This book is just plain funny. As the inside cover blurb says, "X-Files meets the Marx Brothers". Not only is it a funnier version of Men-in-Black (which it predates) but it is a spoof on all those action-adventure titles, usually part of a series with names like "The Eliminator" or the "The Eraser". If you like your conspiracy theories laced with a strong dose of humor, try Bureau 13.

If you are a gamer you will REALLY enjoy this book. Nick Pollotta writes in the first person of the ex-FBI agent and while this can be a problem for the other characters you would never know it. The book is a breakneck race for Bureau 13 to save the world and you are with them every step of the way. It's a hard book to put down so expect to lose some sleep. It's not a big book and if your like me you can fly right through it. Don't do it, slow down and read it slow, it's well worth the time. Lots of nice quick comments that make you think.

Sean

The Bureau 13 series (at least 3 that I know of) is a lively and fast moving adventure. This series describes the adventures of a group of FBI agents who use a mix of technology and magic to protect the US from a variety of dangers including vampire carrots. The action is well paced and tongue firmly in cheek throughout. While definatley light weight they are a damn fine read and a good use of several hours of spare time. I reccomend these books to younger readers, RPG players and anyone else who likes the action fast, the humor broad and the and the puns excrutiating

While reading the love letters and notes Nicholas and Alexandra wrote to each other both before and throughout their marriage I couldn't help thinking how modern day psychologists would probably label their relationship "obsessive and codependent." Even so, I found this intimate glimpse into the lives of Nicholas, Alexandra, their children, relatives, friends, courtiers, civil servants and even their assassins, most enthralling. But the book is not your so-called 'page turner'. I lingered over each page and even tagged favorite parts and quotes or cross-references with Post-it notes. This is history revealed from within the very heart of the experience. So much so, I at times had the eery sense of actually being present while the words I was reading in print were first being written in longhand or punched out a letter at a time with stubby childish fingers on an early-model typewriter. Except I don't happen to believe in reincarnation. I just think this is history presented the way it should be, through the words of the people who lived it. These people expressed themselves quite well and need no theorist's interpretation of their writing or intentions. Reading this book is not unlike going off into your grandparent's attic and finding all these letters and pictures you never knew existed and losing track of time as you untie the ribbon around the bundle of love letter and discover while reading them how half your family came into being. Only in the case of Nicholas and Alexandra I had a problem with the fact I already knew what the end was and I didn't want to get to it. The people I met in this book tugged at my heart and mind so much I desperately wanted for there to have been a mistake and learn that they had in fact escaped from Ipatiev house and lived out their lives in comfortable exile on the Isle or Jersey or in the south of France. And then I had to ask myself, would I even be here reading about them if they had lived? The lives and deaths of the Romanovs affected so many people it is difficult to fathom what the impact of their remaining alive might have been. And I think it's pointless to speculate despite the fact so many people built whole lives around pretending to be survivors of that hideous execution. Much better to enjoy the memory of what they really left that was inspired and wonderful, learn from their numerous mistakes, grieve their loss and go on to reading about other aspect of history. You see, the real danger that comes of reading this book is the fact you can easily become as addicted to rereading it as Alexandra was obsessed with trying to find a cure for her son's hemophilia, or find ways to spend more time alone with her husband. Then I shudder in realizing how she did indeed get her wish in the end, though certainly not in the way she wanted to.

A Lifelong Passion is, at its heart, a magnificent love story, made all the richer because, unlike most love stories, it is rooted in absolute truth. Although the dynamics of the relationship between Nicholas and wife, Alexandra, are quite complex, there is no doubt that they adored each other and their five beautiful children. Politics aside, the heart of their life lay in the family. And this was a fmaily undivided. They shared everything: their joys, sorrows, tragedies, fears, triumphs, and ultimately, their tragic and untimely deaths.

A Lifelong Passion is not a work of fiction. The authors have meticulously researched the diaries and letters of both Nicholas and Alexandra and their children, then created a compilation that reads like a passionate thriller. We really come to know the Romanovs as well as those close to them: the brothers and sisters of Tsar Nicholas, the Dowager Empress Marie, Kaiser Wilhelm, Queen Victoria, and others.

A Lifelong Passion is also a portrait of the decline of a dynasty, seen through the eyes of those who lived it. Filled with political plots and intrigue, the book serves as a sweeping panorama of the last days of the Russian Empire. We get to know Imperial Russia "firsthand" and I found myself thoroughly engrossed.

A Lifelong Passion is a long book, yet it is never boring. The pace never slows and our desire to know more never ends. Ultimately, the book ends in a tragedy made all the greater because we have come to know the victims so very well. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of Tsar Nicholas II, whether you like or dislike the people involved, you can't help but feel you've come to know them, and their tragic demise causes you to grieve.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It's a love story as poignant as The Thorn Birds, as panoramic in scope as Doctor Zhivago. A timeless classic filled with history, tragedy and love. Highly recommended!

I have just spent two engrossing months with the Romanov family in Russia, savoring each word in this incredible collection of letters, memoirs, diaries, and other historical documents. What an amazing story, a real-life Greek tragedy, but one filled with so much hope, faith, and love! As a fan of Russian culture and history, it was easy to fall in love with this book. However, I think that it could be enjoyed by anyone who has a passion for his family, his faith, or his country. There are beautiful love letters, revealing diary entries, international secret telegrams, and chilling memoirs of murderers. This book captures almost every emotion humanly possible, and I experienced the full range while reading it. There are parts that will make you laugh out loud, cry out loud, and parts where you'll want to go back in time and warn the characters as you see them walking right into mistakes that will ultimately contribute to their downfall.

Besides Tsar Nicholas and the Tsarina Alexandra, this book details the lives of many other fascinating characters who are not as well-known. I felt a connection with Alix's older sister Ella, and I was especially attached to the sensitive KR and his constant struggles with his faith. And I felt disgust for Prince Yusopov, while at the same time understanding his desire to protect the royal family from their attraction to religious charlatans. Obviously, there is no surprise ending to this book. Still, it is gripping up to the very last page and the lives I gained insight on will be with me for a long time.

[This is a review of the Penguin edition dual-volume of 'Prisoner' and 'Rupert']

I've long been a fan of Errol Flynn swashbucklers and the classic works of prolific (and unjustly forgotten) Rafael Sabatini, but if you want the greatest swashbuckler novel of them all, Anthony Hope's "The Prisoner of Zenda" is a classic you'll come back to again and again: over a hundred years after being written, it's still as sharp as a rapier point.

"The Prisoner of Zenda" is something of a rarity: a Victorian adventure novel that is as fresh and entertaining to read in this modern jaded age as it was in 1894. If you've ever seen one of the many movie adaptations you already know the story: Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman vacationing in the tiny European country of Ruritania, meets and befriends the soon-to-be-crowned King Rudolf--his exact and identical double. When the King is kidnapped by the dastardly Black Michael, Rassendyll must impersonate the King in the coronation ceremony...and in the heart of the Queen. Hope's handling of the romance between Rassendyll and Queen Flavia is both a daring and romantic love story and a subtle examination of the meaning of honor and duty to a gentleman. Of course there's plenty of swordplay and derring-do along the way (put on an Erich Korngold CD while reading for the best effect). If Tom Clancy was writing this one, there'd be nuclear weapons instead of swords and email instead of telegrams, but even he couldn't pull off the simple but subtle romantic story and the triumphant but poignant ending.

