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Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief
The extraordinarily captivating memoir of the remarkable jewel thief who robbed the rich and the famous while maintaining an outwardly conventional life—an astonishing and completely true story, the like of which has never before been told . . . or lived.
Bill Mason is arguably the greatest jewel thief who ever lived. During a thirty-year career he charmed his way into the inner circles of high society and stole more than $35 million worth of fabulous jewels from such celebrities as Robert Goulet, Armand Hammer, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, Truman Capote, Margaux Hemingway and Johnny Weissmuller—he even hit the Mafia. Along the way he seduced a high-profile Midwest socialite into leaving her prominent industrialist husband, nearly died after being shot during a robbery, tricked both Christie’s and Sotheby’s into fencing stolen goods for him and was a fugitive for five years and the object of a nationwide manhunt. Yet despite the best efforts of law enforcement authorities from several states as well as the federal government, he spent less than three years total in prison.
Shadowy, elusive and intensely private, Mason has been the subject of many magazine and newspaper features, but no journalist has ever come close to knowing the facts. Now, in his own words and with no holds barred, he reveals everything, and the real story is far more incredible than any of the reporters, detectives or FBI agents who pursued Mason ever imagined. Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief , expertly co-written by bestselling author Lee Gruenfeld, is a unique true-crime confessional.
Bill Mason is arguably the greatest jewel thief who ever lived. During a thirty-year career he charmed his way into the inner circles of high society and stole more than $35 million worth of fabulous jewels from such celebrities as Robert Goulet, Armand Hammer, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, Truman Capote, Margaux Hemingway and Johnny Weissmuller—he even hit the Mafia. Along the way he seduced a high-profile Midwest socialite into leaving her prominent industrialist husband, nearly died after being shot during a robbery, tricked both Christie’s and Sotheby’s into fencing stolen goods for him and was a fugitive for five years and the object of a nationwide manhunt. Yet despite the best efforts of law enforcement authorities from several states as well as the federal government, he spent less than three years total in prison.
Shadowy, elusive and intensely private, Mason has been the subject of many magazine and newspaper features, but no journalist has ever come close to knowing the facts. Now, in his own words and with no holds barred, he reveals everything, and the real story is far more incredible than any of the reporters, detectives or FBI agents who pursued Mason ever imagined. Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief , expertly co-written by bestselling author Lee Gruenfeld, is a unique true-crime confessional.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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September 17, 2015
الحقيقة إنه كتاب مختلف فليس كل يوم ستقرأ سيرة للص مجوهرات مشاهير
ميزة هذا الكتاب إنه يطلعك على ما يدور في عقل اللصوص وطريقة تفكيرهم والأسباب التي تسببت في دخولهم إلى عالم الإجرام وإن كان ماسون لا يظن كثيرا إنه كان يستحق العقوبات التي نالها وحياة المطاردة التي عاشها ربما لأنه لم يكن يستشعر أثر الجريمةعلى الآخرين إلا بعد أن ترك اللصوصية وجلس يدون هذا الكتاب .. عندما نكتب نكتشف أشياء بداخلنا لا تظهر إلا أثناء الكتابة وهذا ما عبر عنه ماسون وشعر إثره بالذنب بعد فوات الأوان ..
السيرة رائعة مشوقة ومليئة بالإثارة في جزئها الأول الذي يحكي فيه ماسون
مغامراته بالتفصيل في اقتحام شقق وبيوت الأثرياء ويشرح الطرق التي كان يقفز فيها من الشرفات ويفتح أقفال أكثر الأبواب أمنا على حد زعمهم ليسخر منهم في الصباح ، في القسم الثاني وهو القسم الأقل تشويقا يحكي ماسون صراعاته مع المحاكم والمحامين وعلاقته بزوجته وماشابه القسم الثالث عن حياته في السجن ومحاولاته للبقاء وهو الذي عاش حياة مرفهة نسبيا أما القسم الرابع فهو عودة لحياة الإجرام واللصوصية بعد أن عاش مطاردا وغير هويته وزوجته كذلك وفي هذا الجزء من الكتاب يحكي ماسون أهم سرقاته لمشاهير وفنانين للدرجة التي تشعر أنه لم يترك أحدهم إلا وقد كان دخل بيته بطريقة ما
ماسون طريف في معظم الأحيان لكنه مع ذلك لم يكن اللص الظريف بشكل عام لم أكن متعاطفة معه على أي نحو وإن كنت قد استمتعت بحكاياته كرجل خارج عن القانون فالمتمردين دائما ما يلفتون الأنظار بشكل ما !إلا إن ما ما فعله بأسرته دون أن يفكر بعواقب أفعاله عليهم مع وقوفهم لجانبه حتى اللحظات الأخيرة يجعلك تفكر في هذه الأنانية المفرطة التي تسير عقل الإنسان والتي تستند على إنهم يحبونني وسيغفرون لي إلى النهاية .. إنه تفكير مقيت فعلا !
ميزة هذا الكتاب إنه يطلعك على ما يدور في عقل اللصوص وطريقة تفكيرهم والأسباب التي تسببت في دخولهم إلى عالم الإجرام وإن كان ماسون لا يظن كثيرا إنه كان يستحق العقوبات التي نالها وحياة المطاردة التي عاشها ربما لأنه لم يكن يستشعر أثر الجريمةعلى الآخرين إلا بعد أن ترك اللصوصية وجلس يدون هذا الكتاب .. عندما نكتب نكتشف أشياء بداخلنا لا تظهر إلا أثناء الكتابة وهذا ما عبر عنه ماسون وشعر إثره بالذنب بعد فوات الأوان ..
السيرة رائعة مشوقة ومليئة بالإثارة في جزئها الأول الذي يحكي فيه ماسون
مغامراته بالتفصيل في اقتحام شقق وبيوت الأثرياء ويشرح الطرق التي كان يقفز فيها من الشرفات ويفتح أقفال أكثر الأبواب أمنا على حد زعمهم ليسخر منهم في الصباح ، في القسم الثاني وهو القسم الأقل تشويقا يحكي ماسون صراعاته مع المحاكم والمحامين وعلاقته بزوجته وماشابه القسم الثالث عن حياته في السجن ومحاولاته للبقاء وهو الذي عاش حياة مرفهة نسبيا أما القسم الرابع فهو عودة لحياة الإجرام واللصوصية بعد أن عاش مطاردا وغير هويته وزوجته كذلك وفي هذا الجزء من الكتاب يحكي ماسون أهم سرقاته لمشاهير وفنانين للدرجة التي تشعر أنه لم يترك أحدهم إلا وقد كان دخل بيته بطريقة ما
ماسون طريف في معظم الأحيان لكنه مع ذلك لم يكن اللص الظريف بشكل عام لم أكن متعاطفة معه على أي نحو وإن كنت قد استمتعت بحكاياته كرجل خارج عن القانون فالمتمردين دائما ما يلفتون الأنظار بشكل ما !إلا إن ما ما فعله بأسرته دون أن يفكر بعواقب أفعاله عليهم مع وقوفهم لجانبه حتى اللحظات الأخيرة يجعلك تفكر في هذه الأنانية المفرطة التي تسير عقل الإنسان والتي تستند على إنهم يحبونني وسيغفرون لي إلى النهاية .. إنه تفكير مقيت فعلا !
August 18, 2016
حبيت هالحرامي المحترم، لدرجة اني لما ذهبت الى ميامي ارسلت له ايميل ودي اقابله ولكنه طلع في رحلة سفر وماحصل شرف لقاء لص المجوهرات المحترف
شخصية رهيبة وعجيبة
شخصية رهيبة وعجيبة
December 23, 2012
أخيرااااااااااااااا أنهيت هذا الكتاب بعد قراءة طويلة استمرت منذ أيام
شعرت بأن هذا الكتاب ممتع منذ قراءة نبذة عنه في البداية لذا بحثت عنه ونجحت في الوصول اليه
شعرت بمتعة غريبة في قراءة هذا الكتاب وقد مللت بشدة من طوله ولكنه كتاب جيد ومسلي ولا اعرف اذا كان المؤلف لص حقيقي ام ماذا ولكني اعتقده حقيقي
استمتعت برواياته عن سرقاته ووصفه لها ، شعرت بذات المتعة عند خروجه بالمسروقات وسعدت حقا لنجاته من السرقات
أشفقت عليه حين قبض عليه ظلم لان الشرطة كانت تحاول القبض عليه بشتى الطرق ولكنه للاسف يستحق ما حدث له بشدة وربما أكثر منه
كتاب جيد وقد احببته حقا بالرغم انه ليس من نوعيتي المفضلة ولم اتمكن من تخيل بعض أحداثه
شعرت بأن هذا الكتاب ممتع منذ قراءة نبذة عنه في البداية لذا بحثت عنه ونجحت في الوصول اليه
شعرت بمتعة غريبة في قراءة هذا الكتاب وقد مللت بشدة من طوله ولكنه كتاب جيد ومسلي ولا اعرف اذا كان المؤلف لص حقيقي ام ماذا ولكني اعتقده حقيقي
استمتعت برواياته عن سرقاته ووصفه لها ، شعرت بذات المتعة عند خروجه بالمسروقات وسعدت حقا لنجاته من السرقات
أشفقت عليه حين قبض عليه ظلم لان الشرطة كانت تحاول القبض عليه بشتى الطرق ولكنه للاسف يستحق ما حدث له بشدة وربما أكثر منه
كتاب جيد وقد احببته حقا بالرغم انه ليس من نوعيتي المفضلة ولم اتمكن من تخيل بعض أحداثه
September 19, 2012
I came across this book while weeding our non-fiction collection. Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief hadn’t circulated in a few years but I hated to relegate it our book sale so decided to take it home and give it a read. I have to admit, the title intrigued me. You’ve got to wonder why an honest, god-fearing woman, would be fascinated with a book about stealing other people’s valuables. The author explains this as our American Culture. Just look at a film like The Godfather. Weren’t you rooting for the bad guys?
Quickly, I found myself shaking my head at the sheer audacity of this guy. At first, I was enthralled by Mason’s descriptions of how he pulled the heists of such powerful and rich people like Armand Hammer and Phyllis Diller. The more I read, though, I found myself getting annoyed at his exploits which often sounded like bragging rights. Sure he was good at his thievery, but is something to be proud of? Then, as Mason eventually learned, I remembered the feeling of being robbed myself. Though nothing of great importance was taken from me, and I had no fear the robber would return, I felt down right violated and resented that some person kicked my door in and rummaged through my dresser drawers. It’s not a nice feeling!
I did finish the book. I wanted to know if Bill Mason changed his ways. You may be the judge of that.
I decided Bill Mason, may have been a genius in his chosen profession, jewel thief, but in the end, it seems to me, he could have put all that cleverness to far better use. It seemed to come down to addiction and this reason alone I’ll keep the book in our collection. There is much to ponder here.
Quickly, I found myself shaking my head at the sheer audacity of this guy. At first, I was enthralled by Mason’s descriptions of how he pulled the heists of such powerful and rich people like Armand Hammer and Phyllis Diller. The more I read, though, I found myself getting annoyed at his exploits which often sounded like bragging rights. Sure he was good at his thievery, but is something to be proud of? Then, as Mason eventually learned, I remembered the feeling of being robbed myself. Though nothing of great importance was taken from me, and I had no fear the robber would return, I felt down right violated and resented that some person kicked my door in and rummaged through my dresser drawers. It’s not a nice feeling!
I did finish the book. I wanted to know if Bill Mason changed his ways. You may be the judge of that.
I decided Bill Mason, may have been a genius in his chosen profession, jewel thief, but in the end, it seems to me, he could have put all that cleverness to far better use. It seemed to come down to addiction and this reason alone I’ll keep the book in our collection. There is much to ponder here.
June 23, 2008
"Nothing works more in a thief's favor than people feeling secure. That's why places that are heavily alarmed and guarded can sometimes be the easiest targets. The single most important factor in security--more than locks, alarms, sensors or armed guards--is attitude. A building protected by nothing more than a cheap combination lock but inhabited by people who are alert and risk-aware is much safer than one with the world's most sophisticated alarm system whose tenants assume they're living in an impregnable fortress."
Dedication: "For those who loved me anyway."
Very entertaining autobio by a (mostly) reformed jewel thief. I have this book to thank (?) for introducing the term "absolutely the cat's nuts" into my vocabulary.
Dedication: "For those who loved me anyway."
Very entertaining autobio by a (mostly) reformed jewel thief. I have this book to thank (?) for introducing the term "absolutely the cat's nuts" into my vocabulary.
April 13, 2017
يشاركنا بيل مايسون حياته من اول عملية سرقة قام بها إلى سقوط السلم الذي احس بأن سقوطه إشارة من الله..
"عدم الخوف معناه الجنون "
في هذه الاعترافات ستشهد على سرقات مدبره بذكاء لرجل يسعى إلى الإثارة و المتعه فحسب ثم يتجه بيل نحو بيع تلك المجوهرات وهناك ستقرأ كيف اكتسب مهارة تقييم المجوهرات الكريمة وبعد ذلك يتم أخذنا مع لص المجوهرات إلى قاعة المحكمة لنرى حقد الشرطة وجنون المحاميان وتستمر حياة مايسون تقذفه شرقاً و غرباً..
"لم أكن مهماً بما يكفي كي أستحق كل هذا العناء "
لبيل شخصية ظريفة لطيفة مرحه تظهر في تعامله مع الآخرين تصرفه في مواقف صعبه وتلك المشاعر التي تعتريه لا يمكن أن تكون لمجرم قذر، على الرغم مما فعلوا به لم يهتز و يذبل... على الرغم مما قاله الإعلام عنه لم يتفاخر و يغتر بنفسه..
"و بمنتهى الهدوء قدر الإمكان حاولت أن اتعايش مع الجانب الغامض من حياتي، وقد تأثر بذلك العديد من الأشخاص الآخرين وانجرفوا داخل ورطتي للحد الذي صارت فيه أرواحهم على حافة الهاويه "
في الواقع الجميع شارك مايسون العبء، أصدقائه..أبنائه.. زوجته..امه و خالته...راي وفريد و زيدويج المحامون، فهم من يرجع لهم الفضل بعد الله في قوة و تماسك بيل، فالكل أدى دوره وحاول أن يكون سند في أوقات الشده..فكم كان انانياً ليجرهم لمثل هذه المواقف لأنه يريد قليلا من المتعه
اكتفي بهذه النقاط ك نظره شامله لما ينتظركم في سيرة ذاتية تحبس الأنفاس و تحطم رتابة الأيام
من عدسة أدبية أسلوب بيل مايسون في الكتابة ممتاز مشوق سلس ف مع ترابط افكاره وترتيب الفصول بعناية مع عناوينها هنالك السرد الذي يجعلك تنسى أحياناً انك تقرأ سيره ذاتية وتظن بأنها رواية صنعت من قلب الخيال..كما أنه استطاع أن يجعلني احزن و اضحك في صفحتين وهذا نادر الحصول..
التقييم الفعلي: 4.5
"عدم الخوف معناه الجنون "
في هذه الاعترافات ستشهد على سرقات مدبره بذكاء لرجل يسعى إلى الإثارة و المتعه فحسب ثم يتجه بيل نحو بيع تلك المجوهرات وهناك ستقرأ كيف اكتسب مهارة تقييم المجوهرات الكريمة وبعد ذلك يتم أخذنا مع لص المجوهرات إلى قاعة المحكمة لنرى حقد الشرطة وجنون المحاميان وتستمر حياة مايسون تقذفه شرقاً و غرباً..
