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9th out of 212 books
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Wiseguy
"At the age of twelve my ambition was to become a gangster. To be a wiseguy. Being a wiseguy was better than being President of the United States. To be a wiseguy was to own the world." -- Henry Hill
"Wiseguy" is Nicholas Pileggi's remarkable bestseller, the most intimate account ever printed of life inside the deadly high-stakes world of what some peo
...moreMass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published
September 1st 1990
by Pocket
(first published 1985)
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I think this could have been a very jarring book had I not seen the movie Goodfellas so many times I practically have it memorized. As with the Godfather book/film, Goodfellas is an extremely faithful representation of Wiseguy.
As many people have pointed out previously, what sets this book apart is the outright bluntness in the delivery. It wastes no time trying to water the cold, hard facts down or romanticize the lifestyle of a mafioso. We're talking about people who would murde...more
As many people have pointed out previously, what sets this book apart is the outright bluntness in the delivery. It wastes no time trying to water the cold, hard facts down or romanticize the lifestyle of a mafioso. We're talking about people who would murde...more
Based on evidence given while going into the witness protection program, this is a gritty view of what it is actually like to be a 'Wise Guy' or Mafia thug. I was amazed & repelled by the book. Unlike the Godfather which made a hero out of such men & touted a loyalty & honor throughout the ranks, this book shows the actual setup. How self-interest rules their lives & how little empathy they have.
I didn't like the book or the subject, but it was well written & worth reading. I jus...more
I didn't like the book or the subject, but it was well written & worth reading. I jus...more
I was inspired to read Nicholas Pileggi’s Wiseguy after watching the Goodfellas Special Edition DVD, which had some commentary from Pileggi with Scorsese. Incidentally, Pileggi has been pegged to write the screenplay for Tokyo Underworld, an entertaining book by Robert Whiting.
It was interesting to compare the book with the movie and see what they changed and what they left out. In the end, I think they stayed pretty true to the book. Some of the stuff left out was really interesting-conne...more
It was interesting to compare the book with the movie and see what they changed and what they left out. In the end, I think they stayed pretty true to the book. Some of the stuff left out was really interesting-conne...more
This is the story of Henry Hill, a close associate of Paul Vario, a capo in the Lucchese crime family in New York City. It impresses not in the criminal achievements of Hill, but rather in the breadth of knowledge which Hill provides of the mafia way of life - what is entailed in living the life of a wiseguy.
Comparisons with the film of the same name are inevitable but I tried to avoid this common pitfall. the film is slick, star studded, well acted and with innovative and highly effec...more
Comparisons with the film of the same name are inevitable but I tried to avoid this common pitfall. the film is slick, star studded, well acted and with innovative and highly effec...more
This is the book that became the movie 'Goodfellas!' Do I really have to carry on with this review? If you enjoyed the film you will love this book! If you have not seen 'Goodfellas' then read this book first. Even if ‘Goodfellas’ is your favourite film that you can watch again and again and again, you must read this book. If you thought that Joe Pesci was a psycho in the film, read this book to understand just how much he toned down his character’s part in the story to make him believable! It i...more
While this book is about the Mafia and Organized Crime, this book was very well written and WOW... I must say this book was pretty hard to put down. Henry Hill ; while being a "Gangster", was made as personal and as like he was someone you personally know...It was like reading a book about someone in my own family. You don't know whether to strangle him or just hug him. This book is NOTHING like the movie by "The Great" Martin Scorsese; Tommy D is nothing like the movi...more
در صورت تمایل، جهت مشخصات فیلمی که بر اساس این کتاب ساخته شده است؛ میتوانید از لینک زیر استفاده بفرمایید
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099685
Inevitably this book will get compared to the film that was spawned from it "Goodfellas" which is actually pretty unfair as it's difficult to compare something written alongside something in the cinematic vien.
That said the book (unlike many books that begat films) stands as an equal to the film rather than a far superior bit of work(which seems usual) or that rare breed a book worse than a film.
It's a compelling read and regardless of the morality of the lifestyles within ...more
That said the book (unlike many books that begat films) stands as an equal to the film rather than a far superior bit of work(which seems usual) or that rare breed a book worse than a film.
