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Mr Untouchable

by Leroy Barnes, Tom Folsom (Goodreads Author)

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 93 ratings · 12 reviews

A generation ago, Nicky Barnes was notorious as Harlem's prime retailer of quality heroin. Now he tells his gripping story.

Of course, it must not be the whole story, but what there is smacks of attitude. It is a chronicle of Barnes's thug life, complete with his crew, his women, his warriors and his enemies on both sides of the law. It's low life living the high life, tax-

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Published (first published February 6th 2007)

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Jun 04, 2008 Nascha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biographies-memoirs-true-crime

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I picked up this book the last week of May and I finished it in 3 days!! This book was well written and a definite page turner. Not often found in most memoirs or biographies.

I'm not one to read many biographies or memoirs, or at least until recently. I was surprised at how intriguing and interesting this book was. The narrative voice drew me in.

If you don't know much about Nicky Barnes, the basics will do: He's a notorious drug-addict turned drug-kingpin from one of New York's most famous neig...more I picked up this book the last week of May and I finished it in 3 days!! This book was well written and a definite page turner. Not often found in most memoirs or biographies.

I'm not one to read many biographies or memoirs, or at least until recently. I was surprised at how intriguing and interesting this book was. The narrative voice drew me in.

If you don't know much about Nicky Barnes, the basics will do: He's a notorious drug-addict turned drug-kingpin from one of New York's most famous neighborhoods, Harlem. After 10 years in the life of narcotics, Barnes, deemed "Mr. Untouchable" by the cops because of the legal system's inability to convict him. It all came to an end after Barnes posed for the famous cover of the NYT Magazine. President Carter sent the Feds after him and Barnes was incarcerated for life without parole.

Barnes' story didn't end there, however. He went on to set up and entrap hundreds of fellow colleagues including members of his version of the Black Mafia, called "The Council," and two of his main women.

Barnes takes readers on a wild ride journey. One that he begins at the height of his career before the big fall. He segues from prison into the earliest days of his life in Harlem, his years as a junkie, several prison terms and finally his beginnings as a drug kingpin. The final act of the book (one of three acts), focuses on his last years in prison and the downfall of his organization, and his decision to snitch and how he went about it.

The details of the novel were quite enjoyable. Barnes doesn't hold back when it comes to the material goods he enjoyed during his days at the top. His Maserati-Citroen, the various penthouse apartments across the city and tri-state area, the fine liquor and drugs he inhaled and the designer duds he and his women wore.

What was most charming about Barnes' story was the incredibly charming narration. Barnes was witty and funny, qualities one would not expect from one of the top heroin sellers of his day. For those of us not born during his generation, it's hard to imagine that this is the same man that had helped destroy a whole community of families. But one in which we must not forget.

Lastly, one of my complaints about the memoir was that I felt that Barnes conveniently gives the reader anecdotes and history about his fellow Council members that portray them as inadequate and often goofy compared to himself. It helps to create this pile of infractions that would inevitably lead Barnes to set up and take out his "brothers" in the Council. Barnes portrays himself as really not having a choice in his final decisions. To be honest, I'm just not that convinced.

Overall, I give this book 4 of 5 stars. There was a lot unsaid in this memoir, but it was a good read and I recommend it.(less)

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Mar 17, 2008 R.Friend rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, nyc

A little difficult to get into at first, but quickly picks up the pace as Barnes describes a vivid street life in 1970s NYC.

I could've done without the repetitious (and abundant) thought breaks (postage stamp-sized silhouettes of Nicky's head appear between paragraphs on nearly every page), but whatever. (As Nicky Barnes might say, "The fuck you need that many silhouettes throughout the book for?")

His ego is still quite apparent, and he doesn't hesitate to point out (several times over) the num...more

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Nov 20, 2009 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, biography

I'm not sure what I liked more: the fact this his face was used as a page break or the subject matter at hand. Barnes is extremely candid with his thoughts about his life as one of the leaders of a large drug cartel in the 70s. There are lessons to be learned and funny anecdotes to be had.

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Dec 14, 2010 Jermaine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mr. Untouchable is a must read book. It tells a story of how Nicky Barnes started in and became one of the richest heroin supplier in New York.

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Mar 03, 2011 Maxo Marc added it · review of another edition

This dude was interesting because he epitomized the times he lived in.

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Feb 06, 2011 DW rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008, biography-and-autobiography, non-fiction, true-crime, social-science

Great read. Very interesting story. Not over done. Not boring.

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Jul 09, 2011 Raul rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brags alot but a good tale of a snitch!

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Sep 03, 2007 Bill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's was a easy read. Since it was an autobiography he had his own flow of chronology and it's a bit jumbled. Each chapter jumps to another subject and to another month or year so it's tough to keep up with. Great insight into the justice system and how cash can only keep you out of jail for so long. There is a bit of dialog from Rudy Gulliani when he was District DA of NYC which makes it interesting. Apparently there is documentary coming up so I think I would like to see that.

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Apr 22, 2008 Tony rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: badass-memiors, awesome-books

The world of a gangster in NYC circa the 70s as told by a prominent leader of that world. Nicky Barnes was far from the nicest person, but that doesn't mean he didn't live a life worth hearing about. I feel like he has been overshadowed by Frank Lucas in that Frank recently had a movie released about his life (American Gangster), but if what I've read is to be believed than that movie was pretty romanticized.

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Jul 13, 2009 Liga rated it 5 of 5 stars

...a friend of mine bought five copies of this (he works in a bank) because he thought that this is the best book to illustrate perfect business organization...
...it had a hypnotic effect on myself - i thought i should not fear NYPD - so said Nicky Barnes :))

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Feb 19, 2008 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's written by Nicky Barnes, so who knows how much is true (contradicts the movie "American Gangster" for sure), but it's still a good story. It reads like a movie.

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Aug 12, 2011 Imani Wormly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think this book is business savvy yet entertaining, even though Nicky Barnes wasn't the most trustful businessman, he was a reliable one.

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May 15, 2013 Reid rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 12, 2013 Carolyn Folsom rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Apr 10, 2013 John Mann is currently reading it · review of another edition

Apr 03, 2013 Josh Leonard marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 02, 2013 Anna Vayneris marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 01, 2013 Lloret Demar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 27, 2013 Terrance rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 26, 2013 Kellen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 02, 2013 Colin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Feb 16, 2013 King rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jan 25, 2013 Tracy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jan 21, 2013 Mícheál O muineacháin marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jan 21, 2013 Tom Folsom rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Jan 18, 2013 Kevin Glasoe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Feb 05, 2013 Jamar Helton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dec 31, 2012 Wikimedia Italia added it · review of another edition

Shelves: it-wikipedia

Dec 25, 2012 Tela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dec 18, 2012 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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