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Mob Rules: What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman
The Mob is notorious for its cruel and immoral practices, but its most successful members have always been extremely smart businessmen. Now, former mobster Louis Ferrante reveals its surprisingly effective management techniques and explains how to apply them-legally-to any legitimate business. As an associate of the Gambino family, Ferrante relied on his instincts to pull off some of the biggest heists in U.S. history. By the age of twenty-one, he had netted millions of dollars for his employers. His natural talent for management led Mafia bosses to rely on him. After being arrested and serving an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Ferrante went straight. He realized that the Mob's most valuable business lessons would allow him to survive and thrive in the real world. Now he offers eighty-eight time-tested Mafia strategies, including: * Go get your own coffee!: Respecting the chain of command without being a sucker. * The walls have ears: Never bad-mouth the boss. * Is this phone tapped?: Watch what you say every day. * How to bury the hatchet-but not in someone's head. * Don't split yourself in half: The wrong decision is better than none at all. * Don't build Yankee stadium, just supply the concrete: Spotting new rackets. * Leave the gun, take the cannolis...and beware of hubris. Ferrante brings his real-life experiences to the book, offering fascinating advice that really works and sharing behind-the-scenes episodes almost as outrageous as those occurring on Wall Street every day.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
162 people are currently reading
1419 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 25, 2011
I won this book through Goodreads First Reads.
When I first entered the giveaway for this book, it was simply because it had something to do with the Mob. I've been fascinated by La Cosa Nostra for quite a few years and I try to get my hands on pretty much anything that will enable me to learn about them. That being said, I don't think I really anticipated getting very much out of Mob Rules: What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself proven wrong.
Mob Rules is divided into three parts: Lessons for a Soldier (Employee), Lessons for a Capo (Middle Management), and Lessons for a Don (Boss); and each of these sections contains "lessons" that will help a person in their respective position. With this book, Louis Ferrante, a former associate of the Gambino crime family, attempts to show the reader that there are many principles of the Mob that can carry over into legitimate business practices. I believe that he does an excellent job of showing this. Ferrante uses real examples of Mob life to prove his points, many of the stories being about himself. And, not only that, but he applies world history to these practices also, showing a precedence long before modern times.
However, it's not just the fact that Ferrante is able to support his ideas with evidence that makes this book and his advice great. It's the fact that many of it can be applied to your everyday life. I'm certainly not a businessman (or businesswoman, as it were), but as I was reading this book, I was able to see that many of the things Ferrante said could be applied to my life. There are the general things, of course, like loyalty, trust, patience, modesty, hospitality, and charity, but there are also lessons like listening to every opinion and idea, accepting anyone no matter their race or religion or sexual orientation, watching what you say, not holding grudges, and realizing that everyone is important. If you take the time to actually appreciate and cultivate these lessons in your everyday life, you could better yourself. And, really, who wouldn't want to do that?
As I was reading this, I found myself very impressed by Louis Ferrante and wanting to learn more about him. From the get-go, when he tells a little of his story in the Preface, I just knew he would be an interesting man, and I loved and enjoyed his wit and humor throughout the book. I admire his accomplishments as a writer, considering the fact that the first time he picked up a book was when he went to prison in 1994, and I admire the fact that he has made a life for himself outside of crime and the Mob. The stories he told about himself with some of the lessons continued to peak my interest, so I sincerely look forward to reading Unlocked: A Journey from Prison to Proust.
So, while I originally entered the giveaway for this book as a joke, not expecting much from the book, I am so glad that I read Mob Rules. I believe it gives one a unique perspective on life and business, and everyone would benefit from reading it.
Favorite Quotes:
I personally loved being a mobster. It drove my whole being. Today, I love being a writer even more, a job where I can read and write every waking hour. Force me to do something I don't like and I'm a lazy son of a bitch.
(Ferrante, page 14)
*~*~*
Some things never change for Italians: their love of art, architecture, opera, pasta, and cutting people's balls off when they misbehave.
(Ferrante, page 40)
*~*~*
Life is a bunch of decisions. If your first bunch sucks and lands you in the shithouse, start making new decisions until you've gathered up a fresh bunch that brings you to a brighter place. All the mistakes you've made along the way weren't mistakes at all, but experiences. Lessons.
(Ferrante, page 84)
*~*~*
Great men accept responsibility for their own mistakes, as well as the blunders that occur under their command.
(Ferrante, page 90)
When I first entered the giveaway for this book, it was simply because it had something to do with the Mob. I've been fascinated by La Cosa Nostra for quite a few years and I try to get my hands on pretty much anything that will enable me to learn about them. That being said, I don't think I really anticipated getting very much out of Mob Rules: What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself proven wrong.
Mob Rules is divided into three parts: Lessons for a Soldier (Employee), Lessons for a Capo (Middle Management), and Lessons for a Don (Boss); and each of these sections contains "lessons" that will help a person in their respective position. With this book, Louis Ferrante, a former associate of the Gambino crime family, attempts to show the reader that there are many principles of the Mob that can carry over into legitimate business practices. I believe that he does an excellent job of showing this. Ferrante uses real examples of Mob life to prove his points, many of the stories being about himself. And, not only that, but he applies world history to these practices also, showing a precedence long before modern times.
However, it's not just the fact that Ferrante is able to support his ideas with evidence that makes this book and his advice great. It's the fact that many of it can be applied to your everyday life. I'm certainly not a businessman (or businesswoman, as it were), but as I was reading this book, I was able to see that many of the things Ferrante said could be applied to my life. There are the general things, of course, like loyalty, trust, patience, modesty, hospitality, and charity, but there are also lessons like listening to every opinion and idea, accepting anyone no matter their race or religion or sexual orientation, watching what you say, not holding grudges, and realizing that everyone is important. If you take the time to actually appreciate and cultivate these lessons in your everyday life, you could better yourself. And, really, who wouldn't want to do that?
As I was reading this, I found myself very impressed by Louis Ferrante and wanting to learn more about him. From the get-go, when he tells a little of his story in the Preface, I just knew he would be an interesting man, and I loved and enjoyed his wit and humor throughout the book. I admire his accomplishments as a writer, considering the fact that the first time he picked up a book was when he went to prison in 1994, and I admire the fact that he has made a life for himself outside of crime and the Mob. The stories he told about himself with some of the lessons continued to peak my interest, so I sincerely look forward to reading Unlocked: A Journey from Prison to Proust.
So, while I originally entered the giveaway for this book as a joke, not expecting much from the book, I am so glad that I read Mob Rules. I believe it gives one a unique perspective on life and business, and everyone would benefit from reading it.
Favorite Quotes:
I personally loved being a mobster. It drove my whole being. Today, I love being a writer even more, a job where I can read and write every waking hour. Force me to do something I don't like and I'm a lazy son of a bitch.
(Ferrante, page 14)
*~*~*
Some things never change for Italians: their love of art, architecture, opera, pasta, and cutting people's balls off when they misbehave.
(Ferrante, page 40)
*~*~*
Life is a bunch of decisions. If your first bunch sucks and lands you in the shithouse, start making new decisions until you've gathered up a fresh bunch that brings you to a brighter place. All the mistakes you've made along the way weren't mistakes at all, but experiences. Lessons.
(Ferrante, page 84)
*~*~*
Great men accept responsibility for their own mistakes, as well as the blunders that occur under their command.
(Ferrante, page 90)
July 21, 2011
First and foremost: I do not own a business. That said, I don't think it takes a business owner to appreciate the insight that Louis Ferrante has to offer. I firmly believe that any employed person or college student can take something away from Mob Rules. Ferrante has a no nonsense approach to the business world, and I applaud him for this. He didn't write a book that restated a few small points over and over again in lengthy paragraphs. Instead, he wrote a book that is both easy to read and easy to understand. This isn't a self help book, this is a book chock full of relevant tips for anyone trying to make it in this world. And for anyone interested in a little mob history, well, Ferrante throws some of that in his book as well. Along with brief histories, and unbelievable (but true) stories of some notorious mobsters, Ferrante throws in some amusing quotes (from the mobsters themselves) for good measure. And most importantly, all of the histories and quotes tie in to each individual chapter and emphasize each point that the author is tying to make.
Meyer Lansky outlived just about every one of his cronies from the New York Mob, and he did it the old-fashioned way-he kept his mouth shut.
- Godfather's Collection: The True History of the Mafia
Meyer Lansky outlived just about every one of his cronies from the New York Mob, and he did it the old-fashioned way-he kept his mouth shut.
- Godfather's Collection: The True History of the Mafia
June 25, 2011
The premise in Mob Rules is that the mob can teach cultural values to big business. Basic ethical values are described in vignettes that contain parallel examples showing the ethical principle and how it is applied - one example from mob life - one example from regular life. The principles themselves are sound - loyalty, mentoring, keeping your word, following the chain of command, etc. - but the examples feel out of sync: Almost every mob example ends in murder or is awash in murder and this brutality leaves no room for empathy, no matter how sound the principle may be:
- Al Capone is admirable because he could admit when he was wrong, but he ordered the murder of hundreds of men.
- Be humble, not flashy; regular people prefer this, but in the mob being too flashy gets you murdered.
- Follow the chain of command; if you don't you can be relieved of your command, and in the mob that means you get murdered.
- Obey the boss; if you don't you could get fired, and in the mob -- you know what that means.
The second half of the book has fewer examples, giving only the advice, and feels less at odds with itself.
The vignettes are told in chapters of 1-3 pages and have a fable-like quality, as if taking a gondola ride that strays onto an urban River Styx with a guide who knows it all too well: here is the steakhouse where the Gambino bosses were gunned down; there is where Petrucelli was murdered when he wouldn't kill his friend after he was ordered to do so.
As for the benefit of what the mob can teach businessmen, the large corporations already know about these values. By the time they reach upper management, they have received training in mentoring, coaching, ethics, teamwork, bonding, and everything in between, so these things are not new but the book does provide a different point of view.
At the end of the day, this is a glimpse into mob logic, street ethics, and their underlying rationale.
- Al Capone is admirable because he could admit when he was wrong, but he ordered the murder of hundreds of men.
- Be humble, not flashy; regular people prefer this, but in the mob being too flashy gets you murdered.
- Follow the chain of command; if you don't you can be relieved of your command, and in the mob that means you get murdered.
- Obey the boss; if you don't you could get fired, and in the mob -- you know what that means.
The second half of the book has fewer examples, giving only the advice, and feels less at odds with itself.
The vignettes are told in chapters of 1-3 pages and have a fable-like quality, as if taking a gondola ride that strays onto an urban River Styx with a guide who knows it all too well: here is the steakhouse where the Gambino bosses were gunned down; there is where Petrucelli was murdered when he wouldn't kill his friend after he was ordered to do so.
As for the benefit of what the mob can teach businessmen, the large corporations already know about these values. By the time they reach upper management, they have received training in mentoring, coaching, ethics, teamwork, bonding, and everything in between, so these things are not new but the book does provide a different point of view.
At the end of the day, this is a glimpse into mob logic, street ethics, and their underlying rationale.
July 23, 2011
I will confess that I enjoyed this book much more than I anticipated that I would. It is likely not a book I would have bought myself though I do enjoy many business/leadership genre books but I did receive a copy through the Goodreads giveaways and thus read it.
The strength of this book is in the very refreshing take on business- obviously from the perspective of an ex-mobster. The book sections itself in short 'lessons' gleaned from a life lived inside la costra nostra then reflected upon with a few years of jail time and produced with a turn to the straight life. It provides many stories of first person, second person and historical mob events that help shine light on the lesson as well as explain why this lesson was learned in the mob. Thus, many times the book reads like a history of the mob told as you sat for coffee with an ex-wiseguy. The book further provides other examples (sometimes insightful and other times at somewhat of a stretch) of historical events from ancient times to modern. Finally, the book is full of quotes that help to hammer the point being made.
At times the big is a little rough (but really, it would seen not very genuine when considering the writer spent most of his life in the mob and in jail) and many times the weakest area of the book is that it is light on 'how' to do something (e.g. one lesson is on the importance of developing your memory but yet there is not very much offered in how you accomplish this) yet the entertainment value of the book sufficiently covers up this minor flaw.
Finally, the lessons offered are many times things that you will find in other business/leadership type of books. However, Ferrante on several occasions will make you stop and reflect.
I think someone who has read many business/leadership books will enjoy this fresh take as well as anyone that finds entertainment in the mob life such as a rabid Soprano's fan.
The strength of this book is in the very refreshing take on business- obviously from the perspective of an ex-mobster. The book sections itself in short 'lessons' gleaned from a life lived inside la costra nostra then reflected upon with a few years of jail time and produced with a turn to the straight life. It provides many stories of first person, second person and historical mob events that help shine light on the lesson as well as explain why this lesson was learned in the mob. Thus, many times the book reads like a history of the mob told as you sat for coffee with an ex-wiseguy. The book further provides other examples (sometimes insightful and other times at somewhat of a stretch) of historical events from ancient times to modern. Finally, the book is full of quotes that help to hammer the point being made.
At times the big is a little rough (but really, it would seen not very genuine when considering the writer spent most of his life in the mob and in jail) and many times the weakest area of the book is that it is light on 'how' to do something (e.g. one lesson is on the importance of developing your memory but yet there is not very much offered in how you accomplish this) yet the entertainment value of the book sufficiently covers up this minor flaw.
Finally, the lessons offered are many times things that you will find in other business/leadership type of books. However, Ferrante on several occasions will make you stop and reflect.
I think someone who has read many business/leadership books will enjoy this fresh take as well as anyone that finds entertainment in the mob life such as a rabid Soprano's fan.
June 22, 2011
Having earned a business degree, I can honestly say that this book is way more interesting than those textbooks I was forced to read. If Mr. Ferrante ever decides to become a college instructor, I'm sure that he will be a popular one. His anecdotes highlighting the Mob's handling of various business situations are highly entertaining and scary at the same time, considering the fact that they're not fiction.
