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The Mafia Encyclopedia
Surveys the careers of important figures involved with organized crime and discusses the Mafia's organization, criminal techniques, and underorld activities
414 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 31, 2022
This is truly an encyclopedia of the history of the Mafia, in greater detail than I expected. There are biographies of the major figures along with the significant events, such as the St. Valentine’s Day massacre. If you have just a slight knowledge of the American Mafia, then you will be much more of an expert by the time you finish reading this entire book, from A to Z.
It’s written alphabetically, starting with Anthony Joseph Accardo and ending with Longy Zwillman. While it isn’t a chronological history of the Mafia, the book does illuminate the different phases within the various bios of the criminals. The pre-history, so to speak, would have been the Black Hand, comprised of Italian emigrants of the early 1900s who preyed upon their fellow newcomers to the States. Lupo The Wolf, for example, was the most famous Black Hander in New York. He had a “Murder Stable” where more than sixty bodies were buried. People would make the sign of the cross at the mention of his name.
The Black Handers eventually led to the old Mustache Petes, who became powerful with the beginning of Prohibition in the United States. Instead of targeting other Italians, these were Sicilian families who held long grudges from the Old Country. They formed their own geographical alliances during the 1920s, where the constant street killings and drive-by shootings caused great outrage among the general citizenship. The Mustache Petes all had younger henchmen, the “Young Turks” who would eventually become the third and most powerful phase of the Mafia. Finally, there were just two Old World contenders left, each so focused on eliminating the other that neither saw that their young followers were forming partnerships to double-cross the old ones. Enter Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
Luciano master-minded the downfall of the Old Mafia, mainly because he understood their feuds were getting in the way of making money. Luciano and Lansky preferred bribery over murder so they controlled the police, the courts, and the politicians. The New Mafia also promoted non-Sicilian partnerships, with Lansky spearheading the Jewish Mafia. They formed a new national crime organization, The Syndicate. Think of modern-day corporations and their internal structures. Rules were laid down and expected to be followed. There was no pity for any Mafioso who stepped outside the defined lines.
Eventually, the New Mafia leaders died in prison/exile or were shot down while eating in restaurants. That led to the fourth phase of the Mafia, embodied by John Gotti, one of the most ruthless criminals of all. Perhaps most disturbing of all is knowing how easily the cops could be purchased and how Edgar J. Hoover ignored the Mafia for most of his FBI service, until he was finally forced to take action. Some of the photographs in the book are brutal, showing assassinated Mafioso (they preferred killing each other). By the time I finished reading, it was clear that anyone can buy anyone.
Book Season = Year Round (dupes and pawns)
It’s written alphabetically, starting with Anthony Joseph Accardo and ending with Longy Zwillman. While it isn’t a chronological history of the Mafia, the book does illuminate the different phases within the various bios of the criminals. The pre-history, so to speak, would have been the Black Hand, comprised of Italian emigrants of the early 1900s who preyed upon their fellow newcomers to the States. Lupo The Wolf, for example, was the most famous Black Hander in New York. He had a “Murder Stable” where more than sixty bodies were buried. People would make the sign of the cross at the mention of his name.
The Black Handers eventually led to the old Mustache Petes, who became powerful with the beginning of Prohibition in the United States. Instead of targeting other Italians, these were Sicilian families who held long grudges from the Old Country. They formed their own geographical alliances during the 1920s, where the constant street killings and drive-by shootings caused great outrage among the general citizenship. The Mustache Petes all had younger henchmen, the “Young Turks” who would eventually become the third and most powerful phase of the Mafia. Finally, there were just two Old World contenders left, each so focused on eliminating the other that neither saw that their young followers were forming partnerships to double-cross the old ones. Enter Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
Luciano master-minded the downfall of the Old Mafia, mainly because he understood their feuds were getting in the way of making money. Luciano and Lansky preferred bribery over murder so they controlled the police, the courts, and the politicians. The New Mafia also promoted non-Sicilian partnerships, with Lansky spearheading the Jewish Mafia. They formed a new national crime organization, The Syndicate. Think of modern-day corporations and their internal structures. Rules were laid down and expected to be followed. There was no pity for any Mafioso who stepped outside the defined lines.
Eventually, the New Mafia leaders died in prison/exile or were shot down while eating in restaurants. That led to the fourth phase of the Mafia, embodied by John Gotti, one of the most ruthless criminals of all. Perhaps most disturbing of all is knowing how easily the cops could be purchased and how Edgar J. Hoover ignored the Mafia for most of his FBI service, until he was finally forced to take action. Some of the photographs in the book are brutal, showing assassinated Mafioso (they preferred killing each other). By the time I finished reading, it was clear that anyone can buy anyone.
Book Season = Year Round (dupes and pawns)
January 10, 2014
I actually read the third edition but it wasn't listed as a choice to rate. Every single famous mafioso, famous case, or any other name connected to the mafia in some way is to be found in this volume. It's interesting but not well written by any means. The author is an obvious Mafia enthusiast. Fun to flip through and read bits and parts. One thing is quite clear, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
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November 10, 2019love it
November 21, 2019
Good history book detailing the mob.
July 4, 2011
Due to the success of prosecutors, Sifakis has been steadily updating this work since the 1980s. While accurate when discussing well-known topics, like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, the research and presentation is very sloppy when addressing less popular topics such as the Cuckoos and Yakuza.
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January 23, 2009364.1 Sti
January 3, 2011
Great bokk for information on the Mafia, dating back to the start of the 20th Century.
February 23, 2023
Real good hope for a updated one
Want more a lot of information should had went into more details hopefully we get a updated one real soon
Want more a lot of information should had went into more details hopefully we get a updated one real soon
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews