Editorial Review

Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that Read more

Reviews (537)

Enthralling!
I never thought I'd consider a book primarily about architecture enthralling, but this book is amazingly so.
A fascinating story
I received this book as a birthday gift, and although I typically read works of fiction, I found The Devil in the White City to be fascinating.The central happenings of the story (the World's Fair and the serial killings) are presented in wonderfully researched detail.Other gems of information can be found scattered throughout the book, such as references to Walt Disney's father, a carpenter who worked construction at the fair.I found it difficult to put the book down at all, and now that I've finished it I find myself still thinking about the story, the characters, and the mind-set of America in the 1890's.To me, a great book is one that stays with you long after you've read it, and I know this one qualifies.I am looking forward to reading more of Erik Larson's work.

Well researched,well written
What strikes me most about this book is the detailed research that went into the parallel story about the Chicago World's Fair and how it's woven around the story of the murders. Larson's book is a pure enjoyment--a historical journey into the history of Chicago, warts and all. The reader not only learns about Daniel Burnham's amazing feat pulling together the Columbia Exposition of 1893 and the ways it changed the nation, but he contrasts this event with America's first serial killer, ironically steps away from the fair. The reader is tugged from good to evil, from risk to murder, from heaven to hell. Enjoy the ride and thanks Mr. Larson for allowing us to take that ride! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Case studies    3. Chicago    4. Chicago (Ill.)    5. History - U.S.    6. Homicide    7. Illinois    8. Murder - General    9. Murder - Serial Killers    10. Serial murderers    11. Serial murders    12. True Crime    13. United States - 19th Century    14. United States - 19th Century/Turn of the Century    15. United States - State & Local - General    16. United States - State & Local - Midwest    17. History / United States / 20th Century    18. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (340)

Superb Read
This true story really takes you into the hair raising lifestyle of Vegas, and then propels you into the blackjack world and the realities of getting caught at counting cards.Hell of a read, makes me want to learn to count cards.

Novel-like
Bringing Down the House tells the story of Kevin Lewis and his teammates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who formed a team to win millions from Las Vegas by counting cards at blackjack.The story focuses on "Lewis" and chronicles how he is brought into the group and becomes entranced by the excitement and the money.
Bringing Down the House
When I read a half of the book, I can imagine the rest half.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Boston    4. Cardsharping    5. Gamblers    6. Gambling    7. Gambling - General    8. Gambling - Table    9. Games    10. Games/Puzzles    11. Indoor Games    12. Las Vegas    13. Massachusetts    14. Nevada    15. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    16. Personal Memoirs    17. Games / General   

Editorial Review

In 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty murdered the wife and infant daughter of their younger brother Allen. The crimes were noteworthy not merely for their brutality but for the brothers' claim that they were acting on direct orders from God. In Read more

Reviews (595)

Murder, Religion, MormonsandFundamentalists
This is sort of "The DaVinci Code" of Mormonism.The difference though, is that Krakauer, unlike Dan Brown, does much better reasearch and is not writing fiction.Krakauer also reveals his personal biases in the author's notes at the end.
Great works of fiction
I read the first 1/3 of the book, and had to quit, because it falls into my "great work of fiction" category.My major complaint with the book is with it's history of Mormonism.I have read the various official stories about how the gold plates were found, how the church was organized and other events from the LDS church.I have also read various differing accounts by detractors.
Fascinating Take on LDS Origins, Current Schisms and a Tragic Crime Spree
When I first read Jon Krakauer's INTO THIN AIR, I became fascinated with all things Everest.(All things except actually climbing the growing peak, that is.)So when this became a book club pick, my curiosity was piqued.(Glad I got my 'p' word quota out of the way this early.)
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Da    2. Mormon fundamentalism    3. Murder - General    4. Religion - Mormon / LDS    5. True Crime    6. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    7. True Crime / Murder   

Reviews (54)

Mr. Carlo...brilliant
A must read for anyone curious about the mafia world, cold hearted killers, and just all around fabulous reading.My hats off to Philip Carlo for writing a materpiece that I just couldn't put down.Page after page he diligently wrote the account of Mr. Kuklinski's life, from enduring sadistic brutality at the hands of his parents, to the very end which brought tears to my eyes.How could you expect Mr. K to be anything else in life other than what he was, after all, his exposure to death and killing was experienced first hand as a child.Thank you Mr. Carlo for being by my side for the last week while I read word for word, the chilling accounts of this killer, always seeing the sensitive side of this man when it came to his family and children.Mr. Kuklinski was a gentle soul, he just wasn't shown enough love and affection in his life.Thanks again.Can't wait to read your other writings.