Though I was initially taken aback by the number of Lessons (88 chapters), they read so easily and quickly that I finished the book in a few sessions. Each chapter was short enough to read in a few minutes and it was so easy to move from lesson to lesson that I had trouble putting it down. Intertwined with the Mob accounts are quotes from various philosophers (both true life and fictional) that accentuate his point, most of which I'd learned somewhere else, but all of which seemed applicable. By the end of the book I had the feeling that all the textbooks I sold back in college ended up in his cell.
Truly, I found this an interesting read because even though his lessons were right on the money, I could see this as more of a TV show-- a sort of Tales from the Crypt meets Sopranos-- with Ferrante dishing out Rod Serling style narratives (a chapter per episode) over a tale of mobsters meeting their ends for failure to follow the Rules.
If you like Mob stories/history and have any interest in becoming a better businessman, this one is worth the time it takes to read it.
Though I was initially taken aback by the number of Lessons (88 chapters), they read so easily and quickly that I finished the book in a few sessions. Each chapter was short enough to read in a few minutes and it was so easy to move from lesson to lesson that I had trouble putting it down. Intertwined with the Mob accounts are quotes from various philosophers (both true life and fictional) that accentuate his point, most of which I'd learned somewhere else, but all of which seemed applicable. By the end of the book I had the feeling that all the textbooks I sold back in college ended up in his cell.
Truly, I found this an interesting read because even though his lessons were right on the money, I could see this as more of a TV show-- a sort of Tales from the Crypt meets Sopranos-- with Ferrante dishing out Rod Serling style narratives (a chapter per episode) over a tale of mobsters meeting their ends for failure to follow the Rules.
If you like Mob stories/history and have any interest in becoming a better businessman, this one is worth the time it takes to read it.
June 14, 2011
Louis Ferrante is a former member of the mob. He read a book for the first time when he was in prison and eventually got himself out. Mob Rules is a book with a slew of rules that apply both to the mob, and the business man. The concept was interesting, but I thought his writing was too formulaic. He said he taught himself the art of writing. By constantly reading, he taught himself how to write. Writers are artists, but Ferrante's writing wasn't art. It is all relative I suppose. Many of the rules are common sense(like getting it right ahead of time--duh) accompanied with a mob story with maybe a quote or two. While some of the stories were interesting, at times I just wanted to put the book down and not pick it up again. Ferrante comes across as cocky and occasionally annoying. I'd recommend maybe reading a rule or two at a time instead of reading it in a couple of sittings like I did. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had read it that way...maybe not. I received my copy of this book through first reads. Initially excited about this book, overall I was disappointed.
August 2, 2011
This is the author's version of rules and lessons that the Mafia use that could be applied to a business. It is divided into 3 parts: Lessons for a Soldier(Employee), Lessons for a Capo(Middle Management), and Lessons for a Don(Boss). The Lessons are short and direct. Some examples: Lesson 1 Make Them an Offer They Can't Refuse, Lesson 15 Count on Yourself and You'll Never be Counted Out, Lesson 51 Deliver the Goods: Stand Behind Your Name, Lesson 71 Tip the Coat Check: Charity
Although not a business person I think a lot of the lessons could be applied to everyday life. Going to let my manager husband read this. Great fast read with juicy Mafia details and a little about his prison stint. Some great quotes in this book. Got this book from the Giveaways.
Although not a business person I think a lot of the lessons could be applied to everyday life. Going to let my manager husband read this. Great fast read with juicy Mafia details and a little about his prison stint. Some great quotes in this book. Got this book from the Giveaways.
June 25, 2018
Muy básico, pero con historias entretenidas
January 27, 2023
Học được quá nhiều điều từ một cuốn sách chỉ 300 trang
August 22, 2011
This book was very interesting. I had never thought about the mafia being able to teach legitimate people anything, but as I read this book I can see where the rules the mafia lives by can be translated into real legitimate life. This book includes 88 rules that the mafia uses and explains how they can be used by legitimate business people.
I found it interesting that an ex-mafia person was writing the book. He left the mafia when he got out of prison. He tells stories of people he knew in the mafia and of long ago mobsters to prove his points. Some of the stories are funny in a way. They do prove the point and tell us how to live our lives so that we do not fall into the same traps that mafia people did.
He has a way of writing that draws you in and keeps you interested. This book was a fast read, and I enjoyed it because of the way it was written. He has talent in the writing field. I found his ability to pull me into the book to be very good.
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and really enjoyed it.
I found it interesting that an ex-mafia person was writing the book. He left the mafia when he got out of prison. He tells stories of people he knew in the mafia and of long ago mobsters to prove his points. Some of the stories are funny in a way. They do prove the point and tell us how to live our lives so that we do not fall into the same traps that mafia people did.
He has a way of writing that draws you in and keeps you interested. This book was a fast read, and I enjoyed it because of the way it was written. He has talent in the writing field. I found his ability to pull me into the book to be very good.
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and really enjoyed it.
January 3, 2015
Ferrantes' book may be a teaching tool reserved for that large pool called 'self help' but what sets it apart is that each lesson contains an interesting story. Louis Ferrante scores with presentation in this telling book on success in the Mafia, the corporate world or regular social connections for that matter.
Most everything of value that the reader can take from this book could come down to common sense stuff and the golden rules of kindergarten like: don't lie, don't steal, wait your turn, be fair, that kind of stuff.
Of all the books of this type I have come across, this one falls second to How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie, which is an honorable position.
Most everything of value that the reader can take from this book could come down to common sense stuff and the golden rules of kindergarten like: don't lie, don't steal, wait your turn, be fair, that kind of stuff.
Of all the books of this type I have come across, this one falls second to How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie, which is an honorable position.
May 24, 2012
Witty and intelligent, Mob Rules offers practical business advice from the unique perspective of a former mafia associate. I found this book at once hugely entertaining, while at the same time choc full of sage advice and useful lessons, such as "three can keep a secret if two are dead", the bank of favors pays the highest interest", and "victory without followup is like pasta without desert". A well-written and humorous book that I would recommend to anyone.
I have received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I have received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 19, 2012
I am really diggin this book! It reads like a converstion with a some of my friends in low places. There is a lot of common sense street smarts in here, that is if you don't wear your ass as a hat. I really like Ferrante's use of ancient history and how it relates to the mafia. All togther the lessons in this book are good advice even for ligit businesses. A real cool read and an awesome title! I am looking forward to reading more of Ferrante's work.
September 17, 2013
Tremendous. Everyone should read it. We are all entrepreneurs now. We are all businesspeople now. Nothing has changed in human nature, though. How will you handle it? Will you accept a code from a company, a baby boomer, a lazy fool politician, a marketing tribe? Or will you build from a foundation?
This is a great foundation to build from. And a great way to build a brand of honor in an honorless society.
This is a great foundation to build from. And a great way to build a brand of honor in an honorless society.
May 29, 2019
Attractive at first, impressive to know the writer’s background and how he managed himself to get out of the prison.
However, the longer I read through the book, the impatient I become. Short pieces of different lessons/stories seem not enough to satisfy my crave for details. If mob rules can be apply to teach businessmen lessons, they should be explained and told more specific and more than just narrative...
However, the longer I read through the book, the impatient I become. Short pieces of different lessons/stories seem not enough to satisfy my crave for details. If mob rules can be apply to teach businessmen lessons, they should be explained and told more specific and more than just narrative...
January 28, 2016
I have read many books in my short life so far. (I am only 23 of age)But this book is one of the best motivational books i have read so far. I am a huge fan of the crime drama stories and i am well versed with the mob history in america despite being an Indian. This made me enjoy the book even more. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for everyone to have.
February 13, 2020
Sometimes, you find wisdom (anything good) in the most unlikely places.
And that's why it is not shocking that a legitimate businessman can learn something useful from the Mafias.
The book is divided into three parts, to effectively cater for each strata of the corporate world.
So whether you're an employee (Part 1)
A middle management (Part 2)
Or a Boss (Part 3),
There is something light for you, as this book covered you in its 88 lessons. Yes, thoughtful 88 lessons.
So, let's get started.
I'll tell you two of my favorite lessons from each part.
PART 1 (EMPLOYEE):
Lesson 5. The Mob Doesn't Take Notes : Sharpen Your Memory.
In this age of information when the world is always sniffing around for information (or something to gossip about), the best and only way to keep things private is to save it in your memory.
And yes, you should memorize at least 10 phone numbers apart from yours and family's. You don't know when it'd come handy.
LESSON 25: I Want My Fucking Money : Paying Promptly.
If you have a reputation of not paying back (or returning things) when you borrow them, you should read this book. It would make you understand why you're losing genuine friends and why nobody wants to lend you stuff, including money.
PART 2 (MIDDLE MANAGEMENT)
Lesson 43: Why a Mobster Makes His Son Pull the Trigger: Confidence Building.
You build confidence on people when you commit greater responsibilities than they can handle into their hands. They will not fail because they wouldn't want to disappoint the trust you have in them. And you know what happens afterward? They grow and expand.
So, you want your employees (or even children or subjects) to grow, seek their opinion on important issues, give them an important task to handle. It shows you believe in them.
Lesson 58: Time To Go: How to Leave the Organization.
No matter how much you stay in a place, a time will come when you'd see the need to leave. Either because it no longer gives you room for growth or there's nothing new or exciting anymore.
Whenever you decide to leave, be sure to do it right and you're leaving for the right reasons (you need to grow, establish your own organization). When you leave a place for the right reason, you still maintain a relationship with your former boss and subjects. You build loyalty for life.
And for those boyfriends and girlfriends, when you're ready to break up, break up in such a way that you can still see each other and talk. You can break up and still be cool, if it is for the right reason (I don't know how you'd do this though).
Part 3 (THE BOSS)
Lesson 60: It's Strictly Business: Friends or Enemies?
There are times you just have to say "No" to the person you call friend. Yes, stand by people, be a friend indeed. But then, know when to say "No" because oftentimes, that one friend you commit your life to is that one friend who cares less about you and plot your downfall. Creepy huh? Well, use your discretion. Be friendly, but be wise.
Lesson 69: Give the Spic Bastard a Call!: Hiring the Best Person, Regardless of Race, Creed, or Sexual Orientation
Stop paying attention to trivial things. Pay more attention to details. Stop placing more emphasis on people's color, religious affiliates or even social status than you're placing on their ability to get things done.
Whatever you do, hire the best person for the job and not someone who would massage your inflated ego.
*
Did I mention it was written after a prison experience? (Sounds like the prison is a 'good' place after all🤔)
If you apply all the rules stated in this book, believe me when I say you'll stand out even in your everyday interactions with people (friends and associates alike).
And that's why it is not shocking that a legitimate businessman can learn something useful from the Mafias.
The book is divided into three parts, to effectively cater for each strata of the corporate world.
So whether you're an employee (Part 1)
A middle management (Part 2)
Or a Boss (Part 3),
There is something light for you, as this book covered you in its 88 lessons. Yes, thoughtful 88 lessons.
So, let's get started.
I'll tell you two of my favorite lessons from each part.
PART 1 (EMPLOYEE):
Lesson 5. The Mob Doesn't Take Notes : Sharpen Your Memory.
In this age of information when the world is always sniffing around for information (or something to gossip about), the best and only way to keep things private is to save it in your memory.
And yes, you should memorize at least 10 phone numbers apart from yours and family's. You don't know when it'd come handy.
LESSON 25: I Want My Fucking Money : Paying Promptly.
If you have a reputation of not paying back (or returning things) when you borrow them, you should read this book. It would make you understand why you're losing genuine friends and why nobody wants to lend you stuff, including money.
PART 2 (MIDDLE MANAGEMENT)
Lesson 43: Why a Mobster Makes His Son Pull the Trigger: Confidence Building.
You build confidence on people when you commit greater responsibilities than they can handle into their hands. They will not fail because they wouldn't want to disappoint the trust you have in them. And you know what happens afterward? They grow and expand.
So, you want your employees (or even children or subjects) to grow, seek their opinion on important issues, give them an important task to handle. It shows you believe in them.
Lesson 58: Time To Go: How to Leave the Organization.
No matter how much you stay in a place, a time will come when you'd see the need to leave. Either because it no longer gives you room for growth or there's nothing new or exciting anymore.
Whenever you decide to leave, be sure to do it right and you're leaving for the right reasons (you need to grow, establish your own organization). When you leave a place for the right reason, you still maintain a relationship with your former boss and subjects. You build loyalty for life.
And for those boyfriends and girlfriends, when you're ready to break up, break up in such a way that you can still see each other and talk. You can break up and still be cool, if it is for the right reason (I don't know how you'd do this though).
Part 3 (THE BOSS)
Lesson 60: It's Strictly Business: Friends or Enemies?
There are times you just have to say "No" to the person you call friend. Yes, stand by people, be a friend indeed. But then, know when to say "No" because oftentimes, that one friend you commit your life to is that one friend who cares less about you and plot your downfall. Creepy huh? Well, use your discretion. Be friendly, but be wise.
Lesson 69: Give the Spic Bastard a Call!: Hiring the Best Person, Regardless of Race, Creed, or Sexual Orientation
Stop paying attention to trivial things. Pay more attention to details. Stop placing more emphasis on people's color, religious affiliates or even social status than you're placing on their ability to get things done.
Whatever you do, hire the best person for the job and not someone who would massage your inflated ego.
*
Did I mention it was written after a prison experience? (Sounds like the prison is a 'good' place after all🤔)
If you apply all the rules stated in this book, believe me when I say you'll stand out even in your everyday interactions with people (friends and associates alike).
