Jumat, 27 Agustus 2010

PDF Ebook Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab

PDF Ebook Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab

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Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab

Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab


Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab


PDF Ebook Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab

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Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab

Review

"Five Families is the finest Mafia history we're likely to see for a good long time." ―The New York Times Book Review"Riveting history." ―People"Raab . . . exudes the authority of a writer who has lived and breathed his subject." ―The Boston Globe"Raab sets a new gold standard for organized crime nonfiction with his outstanding history." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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About the Author

SELWYN RAAB was an investigative reporter for The New York Times, covering organized crime and criminal justice matters for twenty-five years. He is also the author of Justice in the Back Room and Mob Lawyer. He lives in New York.

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Product details

Paperback: 816 pages

Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (October 4, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1250101700

ISBN-13: 978-1250101709

Product Dimensions:

6.3 x 2.2 x 9.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

389 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#5,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

This book really goes into a fair amount of depth and yet it's pretty easy and enjoyable to read. You can tell the author has done his research. I saw him speak on documentaries about the Mafia and became intrigued by the subject.

Good books about the American Mafia are few and far between. Most of the ones I've found seem to be self-serving memoirs by former members and associates of organized crime, written in conjunction with professional ghost-writers. These books are okay, but don't really provide me with what I want: a good, solid, informative history of the American Mob and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to eradicate it.I recently discovered just such a book: "Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires" by Selwyn Raab. Here is a definitive history of the five great crime "families" of New York, written by a former "New York Times" investigative reporter who is also one of the foremost recognized authorities on organized crime in America.In "Five Families," Raab traces the rise and decline of the five most powerful and influential crime borgatas in the United States - so-called "families" named after their most famous bosses: Bonanno, Columbo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. These five Cosa Nostra "families" gradually became so powerful that they essentially ruled nearly all of American organized crime from the early 1930s until the 1990s, when their influence was severely diminished by the concerted efforts of local, state, and Federal investigators and prosecutors.These families were initially organized in 1931 by Charles "Lucky" Luciano, who was, at the time, one of the most notorious gangsters in America. Luciano proposed dividing criminal enterprises in New York City into five "families," with a governing "commission" of bosses. Each borgata would be organized into crews led by "caporegimes," or "capos." There was also a body of strict rules by which all members would live.Raab points out that for nearly six decades, The Five Families' criminal enterprises ran practically unchallenged in New York. Their power and influence gradually expanded into Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and other major American cities. It was estimated that, during the Five Families' heyday in the 1970s and '80s, billions of dollars were illegally diverted from the American economy through criminal activities that included gambling, loan-sharking, extortion, drug trafficking, fraud, hijacking, robbery, kidnapping, and murder.Raab also traces the efforts of state, local, and Federal law enforcement agencies to bring the Five Families to justice. A heroic and dogged group of investigators and prosecutors, most notably FBI Special Agent Joseph D. Pistone (of "Donnie Brasco" fame) and U.S. Attorneys Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Chertoff, used provisions of the newly enacted Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to indict, convict, and sentence to long prison terms many of the Five Families' most powerful and notorious gangsters.I found "Five Families" one of the most fascinating books I've read in a long time. The book is packed with information that's presented in an easy to read and understand manner. Selwyn Raab is obviously a gifted writer whose style drew me in from the book's first paragraph.It's unfortunate that the Kindle version of "Five Families" is of such poor quality that it seriously distracts from Raab's outstanding research and writing skills. Nearly every page of the Kindle version contains serious typographical errors like wrongly italicized words, incorrect punctuation, and even misspelled words. These errors occur frequently enough for me to deduct one star from my otherwise five-star rating. They all should have been eliminated by more careful proof-reading and editing.Despite this serious technical flaw, "Five Families" is an important addition to the literature of organized crime, and should not be missed. Highly recommended.

