Wiseguy
By Nicholas Pileggi
- Release Date: 2011-09-27
- Genre: True Crime
Description
Nicholas Pileggi’s vivid, unvarnished, journalistic chronicle of the life of Henry Hill—the working-class Brooklyn kid who knew from age twelve that “to be a wiseguy was to own the world,” who grew up to live the highs and lows of the mafia gangster’s life—has been hailed as “the best book ever written on organized crime” (Cosmopolitan).
This is the true-crime bestseller that was the basis for Martin Scorsese’s film masterpiece GoodFellas, which brought to life the violence, the excess, the families, the wives and girlfriends, the drugs, the payoffs, the paybacks, the jail time, and the Feds…with Henry Hill’s crackling narration drawn straight out of Wiseguy and overseeing all the unforgettable action. “Nonstop...absolutely engrossing” (The New York Times Book Review).
Read it and experience the secret life inside the mob—from one who’s lived it.
Reviews
Excellent
5By Torettos Hot Rod HeavenWhat a fun exciting quick read. If you’ve seen Goodfellas you know what you’re getting here but I still couldn’t put it down. Definitely recommendMovie vs book
5By Steve King (not the author)If you like the movie, the book is exactly the same. Doesn’t appear that the writers of the screenplay did anything other than cut and paste from the book to the script. Still—- I couldn’t put it down. Hours disappeared, and it was time well wasted.Better than the movie!
5By IcareitmattersStill can’t believe this all happened in real lifeTerrific Book about a low-level mobster turn-coat.
5By BlackLavenderDPIf you love the movie Goodfellow this is the perfect companion to the movie. It gets into the nitty-gritty details that the movie cut out. A must read for any fans of Mafia books and movies.Addictive!
5By RedegadeAn intoxicating look into organized crime world. The amazingly vivid and riveting story of wiseguy Henry Hill and his metoric rise and fall in the Vario / Luchesse crime family and the book that the cult film Goodfella’s was based on. Set aside a few hours to read, this one is impossible to put down.Great!
5By DR.SR.PEANUTRead it over the course of 4 days. Excellent book, better than the movie!Wiseguys
5By Frankie FachI really like this book, even more so then the movie. The history, the in's and outs of the lifestyle. The last man standing you do what you have to do ...!! Awesome readGOOD STORY
5By 1554It has a good flow to the story. It presents the true downside to a story of a wiseguy.Good book
5By All Schafer SholeLoved the Goodfellas movie and had to read the book. The book is far better because you get the whole story and the little bits of information that would make the movie far to long to watch. Good read and good information on the rest of the storyOutstanding
5By BGPD88What a phenomenal book! A must read book if you have seem the movie Goodfellas!A classic
5By pianoArmenOne of my favorite books. Also, if you like this one, you should also read 'gangsters & goodfellas'. It's another Henry hill auto biography that fills in the gaps & talks about what happens after this book leaves off. Both good reads. RIP Henry Hill, 1943-2012Page turner
5By Steve424Great book. I could not put it down.Awesome!!!
5By RlogueGood bookA book you truly won't be able to put down
5By Pop culture nerdIn his foreword, "Goodfellas" Director Martin Scorsese writes, succinctly I might add, that you won't be able to put it down and he's right. I started it yesterday afternoon and finished it less than 24 hours later, only putting it down a total of maybe two three times to see a movie with a friend and eat & sleep. It is arguably the most gripping non-fiction account I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I've seen the movie several times and still love it, but without this book, it would never have been made. And as with most film adaptations, there's so much more juicy, factual material to enjoy that couldn't possibly be squeezed into a two-and-a-half hour movie. I knew I it wouldn't be necessary to download a sample before buying it.Loved it
4By John PeeblesThe book brought more background information to compliment the movie.Great book, great movie
5By WaveSkiBoyPileggi writes about the Brooklyn mob like nobody else. I ought to know, having been a NYC prosecutor.....Omg
5By Mblaze617One of the best books I have ever read in my lifeBetter than the movie!
5By sonofhedusThis is a great book! My personal favorite of all time. Goes way more in depth than the movie ever could. If u like Goodfellas, then you will love Wiseguy