"لم أكن مهماً بما يكفي كي أستحق كل هذا العناء "
لبيل شخصية ظريفة لطيفة مرحه تظهر في تعامله مع الآخرين تصرفه في مواقف صعبه وتلك المشاعر التي تعتريه لا يمكن أن تكون لمجرم قذر، على الرغم مما فعلوا به لم يهتز و يذبل... على الرغم مما قاله الإعلام عنه لم يتفاخر و يغتر بنفسه..
"و بمنتهى الهدوء قدر الإمكان حاولت أن اتعايش مع الجانب الغامض من حياتي، وقد تأثر بذلك العديد من الأشخاص الآخرين وانجرفوا داخل ورطتي للحد الذي صارت فيه أرواحهم على حافة الهاويه "
في الواقع الجميع شارك مايسون العبء، أصدقائه..أبنائه.. زوجته..امه و خالته...راي وفريد و زيدويج المحامون، فهم من يرجع لهم الفضل بعد الله في قوة و تماسك بيل، فالكل أدى دوره وحاول أن يكون سند في أوقات الشده..فكم كان انانياً ليجرهم لمثل هذه المواقف لأنه يريد قليلا من المتعه
اكتفي بهذه النقاط ك نظره شامله لما ينتظركم في سيرة ذاتية تحبس الأنفاس و تحطم رتابة الأيام
من عدسة أدبية أسلوب بيل مايسون في الكتابة ممتاز مشوق سلس ف مع ترابط افكاره وترتيب الفصول بعناية مع عناوينها هنالك السرد الذي يجعلك تنسى أحياناً انك تقرأ سيره ذاتية وتظن بأنها رواية صنعت من قلب الخيال..كما أنه استطاع أن يجعلني احزن و اضحك في صفحتين وهذا نادر الحصول..
التقييم الفعلي: 4.5
May 21, 2013
عبر ثلاثين سنة ، كان بيل مايسون يتسلل ليلا ونهارا إلى شقق المشاهير ، وبخفة القط يعود وفي جعبته مجوهرات تقدر بملايين الدولارات .
اعترافات أشبه بسيرة ذاتية لسارق أمريكي محترف جداً، كأنك تشاهد فيلم من أفلام الأكشن ولكن بأحداث حقيقية، بالتواريخ والصور وتفاصيل السرقة والمسروق
ذكاؤه مع اصرار الشرطة على القبض عليه زادت الأحداث تشويقاً، .. لغته تعتمد على السرد وهذا مازاد من الاثارة
جزء المحكامات والقضايا هو ما أطال الكتاب كان بالامكان تلخيصه
اعترافات أشبه بسيرة ذاتية لسارق أمريكي محترف جداً، كأنك تشاهد فيلم من أفلام الأكشن ولكن بأحداث حقيقية، بالتواريخ والصور وتفاصيل السرقة والمسروق
ذكاؤه مع اصرار الشرطة على القبض عليه زادت الأحداث تشويقاً، .. لغته تعتمد على السرد وهذا مازاد من الاثارة
جزء المحكامات والقضايا هو ما أطال الكتاب كان بالامكان تلخيصه
February 2, 2018
A bit of disappointment. I read A Burglar's Guide to the City a couple of years ago, and that author references this book when talking about lines of sight and the easiest ways to break into spaces, and how that often has more to do with weak points in a building (and within people's imaginations) than it does any real skill, other than cold read and opportunism. Mason has an interesting skill set and one that is rarefied (perception, upper body strength, building & infrastructure maintenance) and deserves some props for what he accomplished - but ultimately, he's an asshole. He's an arrogant prick with a low opinion of the rest of the human race who visited heartache on his family and a handful of privileged strangers. The book ends up being kind of a sad collection of tales told by a raconteur, and there's not much redeeming about it.
November 12, 2013
تقييم القصة من حيث الطريقة الادبية فهى رائعة جدا ,وكأنك تجلس بجانب اللص يحدثك عن حياته بينما تتناولان القهوة,لا شك ان الاسلوب ليس اسلوب اللص فهو اسلوب ادبى جيد وطريقة السرد رائعة وهذا مبرر باستعانته بكاتب , يمكنك تلخيص قصة الرجل فى كلمة وغد يسرق الاثرياء وشرطة لا تقوم بواجبها ونظام قضائى يسمح للص بالهرب من العدالة,اشك كثيرا فى صدق الروايات التى سردها فكما يظهر فهو يريد الشهرة ,عموما القصة غير مملة ومفيدة فى معرفة عقلية اللص وكيف ان ماضيك سيرجع ويلتهمك اذا لم تغير عاداتك السيئة
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June 11, 2014كتاب أجمل كلمة يمكن أن نقولها عنه أنه مسل جداً وفي غاية الإمتاع، كتاب سردي لشخص يسرد قصة حياته ببساطة شديدة، شخص ذكي وظريف، لص خفيف الظل يسرد قصة حياته وسرقاته الكثيرة لمجوهرات تبلغ قيمتها ملايين الدولارات، كيف وأين ومتى استطاع فعل كل ذلك؟ وكيف تعلم فعل ما فعله؟
مغامرات وأحداث تكاد تكون غير واقعية أحياناً حتى أنك تشعر أن بعضها (ربما) مبالغ فيه حتى تشك إن كان صادقاً!!
لكن بكل الأحوال لا يمكنك التوقف عن قراءة هذا الكتاب، وهو نزهة مسلية لكتاب ظريف واستراحة لمن يريد كتاب سهل القراءة وسلس السرد.
مغامرات وأحداث تكاد تكون غير واقعية أحياناً حتى أنك تشعر أن بعضها (ربما) مبالغ فيه حتى تشك إن كان صادقاً!!
لكن بكل الأحوال لا يمكنك التوقف عن قراءة هذا الكتاب، وهو نزهة مسلية لكتاب ظريف واستراحة لمن يريد كتاب سهل القراءة وسلس السرد.
December 21, 2011
Sometimes the most direct past isn't the easy path. This is the heart of this nonfiction novel. Bill Mason was one of the best and most successful master jewel thieves of all time. He stole from the likes of Phillis Diller, Truman Capote, and the mafia themselves. At some point his hobby became an obsession and eventually led to his downfall. Recommended tome by my brother, this book is a great easy read and the storytelling ability of the author is excellent.
January 28, 2019
I have given this book 5 stars based on my impressions of it as a 15 year old reader. This was one of the first books of non fiction that I read at that age that were not required reading for school. I remember being impressed with the writing and how conversational it felt. I was amazed to find a non fiction book that was written in the style of the fiction books I read.
September 24, 2008
True story. I loved this book. . .very entertaining. Bill Mason didn't need to steal for money. He had a good income and a happy family life. But, he was an adrenaline junky and he risked everything for his fix.
January 5, 2011
So fun and pretty well written, for a jewel thief.
February 6, 2009
A great read about a jewel thief and the many famous people he robbed.
July 12, 2013
Loved it!
November 1, 2021
Hummm, as much as I enjoyed getting into the mind, motivations and successful scores of a master jewel thief, I find it hard to come away from this with anything good. Bill Mason certainly tells his story well, and it's an interesting one in its own right, but there is something about Bill Mason that just doesn't quite sit right to me. Maybe I'm looking for a greater motivation, or I've been too conditioned by mob movies, but the story seems to be lacking something and I suspect it has to do with Mason himself.
I first heard about Bill Mason from a TV special, and while everything on the TV special was covered in this book, the TV special was really more about sensationalizing his successful robberies than anything else. The criminal career of Bill Mason is actually a bit bigger in scope than what is presented in the TV special and can make for a pretty interesting read at times. However, Bill's criminal career is not a violent one and is tame, quiet and downright civil compared to what you're used to seeing, hearing and reading about, so if you're looking for bullets, blood and action, look elsewhere.
Was Bill Mason a criminal Houdini who could pick any lock or bust any safe? Surprisingly, no. Bill Mason was certainly a smart guy, but he's not quite the stuff of movie legend. Much of his success is based on the false assumptions and simple failures of his intended victims. No Mission: Impossible jobs here, just simple things like the victims not locking a safe, or leaving valuables right out in the open. Which, upon writing, I guess you could say IS the stuff of movie legend.
Bill Mason kind of paints himself as a bit of a nice guy, moonlighting criminal and even thought of himself as a bit of a Robin Hood at one time. As much of a family man and great neighbor as he might have been, it's bit hard to like a guy who steals a bunch of precious valuables under the guise of a Robin Hood fantasy while living a pretty cushy life himself. He says he regrets his actions and he certainly may, but something just doesn't quite ring correctly about all this to me.
Maybe it's the story of how he came to see the light and renounced his criminal ways, or maybe it was the fact that he hid behind a Robin Hood fantasy while never ACTUALLY giving to the poor, or maybe it's the fact that he rubbed elbows with some pretty dirty people and supposedly always came out clean. Shoot, it might just be all of it, but along the way I never had a single shred of sympathy for Bill Mason. As charming and repentant as he MAY BE, I can't say I like/respect the guy at all.
All in all an interesting look into how the mind of a thief works as well as the lengths the government will go to when you raise their ire. There are loads of other books on criminals who tell of their rise and fall in the world of crime, but this one is unique due to the nature of the job.
I first heard about Bill Mason from a TV special, and while everything on the TV special was covered in this book, the TV special was really more about sensationalizing his successful robberies than anything else. The criminal career of Bill Mason is actually a bit bigger in scope than what is presented in the TV special and can make for a pretty interesting read at times. However, Bill's criminal career is not a violent one and is tame, quiet and downright civil compared to what you're used to seeing, hearing and reading about, so if you're looking for bullets, blood and action, look elsewhere.
Was Bill Mason a criminal Houdini who could pick any lock or bust any safe? Surprisingly, no. Bill Mason was certainly a smart guy, but he's not quite the stuff of movie legend. Much of his success is based on the false assumptions and simple failures of his intended victims. No Mission: Impossible jobs here, just simple things like the victims not locking a safe, or leaving valuables right out in the open. Which, upon writing, I guess you could say IS the stuff of movie legend.
Bill Mason kind of paints himself as a bit of a nice guy, moonlighting criminal and even thought of himself as a bit of a Robin Hood at one time. As much of a family man and great neighbor as he might have been, it's bit hard to like a guy who steals a bunch of precious valuables under the guise of a Robin Hood fantasy while living a pretty cushy life himself. He says he regrets his actions and he certainly may, but something just doesn't quite ring correctly about all this to me.
Maybe it's the story of how he came to see the light and renounced his criminal ways, or maybe it was the fact that he hid behind a Robin Hood fantasy while never ACTUALLY giving to the poor, or maybe it's the fact that he rubbed elbows with some pretty dirty people and supposedly always came out clean. Shoot, it might just be all of it, but along the way I never had a single shred of sympathy for Bill Mason. As charming and repentant as he MAY BE, I can't say I like/respect the guy at all.
All in all an interesting look into how the mind of a thief works as well as the lengths the government will go to when you raise their ire. There are loads of other books on criminals who tell of their rise and fall in the world of crime, but this one is unique due to the nature of the job.
August 26, 2022
The heists were fascinating. But Mason comes off as a prick, and I just could never feel sorry for him or relate to him in any meaningful way. And I mean granted I wouldn't want to relate to a compulsive thief and liar anyway, so ... I guess that's a good thing?
And while the heists were by far the most interesting to read about, his legal troubles did NOT warrant that much space - come on, you think that's more interesting than heist talk? As if. Not even remotely close. And while it sucks that the cops cheated the system to frame him a couple times, he also cheated the system by his own admission with his confessions, not to mention the fact that he is a burglar. I'm no fan of the police, but of all the times the cops have ever framed anyone, it sure seems like this guy deserved it, and it seems like a failure of the system that he's not still locked up now. Literally after his prison and rehabilitation he STILL tried to rob again and only stopped because he was getting too old for it... and then claims to find remorse for it later, sure, after trying and failing and realizing you can't anymore. Kinda 40 years too late there.
Even his apologies were smug and the way he seemed to poison his whole family... ugh. So much he did not deserve, and it's not an underdog story, it's just an asshole story. The page near the end where he goes on about not being a sociopath was bizarre.
All that being said, the book still was a fascinating read and a very interesting look inside the mind of someone so rotten from the core. So it was definitely worth the read, and I enjoyed it. But also, just... ick.
And while the heists were by far the most interesting to read about, his legal troubles did NOT warrant that much space - come on, you think that's more interesting than heist talk? As if. Not even remotely close. And while it sucks that the cops cheated the system to frame him a couple times, he also cheated the system by his own admission with his confessions, not to mention the fact that he is a burglar. I'm no fan of the police, but of all the times the cops have ever framed anyone, it sure seems like this guy deserved it, and it seems like a failure of the system that he's not still locked up now. Literally after his prison and rehabilitation he STILL tried to rob again and only stopped because he was getting too old for it... and then claims to find remorse for it later, sure, after trying and failing and realizing you can't anymore. Kinda 40 years too late there.
Even his apologies were smug and the way he seemed to poison his whole family... ugh. So much he did not deserve, and it's not an underdog story, it's just an asshole story. The page near the end where he goes on about not being a sociopath was bizarre.
All that being said, the book still was a fascinating read and a very interesting look inside the mind of someone so rotten from the core. So it was definitely worth the read, and I enjoyed it. But also, just... ick.
January 21, 2019
هذا الكتاب يصف بالضبط كيف يمكن للذكاء أن يكون عقبة في حياة الإنسان عندما يساء استخدامه ..
ينبغي لي أن أعترف أن هذا الكتاب حرك مشاعري بعمق، قرأته في فترة وجيزة، ولم أطق تجزئة أفكاري بشأنه عبر توزيعه على الأيام رغم كثافة حجمه، لأنه من الكتب القليلة التي تستحق أن أحمل بعض تفاصيلها في ذاكرتي إلى المستقبل ..
كان من الغرابة بحيث شد انتباهي، ينتمي لذلك النوع من الكتب ذات الأحداث الصاخبة التي تدخلك في شتى الأجواء وتعبث بعواطفك حتى تتنازل في مرحلة ما أثناء انغماسك بالقراءة للتعاطف رغم أنف مبادئك ..
هل يجعلنا هذا الكتاب أكثر تسامحاً مع السرقة ؟ لا بالطبع .. فعمق الوصف ومراحل الخوف والتوتر الذي قاسى من ويلاته طوال حياته تجعلنا نتجنبها حتى الموت !.
سيرة ذاتية جميلة، كتبت بلغة متناسقة يسيرة وبلا تكلف ..
تحدث ماسون من خلالها عن حياته الاجتماعية والعملية والأسرية، وكذلك ذكر تفاصيل عمليات السطو التي قام بها، ومناوشاته المؤلمة والطويلة مع الشرطة، والسجن ..
وبالطبع انتهى نهاية هادفة ومؤثرة، تركتني أفكر طويلاً .
ترجمته لا بأس بها، وطبعاً أحث على قراءة هذا الكتاب، ليس لأن القارئ لديه نوايا سيئة كما اعتقد أحدهم عندما شاهدني أقرأ هذا الكتاب، بل لأن الاطلاع على تجارب الآخرين مهما كانت درجة خطورتها، تعود علينا بالثروة المعرفية لما يمكن أن يحدث لو كنا مكانهم، أو مكان أحد من المقربين منهم، وتلفت الانتباه إلى بشاعة نتائج الأنانية عندما تتشبث بعنق الإنسان ولا تفلته حتى تدمر من حوله .
