accents, stories and grim realities are portrayed in rich descriptions I hadn't felt since The Big Sleep

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E.D.Mccreight
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great read

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