March 10, 2025
Todos tenemos una visión distinta de la mafia, gracias al cine le hemos dado distintos ojos, algunos vemos a los mafiosos como personas sin escrúpulos, dispuestos a matar, quemar, robar o hacer lo que haga falta para lograr su objetivos, otros podemos verlos con cierta admiración gracias al glamour que le ha dado películas como El Padrino o Buenos Muchachos, pero sea cual sea tu opinión sobre las personas y grupos metidos en este oscuro mundo, hay mucha sabiduría que se puede extraer de estas organizaciones, Aprenda De La Mafia es la clara muestra de qué personajes como John Gotti o Bugsy Siegel tienen mucha sabiduría para compartirnos aún cuando sus profesiones hayan sido consideradas inmorales, si quieres exprimir este libro, léelo con ojos muy críticos, deja de lado tus ideologías de que lo que estas personas han hecho está mal o es ilegal y enfócate en aprender de ellos.
“Si prescindimos de nuestros prejuicios, descubriremos que los mafiosos exitosos no son muy diferentes de los empresarios de élite o los líderes políticos”
-Louis Ferrante
“Si prescindimos de nuestros prejuicios, descubriremos que los mafiosos exitosos no son muy diferentes de los empresarios de élite o los líderes políticos”
-Louis Ferrante
February 9, 2025
“Just when I thought I was out… they pulled me back in.”
I loved this book, especially how it contrasts principles applied in different contexts. The author’s experience in the mob and how it translated to the legitimate business world was entertaining and fascinating. My top 5 takeaways were:
1. If dedication to a set of values, however twisted, leads to success in a criminal society like the mafia, how much further can genuine values take you in the straight world?
2. Stand on principle (when practical) for the sake of long-term profit and simple survival.
3. Ever wonder why the mobsters in the news are always so old? Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
4. Turning garbage into gold: the art of spotting hidden opportunities.
5. Is the phone tapped? Always be mindful of what you say.
Bonus: Control ambition—know when to hit the brakes and when to push the gas.
I loved this book, especially how it contrasts principles applied in different contexts. The author’s experience in the mob and how it translated to the legitimate business world was entertaining and fascinating. My top 5 takeaways were:
1. If dedication to a set of values, however twisted, leads to success in a criminal society like the mafia, how much further can genuine values take you in the straight world?
2. Stand on principle (when practical) for the sake of long-term profit and simple survival.
3. Ever wonder why the mobsters in the news are always so old? Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
4. Turning garbage into gold: the art of spotting hidden opportunities.
5. Is the phone tapped? Always be mindful of what you say.
Bonus: Control ambition—know when to hit the brakes and when to push the gas.
August 10, 2023
This was a fascinating read. Ferrante is an excellent storyteller. Many times reading this book, I laughed out loud. Keep in mind that the realness of the stories was no laughing matter, as there were many victims in his schemes. However, Ferrante manages to teach valuable and funny lessons.
Louis Ferrante backstory:
As an associate of the Gambino Family, Ferrante pulled off some of the biggest heists in U.S. history before the age of twenty-one, netting millions of dollars. His natural talent for management led bosses like John Gotti to rely on him. Now he offers time-tested Mafia wisdom, such as:
* Three can keep a secret (if two are dead): Build trust with your colleagues.
* You don't always need a gun to hit a target: Lead people without force.
* It's never personal: Never hesitate to pull the trigger when circumstances demand it.
Louis Ferrante backstory:
As an associate of the Gambino Family, Ferrante pulled off some of the biggest heists in U.S. history before the age of twenty-one, netting millions of dollars. His natural talent for management led bosses like John Gotti to rely on him. Now he offers time-tested Mafia wisdom, such as:
* Three can keep a secret (if two are dead): Build trust with your colleagues.
* You don't always need a gun to hit a target: Lead people without force.
* It's never personal: Never hesitate to pull the trigger when circumstances demand it.
April 17, 2018
Es interesante ver cómo el autor establece un paralelismo constante entre la historia de grecia y roma con el mundo de la mafia, y vuelca las lecciones aprendidas al mundo empresarial.
Lo más sorprendente no se cuenta, pero se percibe, es el hecho de cómo una persona que perteneció al mundo de la mafia, pudo realizar un proceso de aprendizaje y resocialización dentro de la cárcel. Esto parece estar basado en la voluntad y convicción del autor en cambiar de vida. En este sentido es un libro motivador.
El libro tiene algunos datos interesantes y ciertas reflexiones que te dejan pensando sobre el bien de "los buenos" y el mal de "los malos".
Es entretenido y fácil de leer, aunque hay que estar atentos a los apodos y alias siempre presentes en los personajes.
Lo más sorprendente no se cuenta, pero se percibe, es el hecho de cómo una persona que perteneció al mundo de la mafia, pudo realizar un proceso de aprendizaje y resocialización dentro de la cárcel. Esto parece estar basado en la voluntad y convicción del autor en cambiar de vida. En este sentido es un libro motivador.
El libro tiene algunos datos interesantes y ciertas reflexiones que te dejan pensando sobre el bien de "los buenos" y el mal de "los malos".
Es entretenido y fácil de leer, aunque hay que estar atentos a los apodos y alias siempre presentes en los personajes.
May 26, 2017
I enjoyed this book a lot. Mr Ferrante was a Mobster and served 8.5 years in prison after refusing to incriminate against the Gambino family!
I think this book would be excellent for college students (especially business students). Short business lessons and reminders, such as "The walls at work have ears." How true! Good reminders and tips especially if you are about to just start that first "real" job out of college.
Enjoy!
I think this book would be excellent for college students (especially business students). Short business lessons and reminders, such as "The walls at work have ears." How true! Good reminders and tips especially if you are about to just start that first "real" job out of college.
Enjoy!
August 6, 2017
Collection of good reflections for any leader
Positives: well considered reflections, engaging writing, really liked how lessons spanned both personal leadership and people leadership. A central theme is the importance of honor and character.
Negatives: as with other books that are a collection of lessons, it's tough to feel you learned anything deeply. If you like collection of lessons writing though, this is a good one.
Positives: well considered reflections, engaging writing, really liked how lessons spanned both personal leadership and people leadership. A central theme is the importance of honor and character.
Negatives: as with other books that are a collection of lessons, it's tough to feel you learned anything deeply. If you like collection of lessons writing though, this is a good one.
November 7, 2020
Отличные аналогии подходов к решению вопросов бизнеса, мафии и государственной службы. Книга о том, что добивается успеха тот, кто работает ради его достижения и одновременно тот, кто достаточно мудр/осторожен, что бы понимать правила игры. Мудростью улиц автор называет принципы по которым живёт масса людей и по которым эти люди определяют всё ок или настало время что-то изменить. Принципы или правила, из которых и состоит книга, довольно универсальны и будут полезны широкому кругу читателей.
December 24, 2020
Es un libro excelente! La mafia tiene mucha sabiduría, Louis Ferrante transmite mu bien su experiencia al haber sido parte de ella y compara con problemas y situaciones que no solo se dan en las empresas sino en la vida diaria; al ir avanzando pareciera que estás hablando y te está aconsejando Don Vito Corleone realmente lo disfruté mucho, aprendí y reflexioné no solo de consejos, tambien de la historia de la mafia, de Roma, de Grecia entre otras
March 14, 2023
This is one of my favorite business books that is direct, honest, and thought-provoking. There are many suggestions coupled with life experiences the author offers for readers to digest in an easy-to-follow structure that kept me eager for the next page. Louis Ferrante's book covers topics such as ethical business practices to how to rise above conventional machiavellian approaches in business. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys new perspectives and excellent narration.
January 14, 2024
A great book! Mr. Ferrante has great knowledge of history and the mafia as well as the lessons we can take from both. He did a good job using examples of lessons from the mafia by comparing them to things people have said and done in the past and present. I learned a lot from this book and I will recommend it to people who don't want to read a recycled philosophy book and want something with real examples from someone who has lived the life.
May 6, 2019
El libro es maravilloso. La Mafia funciona como cualquier empresa, y en toda empresa lo más importante son los que trabajan allí. Ferrante es un tipo de una agudeza mental gigantesca, una sabiduría genial y unas ganas de superarse que maravillan a cualquiera, y su experiencia es muy útil para los negocios y la vida.
September 8, 2024
Recomendado.
Es un libro excelente, que bilrinda experiencias de vida que nos pueden servir en las nuestras. Las similitudes son asombrosas y muchas veces abrumadoras. Así como las enseñanzas que cada uno puede encontrar. Recomiendo su lectura en forma analítica. No es una novela, es un libro de experiencias y enseñanzas, así que tómese su tiempo para aprovecharlo al máximo.
Es un libro excelente, que bilrinda experiencias de vida que nos pueden servir en las nuestras. Las similitudes son asombrosas y muchas veces abrumadoras. Así como las enseñanzas que cada uno puede encontrar. Recomiendo su lectura en forma analítica. No es una novela, es un libro de experiencias y enseñanzas, así que tómese su tiempo para aprovecharlo al máximo.
November 10, 2018
Excelentes consejos que se exponen como lecciones en el libro. Se dan reseñas de frases para enfatizar la lección expuesta. Se exponen con ejemplos de la vida de Louis en su vida cuando se encontraba en la Cosa Nostra, la mafia.
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