Selwyn Raab’s book is like a special edition of Darwin’s most famous book. It documents the evolution of America’s five mafia families and does so in a way sure to be appreciated by even avid followers of real and fictionalized mob events and characters.As one such follower I learned more than I thought I knew from Raab’s analyses of the inflection points in each families’ evolution. From the history that predestined each of these points to the prevailing political, social and criminal justice attitudes that defined each inflection, I found myself marveling at how much Coppola, Scorsese and Chase got right (but not perfect) about “The Life”--and wanting to re-watch their classics through the lens of "Five Families."

Before purchasing "Five Families", I've seen Raab on several cable channels (Biography, History, etc) expounding on the structure and history of the Mob / Cosa Nostra / Mafia. I scooped up the book when I ran across it at Amazon. Wow.... Raab presents a detailed history of the Mafia and its bosses, capos, made-men, associates, buttons, and wannabes. By far the best volume on the Mob I've ever read, and I've read less than 40% of the book. Highly recommend it.

Overall quite good book. Has some details that are irrelevant and does not provide details where needed. Spends too much time in modern mafia trials and doesn’t give us more details about the 50’s and 60’s. Most of the information and history the author writes are already in documentaries that one can watch in YouTube.Overall though good book and I would recommend it

This is the only book you will ever need to learn about the mafia. It is the back story of all the headlines and all those shows about the American mob. I cannot recommend this book more highly.I bought the audio cd version to listen to in my car and the person reading it is fantastic.I grew up in NY during their heyday and cannot believe all this was going on. The NYPD and the FBI was totally incompetent. Especially the FBI. Then came Robert Blakey and his RICO statute. He understood their power structure and as such designed the law they feared most. It took the FBI ten years to use it for the first time! They didn't understand it!This is a fantastic book!

The one book that can truly be said delivers in aces. First the gigantic size, where the pages are not at all boring, instead filled with just about all the gory details of the presence of the Mafia in America, since its inception to the modern days. Truly spectacular, with plenty of glossy pictures that add value to this monumental work, by the extremely talented and able author, Mr. Selwyn Raab. Most of the people that have always been fascinated by the rise, and why not, fall of the American Mafia, owe it to themselves to own this book. Hard to count the many books on the subject that I have read to this date, watched countless movies on the subject as well, and at the end of the day, this book condenses the whole can of anchovies in an epic book. After reading this one, anyone will be able to talk Cosa Nostra like Pacino and De Niro, forget about it. 5 Stars.

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Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab PDF
Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires, by Selwyn Raab PDF

Minggu, 08 Agustus 2010

Download PDF Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan

Download PDF Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan

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Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan

Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan


Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan


Download PDF Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan

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Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable, by Sam Chan

Review

Every Christian has an implicit theology: a set of beliefs about God and about what God was doing in Jesus Christ. To communicate this good news--the gospel--to others is every believer's privilege and responsibility. Sam Chan's book helpfully shows how to do this in a way that fits our twenty-first-century multicultural contexts. -- Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolThis practical guide not only provides a biblical description of evangelism but also includes helpful strategies for gospel sharing in everyday situations. This book will be helpful for all who desire to see those who are hostile to God become followers of Jesus. -- Ed Stetzer, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair, Wheaton CollegeThis is an important book. In it, one of Christianity's smartest voices, Sam Chan, shows us how to bring our secular neighbors into a lifegiving encounter with the gospel. Highly recommended for use in universities, seminaries, and churches. -- Bruce Riley Ashford, Provost and Professor of Theology and Culture, Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryIf you are looking for an evangelism textbook with biblical foundations, strong theology, real-life illustrations, passion for the heart of God, and tools to move people out into a skeptical world with the good news of Jesus, look no further. Sam has done a masterful job of taking evangelism from concept and theory to practice and action. -- Kevin G. Harney, author, Organic Outreach trilogy; founder and visionary leader, Organic Outreach International

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About the Author

Sam Chan (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; MD, University of Sydney) is a public evangelist with City Bible Forum in Sydney, Australia where he regularly shares the gospel with high school students, city workers, doctors, and lawyers.  He speaks at conferences around the world on the topics of ethics, story-telling, apologetics, and the practice of evangelism in a post-Christian culture.  Sam blogs at espressotheology.com.   

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Product details

Hardcover: 288 pages

Publisher: Zondervan Academic (March 13, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0310534674

ISBN-13: 978-0310534679

Product Dimensions:

6.4 x 1 x 9.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.4 out of 5 stars

14 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#40,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

I chose this book because in my environment there is a lot of skepticism regarding the Gospel and the title intrigued me to that end.Initially so much of the book resonated with me like few books have. The author made some claims that challenged long held presuppositions that I've had and convincingly dismissed them. To this end, the first half was FANTASTIC. However, the second half was not as robust. I doubt I will ever be asked to give an evangelistic speech at a wedding. The three basic principles exposed earlier were repeated frequently with little variation. Having said that the conclusion and wrap up was very good. A lot to think about.NOTE: I took the online course for this book while reading it. The course includes video me lectures from the author which helped make sense of some chapters that I was otherwise unclear about.

This was a very helpful, practical, thought-provoking book! Even if you do not agree with every point the author makes (I didn't), he makes them in a thoughtful, persuasive manner that really cause you to wrestle with them! In our rapidly changing cultural context, this book provides great wisdom in learning how to apply the unchanging message of the Gospel so that it will both be heard, and not be presented in a way that is either unnecessarily offensive or unacceptably compromising of the message. The book effectively blends theory with examples of how to put these methods into practice. I have a feeling that a second reading would be helpful to really internalize some of his points and methods. One of the most challenging and thought provoking books I've read this year, and one that I hope has an impact on my attempts to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

This book made an indelible impression on me and greatly affected how I approached the participants in a recent girls' conference at which I was the speaker. Sam Chan, thank you.

This is the best book on the subject of making the Christian message known to just about anyone. The presentation is easily understandable yet conveys deep meanings. The story telling skills and the illustrations bring it to life. It serves also as an effective teaching tool.

SO good. I really appreciated this fresh approach to evangelism. The video series that goes along with it was also excellent and I look forward to using it to help people at our church grow in their ability to truly engage with our postmodern culture in a meaningful way. -Karen

I know Sam and thus am a little biased, but I found the chapters engaging and practical at the same time. It transitions between academic and entertaining quite well. I would imagine that some chapters would be more relevant for some, and others more relevant to others. In the end, the chapters stand on their own and will be a good resource for people who care about the lost.

Chan acknowledges Evangelism methods used for the past 70 years. Then, he introduces insights into reaching people for Christ in the world of today. Well done.

Maybe I came to this book expecting something different, but I found it to be too much for most to understand and apply. However, his ideas have merit for sure. Church will evangelize or die for sure.

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Selasa, 03 Agustus 2010

PDF Ebook The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First

PDF Ebook The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First

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The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First

The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First


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PDF Ebook The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First

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The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First

Product details

#detail-bullets .content {

margin: 0.5em 0px 0em 25px !important;

}

Audible Audiobook

Listening Length: 9 hours and 43 minutes

Program Type: Audiobook

Version: Unabridged

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Audible.com Release Date: June 8, 2011

Whispersync for Voice: Ready

Language: English, English

ASIN: B0054U2WPW

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

One of the best accomplishments a sports team can achieve is to jump from last place one season to first place the next. In 2008, the Tampa Bay major league baseball club not only changed its name from Devil Rays to Rays, they jumped from fifth place to first in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, and then went on to capture the American League pennant. This book by Jonah Keri attempts to describe the strategies that the front office team of Stuart Sternberg, Matt Silverman and Andrew Friedman employed to take the team from worst to first.The strategy of trying harder by that extra 2% in the title is not clear while reading or listening to this book. There is an exhaustive description of all the poor practices of the previous ownership team led by Vince Naimoli – everything from overpaying for aging sluggers to harassing fans who brought their own food into the ballpark. When the trio of former Wall Street businessmen take over, it is almost like the cavalry came in to rescue the Devil Rays. While their record speaks for itself – improving by 31 wins from 2007 to 2008 – the way this was done did not seem to use Wall Street strategies.Because of this, the book fell a little flat in that aspect as I expected it to have more groundbreaking strategies for building a winning baseball team. Instead, Keri discusses the problems that Tampa has in generating revenue with a poorly located stadium, limited media revenue and poor luck in being in the same division as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, two teams with huge revenue streams. There is some “Moneyball” aspects, some wise drafting and investments and recognition that spending a lot of money on a bad team to gain a few more wins won’t improve long-range success. While all of those were key reasons why Tampa Bay became a better team, none of it seemed like a breakthrough discovery that was expected.There is one other topic that Keri discusses in depth, not only about Tampa Bay but other locations as well, and that is how baseball teams will extort cities and states to finance new ballparks with the threat to move. While this was very interesting material, what seemed a little off to me was that other teams such as the Florida/Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins were discussed when this topic was covered instead of the Rays and what they are doing to try to get a new stadium.Overall, this book was okay because the material is interesting and it is always good to hear success stories. However, what was expected from the title and book description and what was actually presented were two different things which left me feeling a little disappointed when I completed the book. This book is recommended for fans of the Rays, but if one wants to learn more about building a winning team, this isn’t the best source.

Before getting to the review of "The Extra 2%," here's a relevant story:I spent six years working for a professional sports franchise. There were good parts and bad parts about it, and one of the good parts was the chance to see a sports team from up close.And in this case, I learned that there were reasons why this particular sports team was mediocre. The organization as a whole had something of a commitment to mediocrity at the time. There was lip service to winning it all, of course, but generally the entire organization didn't put winning at the top of its priorities. And the results showed it.Jonah Keri never worked for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays or Rays, but he did the next-best thing. He interviewed all sorts of people with connections to the franchise, past and present. That includes the decade that the franchise spent wandering in the proverbial desert, and the time after that when they finally reached the oasis of postseason play.The resulting book, "The Extra 2%," is a terrific look at what the world of major league baseball was like in 2011.The then-Devil Rays did just about everything wrong in those early years. It started with the original owner, Vince Naimoli, who knew all about stripping businesses and selling them off at a profit but who knew nothing about the unique aspects of the baseball business. The team went from an emphasis on experience to youth to experience, depending on the whims of the moment. Sometimes the spending was merely wasteful, sometimes the checkbook was firmly closed.Keri has great fun in talking with some of the veterans of those times. Even the team's first general manager reviews his mistakes and miscalculations with good humor and candor. Everyone will love the story about how a lone scout thought a prospect was worth a flier as a draft choice. When his opinion went unnoticed, he left ... and the player soon started a Hall of Fame career. (No spoilers here.)Finally, and mercifully, former Wall Street workers Stuart Sternberg and Matthew Silverman took control of the team in 2005. They accumulated smart people wherever they could find them, seemingly from a variety of walks of life. All of their work didn't produce results immediately, but the team eventually had a magical last-to-first season in 2008 that put the team in the World Series.The baseball business sure has changed in the last 20 years. Every team has a statistical department filled with people who probably could make huge money elsewhere if they weren't so busy having fun. Throw in the matter of regional sports networks, international scouting, stadium issues, and so on, and it's a complicated world. Sternberg and Silverman were looking for that extra two percent that would give them the edge over the competition, and they found it eventually.This could have been really dry material, but Keri works in real-life, first-person stories into the narrative. About the only part that drags a bit is a chapter that explains what the new ownership group did in financial circles -- but it's really necessary to the story.Keri is one of the smart people who used to work for Baseball Prospectus -- not that there aren't some bright folks there now. He's done a number of stories for a variety of publications about baseball and business. Keri knows his stuff, but he's also gone through a variety of sources -- from 175 interviews to checking out blogs and bloggers -- to find information.This was one of the best baseball books of its year. "The Extra 2%" is a superb case study about the baseball business.

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The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First PDF

The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First PDF

The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First PDF
The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First PDF

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