A True Story by FBI Agent Joseph D. Pistone - My Undercover Life in the Mafia

Highly recommend this book for anyone into the inside workings on the mafia. Shows keen insight to the dangerous situation Agent Pistone put himself in for over six years. If you have seen the movie, this book will blow you mind. Much of the details had been left out and altered so this book i found to be much better than the film.

This is typically another case of how the book outshines the movie. Now, I like the movie despite the fact that many for whatever reason) did not. It was actually a great movie that centers around Brasco and Lucky's relationship within the Bonanno Crime Family but in the book, it's revealed that Brasco revolved around quite a few colorful characters way before Lucky and Sonny's crew and there are other differences such as Lucky wasn't quite the "looser" as the movie portrayed him as. He was quite the soldier and knew how to make a buck, he just had a bad gambling problem -and on that, I'll say no more.

I loved Pileggi's WiseGuy but this book blows even that out of the water. There's just so much going on that's shared by this agent Pistone, as he dances on eggshells around the most dangerous people in the country at the time.

What else can I say? This book is a worthy, worthy purchase.

A fascinating experience, but rather humdrum in the reading.
I know the author remotely and admire what he has done, though appalled by the business as usual acknowledgement given to those many years of personal challenge by the FBI.
Nonetheless,, though factual reporting, not grabbing in the ;reading.

Pistone is obviously an adrenaline junkie, and probably a wee bit differently constituted from you and I.
His desire to "be the best" at what he did certainly made him into a good FBI agent, spending 8 years undercover in the Bonanno crime family.

He was taken under the wing of Lefty Ruggiero, an aging mobster who was pretty vigorous. Saving Pistone's life more than a couple of times because of suspicions that he was law enforcement, the photo of Ruggiero after the realization that his friend was testifying in downtown Queens about everything they'd said and did together is worthy of a painting.

Joseph Messina was one Pistone called wrong. He stated that Messino was "the last gangster" and that "he won't talk". Messino became the first NY boss to become an informant--not before killing everyone Pistone ever associated with, except the ones put in jail.

This guy is a criminal's ultimate nightmare in the sense that he's a street guy willing to do anything for the FBI. A sad story about bravery. A good read.

Before the FBI did undercover stings, an agent might go in for a few weeks to catch a low level criminal. But they wanted to go for the top dogs in the Mafia.

So in the 1970’s they sent an agent undercover for six months. Six years later, when they pulled the agent out, the FBI was able to take down Mafia personnel spreading across the US. This agent was Joseph Pistone, who went undercover as jewel thief Donald Brasco.

“Donnie Brasco” by Joseph D. Pistone is the best book on either the FBI or the Mafia that I’ve ever read. I got the book as research for writing my series, thinking it would be the usual dry ‘just the facts’ sort of writing. But I couldn’t put it down. Not only is the information fascinating, the author has an engaging style of storytelling and attention to detail that makes you feel as if you’re there with him.

It’s one of those books that you want to read over and over. I highly recommend it if you’re at all interested in law enforcement, crime stories, the US Mafia, or suspense. (he got into some hairy real life situations!)

This is the kind of story many would consider incredible hadn't these events actually taken place. Years ago a short-lived television series (two seasons, to be exact) called "Tightrope" aired in which a young actor named Michael Connors portrayed an undercover police officer known only as "Nick" who, week after week, successfully infiltrated various underworld gangs and operations. It was a fictional TV show, nothing more, designed solely for the entertainment of the viewing audience. In 1976 Special Agent Joseph D. Pistone of the FBI made that role a reality. Under the guise of jewel thief "Donnie Brasco," Pistone entered the dangerous world of organized crime and eventually penetrated it at a level so deep that he was actually "proposed" for membership in La Cosa Nostra when the "books" were opened. Renting an apartment on Manhattan's upper East Side (a lot more affordable then), Pistone began to frequent a local restaurant where he got to know a few "connected" guys. This led to his broadening his circle of associates to include, first, a Colombo-affiliated crew in Brooklyn and, later, a Manhattan-based faction of the Bonanno family. The fact that he was accepted and gained the trust of these otherwise wary, street-smart "wiseguys" is a testament to how well Pistone played his role, knowing how far to push the envelope in tricky situations and when to step back. The operation, which lasted six years, came to an abrupt halt when Pistone was given a "contract" to "whack" a Bonanno rival. By that time, however, the Mob had been irreparably damaged. Within weeks of the startling revelation that "Brasco" was in fact an FBI agent, a $500,000 bounty was placed on his life and the Mob began to exact revenge on those who had

originally "sponsored" him. One, Benjamin "Lefty Guns" Ruggiero, was picked up by FBI agents while on his way to almost certain execution after having been "sent for," or summoned, to a Little Italy bar by his former pals. Two others weren't so lucky. In August, 1981, the badly decomposed body of one Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano, a capo who maintained a special fondness for Pistone even after learning he was an agent, turned up in a Staten Island creek, minus both hands. Seven months later, in March, 1982, Anthony Mirra, a psychopath who had been the first to introduce Pistone to the Bonanno crew, was found shot to death behind the wheel of his car in a downtown Manhattan garage. Co-written by Mr. Pistone himself and Richard Woodley, "Donnie Brasco" reveals the gritty, day-to-day workings of the Cosa Nostra lifestyle as it actually exists (or should I say existed?) and not the honorable, glamorized, somewhat antiseptic version of Don Vito Corleone's world as depicted in "The Godfather."

This superb mob narrative is gripping, readable...and true. Narrator and former FBI Agent Joseph Pistone describes going undercover as jewel thief "Donnie Brasco" in 1976. "Brasco" soon infiltrated the syndicate, and ended up spending five years as a connected member of New York's Bonnano crime family. Brasco assisted in dozens of minor crimes (theft, handling stolen merchandise) to maintain his bad-guy credibility, all the while acting surreptitiously to prevent major crimes from occurring. Readers see how his mafia crew engaged in crimes ranging from theft and burglary, to truck hijackings, robbery, witness intimidation and murder. Brasco also details his emotions, which included fear, loneliness, even guilt over having to deceive mob partners like Lefty "Guns" Ruggerio and "Sonny Black" (who was later murdered). Imagine working undercover knowing that some crook you'd arrested years ago in another state might suddenly appear and recognize you - in which case your mafia "friends" will kill you within minutes. Imagine having to keep your wife and daughters in the dark about your work, knowing that you'll all need to be relocated with new identities once the operation ends.

"Operation Don Brasco," led to scores of arrests and convictions, not to mention a $500,000 contract being placed on Pistone's head. This is one of the best mob narratives available, one made into a pretty good (if somewhat fictionalized) movie starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.

This is perhaps one of the best insider accounts I've read of the mafia. Donnie Brasco is the real deal, a book that not only shows the life of a wiseguy but also of the life of an undercover FBI agent.

Watching Pistone become Donnie was very insightful. Pistone took the time to explain the logic behind how he acted and the way he thought. Showing why you didn't question too much, or why you say something in a specific way shows a lot of how Pistone became Brasco. I enjoyed reading Pistone's thought process just as much the meat of his undercover operation.

The wiseguys themselves are comically ignorant and uneducated, which adds to the flavor of the books. Seeing Sonny say he doesn't want to "catch no herpals", or Lefty not wanting to touch a newspaper because an "Indian" touched it and it had germs now. Comical, yet insightful on the lives of the feared gangsters of the mafia.

I enjoyed reading Donnie Brasco a lot and would certainly recommend this book to anyone. If only to read how they were infiltrated and how Pistone became a wiseguy, but also because of the tremendous amount of convictions that came of his undercover work.

5 stars.

this book documents the ordeal of the first FBI agent to go deep undercover to penetrate the Mafia, often at immediate risk of his life. He's a brave man doing brave things at the cost of family life, but not identity, as he always remained who he really was--demonstrating, incidently, that there are many more versions of ourselves in each of us than we may realize. Like any autobiography, Pistone's own character stands at the center of the narrative, and it's an interesting study: calculating, like a chess player; concerned for his dignity only within the parameters of the role he was playing; committed to his objective totally; able to make close moral distinctions; committed to family, but unwilling to compromise his assignment. Pistone isn't a Boy Scout, but he doesn't cross the line & become the monster that he's fighting. His work broke up several major crime families and, more importantly, broke the code of omerta forever, by forcing bad guys to break silence to save themselves. A textbook account of the risks, methods and rewards of undercoverwork, and the most direct account of how bad guys operate that we have. Like many agents of the law, he points out that most bad guys worked harder and made less than if they had gone straight. Well worth reading on a quiet day, if only because one realizes how much some have sacrificed so that we can have a quiet day.

