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Pablo Escobar's Story #1
Pablo Escobar's Story 1: The Rise
“Finally, the definitive book about Escobar, original and up-to-date” – UNILAD, Joseph Loftus Pablo Escobar was a mama’s boy who cherished his family and sang in the shower, yet he bombed a passenger plane and formed a death squad that used genital electrocution. Most Escobar biographies only provide a few pieces of the puzzle, but this action-packed 1000-page book reveals everything about the king of cocaine. Mostly translated from Spanish, Part 1 contains stories untold in the English-speaking world, The tragic death of his youngest brother Fernando. The fate of his pregnant mistress. The shocking details of his affair with a TV celebrity. The presidential candidate who encouraged him to eliminate their rivals.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2018
264 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Attwood
77 books357 followersIn prison, I read over 1000 books in just under six years, including many literary classics. Books were the lifeblood of my rehabilitation.
As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...
Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.
But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.
Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.
I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.
Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.
In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.
I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.
As told on National Geographic Channel's Locked-Up/Banged-Up Abroad episode "Raving Arizona," I used a tiny pencil sharpened on a cell door to write the first prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal. My writing, smuggled out of the jail with the highest rate of death in America, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, turned the international media spotlight on the human rights violations, including guards murdering mentally ill inmates, dead rats in the food, lack of medical care...
Raised in a small chemical-manufacturing town in northern England, I was the first from my family to go to university. As a penniless graduate, I took my business degree to Phoenix, and worked my way up to become a stock-market millionaire.
But I also led a double life. An early fan of the Manchester rave scene, I headed an organisation that threw raves and distributed Ecstasy. On May 16th 2002, a SWAT team knocked my door down.
Facing a life sentence, I entered a lengthy legal battle. After two years of being held unsentenced, I was convicted of drug offences. Sentenced to 9½ years, I served almost 6.
I had only read finance books prior to my arrest. While incarcerated, I submerged myself in literature. By studying original texts in psychology and philosophy, I sought to better understand myself and my past behaviour.
Released in December 2007, I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I keep my blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, going by posting stories mailed to me by my prison friends.
In July 2008, I won a Koestler award for a short story, which I read to an audience at the Royal Festival Hall.
I presently live near London, and talk to schools across the UK about my jail experience and the consequences of getting involved in drugs and crime.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2020
I think I find Pablo Escobar's story fascinating because it's a culmination of the forces of political corruption, poverty, US foreign policy/meddling, tribalism and human nature, to name but a few.
But reading this book- having read no others about Escobar- I wondered if it was so factual. So much of it read like hearsay, and the writing itself was distracting. So many parts went like "and then he said this. And then she did that. And then this happened." I've read many historical or biographical works that can string together facts in an adept narrative, and that craftwork was missing here, though I feel the appendices were far better written than most of the body of text.
When trying to find a book about Escobar, this was one that stood out with high ratings and reviews. When approaching a subject I know nothing or little about, I don't feel it's right to claim knowledge after reading just one book about it. So I will continue trying to gather more information from other sources about Escobar, probably including the next book about him in this series.
But reading this book- having read no others about Escobar- I wondered if it was so factual. So much of it read like hearsay, and the writing itself was distracting. So many parts went like "and then he said this. And then she did that. And then this happened." I've read many historical or biographical works that can string together facts in an adept narrative, and that craftwork was missing here, though I feel the appendices were far better written than most of the body of text.
When trying to find a book about Escobar, this was one that stood out with high ratings and reviews. When approaching a subject I know nothing or little about, I don't feel it's right to claim knowledge after reading just one book about it. So I will continue trying to gather more information from other sources about Escobar, probably including the next book about him in this series.
July 11, 2021
"Biography with Astounding Revealings and Dumbfounding Facts"
When the book is a biography of dangerous people it is important to capture the reasons or the situations from which the negative actions stemmed. This book does it. It covers a lot of details and incidents from his childhood to his Personal Life(with regards to his wife and mistresses) that was not so hidden and the things he did to reach the peak in the drugs business. The book also talks about his stint and involvement in Columbian Politics. It is indeed a comprehensive biography.
Throughout the book the writing style is dominated with phrases like 'Pablo said "XYZ..."' or 'Virginia said "ABC..."', the book does not come as conversational. Hence, it might get a bit tiring at times. But, the stories will help you to keep turning the pages.
There are a lot of brutal killings and murders to the count that will make you exhausted. Some of the narco terrorist's schemes mentioned in the book will make you think that had Pablo not involved in the Narcotic Business he would have become one of the best Supply Chain Management professionals. He knew how to keep the business rolling even in the toughest times.
If you have watched Narcos on Netflix then you will probably have some idea about the dealings of Pablo Escobar. The Narcos does not cover everything and therefore, reading this book will help you to join the puzzle.
When the book is a biography of dangerous people it is important to capture the reasons or the situations from which the negative actions stemmed. This book does it. It covers a lot of details and incidents from his childhood to his Personal Life(with regards to his wife and mistresses) that was not so hidden and the things he did to reach the peak in the drugs business. The book also talks about his stint and involvement in Columbian Politics. It is indeed a comprehensive biography.
Throughout the book the writing style is dominated with phrases like 'Pablo said "XYZ..."' or 'Virginia said "ABC..."', the book does not come as conversational. Hence, it might get a bit tiring at times. But, the stories will help you to keep turning the pages.
There are a lot of brutal killings and murders to the count that will make you exhausted. Some of the narco terrorist's schemes mentioned in the book will make you think that had Pablo not involved in the Narcotic Business he would have become one of the best Supply Chain Management professionals. He knew how to keep the business rolling even in the toughest times.
If you have watched Narcos on Netflix then you will probably have some idea about the dealings of Pablo Escobar. The Narcos does not cover everything and therefore, reading this book will help you to join the puzzle.
July 26, 2019
I learned so much from this book that I didn't know about Pablo. It makes the other books about Pablo, including 'Killing Pablo', seem dated and irrelevant. This is the ultimate biography for fans of Narcos, or anyone that wants the full story!
May 2, 2020
This is where it all began
Great tape told by a master story teller. The rise of the cartels and the loss of a country as Columbia is still in the grip of the cocaine epidemic
Great tape told by a master story teller. The rise of the cartels and the loss of a country as Columbia is still in the grip of the cocaine epidemic
January 17, 2021
Reads more like a history book than a suspense-filled thriller. Was disappointed about that. Some interesting tidbits sprinkled in here and there.
January 3, 2026
Attwood has made this into an interesting 5 hour read. The book follows Colombian drug king Pablo Escobar’s life from birth to the height of his powers around year 1990. The story is told in a structured chronological order at a decent pace. Especially at the start the contents is a bit different from many other sources that at least I have read and seen. Gradually Attowood starts relying a bit too heavily on the story as told by Escobars girlfriend, but it still is a fascinating whole.
June 4, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. This a great story about Escobar. Great read!
February 18, 2021
Drug Lord's
Interesting read and hard to imagine the life styles that these people were able to get away with for so long
Interesting read and hard to imagine the life styles that these people were able to get away with for so long
December 8, 2022
Fantastic book
I find the Escobar story very interesting and the way Shaun has written it is a great take compared to the many other available.
I find the Escobar story very interesting and the way Shaun has written it is a great take compared to the many other available.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews