The Godfather
by Mario Puzo
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mario PuzoIntroduction: Robert Thompson
Afterword: Peter Bart
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-10-04
ISBN: 0451217403
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: NAL Trade
Book Reviews of The Godfather
Book Review: This is a true classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
After watching the Godfather films on Blu-ray, I thought, it would be a great idea to revisit the underworld of Don Corleone. This book brings us into the world of Don Corleone and his Mafia family. We learn a great deal about the culture of the Mafia underworld. While some people sometimes say certain forms of violence are "senseless" or irrational, Puzo shows that there are often times a rational reason for such actions. This is not to excuse the violence and illegal behavior--but rather to explain the causes for such behavior. By seeing the world through the lens of Don Corleone, it enables us to understand why such enterprises have been as successful as they have been in certain locations in the United States and around the world. Rituals and rules such as secrecy, loyalty, friendships with important people in high places (Congress, local politicians, judges), and the aggressive use of force against "enemies" who violate the rules--all serve to protect and solidify this type of underworld family business.
The Godfather family is not poor, but yet continues to pursue crime as a business, mainly because it is so successful at it. Despite the loses that occur, and the pain that arises, the family presses on. Ayn Rand would say that the Godfather family's philosophy is quite problematic in that they believe in unearned benefits through wealth distribution, thuggery and the influence of "pull." These are important factors to take into account when reading this book.
Summary of The Godfather
just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in.More than thirty years ago, a classic was born. A searing novel of the Mafia underworld, The Godfather introduced readers to the first family of American crime fiction, the Corleones, and the powerful legacy of tradition, blood, and honor that was passed on from father to son. With its themes of the seduction of power, the pitfalls of greed, and family allegiance, it resonated with millions of readers across the world-and became the definitive novel of the virile, violent subculture that remains steeped in intrigue, in controversy, and in our collective consciousness.
The story of Don Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia family, inspired some of the most successful movies ever. It is in Mario Puzo's The Godfather that Corleone first appears. As Corleone's desperate struggle to control the Mafia underworld unfolds, so does the story of his family. The novel is full of exquisitely detailed characters who, despite leading unconventional lifestyles within a notorious crime family, experience the triumphs and failures of the human condition. Filled with the requisite valor, love, and rancor of a great epic, The Godfather is the definitive gangster novel.
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