"One of the most original approaches to the history of the Mafia and the 'Ndrangheta I know and I have already learned a great deal from it. A first-rate piece of work." Eric Hobsbawm, Professor emeritus of history, Birkbeck College, University of London.
"Mafia Brotherhoods is an outstanding addition to the stream of modern classics on the Italian Mafia. Analytically rigorous and theoretically well informed, it makes excellent use of the treasury trove of materials supplied by recent Mafia defectors to provide a rich description of both Sicilian and Calbrian Mafias. Featuring a novel and systematic comparison with the American Mafia, Paoli's work will be an indispensable resource for American readers." Peter Reuter, Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland
"A great read and a major step forward in the cause of understanding organized crime in all of its forms. Paoli's is a necessary book for anyone, whether academic or professional, serious about organized crime." G. Robert Blakey, William and Dorothy O'Neill Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame
"This book on the Italian mafia is a milestone in the comparative study of so-called 'organized crime'. An impressive demonstration of the relevance of culture in shaping mafia action, it is also a valuable contribution to the contemporary sociological debate." Shmuel Eisenstadt, Rose Isaacs Professor emeritus of Sociology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Cosa Nostra" is the compelling story of the Sicilian mafia, the world's most famous, most secretive and most misunderstood criminal fraternity. The mafia has been given many names since it was founded one hundred and forty years ago: the Sect, the Brotherhood, the Honoured Society, and now Cosa Nostra. Yet as times have changed, the mafia's subtle and bloody methods have remained the same.
Another book from author of The Godfather.
When an important Mafia boss is assassinated, no one knew anything.
Omerta, the Mafia code of silence is at work. No information is to be
found, not from corrupt banks, rival gangs, or even from the courts.
However, the nephew of the dead man and the head of the FBI are
determined to trackdown the murderers. So determined, they join forces
to begin their own investigation. After all, in the Mafia world,
everyone has a price.
The Mafia Encyclopedia They're all there, starting with Anthony Joseph Accardo (1906-1992), the Chicago mob leader known as Tony to crime pals, Mr. Accardo to underlings, Joe Batters to his subordinates, and as "having more brains before breakfast than Al Capone had all day" to syndicate supporters, and working through the alphabet to Abner "Longy" Zwillman (1899-1959), a crime-syndicate founder and New Jersey boss, one of the most feared of the Jewish Mafia, known as the "Al Capone of new Jersey," and much revered for his love affair with Jean Harlow. Between Accardo and Zwillman, Carl Sifakis explores the lives, reputations, exploits, and subcultures of more than 450 Mafia perpetrators and personalities. Sifakis describes the individuals, codes of behavior, misdeeds, legal scrapes, rivalries, and flamboyant lifestyles associated with the world of organized crime--an entity whose existence J. Edgar Hoover denied for 30 years. Sifakis's research is thorough, and his subjects are nefarious and riveting. It's his feel for storytelling, however, that makes his encyclopedia so enjoyable. He writes about infamous characters such as Al Capone (who felt his bootlegging was merely a public service) and John Gotti (a.k.a. the Teflon Don, who's now serving a life sentence) as well as the Mafia Social Clubs, Donnie Brasco (the FBI agent who infiltrated the mob and sent more than 100 mobsters to prison), and the importance of slot machines to the post-Prohibition welfare of organized crime. With nearly 100 pictures and illustrations, Sifakis's mob opus is required reading for Mafia buffs, and a remarkably engaging guide for anyone interested in a factual report on organized crime.