Couldn't put this down....
Richard Kuklinski, though a killer, was also a very troubled human being. Having two parents that barely raised their children, but used their hands, brooms, etc to punish their children and never nurtured them. To even not take responsibility for killing one of their first born son, Flarian.
Richard Kuklinski: The Full Story
I was born in Brooklyn, NY in November 1983 and moved to Hillsdale, NJ (Bergen County) in January 1985.Throughout my life, I heard stories from my parents and grandmother about the Mafia and about the murders that occurred in my old neighborhood.I have always been fascinated by La Cosa Nostra and the Mafia and have read numerous books, watched countless movies and documentaries, and written numerous papers on the topic.After reading all of these different books, I want to commend Mr. Carlo on your work about Richard Kuklinski.This biography was by far the most interesting piece that I have ever read and in my humble opinion, truly captured the essence of a psychopathic serial killer and underworld of the Mafia.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Case studies    3. Crime And Criminals    4. New Jersey    5. Organized Crime    6. Serial murderers    7. Serial murders    8. True Crime    9. True Crime / Espionage    10. True Crime / Organized Crime   

Editorial Review

Enron was a $100-billion-a-year company in October 2001--America's seventh-largest. The Houston-based energy firm enjoyed warm ties with newly installed President George W. Bush. Earnings were up 26 percent from the previous quarter, while Read more

Reviews (114)

Well-reported but not close to the best on Enron
Eichenwald's style might be more easily "accessible," but Bethany McLean's Smartest Guys in the Room is BY FAR the better report of what actually went on at Enron.Buy that one, not Eichenwald's half-baked pretender.

As close as we'll ever come to knowing what went on inside Enron
Only those who lived life inside Enron will ever know the true story of what happened that caused the catastrophic corporate debacle.Even amongst Enron insiders, only a handful were in a position to know the truth.Kurt Eichenwald has done a great job in this book of pulling together as many of the sources as he can in order to give those of us on the outside a look at the inside.
Foolishness
As a bit player in the west coast energy crisis, I found the cast of characters and their foolishness were too close to home.I suspect that no matter what industry one is in, readers will find something to identify with.And if you are not in business, you should see what can happen within organizations that does and will affect your life.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business failures    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Corrupt practices    6. Energy    7. Energy industries    8. Enron Corp.    9. General    10. History Of Specific Companies    11. Industries - Energy Industries    12. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    13. True Crime / Espionage    14. United States    15. White Collar Crime    16. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (217)

And I thought The Lovely Bones was hard to put down...
I rarely find a book I just Cannot Put Down.One of the rare ones was The Lovely Bones--and it wasn't just the plot.It was the language, the crystal-clear voice-in-your-head narrative that spoke and spoke of pain and sadness and resolve.It was infused with a realism and was both beautiful and haunting.Like the lean, hard and seemingly lengthened muscles of a runner, Sebold's voice is discernable above the din of modern fiction yet it is not haughty or self-involved... Hearing her voice is like the moment you know you are going to be really good friends with someone you just met:comforting and clear, it makes you want to lean closer to absorb it.It made me a devoted fan of Sebold as I am sure you are, too.
A difficult, but engaging read
I suspect I'm like most people who have read this book.I read an interview with Sebold and she said as she was writing "Lovely Bones" she was struggling with the rape scene.Because she had been raped herself, she wasn't able to write about it effectively in "Lovely Bones" until she had dealt with her own stuff.She put down "Lovely Bones", wrote "Lucky", and then picked up and finished "Lovely Bones."Very interesting.
An Incredible and Worthwhile Read, But ...
I was disappointed by the ending. It seemed quite hastily concluded. I wanted more details on her recovery process--how she was able to save herself. That would definitely help readers who have been through similar experiences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Case studies    5. General    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Rape victims    8. Trials (Rape)    9. United States    10. Women   

Reviews (16)

Remembering Denice
Denice and I grew up in the same small town in Oklahoma. It is of the utmost importance to understand how those of us who knew her were profoundly affected by her death. This heinous crime not only shook Ada, but also shook those of us who grew up with her in Purcell,OK. Denice was a sweet girl who had a smile that would light up the room. She was a year behind me in school. I recently pulled out a old High School annual. Looking at her photo brought back a rush of memories. Memories of a beautiful, innocent young woman who's life was ended in the twinkling of a eye. As important as it is that justice has been served in this case, it is even more important for all to understand that we will never forget Denice.
NOT GUILTY
Tommy spent many nights, days weekends with my sisters and mother and is not the type to do harm to anyone. He has even slept across my sisters feet in the winter when the electric was turned off, just to keep her feet warm. I have seen and spoken to him many times since then and eventhough he has been convicted of a crime he didn't commit, he is still a caring person. His only crime was to DREAM or in this case have a nightmare. He will eventually be setfree.

I knew Tommy & Karl and I have read the book...
I read this book well over a decade ago when Tommy told me about it in a letter.I knew both of these men fairly well and spent a great deal of time with them in the year before this crime occurred, particularly Tommy.Karl was a little "different" (mentally slow) but he was always kind to me and Tommy somewhat protected him because of what Karl had been through with his mother's death.They had many opportunities to hurt me as they spent a great deal of time in my apartment and I had been over to Tommy's mothers' home a couple of times and his brother's home on several occasions - I moved away from Ada just a few weeks before Donna (who I did not know) was killed.I also knew (or knew of) most of the other individuals in the book...and if I had to choose who would be most likely to commit a murder, Tommy would have been the last one I would have ever chosen.When I knew Tommy he was one of the gentlest souls I'd ever known - I can still see him talking and playing with his pet bird and how obvious it was that he valued life, even that of a a small creature.I don't believe he did it and I will never believe it.This book will keep your attention...and it will capture your heart as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ada    2. Fontenot, Karl    3. General    4. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    5. Murder - General    6. Oklahoma    7. Organized Crime    8. Trials (Murder)    9. Trials, litigation, etc    10. True Crime    11. True Crime / Espionage    12. Ward, Tommy    13. True Crime / General   

Editorial Review

John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with Read more

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook

Reviews (28)

Better and Better
I think I have read most of John Grisham's books, enjoyed them all (particularly Street Lawyer).I believe that he started as a very good writer, and has simply gotten better and better.This book was, for me, a "page turner," although I listened to it, rather than read it. I was compelled to finish it as fast as I could, and simply couldn't stop."The system" isn't always right, and when its wrong, its so wrong.Its easy to join the mob of people who, often inspired by the press, rush to judgment in cases like this, and want to give the accused a quick trial, then take him out and hang him.God bless the lawyers in various innocence projects, and the ACLU, who quietly seek to protect the rights of the innocent and overwhelmed.And thanks to John Grisham for telling this story - one which needs to be told.

Scary Non-Fiction
I picked up "The Innocent Man" not realizing that it is non-fiction.This is a poignant and important story that I appreciate his telling.
I must apologize
I wrote that the Broker was not the book I should strongly recommend. Well, I'm astonished now, because Mr Grisham knew about ties between Cia and Italian Telecom. How did he manage? Well, back to the Innocent man. I have read some of the recension before me. I think it could be hard to cope for a layman, but it's very interesting for a jurist, expecially for a no American one. The plot is intriguing, and the style is very dry. I read it in a day, and I learnt very much about American system. System is really good, sometimes men aren't, like everywhere. The clue is: American juries care more about what a convicted should do in the future, then about which crime one actually performed, if then. That's the reason why a dropout like Ronnie was a perfect candidate for lethal injection. He was crazy, noisy , arrogant, he slept most of the time and use to chase boozes and skirts. What's the use of let he in life? Grisham is great when at the end calculates to the penny what's the cost of such a court mistake for the american taxpayer. A cynical could rebuke: right, but only because it happened to be eventually corrected. The correction was the really burden, and not the mistake. I hope to read more nonfiction from Mr Grisham, that could even write a postfaction like Victor Hugo in the Miserables: Italy loves my books, but Italian judiciary ssystem isn't any better ( Hugo said Italy loved les Miserables, but Italy was really a worse country then France ).It's a book about justice, not simply a book about american judiciary system or small countries judicial oddities. I recommend it to all law students. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Capital Punishment    3. General    4. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    5. Judicial error    6. Legal System    7. Murder - General    8. Oklahoma    9. Penology    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Trials (Murder)    13. Social Science / Penology   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (371)

One of the best I've read.
I had no idea what this book was about when I bought it.It was years ago now, and I was given a list of "Good Books" to read as a present: A deck of cards, each card representing a great work in American Literature that everyone should read.This was one of the books.I liked it a lot. At the time, I had no idea who Capote was (I still don't) and it wasn't until recently when movie after movie keeps coming out about this "Capote" character that I realized he was the author of this book.It's a good book, and a well-told story, but I don't see why Capote has recently been thrown up on a pedestal and worshiped by Hollywood. Regardless, this book is worth your time.

amazing on all levels
Intrigued, I wondered how Capote could manage to write a book about a crime that, while gruesome, at first glance doesn't appear to be the sort to sustain a book. Upon starting it I was hooked, he not only found the story but manages to tell it from many different perspectives while keeping the raw emotion intact, putting you right there throughout. At the same time he comes across as unbiased in his telling. Not only does he create a genre with this book, he defines what it is at it's best. As an aside, to watch the movie Capote after reading this book makes clear the methods he used, unprecedented access to the criminals, etc. in order to create this masterpeice.

Beyond true crime
This is as near perfect as a book can get. Capote gets you inside each person he writes about like no one else. Remarkable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Capote, Truman, 1924-1984    2. Case studies    3. General    4. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    5. Kansas    6. Murder    7. Murder - General    8. True Crime    9. True Crime / Espionage    10. True Crime / General   

Editorial Review

Of the many well-documented horror stories associated with the U.S. Healthcare System, none are more shocking and hard to believe than that exposed by investigative reporter Katherine Eban in Read more

Reviews (15)

Excellent Research
This is a well researched book (really well) and uses easy to understand language. It was a bit confusing to me in the beginning since he used some flashback type story telling. I was hoping to pull some powerful statistics out of this book, but was only to get some weak ones. This a a great book to have if you like having evidence that the U.S. Government is no saviour.

Dangerous Doses
This is an outstanding book every American should read.This book was recommended to me by a Vice President of a large mail order pharmacy corporation.I am the Assistant Vice President for Supply Chain Pharmacy Operations of a large healthcare system.As such I am responsible for making our Supply Chain Pharmacy Operations more safe and efficient.This book has been an eye opener for me.I have already quoted it several times in meetings and on conference calls.We all need to be engaged in making our healthcare supply chain as safe and efficient as possible.This is a non-fiction book, but it reads like a fiction one because its so unbelievable.It could very easily be made into a movie and be very successful in that media.

More Government Bungling!
While the FDA and drug companies rail about the potential dangers of imported drugs, they ignore or downplay reports about adulterated, counterfeit drugs from within the U.S., and fight efforts to improve the reliability of the system. Meanwhile, law-enforcement efforts to correct the problem are frequently blocked by political intervention for donors, legal threats, a patch-work of varying State laws, fraudulent paperwork, regulators giving drug wholesaling licenses to known criminals, and inter-departmental squabbling over who's in charge or gets the credit.
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Subjects:  1. Drug adulteration    2. Drugs    3. General    4. Health Care Issues    5. Medical    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    8. Pain Medicine    9. Pharmaceutical policy    10. Pharmacy    11. Safety measures    12. True Crime / Espionage    13. United States    14. True Crime / General   

Reviews (129)

Far too loosey-goosey
Gilmore does a very good job of painting a picture of Ms. Short's life leading up to her tragic murder. That picture is of a listless dreamer, that while gifted with some personal magnetism and looks (although greatly exaggerated in that department in my male opinion), is actually little more than a gadfly, crashing at one place after another, sponging money from everyone that is never repaid, essentially living in survival mode off the largesse of men and women that felt sorry for her. Her dreams were never supported by a tangible plan with any likely chance of success, she just drifted from one night out to the next it seems.
Gilmore's solution to the Black Dahlia Murder
When 22 year old Elizabeth Short's body was found mutilated in 1947 Los Angeles the case quickly grew a reputation as unsolvable with too many suspects and not enough solid leads. Author John Gilmore extensively researched the case (beginning in the early 60's for a film that was never made) and began sorting fact from fiction including the largely unflattering portrait painted of Short herself.
A Warning!!!
My Da got this book from the library,and found it very thorough, deeply studied, well-written. I might have read it myself, as true crime and historical events are of interest to me,but I had the misfortune to open the book to a photograph of poor Miss Short's corpse.
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Subjects:  1. California - Local History    2. Crime And Criminals    3. Murder - Serial Killers    4. True Crime    5. True Crime / Espionage    6. United States - 20th Century   

Reviews (73)

A Few Tips on Not Being a Sucker
As a returning-college-student studying finance, this book provides an interesting basis for understanding some fundamental legal changes over the past 30 years.I highly recommend this book if you have an interest in stocks or are an investor.

Interesting topic; labored writing
Whence Stewart's Pulitzer, I wonder?Presumably because he got the scoop on other reporters, and dug up interesting facts and connections.As a series of newspaper articles, this doubtless made for riveting stuff.As a book, it does not.Stewart hews closely to the facts, detailing trade after trade, insider exchange after insider exchange.In short course, every trade begins to look like every other trade, every incremental corruption like every other, every trader, arbitrageur, I-banker, etc., like every other.Unless you're very familiar with Wall street, and fairly steeped in the terminology and business of modern finance, you -- as I did -- may tire of the repetition.Stewart rarely steps back from the minutiae to consider broader contextual themes (political, social, cultural, etc.).Some deeper historical perspective would have enlivened DoT greatly.So, too, would a bit more analysis.Stewart reserves almost all judgment for the opening and closing chapters of DoT.The result is a 500 page book that reads like a recitation of details.To boot, Stewart's prose is pedestrian in the extreme.Overall, a disappointing read.

Greed is good and this book too.
Vivid account about the corporate take-over wave in the 80s and the boom and crash of the junk-bond industry. Sometimes, a bit lenghty, but very absorbing anyway. Only read it if you are really interested, otherwwise I would suggest "Predator's Ball". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Ethics    4. Business/Economics    5. Corrupt practices    6. General    7. Insider Trading    8. Insider trading in securities    9. Investment banking    10. Investments & Securities - General    11. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    12. Stock exchange    13. United States    14. Business & Economics / General    15. Investment & securities   

Reviews (4)

Alright.
In a word, this book "sucks."I had to purchase it for a class in which I am currently using.Yea, it has an ABUNDANCE of useful information, but the part that gets me is the fact that if your teacher uses Abadinsky's testing booklet, it's all wrong.It's even been discussed in our class at how off the test questions are as opposed to what's in his book.If possible, which is hard when it comes to textbooks, buy another.

Excellent text for Criminal Justice majors
I am a college professor who just finished teaching ORGANIZED CRIME to twenty college juniors and seniors.I selected Abadinsky's book as the text because it is carefully and thoughtfully "choreographed."The information provided flows in a sensible and clearly written design.Some texts appear to be designed for Rhodes Scholars and are virtually impossible to read.This is not the case with this great book!I recommend it to teachers and those who have in interest in this fascinating subject.

Organized Crime's concept, empircial evidence and current LE
If you (the reader, the researcher) is interested in Organized Crime, I strongly recommend this book (Howard Abadinsky's Organized Crime, 6th Ed.) This book is the only detailed book I have come across in studying Organized Crime. I am currently a criminal justice graduate student attending the University of Central Florida. RSB ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Law - General    2. Criminal Procedure    3. Criminology    4. General    5. History    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Organized crime    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Editorial Review

Readers of Read more

Reviews (158)

Lacking a Knowlegeable Perspective
Yes, this book is a detailed account of law enforcement and of how Pablo Escobar was tracked down and assassinated by an international hit squad. And, yes, Escobar was most certainly un mal hombre who deserved to die. But the author never questions the methods of cops, soldiers and agents (like Colonel Hugo Martinez, for one) who debase themselves and the concept of justice by believing they are not only above the law but above humanity. The real story to me is how someone like Escobar, a diabolical and degenerate human being, can so easily drag society down to his level, and how so willingly law enforcment will adopt the "any means necessary" approach.
Narcoterrorocracy
You will not find the word "Narcoterrorócracy" in the dictionary.I made the word up and gave it my own meaning.
a great study of international law enforcement
Mark Bowden seems to have done his homework well with an insiders look at the pursuit of the infamous cocaine kingpin. The difficulties encountered by US law enforcement and the military in bringing justice to Pablo Escobar should be considered as we now hunt for the perpetrators of 9/11. Killing Pablo was no cake-walk, and neither will be the killing of Osama. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Colombia    5. Criminals & Outlaws    6. Fugitives from justice    7. General    8. History - General History    9. Narcotics dealers    10. Police    11. History / South America   

Subjects:  1. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    2. Murder - General    3. True Crime    4. True Crime / Espionage    5. True Crime / Murder   

Reviews (1)

Well worth the wait
I have been eagerly awaiting this book since word of it spread online. I was leery of Robert Cea's involvement, but his presence does not detract from a story every New Yorker should read.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Murder - General    3. True Crime    4. True Crime / Espionage    5. New York    6. True Crime / General    7. c 1970 to c 1980