Still one of the best inside looks at the American mafia. Pistone is honest, respectful, easy to relate to, and empathetic to his criminal counterparts. You are going to feel sorry for some dangerous guys, hate some others, and follow an engrossing undercover life that almost broke this agent. Pistone comes pretty close to being one of these guys, in my opinion. Very interesting.

The movie based on the book is a well-done reflection, but you have to read this first. Pistone does a good job taking the civilian into the underworld. It's a lot more human, fragile, and deadly than you think.

I read this in about a five hour straight period...interesting.It's a lot better than the movie..movie puts too much false or half true stuff in it and doesn't potray the characters in it accruately. He starts out by working his way into the Colombo crime family and from there meets Bonnanno soldier Tony Mirra who would introduce him to lefty from there the story takes off. Donnie first tries to help another agent get into the vending machine market in Milwaukee..which was controlled by mob boss Frank Ballisteri..the other agent comes close to getting his car blown up..they thought he was a g..which he was .. but then is introduced by the Bonnano's to Balisteri...Donnie also gets offered a bookmaking job for balitsteri..ends up turning down..then the vending machine thing goes down the tubes. Then Donnie gets the Bonnano's to hook up with another agent in the King's court deal which becomes a success..All the while Carmine Galante gets whacked the power structure changes..eventually Tony Mirra comes back to lay a clain on King's court..lefty fight's against this..this and certain things lead to the hits put on 3 Bonnano captain's. Donnie's allies are victorous..Sonny Black, Lefty, and even current boss Joe Massino. Donnie gets contract on Sonny the reds son..then the FBI decides to take down the Kings Court deal. In the end Sonny Black and Tony Mirra get whacked. Lefty ends up in prison for 10 years(he died in 95 by the way).

Agent Pistone is a hero. His willingness to go deep undercover for years to clean house on organized crime is amazing. I wouldn't have done it and salute his willingness to put this mission ahead of his own life.

Joe Pistone got and grew a unique assignment for the FBI. Starting with car theft rings, he was able to penetrate and become a made member of an organized crime family. As his association and the opportunity for deeper penetration grew, he had to live more and more of his life with the mob. This entailed no dinners at home, missed children's birthdays, weeks without seeing his family and the stress of always being in character for long, long periods of time.

Through this book, the reader gets a day-to-day view of the mob. Often bored as only guys with too much time on their hands and nothing to talk about except cars and girls can be, his existence is enlivened by the sudden forays to steal and kill (he was able to avoid involvement in any murders, helped save many and avoided direct involvement in theft). Playing on the greed of Mafioso and the seeming ability of Donnie to connect them with money making scams in Florida, the mob lets Donnie in and eventually become an insider. Along the way, the reader gets to see mob guys at work, at play (particularly eating and spending money until they were broke), scheming against other made family members, and living the life with all the swagger and pride having "made" the mob gives these hoods.

Pistone was incredibly successful. His wires and testimony lead to the arrest, conviction and deaths (through mob killing of some of those who had vouched him up the organization) of many mobsters. This is a fascinating story.

The story of Donnie Brasco is dramatic, courageous and at some points emotional. No one has ever done what he was able to do. He stayed in the Mafioso underworld for longer than any of his fellow agents, or "feds."
You might think you know the story simply by following the news or watching the movie (which was skewed significantly to Hollywood's liking,) but not until you read the behind-the-scenes book will you truly fathom his courage and heroism. You will read the many times his life was on the line, so much for his family being on the line.
This is not a product of Hollywood imagination. This is the story of a real life con-man working on the good side yet posing as the bad guy. What a thriller. This book will also give you the inside, the structure and lifestyle of the mafia underworld. This is one of the most powerful books I came across. (A similar book that I would recommend is Serpico.)

