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Aug 21, 2011

Penny rated it:

I was very surprised at how compelling this book was. I was expecting a dry account of a whistle-blower and the legal ramifications of the scam that was discovered, but instead I found a wonderful story of a giving community which made the antics of Scott Rothstein even more reprehensible.

This book was easy to read and a wonderfully uplifting story of how one should live their life - with their heart on the "right side" - without being preachy or instructional.

I hon More...

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Jan 02, 2011

Shannon rated it:

I just finished reading Miles Away…Worlds Apart by Alan Sakowitz. I guess I can say that this is first reads book, even though technically I wasn’t selected as a winner in the drawing. But because I had entered, the author contacted me to see if I’d still be interested in receiving a free copy. This was definitely unexpected. It’s not unusual to be contacted with information about ordering a copy of an author’s book or provided with a discount code, but offering to give away a copy for free? And More...

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Dec 03, 2010

Ken rated it:

Alan Sakowitz is a deeply religious man. Scott Rothstein should have known that before his first meeting with Alan. It is what, in fact, brought down Rothstein’s empire and his entire Ponzi scheme. Alan suspected that he was being offered an unlawful investment in that first meeting, and it was confirmed in their next two meetings. If Mr. Sakowitz was anyone else, he may not have taken the next steps of risking his own welfare and life (and that of his family) by reporting what he knew. But More...

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Nov 09, 2010

Cheryl rated it:

The day was August 4, 2009 . Real estate developer and attorney Alan Sakowitz receives a phone call from a fellow real estate broker. The broker tells Mr. Sakowitz about a law firm that has some funded settlement agreements and wondered if he would be interested in purchasing them. Mr. Sakowitz agrees to meet with the law firm and see if the investment is a good deal.

The law firm in charge of the hedge funds is Rothstein, Rosenfeldt, and Adler, P.A. or RRA . Mr. Sakowitz and his as More...

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Oct 24, 2010

Deborah rated it:

Review of "Miles Apart … Worlds Apart"
Alan Sakowitz‘s book,
'Miles Apart … Worlds Apart", gives an unexpected look of two parallel views that are so vastly different that they give a definite stark black and white view of each world. A book of good versus evil and the freedom of man’s choice are self evident.
Scott Rothstein uses his right of freedom of choice to cheat his fellow man and Alan Sakowitz chooses to fight the evil being done. Sakowitz’s description More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Sep 29, 2010

Terry rated it:

“Miles Away…Worlds Apart” by Alan Sarkowitz is a riveting story about people evil people and good people. The true account of a ruthless con man that didn’t care about anything but himself and what he could get, the whistle blower that finally puts an end to the ruthlessness of “businessman” Scott Rothstein. The business that Rothstein invites Sarkowitz to join is actually a gigantic Ponzi scheme and some of the people involved include may be surprising, including police and the governor. The a More...

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Sep 13, 2010

Rachael rated it:

I usually don't read true crime, or fictitious crime for that matter, but this book was pretty good. With all of the television specials regarding Ponzi schemes, it is hard to avoid reading more about them.
What I liked most about this book, besides the slightly dangerous main storyline (this is actually a non-fiction book) the author tells stories about the lives of the people in his neighborhood-stories that show the good side of human nature. One of my favorite stories is about the auth More...

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Sep 12, 2010

Mylinda rated it:

Miles Away…Worlds Apart by Alan Sakowitz is a true novel about an every day person who bumps into what he considers an intolerable situation. I found it interesting enough to keep reading it on and off for three days.

The novel successfully presents the reader with lessons and insight about life and people. From the many varied ways that Rothstein tried to draw Sakowitz into the fold, to the ever changing answers to the author’s questions, the insights give the reader a guide to More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Aug 17, 2010

Jim rated it:

This book is based on morals and ethics. Who has them and who doesn't is the interesting part of this fast action financial thriller. Would you be able to tell a story being told as it was being told? There are many they can't and believe every word out of someone's mouth to be true. This is who they look for and that is the person that wants to pull the lever to the one arm bandit. I guess once you start reading this book "Miles Away ...Worlds Apart" by Alan Sakowitz and figuring out More...

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Aug 12, 2010

Eva rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Aug 10, 2010

Lauren rated it:

The subject who prompted the book, Scott Rothstein, was a greedy promoter running a Ponzi scheme in South Florida, and Rothstein met his match when he was introduced to Alan Sakowitz as a potential investor. Through his intelligence and intuition, Sakowitz figured out what Rothstein was up to, figured out who to report him to (since Rothstein had tons of supporters, from the police to government officials to nationally-known celebrities). Sakowitz, the whistleblower, subsequently saved others fr More...

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Nov 09, 2010

Gina rated it:

Before I begin, I guess I better post two things. 1) Most of you who follow my reviews, or read my reviews every now and again, know that I post spoilers and give my opinion. 2) You also know that I usually only read fiction.

So this review is going to be a bit different. First, the book is non-fiction. Second, I'm not posting spoilers - I'm urging you to get out there, get the book, and read it! It's very possible that I would probably have never read this book, because it is non-fic More...

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Nov 16, 2010

Georgiann rated it:

Miles Away Worlds Apart is a truly riveting story about people good and evil This is a true account of a ruthless con man that didn,t care about anything or anyone but himself and what he could get. The whistle blower who finally put an end to the ruthlessness of businessman Scott Rothstein and the business Rothstein invited Sarkowitz to joinn was nothing but a gigantic Ponzi scheme. This story was told with a compassionate voice, and caring for others and doing the right thing will prevail. He More...

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Dec 06, 2010

Darcia rated it:

This story has all the makings of a crime fiction novel but it's completely real. Alan Sakowitz blew the whistle on a well-connected, prominent South Florida lawyer who was running a huge Ponzi scheme. For those unfamiliar with a Ponzi scheme, it's an investment scam that, in the end, cheats people out of millions or even billions of dollars.

With Miles Away... Worlds Apart, Sakowitz tells us how he was introduced to this Ponzi scheme and how he immediately spotted the red flags. But More...

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Oct 23, 2010

Darcy rated it:

Rothstein seems to be hanging around the wrong type of people. the guy is really fishy. I would never buy anything a lawyer offered me, because it mostly likely a scam. In fact when someone tries to sell me something i tune out. I will only buy something I want to buy.

The responses that Rothstein makes shows that he is lying. He is definitely running a scam. I can tell that by Chapter 4. At least twice, he has pretty much said none of your business like a maffia guy won't give you dire More...

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Sep 29, 2010

Lin rated it:

The book “Miles Away…Worlds Apart” by Alan Sarkowitz is a real account of the unscrupulous world of fraud, greed and a massive Ponzi scheme run by Scott Rothstein in South Florida. Even the Governor became entangled in Rothstein’s web of lies. When Alan Sarkowitz realized the business deal Rothstein was trying to get him involved in was in fact a Ponzi, he couldn’t just walk away. Instead, he decided to turn in Rothstein. I felt like I was on this journey with Sarkowitz as the whistle blower sh More...

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Nov 07, 2010

Sheri rated it:

Miles Away...Worlds Apart (Alan Sakowitz)

A true story of a courageous man who uncovered the biggest financial fraud in Southern Florida.
Alan Sakowitz tells how (he) uncovers the scheme of noted Florida Attorney Scott Rothstein. Told with a compassionate voice Mr. Sakowitz shows how family, faith, compassion, caring for others and doing the right thing will prevail. He also points how others may have seen the devious side of Scott Rothstein, yet chose to ignore and do nothing. He r More...

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Oct 11, 2010

Kelsey rated it:

This book's title is perfect. Alan describes how his life and the lives of his neighbors are vastly different from the life of Scott Rothstein. To show this Alan has used stories from his neighborhood and from his own family. This isn't just a book about how he brought Rothstein down. Alan wanted to convey a message in hopes that at least one person can be persuaded to choose a better and more meaningful way to live. Alan does this job incredibly. This book is well written. For me it was hard t More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 11, 2010

Doug rated it:

In Miles Away... Worlds Apart, Alan Sakowitz tells the story of the biggest financial fraud in South Florida history, from his unique perspective of a whistleblower. Throughout the book Sakowitz compares his close-knit neighborhood to the Scott Rothstein's greed.

Sakowitz takes us through the narrative of the events leading to the arrest of Scott Rothstein. He was contacted through a broker to invest in structured settlements offered by Rothstein. The investment was to but a stream of p More...

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Dec 13, 2010

Pamela rated it:

Alan Sakowitz was offered the deal of a lifetime—for a one time monetary lump sum he would make back a huge percent off of the money he invested—the only problem: it sounded too good to be true. With internal red flags popping up warning him to ask questions, he embarks on a journey into the intricate workings of a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Florida attorney Scott Rothstein.

Alan takes you into the process he went through to help unravel the web of deceit that Scott Rothstein spread More...

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Oct 19, 2010

Jeffrey rated it:

I received a free copy of the book from the author.

Author Alan Sakowitz perceives a moral decay in the United States. But, unlike the common social conservative focus on sex, Sakowitz is concerned about greed, about get rich quick, and about undeserved entitlement.

Sakowitz draws from his experience encountering a Ponzi scheme run by Scott Rothstein. While Sakowitz did not invest, he was one of the first, if not the first, to draw authorities' attention to it. Setting Roth More...

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Sep 23, 2010

Phoenix rated it:

This is a fascinating book. There's been a lot of recent news about corporate financial scandals. Most writing I've seen on this subject has been rather dry & factual. While Sakowitz tells the story of the Ponzi scheme he encountered in intricate detail, this is a very personal tale.

At its heart are the author’s ethical beliefs, which are deeply rooted in his family, his local community & in Judaism. What does it mean to be a charitable person, to take care of your neighbours, to se More...

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Sep 29, 2010

Benj rated it:

This book hit home to me since I a close relative was once taken in by a similar con artist. Naturally, it was at a much smaller level than Rothstein’s but nonetheless – I know for a fact how easy it was to want to believe what the con man is saying is true. To me “Miles Away…Worlds Apart” by Alan Sakowitz defines the line between good and evil. On one hand is the greedy, evil Scott Rothstein and his massive Ponzi scheme and on the other is Sakowitz who decided the right thing to do was blow the More...

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Aug 12, 2010

Gr rated it:

Truth is stranger than fiction and this book is proof of that simple fact. "Miles Away...Worlds Apart" by Alan Sakowitz relays the events of a fraudulant scheme on a massice scale and the whistleblower that helped end it all. It's a true life account that reads like fiction...full of action and suspense. But that's not the only thing you'll notice here. The author aims to show the reader a way to approach life and it's shady occurances in such a way as to better prepare you for similia More...

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Sep 27, 2011

Meagan rated it:

Miles Away...Worlds Apart by Alan Sarkowitz is about a lawyer who is thrown into the world of crime. It is an exciting story that goes completely in depth to the inner workings of a Ponzi scheme. It is a true life account about the author who decided to become the whistleblower of the story. The book read mostly like a thrilling story and was easy to get into and easy to follow. Reading the book, I never would have known it was written based on a true story if it hadn't been pointed out. I was n More...

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Sep 27, 2010

Michelle rated it:

This book reads like a true legal thriller that could easily have been written by John Grisham. The only difference is that this is all based on true events and the characters are real which makes this all the more interesting. The author does a great job in telling his tale of greed, murder and betrayl all centered around the financial world. He also makes you think about the decisions that define you as a person and if you would have chosen a different path how that would change your life and More...

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Nov 20, 2010

Jeannie rated it:

This book was incredibly well-constructed using a method of almost Journalism vs Life Studies. The Author touched on his personal experiences with a scoundrel of the highest order, Scott Rothstein, and then in the next or continuing chapter, show the generosity of human kind in his community.

It is a Non-Fiction tale of Corporate greed in the 21st century of life in, this case, Florida, USA. It is a tale we have sadly become used to. What makes this book worth reading is the comparison More...

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Nov 04, 2010

Rick rated it:

In his stunning book MILES AWAY....WORLDS APART, Alan Sakowitz has achieved an even great feat then his already impressive act as the whistleblower of the S. Florida Ponzi Scheme fraudster, Scott Rothstein. Mr. Sakowitz has written what is an amazingly uplifting as well as cautionary tale that everyone from 13 to 113 years old should make haste to read. As the books discription reads, "The answer, Sakowitz says, lies in thinking first of others, and how one's actions should bene More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 24, 2010

K rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Oct 22, 2010

Efox rated it:

I received this book as a goodreads giveaway winner.

This book was actually quite different from what I expected. I guess I was expecting more of an insider perspective to the whistle-blower part of the story, rather than an outside potential investor who realizes that what he's being presented with is simply too good to be true and actually does something about it. Nevertheless, it was an interesting book that had a lot of really inspiring stories.

The book kind of jumps back More...

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