Five Families : The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires by Selwyn Raab (2006, Trade Paperback)

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About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherSt. Martin's Press
ISBN-100312361815
ISBN-139780312361815
eBay Product ID (ePID)63001566

Product Key Features

Book TitleFive Families : the Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires
Number of Pages800 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication Year2006
TopicUnited States / State & Local / Middle Atlantic (DC, De, Md, NJ, NY, Pa), General, Organized Crime
IllustratorYes
GenreTrue Crime, History
AuthorSelwyn Raab
FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height2.2 in
Item Weight33.5 Oz
Item Length9.2 in
Item Width6.1 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2007-271271
ReviewsWhile the introduction to Five Families says the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab., "Five Families is the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time." ---Bryan Burrough, The New York Times Book Review   "Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject." ---The Boston Globe   "Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history." ---Publishers Weekly (starred review)   "Riveting history." ---People   "...enlightening chronicle of the rise of the five Mafia families..." --Entertainment Weekly "Raab's meticulouly researched history is an engrossing initiation." --The Baltimore Sun "A classic piece of reporting by a man who knows the bloody, brutal, corrupt territory." --Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes "[Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen "Godfather" sequals and keep "The Sopranos" well stocked with mayhem for another decade." --Kirkus Reviews "So well written and encompassing." --Detroit Free Press "In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life." --Thomas Reppetto, author of American Mafia "After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better. " --Tom Robbins, reporter, Village Voice "In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab at The New York Times in covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting book Five Families will be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be." --Nat Hentoff, columnist, Village Voice "A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest." --Mafia expert Jerry Capeci; webmaster, GangLandNews.com; author, The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Mafia "While the introduction to Five Families says the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab." --Don Hewitt, creator of 60 Minutes and author of Tell Me A Story        , In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab at The New York Times in covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting book Five Families will be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be., After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better., " Five Families is the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time." --Bryan Burrough, The New York Times Book Review "Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject." -- The Boston Globe "Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Riveting history." -- People "...enlightening chronicle of the rise of the five Mafia families..." -- Entertainment Weekly "Raab's meticulouly researched history is an engrossing initiation." -- The Baltimore Sun "A classic piece of reporting by a man who knows the bloody, brutal, corrupt territory." -- Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes "[Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen "Godfather" sequals and keep "The Sopranos" well stocked with mayhem for another decade." -- Kirkus Reviews "So well written and encompassing." -- Detroit Free Press "In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life." --Thomas Reppetto, author of American Mafia "After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better." --Tom Robbins, reporter, Village Voice "In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab at The New York Times in covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting book Five Families will be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be." --Nat Hentoff, columnist, Village Voice "A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest." --Mafia expert Jerry Capeci; webmaster, GangLandNews.com; author, The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Mafia "While the introduction to Five Families says the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab." --Don Hewitt, creator of 60 Minutes and author of Tell Me A Story, " Five Families is the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time." ---Bryan Burrough, The New York Times Book Review "Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject." --- The Boston Globe "Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history." --- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Riveting history." --- People "...enlightening chronicle of the rise of the five Mafia families..." -- Entertainment Weekly "Raab's meticulouly researched history is an engrossing initiation." -- The Baltimore Sun "A classic piece of reporting by a man who knows the bloody, brutal, corrupt territory." --Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes "[Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen "Godfather" sequals and keep "The Sopranos" well stocked with mayhem for another decade." --Kirkus Reviews "So well written and encompassing." -- Detroit Free Press "In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life." --Thomas Reppetto, author of American Mafia "After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better. " --Tom Robbins, reporter, Village Voice "In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab at The New York Times in covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting book Five Families will be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be." --Nat Hentoff, columnist, Village Voice "A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest." --Mafia expert Jerry Capeci; webmaster, GangLandNews.com; author, The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Mafia "While the introduction to Five Families says the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab." --Don Hewitt, creator of 60 Minutes and author of Tell Me A Story, Â"Five Familiesis the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time.Â" ---Bryan Burrough,The New York Times Book Review Â"Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject.Â" ---TheBostonGlobe Â"Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history.Â" ---Publishers Weekly(starred review) Â"Riveting history.Â" ---People "...enlightening chronicle of the rise of the five Mafia families..." --Entertainment Weekly "Raab's meticulouly researched history is an engrossing initiation." --TheBaltimoreSun "A classic piece of reporting by a man who knows the bloody, brutal, corrupt territory." --Mike Wallace,60 Minutes Â"[Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen Â"GodfatherÂ" sequals and keep Â"The SopranosÂ" well stocked with mayhem for another decade.Â" --Kirkus Reviews "So well written and encompassing." --DetroitFree Press "In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life." --Thomas Reppetto, author ofAmerican Mafia "After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better. " --Tom Robbins, reporter,Village Voice "In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab atThe New York Timesin covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting bookFive Familieswill be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be." --Nat Hentoff, columnist,Village Voice Â"A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest.Â" --Mafia expert Jerry Capeci; webmaster, GangLandNews.com; author,The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Mafia "While the introduction toFive Familiessays the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab." --Don Hewitt, creator of60 Minutesand author ofTell Me A Story, "Five Familiesis the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time." ---Byran Burroughs,The New York Times Book Review   "Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject." ---TheBostonGlobe   "Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history." ---Publishers Weekly(starred review)   "Riveting history." ---People   "Thorough...familiar...enlightening chronicle of the rise of the five Mafia families..." --Entertainment Weekly "Raab's meticulouly researched history is an engrossing initiation." --TheBaltimoreSun "A classic piece of reporting by a man who knows the bloody, brutal, corrupt territory." --Mike Wallace,60 Minutes "[Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen "Godfather" sequals and keep "The Sopranos" well stocked with mayhem for another decade." --Kirkus Reviews "So well written and encompassing." --DetroitFree Press "In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life." --Thomas Reppetto, author ofAmerican Mafia "After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better. " --Tom Robbins, reporter,Village Voice "In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab atThe New York Timesin covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting bookFive Familieswill be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be." --Nat Hentoff, columnist,Village Voice "A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest." --Mafia expert Jerry Capeci; webmaster, GangLandNews.com; author,The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Mafia "While the introduction toFive Familiessays the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab." --Don Hewitt, creator of60 Minutesand author ofTell Me A Story        , In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life., A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest., [Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen "Godfather" sequals and keep "The Sopranos" well stocked with mayhem for another decade., " Five Families is the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time." ---Bryan Burrough, The New York Times Book Review   "Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject." --- The Boston Globe   "Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history." --- Publishers Weekly (starred review)   "Riveting history." --- People   "...enlightening chronicle of the rise of the five Mafia families..." -- Entertainment Weekly "Raab's meticulouly researched history is an engrossing initiation." -- The Baltimore Sun "A classic piece of reporting by a man who knows the bloody, brutal, corrupt territory." --Mike Wallace, 60 Minutes "[Raab's] sprawling history offers sufficient anecdotes to fuel a half-dozen "Godfather" sequals and keep "The Sopranos" well stocked with mayhem for another decade." --Kirkus Reviews "So well written and encompassing." -- Detroit Free Press "In this definitive account of the royal families of mobdom, Selwyn Raab not only tells us where the bodies are buried, he brings them back to life." --Thomas Reppetto, author of American Mafia "After an eight-decade run in which its executives built the most powerful criminal organization in U.S. history, the American Mafia began to unravel at the end of the 20th century. It did so in a convulsion of blood and treachery, fueled by out-of-control egos. Selwyn Raab was there, in the streets, the precinct houses, and the courtrooms to record that story. No one does it better. " --Tom Robbins, reporter, Village Voice "In my more than fifty years as a reporter, there is no journalist whom I've respected more than Selwyn Raab at The New York Times in covering New York's criminal justice system. He was tireless and painstaking in investigating the investigators, sometimes helping to prove innocence, but equally fair and conscientious in cases that ended in conviction. His riveting book Five Families will be I'm sure the definitive history of the Mafia in New York for a long time to come. It is a model of what journalism can be." --Nat Hentoff, columnist, Village Voice "A well-researched, well-written historical account of the murderous, double-dealing and often-sophisticated gangsters who shot their way into American folklore and created a criminal empire that has fleeced Americans and confounded law enforcement for more than 100 years. Raab's work surpasses all the rest." --Mafia expert Jerry Capeci; webmaster, GangLandNews.com; author, The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Mafia "While the introduction to Five Families says the Bonnano, Genovese, Luchesse, Colombo, and Gambino families were among the reigning giants of the underworld, what it doesn't say is that the book about them is by one of the reigning giants of journalism, Selwyn Raab." --Don Hewitt, creator of 60 Minutes and author of Tell Me A Story        
Dewey Edition22
Dewey Decimal364.106/097471
SynopsisThis text is the vivid story of the rise and fall of New York's premier dons from Lucky Luciano to Paul Castellano to John Gotti and more. It brings the reader right up to the possible resurgence of the Mafia as the FBI and local law enforcement agencies turn their attention to homeland security and away from organized crime., For half a century, the American Mafia outwitted, outmaneuvered, and outgunned the FBI and other police agencies, wreaking unparalleled damages to America's social fabric and business enterprises while emerging as the nation's most formidable crime empire. The vanguard of this criminal juggernaut is still led by the Mafia's most potent and largest borgatas: New York's Five Families. Selwyn Raab's Five Families is the vivid story of the rise and fall of New York's premier dons from Lucky Luciano to Paul Castellano to John Gotti and more. This definitive history brings the reader right up to the possible resurgence of the Mafia as the FBI and local law-enforcement agencies turn their attention to homeland security and away from organized crime. The paperback has been revised and updated, with a new epilogue focusing on the trial of the notorious "Mafia Cops."
LC Classification NumberHV6452.N7R33 2006

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  • FIVE FAMILIES

    While I do not mean any disrespect, to coin a phrase this is the "Bible" of organized crime books. Selwyn Rabb has done an extraordinary compilation of examining in depth the history, rise and fall of all five crime families based in New York. If you read only one book in your lifetime on the subject matter, look no further, this is it. Rabb covers the material in meticulous detail and chronology unraveling old headlines, court cases, godfathers, turncoats, wannabes, and soldiers with clarity and conviction. Highly Recommended!

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Fabulous account of the American mob

    This is a complete accounting of the Mafia in American. Reading this book is like gaining the knowledge of a college course. Fantastic!

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Great

    Great book, really liked the true story

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Five Families

    Fascinating content! Very informative and exciting to read.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Five Families

    Great book in eccellent condition!

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • A must for all Mafia history buffs!

    Very well written with many historical insights into NYC's governing history.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned

  • Thanks

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned