Being Oscar: From Mob Lawyer to Mayor of Las Vegas

by Oscar Goodman

In Being Oscar ,one of America’s most celebrated criminal defense attorneys recounts the stories and cases of his epic life. The Mafia’s go-to defender, he has tried an estimated 300 criminal cases, and won most of them. His roster of clients reads like a history of organized crime: Meyer Lansky, Nicky Scarfo, and “Lefty” Rosenthal, as well as Mike Tyson and boxing promoter Don King, along with a midget, a dentist, and a federal judge.
After thirty-five years as a defender, he ran for mayor of Las Vegas, and America’s greatest Mob lawyer became the mayor of its sexiest city. He was so popular his image appeared on the 5, 25, and 100 chips. While mayor of Vegas, he starred on the screen in Rush Hour 2 and CSI. He is as large a character in the history of organized crime as any of his clients and as legendary a figure in the history of Las Vegas as the entrepreneurs (his friends and clients) who built the city. This is his astonishing story—the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Memoir, Biography, Politics, Biography Memoir, Crime

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[LATOYA JOVENA · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning Oscar's life is the definition of you have to be prepared in order to get lucky. Reading about him made me feel like I was there in sunny Las Vegas drinking cocktails with him.
He also taught me a valuable lesson. The law isn't some stagnant black and white document because it has to be enforced and upheld by people. People are never black and white but various shades of grey. When people like federal prosecutors played fast and loose with the law against one of his clients Oscar went to war. When people like judges were subject to shaming or goading he took advantage of that.
While I don't agree with everything he's said or done he's quite a character and worth the read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about Vegas that attracts us. The lights, the shopping, the gambling and yes, the mob history. We go to Vegas once in a while and I've read about Oscar Goodman so I thought this might be a good read. It was. Some great stories about the old (mob) Vegas and the new Vegas. The city has turned around quite nicely in the past decade or more and I think a lot of credit has to go to this guy. Yeah, he's got a HUGE (imagine an even bigger font) ego but he can be self-deprecating and has a good sense of humor. The only negative is when he pumps up the former mob guys as just regular people as some were his friends. Yes, I believe every citizen has a right to competent representation, yes I believe the government isn't the white knight; but some of these guys were real bad news. Anyway, good book, pick it up if you enjoy Vegas and Vegas stories.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Goodman is a convivial and amiable host, or at least he is when he's talking about his favorite subject: himself. But there's also lots of good wiseguy stories here, and of course there's plenty of enthusiasm for Oscar's second favorite subject, Las Vegas. His political independence is rare and refreshing. It's interesting how someone so opinionated can also be so genuinely non-partisan. Goodman is also genuine in his constitutionalism, and despite what the FBI might think, he's a true patriot. I'm a fan, but even Oscar's fans have little trouble finding certain things they abhor about the man. Perhaps this is the biggest take away from the book: we're all complicated individuals, with qualities both redeeming and repulsive.

[Graham Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life's a lot easier when you decide not to make moral judgments. Oscar Goodman is a brilliant guy and great at thinking on his feet. His discussion of his life is very engaging and it feels like he's right there next to you. At the same time, there are very real, substantial issues he merely wafts away with a slick phrase or two. That's probably why he was such an effective mayor and attorney. I agree his opposition were no angels, but many innocent people go without competent representation while people who have no interest in being moral to the whole society get high-priced lawyers in order to get them off on a technicality. But Las Vegas is built on rationalizing vice as a virtue, so it is what is expected from the one who personifies its ethos.

[Andee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book, reluctantly. What a slog. I couldn’t stand this jerk. He takes hypocrisy to the next level. Truly, I have never encountered a bigger hypocrite, he’s just a horrible person, and hugely unlikeable. He’s in love with the idea and lifestyles of mafia gangsters, not only representing them for his entire career, but hanging out with them and respective families, and taking crazy gifts from them. He’s totally in love with and unbelievably impressed with himself. He just tells one stupid war story after another…and they aren’t even interesting stories. And I’m not a fan of Vegas, and this certainly does nothing to change my opinion of that dump. I’ve got to think the citizens of that county are seriously challenged to elect at all, not to mention multiple times, he and then his horrible wife. And make no mistake, she’s horrible too. Profiting off of gangsters who victimize citizens everywhere, socializing with their families, and on and on. Literally the only things I agreed with him on, were his views of total disdain for hobos and graffiti vandals. I picked this piece of junk up at a yard sale for $.50 so I’m grateful he made no money off me, and now, it’s going in the garbage.

[Anonymous Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a good book throughout, t could be bulked up with a lot more about Las Vegas. The first 2/3 of the book are interesting, especially if you are reading a out criminal defense but I personally preferred the stories about this magical city.
More stories about downtown, Freemont stories, the growing areas of suburban Vegas and the more worn & torn areas of the city.
This was a book about a city with so many stories and so many characters.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this book was just a fun read. I didn't expect anything too seriously, but I did enjoy it. He had some good insights into life in Vegas, and while I don't agree with all of his commentary, it was a worthwhile, easy read. Viva Las Vegas!

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!!! I loved reading about how Oscar handled the cases and then him being the Mayor.

The book was awesome as you got to see things through his eyes rather then the media or law enforcement.

Definitely a good read if you are interested in the history of Las Vegas.

[Grace Michaelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the juiciest books I’ve read in a while. I listened to the audiobook and Oscar reads it himself. I loved learning more about Oscar’s world view, politics, and career. He also covered so much Vegas history. I really enjoyed this.

[Sidenseen]

Amazing book by an amazing man. Loved every wore of it. Intelligence doesn't describe this leader of one of the greatest cities on earth

[Davey · Rating 4 out of 5]

NF - Very entertaining, mob lawyer turned Mayor of Las Vegas

[Kim Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vegas is alive and well

Oscar is an amazing person. I wish Reno ( where I live) had someone like him as our mayor! Our politicians are wimps!

[Cynthia Corral · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had never heard of Oscar Goodman before, but I'm pretty sure he's the guy to clean up Las Vegas and get it where it is today. I figured from the cover and the blurb that he was going to be quite a character and it would be an interesting, entertaining read. I got it on Audible, and Oscar reads the book.

He IS a character. He also has a huge ego, and I've known a lot of supersized egos. And it was just... too much. I could barely stand the first 2/3s of the book with him talking of his law career. By the time he gets to being the mayor of Las Vegas, I think I was just tuning his voice out. I'm sure he's a really great guy, he obviously loves his entire family, I think he wanted the best for Las Vegas and did a lot of good, but I really, really, really did not like this book.

[alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about an untrustworthy narrator! Being Oscar, the memoir of former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, includes stories from his time as a high profile criminal defense attorney for controversial clients as well as issues he tackled while serving as mayor for three terms. Goodman blows hard and humorously, dropping names left and right and repeatedly acknowledging his ego rivals the Stratosphere in size. With that said, the book is fairly entertaining if you have an interest in Vegas or the mob -- just take what he says with a grain of salt since clearly there are other perspectives on everything he recounts.

[London · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was about 2/3rds into the book that I realized why Oscar's writing style is so distinct - great shifts from bravado to humility, vulgarity to eloquence; he is arguing for the benefit of the defense. Those he worked with as a lawyer are all kind, compassionate, intelligent people working around a corrupt system, but those who stood in the way of his ideas as mayor were ignorant, antagonistic, and conspire against him.

He's a sharp-witted pragmatist when I agree with him, and a stubborn curmudgeon when I don't. I can see how he served three popular terms.

[Garci · Rating 3 out of 5]

The former mayor of Sin City has a no-holds-barred communication style and he's lived quite a life (so far). There are so many people mentioned in the book that it was hard to keep everyone straight. I loved his anecdotes and stories. Will be an interesting read for those involved or interested in politics, law or Las Vegas.

[Mary-lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty funny book. I wanted to hate this guy, but ended up liking him. Since I'm kind of fascinated with Las Vegas, the mob, and law this book was right up my alley. But it probably wouldn't be too interesting for a person without the same type of interests.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read. He keeps saying "I have no idea how I won that one." Maybe because you had someone bribing and breaking legs to encourage your decisions? At the same time, despite myself, I liked the guy.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this far more than I expected. Before reading I wondered how he could have been elected mayor. After reading I wish he was the mayor of my city.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and interesting read. America could use more of him.

[Luke The Drifter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read and interesting stories!

[Jocelyn Kish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Took awhile to get into it. Neat side of the author - enjoyed the insight and the stories - just a bit jumpy.