Gangbusters:: The Destruction of America's Last Great Mafia Dynasty

This book is quite an achievement. The breadth of historical and political research is reminiscent of Robert Caro. The delivery and pacing is Scorcesian. The attention to details of method (such as a team of detectives practicing for weeks the speedy dismantling of a Jaguar's dashn order to plant a bug) brings to mind Stuart Herrington's book on spy catching.Beyond all the above, what I liked most about Gangbusters was the way it gives the lie to the Hollywood version of the mafia. Ever since Puzo hit the jackpot in the seventies, writers and filmmakers have given us progressively more romantic and glamorous versions of ever more despicable acts by the mob, almost as though its lawbreaking was exempt from social condemnation because it was a part of their culture, and therefore valuable. In this worldview, Thomas Dewey is a martinet and Gaetano Lucchese a pillar of society. Rudolf Giuliani is a fanatical fascist and Sam Gravano a courageous hero. The CIA and FBI are evil conspiracies, while the Cosa Nostra is a benevolent organization devoted to helping the working guy.Gangbusters demolishes these ridiculous social myths in many ways, probably the most powerful being the story of Jerry Kubecka, a simple man with the modest aspiration of running a garbage hauling business on Long Island. Refusing to pay off the mafia thugs who demanded control of his business, Kubecka let himself in for decades of vandalism and violence, that only ended after his son had been murdered. The political powers in New York and elsewhere looked the other way for decades. Special sections were set up in prisons for mobsters to pass away nominal sentences in luxury. As early as the thirties J. Edgar Hoover was saying there was no such thing as the mafia. As late as 1986 Mario Cuomo was saying in the New York Times that there was no such thing as the mafia. Volkman skillfully tells the story of the people who exposed and put a stop to these monstrous public lies, and the vast crimes they were intended to conceal.

I've read 20+ books on the Mob and its individual characters and I found this book, after reading 20+ books a great read! Can't put it down! Well written and gives great everyday insights as well as the larger picture in how things work, who does what and how they earn. Didn't know too much about Gaetano Lucchese before the book .... turns out his intended effort to keep low profile worked in that little has been written on him. Anyone who enjoys MOB books will surely enjoy this one! I bought the hardcover edition, and it was a great book. No photos in the book, it would have been nice if there were photos of many of the named people in the book, but still is a must buy!

This is a great book for those who want to understand the mafia. If you don't have a real good background on the mafia, you might get a little confused with all the names.Focusing on just one family, this is a great book for those readers who know a little about the Lucchese family, but want to know more.

I found this book to be immensely interesting that had more precise facts than any other mafia book I've previously read. Volkman goes in depth on such violent mafia figures as "Gas Pipe" Casso and Vic Amuso and reveals everything. A major achievement considering his previous book Goombata, which had inexact information and horrible incite. I recommend this book to all mafia fanatics. A great read.

Really enjoyed this book, as I was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island (1960-1980s). Many of the stories presented explained what most people saw happening around them.. largely ignored or overlooked by local authorities. Great book for those that want to see the extent that organized crime can corrupt commercial and government organizations, regardless of size and power.