Rat Bastards: The Life and Times of South Boston's Most Honorable Irish Mobster

Ok. I never write reviews but this was the worst book I’ve read in a long time. There was no story whatsoever. I was looking for some inner workings of the shadowy Irish mob. Nope. I got a bunch of rag tag stories about the psychopath author, about how tough he was when he slapped women around and how everyone feared him. Please save your money. Not worth the time.

I was happy with the speed this got to me and the fact that it looked like it had been well taken care of. My friend got me this book and I read it then loaned it to a loser who kept it. So, this is my second copy. And it looked better than the used copy my friend had gotten for me. And a SUPER price.

I had no conscious reason to read 'Rat Bastards'until a fortunate incident came about that changed my mind. Although born and living in Boston, I had not read any or the 'Whitey Bulger' books that have been published recently. I believe we cannot blame the world and external factors beyond ourselves for all of our actions in life, as if we have no responsibility for them. If we do, we are running from reality and running from ourselves. John 'Red' Shea in the end faced up to things and that for me was the beauty of the story. The picture on the back cover of a 7 year old red headed kid sitting on a boxing stool in Irish green trunks and eyes focused not on the man giving him instructions, but on something in the far off distance both outside and within him. I wanted to know what is going to happen to this kid with that two-edged stare. The store is saturated with 'in your face' street vulgarity, harshness and crudeness that seemed to me a bit overdone, but that is the way it is for kids growing up in an old city project without a responsible father around for guidance and strength. One had to stand up for himself to gain a respect, a self esteem you thought needed and necessary, and a status, even a power gained one way or another-to be a respected guy. Shea growing up fought for that power and prestige the way he thought he had to, to be somebody. He was driven. Maybe we are a little more subtle in the way we go about striving for that need for respect and prestige; that not so hidden desire for power. 'Red' Shea-like more than a few others growing up in his situation-had to earn it, as is said, in the mean streets around them, which often enough justified hurting others to gain it. Shea, in his mind, earned it with a code, an inner code of hard honor and integrity, as he defined it, to gain respect. In a way for him it was a sacred code of conscience not to be broken. That sense of the 'sacred', most likely not understood at the time, I thought I saw in the eyes of a 7 year old kid in a boxing ring waiting for the bell to send him out to fight the next round in his life. At times in the story, I could not hear Shea's voice, but for the most part I did, especially through the 12 years in a federal penitentiary: the outer and inner challenges he had; the friends he made starting a prison soccer team of Blacks and Latinos, he being the only White guy, and naming the team the 'Shamrocks' who won the prison championship. "I respected the game and the gus who played it," he states. "Not Niggers or Spics, good guys who had their honor and dignity. I respected that." For the prison chapters alone the book is worth reading. Also too, for the after prison closing section. John 'Red' Shea is still going down the road of life. He's gained some insights into himself. More and to a greater degree and depth than many have gained. Enough for him to say: "Do I believe in an afterlife? Of course I do. Do I believe in foregiveness? Of course I do. Do I bel

If you read the numerous books about Southie some of the stories change with each author. Knowing Red from home I tend to believe his accounts. Good job Red !

This book is excellent and should be read by all who enjoy an edge. The author shares his fascinating experiences in the projects; the streets; the ring; the narcotics trade; and the criminal justice system. Shea survived some very scary places through a remarkable spirit of aggression and an absence of fear. He describes horror and brutality with cerebral observation and introspective eloquence. He is not a sympathetic figure, but he never asks us for sympathy, perhaps only for a little respect for a guy who grew up hard and paid a hard debt in full.

I couldn't put this book down, John "Red" Shea describes this life like you're in the moment. You would think John was about 65 years of age with everything that has evolved in such a short time. In recent interviews I understand that he is only 40 years old. This book describes so many things from poverty, to dirty cash, to love, to maturity. Being from the city, you always heard about this life and it was accepted because you lived in it. There is no doubt that this book is the truth and knowing that there are still stand up guys out there taking there responsibilities for there actions and now are doing the right thing in life. John I wish you the best of luck.