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The Cornbread Mafia: A Homegrown Syndicate's Code of Silence and the Biggest Marijuana Bust in American History
by
James Higdon
In the summer of 1987, Johnny Boone set out to grow and harvest one of the greatest outdoor marijuana crops in modern times. By doing so, he set into motion a series of events that defined him and his associates as the largest homegrown marijuana syndicate in American history, also known as“The Cornbread Mafia.”
Author James Higdon—whose relationship with Johnny Boone, curr...more
Author James Higdon—whose relationship with Johnny Boone, curr...more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
April 20th 2012
by Lyons Press
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What a story about growing pot in central KY. There were people I knew and names I recognized. Farmers resorted to growing marijuana when regular crops no longer supported their families. Apparently, Marion County is the perfect environment for fine pot. One family spent years developing the perfect strain with seeds from all over the world. One man would ultimately face life in prison for continuing to grow and sell pot.
On the day I finished the book, six people were killed by a gunman at a rel...more
On the day I finished the book, six people were killed by a gunman at a rel...more
Dec 13, 2012
Nick Phelps
added it
This book was a great read. Lets start right after the civil war with an Irish drunk and Catholic Priest named William DeRohan. He landed in what is now, our home, Kentucky. The CAtholic Heritage will be kept mainly where he lands, present day Marion County. Now jump to early 1900s when the main source and almost only source of income for this small Catholic county was the bourbon and whiskey made at the distilleries. Next we go to the prohibition era. How are these guys supposed to make money n...more
So in 1987, Johnny Boone decided to grow and harvest the greatest marijuana crop of all time. He achieved his goal, and then some! I enjoyed the history of Marion County, KY from the early days of Prohibition up to the present. I never realized that so much "wildness" could occur in one little county. This is not a story of innocent people just trying to feed their families during hard times. This is the story of calculating individuals, violence, and a sub-culture that had produced a product th...more
The biggest problem with this book is that the writer is clearly biased. The second is the inclusion of extraneous detail and a complicated writing style that makes the story difficult to follow.
As a journalist I would have expected more from the author than the bias for a convicted drug grower that escalates in the final chapter to an all out defense of the man even though there is no doubt that he continually defied the government and raised huge amounts of marijuana, threatened others and put...more
As a journalist I would have expected more from the author than the bias for a convicted drug grower that escalates in the final chapter to an all out defense of the man even though there is no doubt that he continually defied the government and raised huge amounts of marijuana, threatened others and put...more
I just got to watching this T.V series Justified and I remembered this book. Now the T.V. series is all made up of course but this book is the real deal. And I give it a real four and a half stars. The author has done a fantastic job of researching the history of the backwoods Kentucky marijuana growth and distribution empire that has roots as deep as the biggest tree in the holler. I really like that he shows the history of the area as well to show how almost all cause and effect come together...more
First, this is an interesting book and I liked it. Second, I could never produce something on a par with it and I respect the effort and diligence that went into its creation. However, I do have a few criticisms. I found that I enjoyed the portions that were based on actual records better than the stuff that's reported from one-on-one interviews with the "hillbillies" who produced all that Kentucky grass. The author is perhaps a bit too credulous when relating some of the stories he was told by...more
The Cornbread Mafia is a very interesting book for people that like books about Kentucky history, marijuana, and a little bit of violence. This book dives deep into the culture of Marion County, Kentucky and its unapologetic views on marijuana growth and cultivation - views stemming from as early as the prohibition era. The only reason I even had the idea to pick up this book is because it was recommended to me by the author's sister. I am quite glad that I purchased this book and will now recom...more
What a disappointment. What is certainly a fascinating story is all but ruined by an author who did not have the skill set to pull it off. This book literally needed to have around 200 pages removed to make it coherent. Instead it is a repetitive and rambling attempt at telling a story. Incredibly if you read the very long prologue at the beginning of the book it is a summary of almost exactly what is in the next several hundred pages and gives every interesting aspect of the story say. Pretty m...more
Good Book If you are not familiar with this term it is a name given to a group of people from Central Kentucky who grew marijuana in large quantities. These people did not necessarily grow in the same group or sell in the same group. I have heard about the Cornbread Mafia all my life but may not have heard the whole truth. The author tells a little bit different story from his interviews with the people involved than what has previously been disclosed. Anyone who is familiar with the Cornbread M...more
The small quiet and peaceful community of Marion County, Kentucky is what this book is about. The town was peaceful until prohibition disrupted the “wet” town’s daily lives. Their catholic beliefs justified drinking and to the people it was not breaking the law. In turn the practice of moon shining began to supply the town with booze. This solved the problem of prohibition but also proved to be a great source of income. When prohibition ended the money coming from moonshine slowed and the farmer...more
Two and a half stars, to be honest. The quality of the writing in this book can be summed up with a single sentence, and I'm quoting directly here: "He's like a marijuana Superman whose kryptonite is vagina." Seriously. Page 340.
There's no denying that Johnny Boone's story and the surrounding culture of Central Kentucky is particularly fascinating, especially for me as a born and bred Kentuckian with rural roots. But I wish that Higdon, who loves to remind the reader of his Ivy League education...more
There's no denying that Johnny Boone's story and the surrounding culture of Central Kentucky is particularly fascinating, especially for me as a born and bred Kentuckian with rural roots. But I wish that Higdon, who loves to remind the reader of his Ivy League education...more
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The author did a really good job of creating the mood of kentucky and highlighting the outlaw culture of Kentucky. From frontier wildness, to prohibition bootlegging, to the pot growers of the 70's and 80's highlighted in his book. The narrative is incredibly detailed and well sourced, this sometimes takes away from the flow and pace of the narrative.
The book also promises "quentin tarantino levels of violence" yet the author continues to go out of his way to paint the pot growers as non-viole...more
The book also promises "quentin tarantino levels of violence" yet the author continues to go out of his way to paint the pot growers as non-viole...more
Higdon presents events with journalistic clarity, without hysteria or contempt. He sets the scene with local history and detailed background information. He provides newspaper accounts and dates.
Yet he turned facts into a gripping narrative.
As a transplant to Kentucky, living withing an hour's drive of the town where the bulk of the events happened, I've always wanted to know more. The urban legends are greatly at odds with the peaceful countryside and the friendly, intelligent people I've met....more
Yet he turned facts into a gripping narrative.
As a transplant to Kentucky, living withing an hour's drive of the town where the bulk of the events happened, I've always wanted to know more. The urban legends are greatly at odds with the peaceful countryside and the friendly, intelligent people I've met....more
A well-researched and revealing journalistic read of the formation and transformations of an American community and economy under a succession of state prohibitionisms from the 18th century to the 18th Amendment to the domestic aftermath of the Vietnam War Era to Iran-Contra to thinking the Clinton and Obama Administrations were going to draw down the Reagan Administration escalation of the bullshit War on Drugs. You'll learn a lot about the myth v reality of "Kentucky Bluegrass" and shifting mo...more
Great read about pot growing in ky since Vietnam. The Catholics of Marion County were
more interested in God's law than man's law. This book traces the culture from the time it was settled in 1700's to present. Early agriculture was whiskey industry that evolved
and became illegal during prohibation. I had no idea.
What my neighbors were up to!
more interested in God's law than man's law. This book traces the culture from the time it was settled in 1700's to present. Early agriculture was whiskey industry that evolved
and became illegal during prohibation. I had no idea.
What my neighbors were up to!
Very disappointed how this book turned out. I (like many others from Nelson/Marion County) was really looking forward to this book. It turned out to be poorly edited version of half-truths with many things totally excluded. Had high hopes for this book, but couldn't be more disappointed.
Mar 17, 2013
Xavier
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone that loves true crime
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story is rich with details which make it easier to envision what was going on. I read the audiobook version and had one problem.. The narrator's voice sometimes caused me to space out. It was pretty flat at times.Other than that, It's a pretty good read.
The book was a little slow to get started with a detailed history of the county given by the author. The main portion of the book concerning "The Cornbread Mafia" and their activities was very interesting. Then the book slows down around chapter 11 or 12 as the author tied up loose ends.
Great story and thorough reporting, but poor editing left it practically unreadable in parts, particularly toward the end. Trim it by a third and give it a tough edit and you'll have a winner....
The information in this book is really interesting, but I found the writing itself to be lacking. Every time the writer tries to turn a phrase, he ends up steering it off a cliff.
That said, it's a really interesting story about (mostly) non-violent "criminals" trying to make the best of the hands they've been dealt.
That said, it's a really interesting story about (mostly) non-violent "criminals" trying to make the best of the hands they've been dealt.
In the late 90's my friends all passed around "Land of Opportunity" about the crack boom in Detroit. This is the redneck version with Mary Jane instead of crack. It is fucking awesome...
This book was very interesting for the first half and then seemed to get bogged down with too many names and details.
Apr 08, 2013
Wesley Johnson
added it
A nicely written account of oddball Kentucky criminal history. Coen Brothers: MAKE this into a film, ASAP.
So i bought this on a whim because I was searching for a running book by hal higdon, this came up instead, and it was cheap. I thought the beginning was interesting with the history of the region and the bourbon tales, but when it degenerated into lots of anecdotes about growing pot I got bored. Maybe it helped if i actually smoked weed. So give this an extra star or two if you do.
Interesting especially if you are from Kentucky. Open ended. It will probably be a movie someday.
Dec 16, 2012
Jennifer Steele
is currently reading it
So far, very interesting story and much more fascinating because I recognize some of the names and locations. Must read for any Kentuckian!
hard to believe this is true
So far, So good. A well researched book about the history of the area and what lead to the rise of stills and later crops of marijuana in the rural countryside of Kentucky.
Reviewers note: I have been busy getting back into the working world and have had to put the book down for the time being. I will pick it up again soon and finish the book and my review. I am looking forward to delving more into the history and psyche of those who were behind one of the biggest marijuana grow operations in re...more
Reviewers note: I have been busy getting back into the working world and have had to put the book down for the time being. I will pick it up again soon and finish the book and my review. I am looking forward to delving more into the history and psyche of those who were behind one of the biggest marijuana grow operations in re...more
Loved it! More history of KY. Not proud of it but great to know.
Apr 14, 2012
Donna McGee
marked it as to-read
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James Higdon has worked for the Courier-Journal in Louisville and the New York Times, contributed to The Prairie Home Companion, researched the NYPD counter-terrorism and intelligence divisions for the new CBS series NYC 22 (produced by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal), and is currently a contributing editor with PBS Frontline’s Tehran Bureau.
More about James Higdon...
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