It's a compelling read and regardless of the morality of the lifestyles within ...more
This book was amazing. Until recently I never knew there was a book version of "Goodfellas". I always loved the movie, so when I found out there was a book I had to read it.
The book is way better than the movie. So much more detail and you really find out what happens. Nicholas Pileggi did a marvelous job in writing the book. I loved the style he chose to write it in: with descriptions and then first person accounts by Henry, his wife Karen and one time girlfriend, Linda.
A tr...more
The book is way better than the movie. So much more detail and you really find out what happens. Nicholas Pileggi did a marvelous job in writing the book. I loved the style he chose to write it in: with descriptions and then first person accounts by Henry, his wife Karen and one time girlfriend, Linda.
A tr...more
A deeper look into the story of Henry Hill and his life and involvement with the NYC Mafia from the 1950s-90s. The beginning of the book is nearly exactly like its film version ("Goodfellas", a classic in my opinion), but if you keep going the story takes new turns not shown in the film, with additional schemes and characters. I enjoyed the different perspectives, with narratives from the writer, Karen (Henry's wife), FBI detectives, and mostly Henry himself. If you have an interest in...more
I first read this when it came out in the mid 80s. I was 70 or 80 pages into it when Henry Hill first mentioned his niteclub on Queens Boulevard,The Suite. At that point I realized I had worked in Henry's club as a musician in the early 1970s. I remembered Henry (never knew his last name)standing at the end of the bar most nights watching the action and hanging out with his friends. Of course at that point the book grabbed my total interest and I finished it in a few hours. It's arguably the gre...more
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Wiseguy could be considered a modern tragedy, more or less, given what Henry Hill goes through himself, with his family (outside of the mob) and, to a lesser extent, his partners. We see him hit great highs and equally opposing lows. Almost every book or story I read with any involvement of the mob feels like little more than a telling of snobby jerks who have few redeeming qualities, if at all. Thus, this particular novel came as a huge surprise since, for most of its length, the characters ...more
Very rarely (maybe only once before) do I say this, but you don't need to read this book.
It is a very good book. It's written in a straightforward way, but it's not dry. The facts are laid out for you, in simple terms with no bullshit, and in the words of Henry Hill and his wife and a few other key players. It's ridiculously easy to follow, and it will keep your attention.
But.
For possibly the first time ever, I've found a movie that holds true to the book pre...more
It is a very good book. It's written in a straightforward way, but it's not dry. The facts are laid out for you, in simple terms with no bullshit, and in the words of Henry Hill and his wife and a few other key players. It's ridiculously easy to follow, and it will keep your attention.
But.
For possibly the first time ever, I've found a movie that holds true to the book pre...more
Mark
added it
Picked the puppy up at Webster's for a fair price and just ripped through it like it was a bag of chips. Much of the movie's dialog and narration is pulled straight from the book. There are also some elements of Pileggi's saga of Henry Hill that understandably didn't fit into the compression made necessary by great cinema. Nothing challenging to a reader here at all, but a fun sled ride for sure, particularly if you dug the movie.
I picked this book up at the library mainly because I do love the film of the same name and I was intrigued.
It's interesting. The tone is weird though. Like the FBI man said at the end of the book the events are described in a sort of detached seperate entity kind of way. This makes it difficult to get into the characters mindset and relate to them I think.
I find the ending quite funny. Ironic.
I recommend to all Goodfellas film fans.
It's interesting. The tone is weird though. Like the FBI man said at the end of the book the events are described in a sort of detached seperate entity kind of way. This makes it difficult to get into the characters mindset and relate to them I think.
I find the ending quite funny. Ironic.
I recommend to all Goodfellas film fans.
the book that the film goodfellas is based on. amazing and rich with detail. documents the rise and fall of gangster Henry Hill and his "wiseguy mates" in NYC. a real insight into the gangstr italian life of the 60s , 70s and 80s. so good that it tempts you into wanting to go out there an "whack" or rob or hustle someone. at times, certainly puts your own existence into the boring shelf in comparison.
Brilliant. A fascinating account of life as one of the greatest wiseguys ever. Offers so much more than the film, that is also fantastic, and gives you a real insight into life as a member of the mob.
It's great to see how many of the stories in here have been recreated in other places, such as The Sopranos. A must read for anyone who loves the film, gangsters or just books!
It's great to see how many of the stories in here have been recreated in other places, such as The Sopranos. A must read for anyone who loves the film, gangsters or just books!
Everyone who would read this has no doubt seen "Goodfellas", so no recap is needed. But imagine "Goodfellas" with all that extra, meaty detail that only a book can provide. Do you have that image yet? Yeeeeeaaaaaah. That's "Wiseguy" in a nutshell. It's wonderfully entertaining, fantastically dark, and incredibly good. It's definitely worth a read and, for the only-fiction readers out there, take a look. It's so unbelievable at times, I truly believe that it ...more
Very easy one-day vacation read. If you've seen the movie "Goodfellas", you already know the story of mob associate Henry Hill. This book goes into a little bit more detail about his life, especially his military experience as a Paratrooper stationed in North Carolina. I definitely recommend it to those who are, like me, fascinated by organized crime!
Terrific true story of an energetic, charismatic street hustler named Henry Hill. Years later I got my copy autographed by Henry Hill, who happened to be living near me when he blew his cover by getting busted in a dope deal. He signed it "Don -- great name! Don't be a wise guy." Also one of the few cases where the movie was as entertaining as the book.
Despite the hype surrounding the book and the movie, Henry Hill was a minor guy in the Lucchese Mob. His story provides insights into how gangsters interacted with each other 1950s-1960s; but he has little to offer in the way of the mob's structure or the diverse rackets of his protector, Paul Vario. The book has surprisingly little on Vario.
Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Definitely worth checking out. I don't consider myself any sort of mafia type book person, but this was done really well. It's not focused on the gore, although it does reference murders. It's an interesting look at how things are/were? organized and work in the mob. Easy, interesting read.
I read this book ages ago after seeing the movie Goodfellas. I have to say in this case the movie was very true to the book. A lot of the movie narration was straight from the text. This kind of stuff is fascinating to me for some reason. I would recommend this to anyone--it is an interesting and entertaining book.
this is an awesome insight into the world of the mafia. Luckily for me I saw Goodfellas first, so the book did not disappoint me. You may recognize some of the details in the movie from the book, but ultimately the book is far more exciting, more in depth, and down right fucking better.
Different from the movie, this book tells more facts about Henry Hill a guy who idolized the mafia got to be in the mafia but it all came crashing down. This book good not only because of the real facts of the MAFIA but how everything worked and how different life is in the mafia.
Great read, super fast-paced and engrossing. If you didn't already know it's the book Goodfellas is base on, which is my #3 favorite movie of all time. Really fun and well written and narrated by the colorful Henry Hill. Highly recommended for fans of true crime and those of the film.
walk through working class mob life - the book on which one of the
all time great films (GoodFellas) was based ...very worthwhile read whether or not you have seen the movie (which YOU SHOULD) ... the story is also the blueprint for the Sopranos
all time great films (GoodFellas) was based ...very worthwhile read whether or not you have seen the movie (which YOU SHOULD) ... the story is also the blueprint for the Sopranos
If you've seen Goodfellas, it's like reading the script. Regardless, it is still startling to realize how real everything was/is. I'm a little disturbed that I'm actually impressed at how hard working Henry Hill was. He was a bad man, through and through, but lazy he was not. Worked his butt off it seems!
At the start you will probably think that if you've seen the film you don't need to read the book, but then it's very easy to get ito it, as it's written just like it came from the street, and it goes down very easily. It's very exciting.
One of the greatest looks inside the world of the Mafia and crime life of NYC. It reads just like the movie, but the book did a wonderful job of conveying the actual feel and emotions of Henry Hill throughout his life of crime.
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Nicholas Pileggi is best known for writing the book Wiseguy, which he adapted into the movie Goodfellas, and for writing the book and screenplay Casino. The movie versions of both were co-written and directed by Martin Scorsese. Pileggi also wrote the screenplay for the 1996 film City Hall. He began his career as a journalist and had a profound interest in the Mafia. This is where he developed his...more
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