What do you think?
Rate this book
A 'FAMILY' BUSINESS: The Life And Times Of Joey 'The Fixer' Silvestri
Joe Silvestri was a tough kid from the mean streets of New York. He went from street brawler to wearing a tux at the glamorous Copacabana. He eventually provided “muscle” for the Mob, a highly respected and feared fixer—the guy you went to if you had a problem that needed to be resolved. He followed Mob protocol when having a sit down with an adversary: You never break bread with the enemy.
Award-winning Mob author Dennis Griffin joins forces with Joey “the Fixer” Silvestri to tell a tale of a bygone era when organized crime dominated New York City. It was a time when neighborhood bosses controlled their turf and some cops would look the other way for the right price. Your best friend one day might want you dead the next. It was a violent life in which only the strong survived.
Award-winning Mob author Dennis Griffin joins forces with Joey “the Fixer” Silvestri to tell a tale of a bygone era when organized crime dominated New York City. It was a time when neighborhood bosses controlled their turf and some cops would look the other way for the right price. Your best friend one day might want you dead the next. It was a violent life in which only the strong survived.
- GenresTrue CrimeCrime
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2019
178 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 20, 2019
A ‘FAMILY’ BUSINESS: The Life And Times Of Joey ‘The Fixer’ Silvestri
I wasn’t expecting a lot from this book, but it surprised me. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a quick-paced read of essays from the author of different times during his life and some of the different jobs he held that he remembered. He shares many anecdotes that are entertaining, for the most part especially those that involve his reminisces of different entertainers and other notorious figures that he encountered while working.
He's lived a long and memorable life doing a broad variety of jobs and his story shares some of the more interesting ones. From running poker and crap games to running the door at the famous Copa Club, and crazy stories to go along with them all. I would have given it 5 stars, but I wanted to hear more and I would have loved oodles of pictures (which the non=advance edition may have, I don't know)! This was one of the most enjoyable books of this type I’ve read in a while. I remember now that I've read a book by this author before that I also enjoyed. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, authors Dennis N. Griffin & Joey Silvestri, and the publisher for my fair review.
Also on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
I wasn’t expecting a lot from this book, but it surprised me. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a quick-paced read of essays from the author of different times during his life and some of the different jobs he held that he remembered. He shares many anecdotes that are entertaining, for the most part especially those that involve his reminisces of different entertainers and other notorious figures that he encountered while working.
He's lived a long and memorable life doing a broad variety of jobs and his story shares some of the more interesting ones. From running poker and crap games to running the door at the famous Copa Club, and crazy stories to go along with them all. I would have given it 5 stars, but I wanted to hear more and I would have loved oodles of pictures (which the non=advance edition may have, I don't know)! This was one of the most enjoyable books of this type I’ve read in a while. I remember now that I've read a book by this author before that I also enjoyed. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, authors Dennis N. Griffin & Joey Silvestri, and the publisher for my fair review.
Also on my BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
January 25, 2019
I did not finish this book. The first half of the book was interesting. Mostly when Joey was working at the Copacabana. After he left the Copa, I found that I wasn't that interested. It felt like Joey was just bragging and name dropping. Several times there was language that might have been acceptable at the time it was said, but I don't want to read it now. And it doesn't need to be repeated. Once Joey wrote a chapter about how great Donald Trump is, I couldn't go on.
My interpretation of 'the family' in regards to the Mob is that once you are a made man, you are part of the family. Joey wasn't a made man. He seemed to get along with several of the New York 'families'. I do not feel like the title of the book, fits the book itself.
I appreciate any time someone wants to tell their life story. But this story is just not for me.
My interpretation of 'the family' in regards to the Mob is that once you are a made man, you are part of the family. Joey wasn't a made man. He seemed to get along with several of the New York 'families'. I do not feel like the title of the book, fits the book itself.
I appreciate any time someone wants to tell their life story. But this story is just not for me.
February 22, 2019
The biography of a man who may or not have been a member of one of the New York mafia families. If he isn't/wasn't, he certainly skirted the edges his entire life.