ينبغي لي أن أعترف أن هذا الكتاب حرك مشاعري بعمق، قرأته في فترة وجيزة، ولم أطق تجزئة أفكاري بشأنه عبر توزيعه على الأيام رغم كثافة حجمه، لأنه من الكتب القليلة التي تستحق أن أحمل بعض تفاصيلها في ذاكرتي إلى المستقبل ..
كان من الغرابة بحيث شد انتباهي، ينتمي لذلك النوع من الكتب ذات الأحداث الصاخبة التي تدخلك في شتى الأجواء وتعبث بعواطفك حتى تتنازل في مرحلة ما أثناء انغماسك بالقراءة للتعاطف رغم أنف مبادئك ..
هل يجعلنا هذا الكتاب أكثر تسامحاً مع السرقة ؟ لا بالطبع .. فعمق الوصف ومراحل الخوف والتوتر الذي قاسى من ويلاته طوال حياته تجعلنا نتجنبها حتى الموت !.
سيرة ذاتية جميلة، كتبت بلغة متناسقة يسيرة وبلا تكلف ..
تحدث ماسون من خلالها عن حياته الاجتماعية والعملية والأسرية، وكذلك ذكر تفاصيل عمليات السطو التي قام بها، ومناوشاته المؤلمة والطويلة مع الشرطة، والسجن ..
وبالطبع انتهى نهاية هادفة ومؤثرة، تركتني أفكر طويلاً .
ترجمته لا بأس بها، وطبعاً أحث على قراءة هذا الكتاب، ليس لأن القارئ لديه نوايا سيئة كما اعتقد أحدهم عندما شاهدني أقرأ هذا الكتاب، بل لأن الاطلاع على تجارب الآخرين مهما كانت درجة خطورتها، تعود علينا بالثروة المعرفية لما يمكن أن يحدث لو كنا مكانهم، أو مكان أحد من المقربين منهم، وتلفت الانتباه إلى بشاعة نتائج الأنانية عندما تتشبث بعنق الإنسان ولا تفلته حتى تدمر من حوله .
November 8, 2017
On the plus side this book is decently written and has a fluid and engaging format. It sets up the autobiographical narrative of jewel thief Bill Mason quite well. The stories are interesting and give some insight into criminal opportunities. However, in the diminished believability column, the timeline has a lot of gaps and conveniently supports the author’s breezy and self-centered factual mindset. The book tries to insert a fun element, but if you have ever personally been burglarized (I have), the humor feels raw and dismissive. For example, one of Phyllis Diller’s stolen pieces was a personally inscribed watch given to her by Bob Hope that was melted down to “keep it professional.” That cavalier remedy isn’t so entertaining when you visualize your own stolen and sentimental pieces being destroyed. This book provides some degree of entertainment, but if you try to emotionally connect, or feel you are somehow supporting this hubris, it’s not so satisfying. His story hits too close to home for me, which oddly enough, may make it a successful immersive experience for others.
December 3, 2020
The first half of the book is interesting and reads like a novel. It begins to get a bit slow after the first half and some of the stories of his escapades appear more than a bit over the top. I wanted to know more about Bill Mason so checked the internet, there is nothing other than the book reviews, newspaper articles about the book and interviews about the book ? Nothing, not even in Wikipedia other than the book.
At one point he describes hanging from the top of a multistory building by his fingertips with no foot holds when a guard approached, lit and smoked a cigarette. He managed to pull himself up from just his fingertips after hanging for 3 or 4 minutes with just upper body strength (no foot hold), Alex Honnald would have been amazed at that feat. There are too many inconsistencies in his story to take it seriously.
One can’t help feeling the master criminal struck again with this book. Possibly some of it is true, the majority is pure imagination. If the parts about his family are true to guy is selfish a-hole.
At one point he describes hanging from the top of a multistory building by his fingertips with no foot holds when a guard approached, lit and smoked a cigarette. He managed to pull himself up from just his fingertips after hanging for 3 or 4 minutes with just upper body strength (no foot hold), Alex Honnald would have been amazed at that feat. There are too many inconsistencies in his story to take it seriously.
One can’t help feeling the master criminal struck again with this book. Possibly some of it is true, the majority is pure imagination. If the parts about his family are true to guy is selfish a-hole.
March 8, 2023
I found the first 30-40% of this book absolutely fascinating. The details of planning & executing the heists was like seeing a puzzle being solved. However, a lot of the book is spent on how the author was eluding authorities, fighting the legal system, being framed & whining about how he was treated by the police & courts. He comes across as spoiled & unwilling to pay consequences for his actions, “after all, there are child molesters and murders on the loose”. He acts surprised that his marriage was falling apart when his behavior was not that of someone who put their family first. It’s not until the end of the book that he showed regret for his actions. The book was interesting, but I was not rooting for the thief. I read it for book club & luckily I was able to check it out from a library. I would hate to buy it & support a criminal.
November 2, 2021
لص دافعه المتعة، السرقة عنده هواية ممتعة
البداية كانت مملة جدا، بعد الـصفحة 25 تحسن الوضع، ليعود الملل عند شرح تفاصيل المحاكمة، وحياة السجن، استردت شيء من القيمة في صفحاتها الأخيرة بالحديث عن العبرة والخلاصة من حياة اللص بيل في عالم الجريمة...هذا عن الشكل
المضمون: محاولة للتطبيع مع الإجرام، شاب مكتفٕ ماديا، مستقر عائلياً، عيبه الوحيد يحب سرقة المجوهرات، سوسة، عاجز وغير راغب بالتحرر منها..مع كل المصائب التي جرتها عليه.. والأعجب، التسويق للمجرم أنه شخص ناجح اجتماعياً، محبوب من الجيرانه، بل أكثر فحتى بعد أن يُكشف أنه لص، يستمر بمهنته كمدير أبنية، عجيب، يعني عنده القدر للوصول لأي منزل
الرواية تقول أنها سيرة حياة بيل ماسون، لكنها لم تبدو حقيقة، فكثرة الصدف والحظ الذي لا يتخلى عن ماسون أبداً، لم يبدو واقعيةً
حاولت البحث ومعرفة مدى صدقيّة الرواية دون نتيجة
👎
البداية كانت مملة جدا، بعد الـصفحة 25 تحسن الوضع، ليعود الملل عند شرح تفاصيل المحاكمة، وحياة السجن، استردت شيء من القيمة في صفحاتها الأخيرة بالحديث عن العبرة والخلاصة من حياة اللص بيل في عالم الجريمة...هذا عن الشكل
المضمون: محاولة للتطبيع مع الإجرام، شاب مكتفٕ ماديا، مستقر عائلياً، عيبه الوحيد يحب سرقة المجوهرات، سوسة، عاجز وغير راغب بالتحرر منها..مع كل المصائب التي جرتها عليه.. والأعجب، التسويق للمجرم أنه شخص ناجح اجتماعياً، محبوب من الجيرانه، بل أكثر فحتى بعد أن يُكشف أنه لص، يستمر بمهنته كمدير أبنية، عجيب، يعني عنده القدر للوصول لأي منزل
الرواية تقول أنها سيرة حياة بيل ماسون، لكنها لم تبدو حقيقة، فكثرة الصدف والحظ الذي لا يتخلى عن ماسون أبداً، لم يبدو واقعيةً
حاولت البحث ومعرفة مدى صدقيّة الرواية دون نتيجة
👎
January 9, 2022
I can’t say I didn’t enjoy reading this book, because the heist scenes were exciting and the insight into his first-hand experience with dirty cops & the prison system were interesting (if somewhat grim & infuriating).
I also can’t say I enjoyed reading this book, because the author’s actions often frustrated and disgusted me. The book also could have used a better editor who made it less repetitive and cut down the page count. The writing style also wasn’t my favorite but I got used to it by the end.
So 2 1/2 stars it is.
I also can’t say I enjoyed reading this book, because the author’s actions often frustrated and disgusted me. The book also could have used a better editor who made it less repetitive and cut down the page count. The writing style also wasn’t my favorite but I got used to it by the end.
So 2 1/2 stars it is.
March 12, 2022
Are you thinking of becoming a cat burglar? Dreaming of slinking into the homes of the rich and famous to pilfer their jewels and other expensive items? Well then this is probably not the book you should read. I say this because this book doesn’t glorify the life. The author does a very good job of explaining,not just the exciting adrenaline rush capers he pulled off, but he also lays out how much his actions affected his life and his relationships with his family. Overall it is an excellent read that tells an amazing story of a rehabilitated criminal.
February 24, 2018
This was a very interesting book and I learned a few things about how to avoid being burglarized, but it never really explained to me how/why someone becomes such a hardened criminal. He is a bit of a braggart about his successful scores and his daring escapades--that was okay, but I never saw any real for his crimes other than lip service. He even acknowledged using his stash of stolen gems like a savings account when he needed money after he had left the life. I liked the book, but I didn't like him.
April 14, 2020
What an awesome read. Brilliantly written with interspersed humour. The daring and incredible theft of jewels keeps the pages turning as one cannot believe his luck and expertise at outwitting supposed 'security systems'. A thoroughly enjoyable read and one which I completed in two days. A record for me who starts reading a book and might complete it more than a month later. 10 out of 10 for edge of your seat stuff.
January 19, 2021
Page turner for me. Loved the descriptions of the jobs, then loved all the horsetrading with the police and prosecutors.
More details on how he stored his money post liquidating loots at a “fence” and how he kept the tax department away while buying property etc would have been great.
Seems to be in a bit of a denial about the impact on his children tbh.
But overall 10/10 glad this books exists, given the great detail in events, characters and legal loopholes etc.
V nice
More details on how he stored his money post liquidating loots at a “fence” and how he kept the tax department away while buying property etc would have been great.
Seems to be in a bit of a denial about the impact on his children tbh.
But overall 10/10 glad this books exists, given the great detail in events, characters and legal loopholes etc.
V nice
November 13, 2022
4 stars for length and language. Very interesting and easy to read but the book is so long I forgot some of the early stories by the time I got to the end. Also not what I was expecting based on the picture on the cover. I thought he might be more of a Neal from White Collar, but he seems more like an ordinary thief. I especially liked the epilogue where he reminisced on his life and his regrets.
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