The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe and the Revolution at the Edge of the Underworld

The Mad Ones falls short

Not a bad book, but just a somewhat on the surface book of the true

madness of the Gallo brothers, especially Joey. Not much in this book

about his formative years growing up in South Brooklyn. This book

really does not grasp or capture the true underworld struggle and

power grab that was going on at this time. It's a good book for the

novice, but if you're famaliar with the story of the Gallo brothers

and that era in South Brooklyn, you'll be a little disappointed.

My only hope is that the movie is better than the book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

GOODFELLAS MEETS KEROUAC MEETS GARIBALDI

This is a wild ride of a book. The Gallo boys--Crazy Joe, Kid Blast, and Larry--inspired everyone from Bob Dylan to Mario Puzo to Jimmy Breslin. Their charismatic leader, Joey, was a stylish young upstart whose mob revolution was inspired by the counterculture revolution happening simultaneously. Joey would conduct his "business" out in Red Hook and Bensonhurst, then go be-bopping with the Beats and other wrestless spirits in Greenwich Village.

It's an incendiary tale and Folsom has a jazzy style of writing. And if you're a Mafia enthusiast, here you'll discover where phrases like "sleeps with the fishes" and "go to the mattresses" come from--the misfit Gallo gang!

It's hilarious too--great fun to read!

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