Born to Steal: When the Mafia Hit Wall Street

A Guy tale.

The roaring nineties roared for Louis Paciuto. This tale finely mixes comedy and drama. A true sordid tale of an average guy who meets mob 'guys', gets rich, and then gets thrown in jail is a keeper.I've heard similiar sensational tales of the 1990's. If you're looking for an almost satirical look at the modern mob, wall-street hijinks, and federal ineptitude, read this book.

AN INCREDIBLE STORY, COMPELLINGLY READ

Even the most inventive fiction meister would be hard pressed to come up with a tale as astounding as this true story. In this reading movie and television actor Frank Whaley literally becomes the protagonist, a cocky young man from Staten Island. The young man previously noted is Louis Pasciuto, a former gas station attendant, who built a fortune by bilking the credulous. He talked fast, lived fast, and eventually lost big time. In 1992 Louis appeared on Wall Street to become part of a 'chop house,' an unsavory brokerage firm overseen by a Mafia boss. He trafficked in worthless and nonexistent stocks, cramming his hefty earnings into a mayonnaise jar. Then, just when Louis feels indestructible, on top of the world, mobster Charlie Ricottone wants a part of the take. It's not too long before Louis is caught in a vise - blood thirsty, money hungry Charlie on one side and the FBI on the other. In exchange for the Witness Protection Program Louis joined the good guys. An incredible story, compellingly read.

Couldn't put it down

A spellbinding look at Wall Street's underworld, through the eyes of a teenage kid turned superbroker named Louis Pasciuto. In a career that has amazing parallels with Henry Hill, the protagonist of Goodfellas, this young punk is initiated into the rituals and perks of organized crime, while ripping off thousands of investors throughout the country. But this is not a sympathetic or glamorized look at organized crime. Author Gary Weiss has a cynical, wry perspective that strips the gaudy fuzz off the Mob, and he is merciless in his treatment of Wall Street. A must-read!

A good book that could have been better

Overall, I liked this book. It was an easy read and for the most part I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it. The only drawback that I had with this title was that it felt a bit 'choppy' by that I mean the writer has us going from job to job but there is no feel for how long Louis had been at the job. Other than that I think the book was very good and would recommend it to most everyone.

Born to Steal: When the Mafia Hit Wall Street

I haven't been so affected by a book since I read Liar's Poker and Wiseguy in the 1980s, because this book contains some of the best elements of both. It is the fascinating story of a small-time teenage hustler who rose to the top of the heap on Wall Street. But it is funnier than Liar's Poker and better writen than Wiseguy. This book is totally shocking and I think it will change the way people view two of its most cherished institutions. First, the Mob. In this book, mobsters are portrayed as juvenile, half-educated bloodsuckers--thieves who rob from other thieves. It is a far cry from the world of the Sopranos. No Tony Sopranos here. The chief mobster portrayed here is a cross between Joe Pesci in Goodfellas and Charles Manson. As for Wall Street, this book will change forever the way the Street is viewed by the public. The author makes it clear that Wall Street is indelibly corrupt, and that the depredations of the chop house brokers and their 'Guys' is just an extension of a greater immorality. An impressive, riveting book that I would highly recommend.

Born to Steal: When the Mafia Hit Wall Street

I haven't enjoyed a book about Wall Street this much since picking up Liar's Poker years ago. Bravo. I took this book with me on a trip to Maui and it was terrific beach reading. It really kept me out of the water, as I was too engrossed in the book to get off the blanket. It is funny and very very engrossing. This is an absolutely fascinating look at the strange parallel universe of the Mafia-run 'chop houses' on Wall Street. Even though I am in the investment business itself it told me things that shocked and amazed me. The book tells this story through the eyes of a broker name Pasciuto, who was plucked from a gas station by a Mob talent-spotter. What I found most fascinating was its portrayal of how the Mafia has really been taken down a few pegs in recent years. Sort of a real-life version of Goodfellas, but told with great wit. Underneath it all is a sophisticated, very carefully written tale of how Wall Street works to rip off investors. The book takes you right into that world, submersing you the way A Perfect Storm did, and its descriptions of the ways of Wall Street are as clear as compelling as the way Nick Pileggi described Las Vegas in Casino. Quite an achievement. Bravo!

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No text was provided for this review.