I recommend this Penguin edition especially because unlike any other editions of "The Prisoner of Zenda" currently available, it also contains Hope's lesser but still worthy sequel "Rupert of Hentzau," which brings Rassendyll back to Ruritania years later to match wits and swords with Michael's henchman, bringing an end to the saga so satisfyingly that there's no need for a third adventure. I loved both but would definitely rank "Rupert" a level below "Prisoner": "Rupert" is narrated by Fritz, the faithful royal retainer from "Prisoner," and suffers from much of the action taking place outside Fritz's personal view and being retold later on. Still, it's a stunning and emotional end to the story, and one which'll bring a proper tear to your eye. Like Rudolf of Ruritania, Anthony Hope is a king...of adventure novels. Unlike Rudolf, he has no equal.

I've long been a fan of Errol Flynn swashbucklers and the classic works of the prolific (and unjustly forgotten) Rafael Sabatini, but if you want the greatest swashbuckler novel of them all, Anthony Hope's "The Prisoner of Zenda" is a classic you'll come back to again and again: over a hundred years after being written, it's still as sharp as a rapier point.

"The Prisoner of Zenda" is something of a rarity: a Victorian adventure novel that is as fresh and entertaining to read in this modern jaded age as it was in 1894. If you've ever seen one of the many movie adaptations you already know the story: Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman vacationing in the tiny European country of Ruritania, meets and befriends the soon-to-be-crowned King Rudolf--his exact and identical double. When the King is kidnapped by the dastardly Black Michael, Rassendyll must impersonate the King in the coronation ceremony...and in the heart of the Queen. Hope's handling of the romance between Rassendyll and Queen Flavia is both a daring and romantic love story and a subtle examination of the meaning of honor and duty to a gentleman. Of course there's plenty of swordplay and derring-do along the way (put on an Erich Korngold CD while reading for the best effect). If Tom Clancy was writing this one, there'd be nuclear weapons instead of swords and email instead of telegrams, but even he couldn't pull off the simple but subtle romantic story and the triumphant but poignant ending.

If you enjoy this, you'll also want to read Hope's worthy sequel "Rupert of Hentzau," which brings Rassendyll back to Ruritania years later to match wits and swords with Michael's henchman, bringing an end to the saga so satisfyingly that there's no need for a third adventure. I loved both but would definitely rank "Rupert" a level below "Prisoner": "Rupert" is narrated by Fritz, the faithful royal retainer from "Prisoner," and suffers from much of the action taking place outside Fritz's personal view and being retold later on. Still, it's a stunning and emotional end to the story, and one which'll bring a proper tear to your eye. Like Rudolf of Ruritania, Anthony Hope is a king...of adventure novels. Unlike Rudolf, he has no equal.

I loved Anthony Hope's style and imagination while reading this book. It portrays the good-guy, bad-guy scenerio as we all wish it to be. Many tricky and devious criminals sceme against the King and and his little-known double, Rudolph Rassendyl.
The night before his coranation, the King is poisoned by his brother, and Rudolph must take his place at the coranation. But afterwards, when Rudolph and the King's servants come back to return the King to his thrown; he is gone.
Rudolph is now trapped as the King of Ruritania, with mixed feelings on whether to rescue the King. In the end Rudolph makes the right choice and rescues his king from his brother, the duke. After his show of heroism, he is quickly forgotten and returns to his normal life.
In the end Anthony Hope's description of the characters and misfortune leaves you begging for more and in the sequal, the characters return to finish the dispute once and for all.

I'm guessing that most people buying "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter" have already read Massie's "Nicholas and Alexandra" (first published in 1967) but if you haven't, I highly recommend it as "The Romanov's" is basically a final update to the family's tragic tale. Also, Massie's first book on Russia's last Tsar will make this book more personal to the reader as one gets a sentimental appreciation of who Nicholas and his family were from "Nicholas and Alexandra."
This book is far different than Massie's other historical epics as he takes on the role of an investigative journalist rather than a historian. Massie is on the front-lines, from DNA labs to court rooms, searching for a final answer as to whose skeletons were unearthed by an Ekaterinburg resident in the late 70's.
Massie leaves the reader with a plethora of factual information that all but ends one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century. Using DNA tests, Massie proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Russia's royal family and servants are the ones that were buried beneath the road outside Ekaterinburg. He also proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that Anna Anderson, who was the 20th century's greatest con artist, was not Anastasia, Tsarevna of Russia, but a mere Polish peasant.
With all the crime solving, the book at times gets bogged down into quotes, lengthy (but pertinent) explanations of scientific facts and petty arguments between scientists and lawyers, which limits Massie's masterful writing-style to a minimum. After reading all his books, the only sections that come close to capturing his colorful and accomplished style of prose are the first and last chapters.
That said, I'm very glad Massie was the one to tell the Tsar's final story and I highly recommend it to any reader of "Nicholas and Alexandra."

Here's a few items of note:

- A previous reviewer said that Massie does not explain what happened to the last two bodies, presumably of Alexei and either Anastasia or Marie, but in fact, Massie does with quotes of Yurovsky's writings on page 31 and again on page 68. By burning the two bodies and spreading the ashes and embers around, their remains were not preserved like the remaining nine bodies by being entombed in clay, so the final two missing family members in all likelihood will never be found. Another reviewer wished they had a family tree to keep the Romanovs straight. In my edition of "Nicholas and Alexandra", there is a family tree that shows all of Nicholas II's brothers and sister and one could make a photo copy from that book and add in all the nephews, nieces, cousins, etc.

- Also, since this book was published in 1995, a few things have happened in Russia regarding the Romanovs. On July 17, 1998, Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, three of their children and four family servants were buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg. The Russian Orthodox Church still questions the legitimacy of the bones as being the Tsar but the church did partake in the funeral march and burial. In a poll taken at the time, only 47 percent of Russians believed they remains were of Nicholas II and his family. And in 2001, the Dowager Empress Marie Fedorovna, was exhumed in Denmark and reburied alongside her husband, Tsar Alexander III, in the same cathedral.

Massie relates two fascinating stories: the first involves finding the remains of the family of Russia's last Czar, and the second recounts the assertion of Anna Andersen to be the Czar's youngest daughter, Anastasia.

In order to find the remains, layers of lies and bureaucracy must be untangled. Once unearthed, the task of identifying the bodies becomes a test of both science and diplomacy.

The question of whether Anastasia survived the Russian Revolution proves to be fiercely debated. Personalities from all over the globe are involved in the discussion. Massie relates the various positions in an even-handed fashion and brings compelling scientific evidence to bear.

The final chapter of the Romanovs proves that non-fiction can be more spellbinding than fiction. A must-read for anyone interested in Russia, forensic science, or well-crafted non-fiction. I liked Massie's _Nicholas and Alexandra_, but I LOVED this book.

The Romanovs: The Final Chapter is an excellent book. It is written in great detail and begins with the death of the last Imperial family of Russia. I recommend reading Nicholas & Alexandra and then this if you are just begining to learn and read about them. Nicholas & Alexandra begins a little bit before Nicholas II took the throne and continues with their personal and political lives. The Romanovs: The Final Chapter provides scientific evidence to back up what you are reading. It is a detailed look at the death of the Romanovs, the finding of their bodys in the 70s, the refinding of their bodys in 1991, and the famous Anna Anderson theory. It doesn't provide an explantion to who Anna Anderson really was, but it provides facts to make your own conclusion (mine - Anna Anderson is not the Grand Duchess Anastasia). The Romanovs: The Final Chapter & Nicholand and Alexandra are seriously the two best books to read about the Romanovs. Also, the movie (based on the book) Nicholas and Alexandra is a wonderful movie. I recommend all of these for anyone who is new at learning of the last Imperial family, or who has read tons of books and wants more information.

High Probability Selling is, without a doubt, the best of the dozens of sales books I have read throughout the years. From the very beginning of the book, I found myself unable to put it down. It takes everything you have ever learned about the sales process and stands it on its head. The idea is to work only with those few people, businesses, prospects that are motivated to buy from you NOW. How? By following a carefully thought out and practiced method of disqualification. That's right. You try to disqualify every person you talk to. Those that are not disqualified, you have a high probability of doing business with. It sounds simple, but it isn't. Is it effective? I can tell you that it is. My sales increased immediately. And it's fun. It shows you how to get off your knees in the selling relationship and, respectfully, come from a position of strength. No more "hat in the hand" prospecting. I highly recommend it. But be prepared. It is a book that will rock you back on your heals a bit. You have to read it and then study it. Then try it. You'll like it

The first sales book I ever read was written by a very well known sales trainer. It left me uneasy.

When I read "High Probability Selling", I wanted to start a sales career right away. I LOVED IT!

I strongly recommend this book and sales stystem to any person who values their own integrity; sanity and self-respect.

I read a few chapters on line and WOW! This book captures the science of making "supply and demand" happens - no frills, no nonsense, just the clear steps of maximizing the "supply and demand" throughput.

If you're a sales person, it should be a handbook. If you are not, it could change the way you communicate with the people close to you.

Selling is an art of communication. The science of selling, dressed up as an obvious and simple protocol in this book, can elevate selling to a high art of precision and expediency.

3 facts: Everyone I know is pregnant, I hate buying shower gifts and I'm just starting to knit again. I am so glad to have this book! It had all the info I needed to re-learn knitting, but seems like it will still be useful when I become more advanced. Everything is explained well, the illustrations helped alot, and the photos are just beautiful. I figure when I get better, I can just skip any instructions I don't need and focus on the designs.

And the designs are pretty much classics like booties and cardigans, but with interesting details and patterns. They have practical elements too (like big neck holes) which is good because I hate when baby clothes don't work on babies.

I also liked that there were toys included - blocks and bears and such - cause they seem like quick, fun things to include in a shower gift. There's even a felted diaper bag. And the book had great colors (no pastel pink!). It was nice to look at, easy to navigate.

I have three colleagues at work who are pregnant; two friends at church; one in the neighborhooed; and my sister with her third. They all watch me knitting for my kids Emme and Fred,Jr. They want to learn, or if they already know, they say" My grandmother showed me when I was seven, but I forgot."

Well, this is the book that I am going to give each of them. Bring out the charge card!

They can pick a project, and then I will help them. We have to start somewhere, and just like I bought Kid's Knitting to teach Emme how to knit last Christmas, I will buy these as shower gifts so that each of my friends (and sister) will be able to have a starting point. And, my kids may get a few nice sweaters out of this, too.

The projects are simple and the illustrations are easy to understand. I am an experienced knitter, and do not need the diagrams, but I enjoy them as a reference. I also like the well-written instructions. They are spelled out so that inexperienced knitters can read them and understand.

I really hope that my friends will pick projects from this book, and we will work as a group, or whenever they stop by the house, and knit. I have faith in the book -- and in my friends -- that they will enjoy knitting and learn some basics for future projects from this book. This will make it a lot easier for me to help out everyone.

I started knitting about a year ago and think that this is the best "how to" book of any kind I own. The directions are easy to understand, the projects are adorable and the pictures help pull everthing together. I have older grandchildren to knit for also and am hoping Melanie has patterns for big kids too.

Alas, I wanted so much to become obsessed with this book, since I am obsessed with the whole Romanov legacy. However, Radvinsky's style left me frustrated. He throws in his personal opinions throughout, he dwells too much on details instead of sweeping us along on this horrendous tragedy in which the Tsar, the Empress and the five children were butchered. Paul Massie's extraordinary, Nicholas and Alexandra, is still the greatest book on this subject ever written. I'm re-reading it now for probably the upteenth time and never fail to be hypnotized by the wonderful flow, details and descriptions created by Massie. The Last Tsar is still a must-read. but it can't galvanize the reader like Massie did in his towering achievement.

This book will teach you a lot of good information about tsarist Russia, in particular about Nicholas II's reign. The book is exhaustive in its research on the subject, and talks about Nicholas' relationship with Russian citizens, Rasputin's influence with Alexandra and the last days and death of the tsar and his family. However, it is hard to follow all the twists,turns and names that Radzinsky includes. Who did what and why, as well as how the tsar died, who might have lived and what was done with the bodies becomes tedious and a little difficult to follow. Otherwise, this book is readable, informative and entertaining.

As readable and compelling as a novel, we learn the intimate details of the end of the Tsar and Tsaritsa's lives primarily through primary sources such as their diaries, original telegrams, and eyewitness accounts (cross-verified with physical evidence). As the book progresses, we can see how a combination of factors (including Nicholas' own non-confrontational personality, paranoia and over-protectiveness of the secret police, and Nicholas and Alexandra's faith in Rasputin) caused Nicholas to miss the signs that the absolutist monarchy had to come to an end. As is to be expected from a tale based on personal writings, the story is sympathetic to the family and portrays the barbarity of the execution in the most compelling manner. The focus of this book is very narrow, however. While we get a detailed description of the thoughts and feelings of the Romanovs', we see almost nothing of the larger picture of what was going on in the rest of Russia and the world. Information is notably lacking on the progress of World War I and the Bolshevik revolution, except as the Romanovs encountered them. The narrow focus is both a strength and weakness of the book. It is a weakness in that the reader would need some supplementary reading in order to understand what was going on in Russia overall at the time, but it is a strength in that the reader is seeing the world from the limited viewpoint of the Tsar and his family, and you get a feel for just how sheltered they were and how incomprehensible world events and their own fate must have seemed to them.

I found this book to be extremely entertaining. I am a big fan of all things martial arts/ninja/samurai and i loved reading about their histories as well as the histories of Japan, China, etc. I liked the characters and thought the story was excellent. Plus, the fight scenes were great!! Some of the violence and sex were a little excessive, but overall a very good read! PS-Brandon Lee would have made a great Nicholas Linnear!

This book is a really great reading for anyone interested in martial arts or Orient in general. The novel is action-packed, fast-paced and complex. This is the first time I read a book where ninjutsu was presented in real enough and complex terms. Although the scenes of sex and violence were vividly described, I believe they only added to the power of the novel.

This excellent read is the first in a series of six about Nicholas Linnear, a half-Oriental and half-Western man well versed in many martial arts. Through present-day plots and flashbacks to post-war Japan through the eyes of Nicholas's father Colonel Dennis Linnear, watch as the story unfolds. Nicholas is torn up over a Japanese woman he knew as a younger man and his present-day girlfriend Justine who is being hunted down by a ninja assassin. But who is behind the ninja's actions? How does Justine's father's company Tomkin Industries fit in, and what is the secret behind several ritual killings in New York? This book also introduces Nicholas Linnear's friend Detective Lew Croaker, who, in a related subplot, is investigating the murders. And to top it all, some explicit sex and stunning martial arts action scenes! The part where Nicholas hunts the ninja down through New York, is one of the best action and suspense scenes in literature ever. If you are new to Eric Lustbader, read this one first and then read the rest of the Linnear chronology in order, and I guarantee you'll become addicted to him! Awesome.

This book is an absolute must read for lovers of historical novels and even fictional books.

Tiglat Assur, the protagonist of this book, is a really great and strong hero who has to face intrigues and great battles as a commander of the Assyrian army.

There is not much what this book does not give to the reader.
It includes fabulous battle scenes, some hot sex, a true love story, many intrigues, a hero like protagonist and many interesting random characters.

Reading it I wished I had once seen the majestic Assyrian empire which was the world's greatest power at its time.
Thereby I now have an idea why this Assyrian empire could be doomed and you might feel so after having read the books as well.

In all it is on me to wonder why this author, Nicholas Guild, never became an absolutely well known name in the author business.
The book is simply marvelous for me because it includes many elements, even fictional ones, but all this makes the story even better.

At last I have to promt you to give this extraordinary book a try.
It will not disappoint your expectations for sure.

Guild's "The Assyrian" is right at the top of my favorite book list, right on with Tolkien's masterpiece. I study Assyrian culture at university level, so my interest has its source there. Guild gives a very nice and detailed description of the Assyrian culture in a genuine historical setting, and even manages to write one of the most exciting storylines I've ever read; a good mixture of adventure, love, war, sex and violonce. Guild tries not to veil any Assyrian custom which would not fit in our culture; on the contrary: he seems to take delight in describing them in detail, albeit through the eyes of someone who has just a little bit (but not too much) of Western conscience, so the reader will more easily feel at home in the rich Assyrian culture. It's also nice that Guild doesn't try to write around the religion being dead; by using divine incidents, but also by describing superstition, you get the idea that all the Assyrian gods and goddesses really exist, giving this book an almost Tolkien-like fantasy flavour. This means you will find no ethical Biblereferences or settings a la Ben Hur here. The fantasy effect is made even stronger by the adventurous kind of story, in which you will also get descriptions of other cultures through the eyes of an Assyrian. Love and sex are also certainly not neglected. If you like ancient cultures, fantasy and adventure I recommend this one. Too bad Guild never wrote a sequel (for as far as I know), as he half-so promised in the epilogue. Also too bad this title is out of print... I wonder why?

Being a German national who happens to read English, I cannot accurately express my admiration for Mr. Guild who has written this magnificent story. And for those who like to read the seond part, it is available under the name "The blood star"

I can only implore (is that the right word ?) Herr Guild to write more about Tiglath Ashur. His work ranks right alongside with Wilbur Smith's novels.

My rating on this book is really a three and a half, if given the option to rate a half-star, that is.

I enjoyed tremandously learning about the Teamsters, the politicians and of course the Mafia involvement in the Las Vegas casino operations. The book exceled in the abundance of information.

However, the writing itself was not so great therefore lowering the reading experience. Just as in real life, when people tell you their side of the story, it hardly ever concurs with someone else's account. Since the book was really a collage of vaious narrations, the author had a hard time weaving together different points of views and tones. Sometimes readers are left wondering what really happened.

I would recommend this book for people who are interested in information and stories regarding the Mafia. The topic is very interesting, but for those who prefers a bit more drama and fluency of writing, then this may not be your top choice.

I found 'Casino' to be an exciting true life story of the real Vegas of the 70's & early 80's. Nicholas Pileggi, has written this book with obvious research and passion, painting a tremendous mental picture of the Mafia and thier control over Las Vegas.

Excellent, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in true life mafia stories and Las Vegas life.

This gripping narrative exposes Midwest mob influence in Las Vegas during the 1970-80's. Author Nicholas Pileggi focuses on four major characters. The most prominent was ex-sports handicapper and bookie Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who became an innovative casino manager. Lefty ran the casino at the Stardust Hotel, the location from where the Chicago and Kansas City syndicates skimmed millions in gambling revenues. We also read about Lefty's friend and mob enforcer Tony Spilotro, front man Allen Glick, and Lefty's glamorous but volatile wife Geri. The author describes casino operations, financing by teamster pensions, and gambling executives who knew enough to look the other way. We also see how unchecked greed and ego can destroy casino operators as surely as it does some of their customers. The book's only weakness was that Pileggi seemed to go easy on a couple of the major characters.

"Casino" became a 1995 movie of the same name. Pileggi also wrote "Wiseguy," basis for another excellent mob film ("Goodfellas") by Martin Scorsese. "Casino" doesn't quite match "Wiseguy," but it's a highly readable and informative book.