Silvestri led a somewhat interesting life as an employee at the Copacabana, as a "fixer" and enforcer, and as someone who had his hand in many different businesses. This led to his meeting many celebrities and mafia figures.
I enjoyed his stories about Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, and Dean Martin. I could almost feel myself in the club, listening to them as they performed.
However, that was about it as far as interesting for to. Three years at the Copa, then several decades of "jobs" that "skirted" the law.
The author reminded me very much of my career working in prisons, listening to the inmates bragging to each other, trying to impress how important they were on "the outside". Somewhat interesting stories, a lot of name dropping, mostly just petty crooks overly impressed with their own sense of importance. No real contributions to the greater good of society, or to their families.
Silvestri led a somewhat interesting life as an employee at the Copacabana, as a "fixer" and enforcer, and as someone who had his hand in many different businesses. This led to his meeting many celebrities and mafia figures.
I enjoyed his stories about Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, and Dean Martin. I could almost feel myself in the club, listening to them as they performed.
However, that was about it as far as interesting for to. Three years at the Copa, then several decades of "jobs" that "skirted" the law.
The author reminded me very much of my career working in prisons, listening to the inmates bragging to each other, trying to impress how important they were on "the outside". Somewhat interesting stories, a lot of name dropping, mostly just petty crooks overly impressed with their own sense of importance. No real contributions to the greater good of society, or to their families.
June 30, 2019
This is really a 3 1/2 star book. I didn't always like Joey (he's a big Trump fan & I truly despise him), but there's no denying Joey led an interesting life. I felt like I was sitting at the kitchen table listening to my grandfather tell stories. And that's meant in a good way.
Yes, sometimes it felt as if he was bragging, & maybe a little full of himself, but having grown up outside Philly I know how common his type is. I also didn't really get his connection to the mob. At best his was on the fringes & probably knew some mobsters.
It wasn't the true crime I was expecting, but was an enjoyable read.
I think if you're a Rat Pack fan you'll enjoy this book a lot.
Thank you to Wild Blue Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yes, sometimes it felt as if he was bragging, & maybe a little full of himself, but having grown up outside Philly I know how common his type is. I also didn't really get his connection to the mob. At best his was on the fringes & probably knew some mobsters.
It wasn't the true crime I was expecting, but was an enjoyable read.
I think if you're a Rat Pack fan you'll enjoy this book a lot.
Thank you to Wild Blue Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2020
An interesting person that had many a tale in this book. His time working at the Copa was for me the most interesting especially with the many stars that came through as well as men associated with the Mafia. He begins the book from his childhood and then through his time in the service where even there he speaks of some wild things he did. I don’t know what I was expecting from this book but I just felt like it was okay nothing too special. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
October 29, 2020
The Vallacci Papers this ain't.
I found this book by doing a search in the Kindle store for the term Goodfellas. I don't u understand why this title c.f. dropped up. It deals tangentially with the activities of organized crime in New York, but it's primarily an insider's view of the bar and restaurant business in New York. If that is your interested in,, this is the book for you. If you're looking for a book about New York gangsters and wise guys, however, look elsewhere.
I found this book by doing a search in the Kindle store for the term Goodfellas. I don't u understand why this title c.f. dropped up. It deals tangentially with the activities of organized crime in New York, but it's primarily an insider's view of the bar and restaurant business in New York. If that is your interested in,, this is the book for you. If you're looking for a book about New York gangsters and wise guys, however, look elsewhere.
November 1, 2019
Wonderful easy read
Great read about navigating the streets and business while holding your own and not stepping on others toes.Great short stories of interesting people
Great read about navigating the streets and business while holding your own and not stepping on others toes.Great short stories of interesting people
October 25, 2022
Trump cult
Nope, never finished this trash. Anyone likes Trump is a full blown idiot and has extremely poor judgement in my opinion.
Nope, never finished this trash. Anyone likes Trump is a full blown idiot and has extremely poor judgement in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews