Saviano's book is about the Camorra mob which controls Naples in southern Italy and the destruction which they have wreaked on the city in terms of gang warfare, environmental damage, and economic enfeeblement because the formal economy cannot compete with mob businesses. It's all sad and tragic and reprehensible. In addition, in reading more about this book, this book's exposure of the Camorra's practices have been widely hailed in Italy and resulted in Saviano being under permanent police protection due to threats on his life. All that being said, it's not the greatest book written. It's uneven and at times hard to follow, with thousands of names of mobsters listed once and then never again and so it's hard to follow the narrative flow of any of it. He also leans on superlatives without much factual support, something which makes the lawyer in me suspicious. That being said, it's an important book and one worth reading.