Not only an amazing true story, but an amazingly well written book. Life in the mob through the eyes of an FBI undercover agent. Who could ask for a more insightful true account. No bragging BS, no artificial tough guy stories. Just what appears to be a TRUE account of Joe Pistone's experiences inside a NY Italian crime family. And, BTW better then the movie, which was pretty good!

the story of fbi agent joseph pistone sent undercover to infiltrate the mafia is one story you will not soon forget. he did his job so well, that there were fbi and police who thought he was mafia. he risked not only his life but partially detroyed his marrigae and relationshop with his kids die to his six year absence from their lives because he was involved in the biggest sting which eventually crippled the mob.
it is an in-depth insight to the life of the mobster, the inner workings of the family to family relationships within the mob and how the fbi conceived, attempted, and executed one big operation. i found the story complelling, intriguing and riveting. i could not put this book down.

Many books have been written about and by law-enforcement officers who have gone undercover as bad guys, but DONNIE BRASCO deservedly sits at the top of the heap. The story is so engrossing, you might have to stop and remind yourself that it isn't fiction. Special Agent Pistone gives the reader great insight into the psychology of undercover work and the dangers--physical and emotional--a person in his position must endure. The movie version was entertaining, but this is the real thing.

"Donnie Brasco" the movie, while compelling, contains numerous glaring inacuracies that will jump out at you while reading the book. Two of the most galling are that Pistone (Donnie) cared what happened to Lefty (Al Pacino's character), when in fact Pistone never lost sight of the fact that Lefty was a bad guy. Also, the movie makes it seem as though Pistone's superiors interfered with his operation and did not appreciate him. The book clearly dispells this distortion. Pistone's account of life in the mafia compares with Nicholas Pillegi's "Wiseguy" as compelling reading. And it will dispell any remaining notions that mob life is glamorous. Lefty's memorable movie scene in which he prepares to meet his death is at least one moment in which the movie keeps to the spirit of this great book.

Donnie Brasco must have ice water in his veins to pull off some- thing like this;he is a step away from becoming a "made-man", but the only thing holding him back is his career, F.B.I. deepcover agent! He actually made certain members in the mob have bowel movements once they announced who he really is. What the movie fails to tell you is that although he and Lefty Two-Guns Ruggiero are friends, but after Carmine"Lilo"Galante gets whacked then they whack out Sonny Red Idelicato which puts the Bonanno crime family under Sonny Black Napalitano as the street boss while the real boss Philip Rastelli is in prison. He actually shares an apartment with this Sonny Black, that is how good this Pistone is I mean, he really started the Mafia decline, and the Bonanno's happened to be the first. Again, you learn more about each of the characters;Pacino's portrayal as Lefty, made me literally sick & I don't know who happened to be the casting director of the film but if you read this book before you happened to see the movie, they should be fired, c'mon Pacino as a chump,washed up father of a junkie son, whose only respect he gets is from "Don the Jewler" . I know some people who rather see the movie first then read the book in order to get a more in depth, better understanding of the film, well in this case, you were probably more confused than at the begining! Again I say reading is much better than seeing a movie, in that order, this is my perfect example of my theory.

wonderful book little more vulgarity than most books but that's how the underworld characters talked. You have to have been a special person to pull off living a double life for 6 years and still hold your wife and family together. The book held my interest throughout a great thriller I would recommend it to everyone and it's a true story that holds your interest as much as any fiction book would. Loved it!

Donnie Brasco is my favorite movie.This book, however, is much more in-depth on the story. Pistone went deeper into the mob than any undercover ever has. Only a hit kept him from being a "made" man. Real stuff relating to his family(wife and kids) was good. But the story of Brasco and the mob was well put together and really interesting. Lefty, Sonny Black, and his other new friends had no idea who he was. If you liked the movie you'll love this because it's got more details.

I really enjoyed this book. Agent Pistone's story, from his gradual entrance into the mafia to his final departure, is layed out in captivating detail. I especially enjoyed his honesty about the close relationships he built in the mafia and how hard it was to maintain his cover. This man deserves the utmost respect for his life threatening undercover duties. He is a true American hero. I would reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about the mafia, or the FBI.

Pistone has guts of steel. He finally nabbed one of the most powerful mob bosses (Santo Trafficante of Florida). Who until then was truly untouchable. Read the history of the Bonnano family and you will see why Pistone is one of the bravest men in this country. The Bonnanos are considered ruthless even among the ranks of La Cosa Nostra. The guys Pistone dealt with were close of associates to Gotti! This is a great read!