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The Ride of My Life: From Street Gangs to Motorcycle Clubs to Social Worker
The Ride of My Life is a coming-of-age book, both for Justin DeLoretto and for America.
Justin joined a 1%-er motorcycle club in pursuit of age-old values of brotherhood, honor and respect. He never lost those values, but he watched them come under fire in America as clearly as in club life, where gaining personal power become the highest objective, rather than honoring the code that once bound his community.
Pursuing a new career in social work, Justin carried the old values to a new generation of youth caught in the riptide of a world increasingly defined by personal gain over communal well-being.
Justin joined a 1%-er motorcycle club in pursuit of age-old values of brotherhood, honor and respect. He never lost those values, but he watched them come under fire in America as clearly as in club life, where gaining personal power become the highest objective, rather than honoring the code that once bound his community.
Pursuing a new career in social work, Justin carried the old values to a new generation of youth caught in the riptide of a world increasingly defined by personal gain over communal well-being.
- GenresBiography
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2023
40 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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September 30, 2023The Ride of My Life: From Street Gangs to Motorcycle Clubs to Social Worker is an inspiring true story by @og__mooch.
In this memoir, Justin “Mooch” DeLoretto takes readers down the rough streets of his life experiences, only to come out stronger on the other side.
Growing up middle class with his twin brother, the pair got into typical teenage antics. But one day the antics spiraled into something more, Justin dabbling in the gang life and serving some jail time. Embarrassed at how cliche the son of a criminal had become, Justin realized he had to turn his life around.
But roadblocks persisted to get in Deloretto’s path- the difference being he didn’t let being sidelined keep him from reaching his goals. Now a social worker, Deloretto’s stories are part cautionary, part cathartic- but all of it is uniquely inspiring.
While a big portion of this book takes a deep dive into the motorcyclist sub culture, there’s something to be said about a man whose life has lived so many experiences and can passionately speak to all of them. The Ride of My Life is sure to take memoir loving readers along for quite a ride.
Thank you to @dartfrogbooks for a copy of this personal story in exchange for a fair review.
In this memoir, Justin “Mooch” DeLoretto takes readers down the rough streets of his life experiences, only to come out stronger on the other side.
Growing up middle class with his twin brother, the pair got into typical teenage antics. But one day the antics spiraled into something more, Justin dabbling in the gang life and serving some jail time. Embarrassed at how cliche the son of a criminal had become, Justin realized he had to turn his life around.
But roadblocks persisted to get in Deloretto’s path- the difference being he didn’t let being sidelined keep him from reaching his goals. Now a social worker, Deloretto’s stories are part cautionary, part cathartic- but all of it is uniquely inspiring.
While a big portion of this book takes a deep dive into the motorcyclist sub culture, there’s something to be said about a man whose life has lived so many experiences and can passionately speak to all of them. The Ride of My Life is sure to take memoir loving readers along for quite a ride.
Thank you to @dartfrogbooks for a copy of this personal story in exchange for a fair review.
October 5, 2023
The Ride of My Life by Justin “Mooch” Deloretto
Thank you to @dartfrogbooks for the #gifted copy.
The Ride of my Life was a great read. It’s a very personal, very eye opening story about a man who grew up in Salem, Oregon who loved his MC (motorcycle club), but who was able to learn from his mistakes and take what he has learned and help others.
His mom was a teacher and step-father was a mechanical engineer. His grandparents were super involved in his life. He was close with his twin brother. He wrestled in high school, but he did fight. He pushed the limits. He talks about how he got involved in the MC clubs and how they operated. It was very interesting to me because although I have lots of friends and family who ride there is a lot I did not know about the different territories and such.
Justin spends time in jail, but he discusses the many life lessons and setbacks along the way. The lengths that others will go to get what they want with outright disregard for who they hurt was almost too much. The very people who are supposed to protect us were the very ones setting people up. Just wow!
This book is OUT NOW!
Thank you to @dartfrogbooks for the #gifted copy.
The Ride of my Life was a great read. It’s a very personal, very eye opening story about a man who grew up in Salem, Oregon who loved his MC (motorcycle club), but who was able to learn from his mistakes and take what he has learned and help others.
His mom was a teacher and step-father was a mechanical engineer. His grandparents were super involved in his life. He was close with his twin brother. He wrestled in high school, but he did fight. He pushed the limits. He talks about how he got involved in the MC clubs and how they operated. It was very interesting to me because although I have lots of friends and family who ride there is a lot I did not know about the different territories and such.
Justin spends time in jail, but he discusses the many life lessons and setbacks along the way. The lengths that others will go to get what they want with outright disregard for who they hurt was almost too much. The very people who are supposed to protect us were the very ones setting people up. Just wow!
This book is OUT NOW!
October 6, 2023
TITLE: The Ride of My Life: From Street Gangs to Motorcycle Clubs to Social Worker
AUTHOR: Justin "Mooch" DeLoretto
PUB DATE: 09.07.2023 Now Available
I have been enjoying memoirs lately and I do love life changing memoirs like this one from Justin "Mooch" DeLoretto. I was a huge fan of the Sons of Anarchy SOA series especially when many of its scenes were filmed in my neighborhood and I was a huge fan of Charlie Hunnam so watching him shoot and eat in our Italian restaurant was such a treat.
As much as SOA was a delight to watch, DeLoretto wrote about the realities of a captivating world of the 1%er Motorcycle Club culture, and the good with the bad in an unflinching memoir of a culture unknown to many and attached to negative connotations.
DeLoretto’s story provides an inspiring account of what rising through adversity can mean to so many doing their best out of any challenging situation. I’m glad to have had a glimpse of this impactful and powerful read.
AUTHOR: Justin "Mooch" DeLoretto
PUB DATE: 09.07.2023 Now Available
I have been enjoying memoirs lately and I do love life changing memoirs like this one from Justin "Mooch" DeLoretto. I was a huge fan of the Sons of Anarchy SOA series especially when many of its scenes were filmed in my neighborhood and I was a huge fan of Charlie Hunnam so watching him shoot and eat in our Italian restaurant was such a treat.
As much as SOA was a delight to watch, DeLoretto wrote about the realities of a captivating world of the 1%er Motorcycle Club culture, and the good with the bad in an unflinching memoir of a culture unknown to many and attached to negative connotations.
DeLoretto’s story provides an inspiring account of what rising through adversity can mean to so many doing their best out of any challenging situation. I’m glad to have had a glimpse of this impactful and powerful read.
December 17, 2023
Justin “Mooch” Deloretto has lived a fascinating life and has used that to write a fascinating book. He was a SHARP (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice), a leadership member of a 1%er MC, and a social worker. His book talks about each of these iterations, but focuses on his time in a 1%er MC, which I was most interested in (I read and review a lot of MC Romance novels). This book reads as very real and sometimes gritty, but never negative. I liked his philosophies of honor, tradition, brotherhood, and positivity. Indeed, he looks back at his life with a positive attitude and sees the tough times and the good times as having equal influence shaping him. I think that anyone curious about the MC lifestyle would find this book very satisfying. I wish the author the best of luck in his future endeavors.
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance review copy for free. This is my honest, voluntary review.
I was fortunate enough to receive an advance review copy for free. This is my honest, voluntary review.
October 1, 2025
I started this book because my dad was in a one percenter motorcycle club for basically my whole life and is friends with the author. I kept reading because Mooch’s story is inspiring. The memoir really showed what it means to be a member in these clubs which was super interesting.
June 10, 2024
"Ride of My Life" by Justin "Mooch" Deloretto earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. As a former rider and my interest in criminal justice, I found the narrative chaotic and non-linear, with abrupt introductions of new characters and events that can be disorienting. Despite this, Deloretto's storytelling is compelling, driven by his charismatic personality. There's little doubt that he can command a room full of interested, engaged listeners. The book explores his search for identity through violence and motorcycle club culture, offering intriguing insights into the allure of outlaw life.
The fast-paced, barroom brawl style mimics the exhilarating, unpredictable ride of a motorcycle on the open road. The narrative raises interesting questions about why violence was chosen as an identity, and the connection between violence, discipline, and territory in the MC world. However, I wished Deloretto had pulled more from his psychology background to dig deeper into the ideas he raises. As someone who found college to be a great place to find themselves and success, I appreciated Deloretto's journey and would be interested in more of his psychological explanation on this reliance on and lifestyle centered on violence.
The Southern Illinois connections added personal unexpected depth. I found this to be a captivating read and will appeal to anyone interested in the gritty world of motorcycle clubs from Portland, Oregon to Mount Vernon, Illinois. The raw, engaging look at Deloretto's journey, from a young skinhead to various motorcycle clubs, to the Mongols, makes the chaos a worthwhile read. The book's pacing and style may take a chapter or two to adjust to, but it ultimately offers a fast, free-wheeling introduction to the culture of Oregon, the West Coast, and his climb within MC ranks. However, don't get attached to any of the girlfriends introduced in the story.
Deloretto's criticisms of the criminal justice system, while not necessarily wrong, especially his lawsuit allowing him to pursue his internship while associated with an outlaw motorcycle club, and some psychological insights could have been explored a bit more in-depth from my humble criminal justice perspective.
In conclusion, "Ride of My Life" is a wild and gripping journey through the high speed world of motorcycle clubs, enriched by Deloretto's personal experiences and compelling narrative. As Robert M. Pirsig wrote in "Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," "The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon." Deloretto's story captures this essence, offering a thought-provoking ride into the complexities of identity, violence, and the search for meaning.
The fast-paced, barroom brawl style mimics the exhilarating, unpredictable ride of a motorcycle on the open road. The narrative raises interesting questions about why violence was chosen as an identity, and the connection between violence, discipline, and territory in the MC world. However, I wished Deloretto had pulled more from his psychology background to dig deeper into the ideas he raises. As someone who found college to be a great place to find themselves and success, I appreciated Deloretto's journey and would be interested in more of his psychological explanation on this reliance on and lifestyle centered on violence.
The Southern Illinois connections added personal unexpected depth. I found this to be a captivating read and will appeal to anyone interested in the gritty world of motorcycle clubs from Portland, Oregon to Mount Vernon, Illinois. The raw, engaging look at Deloretto's journey, from a young skinhead to various motorcycle clubs, to the Mongols, makes the chaos a worthwhile read. The book's pacing and style may take a chapter or two to adjust to, but it ultimately offers a fast, free-wheeling introduction to the culture of Oregon, the West Coast, and his climb within MC ranks. However, don't get attached to any of the girlfriends introduced in the story.
Deloretto's criticisms of the criminal justice system, while not necessarily wrong, especially his lawsuit allowing him to pursue his internship while associated with an outlaw motorcycle club, and some psychological insights could have been explored a bit more in-depth from my humble criminal justice perspective.
In conclusion, "Ride of My Life" is a wild and gripping journey through the high speed world of motorcycle clubs, enriched by Deloretto's personal experiences and compelling narrative. As Robert M. Pirsig wrote in "Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," "The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon." Deloretto's story captures this essence, offering a thought-provoking ride into the complexities of identity, violence, and the search for meaning.
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September 26, 2023The roar of the engine was all he heard as he cruised down the two lane road. Open fields on either side of him as the motorcycle took off down the stretch of highway. Feeling the wind, the fresh air, the purr of the machine… it was a feeling you couldn’t replicate with anything else.
The Ride of My Life is a memoir following the life of Justin “Mooch” DeLoretto. The reader gets a detailed look into Justin’s life as he navigates the troublesome teenage years, time in a band, getting mixed in with the wrong crowds, stints in prison, and finding a spot in the motorcycle world.
Now, this book was very heavy on the talk about motorcycles and motorcycle clubs. My husband and father-in-law both worked for Harley; my father-in-law was also in a motorcycle club, so I know quite a bit about motorcycles. But this book was a little too heavy on all of that talk. Overwhelmingly so. It got very repetitive for me and the beginning was very hard to get into when it was constant talk of fight after fight after fight. I would have liked more about his time in social work and more of the redemptive side in his story. Overall though, it was nice to read his story.
I recommend for those who love the show Sons of Anarchy, love motorcycles and redemption stories, and enjoy reading memoirs.
CW: Death of a Loved One, Physical Violence/Gang Violence, Murder, Prison Time, Drug Use/Overdose, Gun Violence, Mention of Rape, Suicide Attempt, Domestic Violence, Mention of Pandemic, Motorcycle Accident.
*No rating for nonfiction
The Ride of My Life is a memoir following the life of Justin “Mooch” DeLoretto. The reader gets a detailed look into Justin’s life as he navigates the troublesome teenage years, time in a band, getting mixed in with the wrong crowds, stints in prison, and finding a spot in the motorcycle world.
Now, this book was very heavy on the talk about motorcycles and motorcycle clubs. My husband and father-in-law both worked for Harley; my father-in-law was also in a motorcycle club, so I know quite a bit about motorcycles. But this book was a little too heavy on all of that talk. Overwhelmingly so. It got very repetitive for me and the beginning was very hard to get into when it was constant talk of fight after fight after fight. I would have liked more about his time in social work and more of the redemptive side in his story. Overall though, it was nice to read his story.
I recommend for those who love the show Sons of Anarchy, love motorcycles and redemption stories, and enjoy reading memoirs.
CW: Death of a Loved One, Physical Violence/Gang Violence, Murder, Prison Time, Drug Use/Overdose, Gun Violence, Mention of Rape, Suicide Attempt, Domestic Violence, Mention of Pandemic, Motorcycle Accident.
*No rating for nonfiction
September 29, 2023
The Ride Of My Life is a great memoir - Justin shares in depth his life from when he was young and started to get in trouble, to him being in a band like so many kids his age during this time. Justin is not shy in sharing how the trouble he got in to landed him in jail not just once.. then he finally found his home in a Motorcycle Club. Some may hear Motorcycle Club and go straight to the negative parts that surround them but Justin had a bigger plan and he truly cared about the people that were part of The Mongols- they looked out for each other and help each other to stay on the straight and narrow.. This was a very interesting read and enlightening to see how one man cared so much not just for himself but all those around him and it it is great look to the inside of what it means to be a part of this Motorcycle brotherhood..
If you are a lover of motorcycles or if you enjoyed Mayans M.C and Sons of Anarchy, you will really enjoy this memoir.
If you are a lover of motorcycles or if you enjoyed Mayans M.C and Sons of Anarchy, you will really enjoy this memoir.
June 24, 2024
There is a reason I gave it 5 stars
I've been following Mooch on social media for some time before I read the book and I got an impression he's a really cool, sincere dude so I decided to read his story.
The book itself is easy to read, full of interesting stories and characters, although chronologically confusing at times. I gave it a 5 nonetheless because it was sincerely written, and by the end you really start to feel all the lies and bad stuff going on in the club were coming down on this good dude that just wanted the club to thrive and make it better for everyone. Nice to read a book on this subject by someone who is not an old-timer too, most of the books on the subject being placed in 60s, 70s or 80s...
Definetly recommending this one. Thank you Mooch for sharing your ride with us!
I've been following Mooch on social media for some time before I read the book and I got an impression he's a really cool, sincere dude so I decided to read his story.
The book itself is easy to read, full of interesting stories and characters, although chronologically confusing at times. I gave it a 5 nonetheless because it was sincerely written, and by the end you really start to feel all the lies and bad stuff going on in the club were coming down on this good dude that just wanted the club to thrive and make it better for everyone. Nice to read a book on this subject by someone who is not an old-timer too, most of the books on the subject being placed in 60s, 70s or 80s...
Definetly recommending this one. Thank you Mooch for sharing your ride with us!
March 4, 2024
A great read that flows well. From skinhead to biker Justin lived a life of violence and thrills that you’d only expect to hear about on some FX show. But the difference here is it’s real experiences from one single person. I’ve always found the skinhead crews and hardcore crews, FSU, interesting and reading about how members of these groups grow into other groups was really interesting. Justin paints a great picture of being true to the group you belong to but the bigger importance of being true to yourself. Highly recommend this read.
September 15, 2024
The Ride of My Life is an interesting look into the world of motorcycle clubs in America - a perspective on a life very different from my own. I met Mooch at Daisy Fresh, he was super welcoming, and I read his book as I continued driving my van around the USA. This book is a fun read that balances personal growth with a deeper dive into MC culture. If you're curious about that world, or just looking for a good story, you should check it out!
September 11, 2023
TRUTH
This was one of the realest biker books I’ve ever read…and yes I’ve pretty much read them all. A lot of biker books you can kind of feel some half truths or even pure fabrications, but not with this one. A wild ride with an inspiring and powerful message. Thank you “Mooch” for sharing your story.
This was one of the realest biker books I’ve ever read…and yes I’ve pretty much read them all. A lot of biker books you can kind of feel some half truths or even pure fabrications, but not with this one. A wild ride with an inspiring and powerful message. Thank you “Mooch” for sharing your story.
November 28, 2023
gripping book
An absolutely addicting read. Being in the life & relating to the narrative is what made me buy the book. The story of passion & integrity are what got me to finish the book in one sitting.
An absolutely addicting read. Being in the life & relating to the narrative is what made me buy the book. The story of passion & integrity are what got me to finish the book in one sitting.
December 5, 2024
Good Story
Inspiring story. A good reminder that we're all constantly evolving and deciding who we will be next. I enjoyed the book a lot. Only complaint would be it can be hard to follow the time-line and location sometimes. Very good book overall.
Inspiring story. A good reminder that we're all constantly evolving and deciding who we will be next. I enjoyed the book a lot. Only complaint would be it can be hard to follow the time-line and location sometimes. Very good book overall.
December 24, 2024
great read
There aren’t many books I can’t put down and forget about. This was not one of them. Once I started it, I wanted to keep on going.
Great message being delivered in this. More people in the upcoming generation need to hear it.
There aren’t many books I can’t put down and forget about. This was not one of them. Once I started it, I wanted to keep on going.
Great message being delivered in this. More people in the upcoming generation need to hear it.
October 19, 2023
Exciting storyline that kept my attention, I loved the characters, protective and sassy, I couldn't put it down.
December 27, 2023
BS
They are an outlaw gang. He makes them sound much to wholesome and like regular guys
What did his brotherhood stand for?
They are an outlaw gang. He makes them sound much to wholesome and like regular guys
What did his brotherhood stand for?
May 21, 2024
Great Read
A must read for those in or out of the motorcycle culture. Very well written. One of those books that make you feel like you are there.
A must read for those in or out of the motorcycle culture. Very well written. One of those books that make you feel like you are there.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews