Category: Biographies

Lemay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay-Warren Kozak

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LemayOctober 1, 1990-General Curtis E. LeMay (Ret.) dies at the age of 83 at March Air Force Base in Riverside County, California.  The former General became a legend in the United States Air Force after reorganizing the Strategic Air Command and pushing for the development of the B-29 bomber which changed the Allied effort in World War II.  Satirically nicknamed “Bombs Away Lemay”, he developed a reputation as an extreme patriot willing to go to whatever length was appropriate in the protection of the United States.  And in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Dr. StrangeLove’, the character  of Jack D. Ripper is based on of Lemay.   Warren Kozak’s account of the life of the late General is the definitive account of LeMay’s life.

Born in Columbus, Ohio on November 15, 1906, the young LeMay would find his calling in the U.S. Air Force in a career that last through several Presidencies.  He was both lionized and feared by the oval office and subordinates.  His decision to drop the altitude of the B-29 during the firebomb runs over Tokyo caused Robert McNamara to remark in Errol Morris’ ‘Fog of War’ that if we had lost the war we would have been prosecuted as war criminals.  LeMay had also pushed for preemptive strike against the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis and said quite frankly that we should bomb the North Vietnamese back to the stone age during the Vietnam War.   When segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace ran for President in 1968, he convinced LeMay to be his running mate  and the decision would haunt LeMay for years to come.  Interesting Wallace had served under the 20th Air Corp under LeMay in World War II but had never met the General prior to the campaign.  LeMay’s decision to back Wallace confused and shocked many as Wallace was known to be a stanch segregationists where as LeMay had advocated for the fair treatment of all soldiers regardless of race.   As we now know, Wallace lost and LeMay faded away remaining retired and living a quiet life until his death.  Opinion about LeMay will always be divided but the fact remains that the late General, with his flaws, served his nation during World War II and was a patriot of the highest order.

ISBN-10: 1596985690
ISBN-13: 978-1596985698

Coreyography: A Memoir- Corey Feldman

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coreyThe 1989 classic vampire film The Lost Boys remains a favorite of our family to this day. In fact, my mother will watch it all the way through anytime it is on cable.  The film contained an all-star cast and plenty of frightening sequences to keep the audience engaged. Admittedly, I am more fond of The Goonies which I believe is on the list of favorite films for anyone who grew up in the early 1980s.  In both of these films starred a young actor that became one of the most famous faces in Hollywood, Corey Feldman. The kid who starred in classics such as Stand By Me, Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter and The Gremlins, is still active in Hollywood today and going strong at forty-five years of age. His life in Hollywood has given him a unique perspective on the experience of children as they grow up in an industry that moves at the speed of light.  This is his autobiography where he opens up about his childhood, stardom, his failures and his ultimate success in life. And what is contained in this book is sure to give the reader a different view on the place they call Tinsel Town and the life of Corey Feldman.

The beginning of the book sets the stage for what is to follow and the reader will pulled in to the story and unable to stop.  His revelations about his childhood are surprising and will shatter the myth that is sometimes held that child stars have the perfect life.  Feldman is quick to refute that notion and is brutally honest about the relationship he has with his parents.   When Hollywood came knocking on his door, he answered the call and embarked on a career that is nothing short of incredible.  In nearly every major studio hit with a cast of young actors, he can found in nearly all of them. His position and connections in the industry allowed him to become friends with the biggest names in the business and he gives anecdotes about his experiences with many of these people.  Feldman has disclosed on many occasions that he was a very close friend of the late Michael Jackson.  The fallout from the child sex-abuse litigation severed their friendship permanently and at the time of Jackson’s death, the two were no longer speaking.  In spite of that, the stories he shares about Jackson give the book a few lighter moments that show the good side of the King of Pop.

However, stardom always comes with a dark side and Hollywood is no different.  The tragic part is that besides personal demons, stars will be surrounded by others seeking to exploit them for all that they have an in the case of a child, their innocence.  Following the success of the Lost Boys Feldman and the late Corey Haim became teen sensations and  the hottest teen ticket in Hollywood.   Their friendship and career together blossomed but both would fall victim to the temptation of drugs and the fast life that comes with the silver screen.  Haim’s battle with drug addiction became fodder for the press and haunted him up until the time of his  death on March 10, 2010.  Feldman opens up about his deceased friend and co-star and provides eye-opening information that reveals the very dark and ugly side of being a child star.

Feldman is known for his own battles with addiction but I do not believe that most people know how close he came to completely spiraling out of control.  In this stunning memoir he tells all about his drug addiction and how his wild ways nearly cost him everything he earned in life.  Today he is clean and focused but on several occasions, he came close to going off the deep end.  For those who are struggling with their own addictions, Feldman’s story can serve as a guide on the strength and determination needed on the path sobriety.

Today, he is an outspoken critic of Hollywood and has said that it is a breeding ground for pedophilia. And as a result of his dysfunctional childhood, he has sworn to break the cycle and be the best father that he can to his son.  He is also vocal about drug use in Hollywood and has told his own story of addiction repeatedly.  Tragically, of the inner circle of friends, he remains the lone man standing having witnesses the early deaths of friends Kinison, Corey Haim, River Phoenix and Michael Jackson.  His story is a roller coaster ride but considering it comes from one of Hollywood’s true veterans, we should expect nothing less.

ISBN-10: 1250054915
ISBN-13: 978-1250054913

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs- Elissa Wall with Lisa Pulitzer

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innocenceWarren Jeffs sits today behind bars for the rest of his life after being convicted in several states of several charges including rape and sexual assault.  He will never again walk the streets a free man and has even announced to his followers that he is not the prophet he portrayed himself during his reign as the leader of the FLDS church following the death of his father Rulon.  His victims however, still carry those scars and will live them for the rest of their lives.  Over the years there have been a number of individuals who have defected from the church having become disillusioned with the teachings within the congregation.  They have told their stories to news anchors and written books about their ordeals. This is the story of Elissa Wall and what it was like to grow up in a polygamous sect and become a teenage bride.   Her story is similar to hundreds of other young men, some of whom are struggling to find their own path to freedom from the clutches of the FLDS, the most extreme faction of the Mormon faith.  Its notoriety has earned it a place on the United States Government’s list of hate organizations and has been under investigation by the Utah Attorney General’s office.

This New York Times Bestseller was compiled with the help of journalist Lisa Pulitzer, formerly of the New York Times.  The cover alone is enough to shock the reader at first glance.  But what is in the book is even more shocking and will leave the reader both angry and bewildered that such an organization continues to exist even today in 2016.   For Elissa, life begins as a normal young woman growing up in a Mormon household.  She has two parents and loving siblings.  But everything changes when she is ordered to marry her cousin under orders.   It is at this point that her order begins and her life takes her down a path that finally ended with her freedom.   Her liberation however, did not come without costs and the price she has paid for her freedom is as significant as her new life with a husband and children.

Her marriage though short lived, took on the classic nature of an abusive relationship.  Considering that she was under 16 years of age, it is mind boggling that the marriage had even taken place.  The sadistic Jeffs did not see age as a barrier and had been accused of assaulting girls even younger than Elissa. Forced marriages are commonplace in the church and the members have constructed a wall of silence to insulate their lives from the prying eyes of law enforcement and social welfare officials.  Through Elissa, we go deep inside the FLDS and see how other young women are mistreated and their lives controlled in every aspect.  Her path to freedom did not happen overnight and through several people who take on the form of guardian angels, she is able to finally break free of Jeffs and the FLDS.  In 2007 she and her older sisters gave testimony in a criminal proceeding resulting in the conviction of Jeffs on several counts of rape.  Her sister Rebecca Musser is famously known as the lady in red and wrote her own book about her life that was published with the same title.   The title is significant for red is a color that was never allowed by the FLDS.

The story in this book forces us to ask ourselves many questions particularly how adults can do such things to children.   Stolen innocence is the appropriate title for the book for that very thing is taken from children in the act of exploitation.  It also deprives them of a childhood which they can never get back at any point in their lives.  Many of them like Elissa, will struggle to put their lives back together and forget the horrors they once endured.   Their voices give inspiration to others who are seeking to escape the encompassing religious environment in which they live.   And as they tell their own stories like Elissa we will learn more about the FLDS and what courage and perseverance really mean.

ISBN-10: 0061734969
ISBN-13: 978-0061734960

John-Cynthia Lennon

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Lennon.jpgIn death John Lennon became part of a group of talented and legendary performers that have tragically died before their time.  His murder on December 8, 1930 marked an end to a career that began in Liverpool and made its way to the City of New York.  His widow Yoko and second son Sean have kept his memory alive and radio stations continue to play his music which has stood the test of time.   The actions of Mark David Chapman confounded investigators and left millions of fans in mourning. He is still in jail and his actions that night have never made any sense.  It is doubted that he will ever be released from prison having been denied parole at least nine times.  The man he murdered was not just a musician but a father and husband.   We know a significant amount of information about Lennon and Yoko Ono who were the constant targets of paparazzi and journalists seeking to get a word from the famed star.  But what we never hear about is the story of his first wife Cynthia and their son Julian.

I know several people that had no clue Lennon had been married once before.  In fact, they are unaware of Cynthia’s name or story.  They are left in shock when I relay to them some of the things learned in this book.   But what exactly is this book?  Well it would be considered an autobiography of Cynthia but with her memories of her life with John.   The book was completed several years before her death on April 1, 2015.  It begins as she recounts her early life in England and how she met and fell in love with a founding member of the Beetles band.  The story starts of simple enough, they meet, fall in love, get married and s a son comes along. But as most of know about celebrities, normal never last for long.   As fame set in, long tours and martial dissatisfaction grew, their lives took a different turn and the fallout is explained in detail by Cynthia. Also explained, is the beginning of Lennon’s relationship with Yoko who became his second wife.   The events that transpire are surprising,  questionable and in some cases, a little bizarre. His relationship with his first son Julian is also sad for its nature and its potential at the time of his death. But for all of his transgressions,  we see that above anything else, Lennon is human and not immune to mistakes.

Fans of the Beatles will love this book and Cynthia has some great anecdotes about life on the road and the many places there were able to see.  Life with a musician is sometimes a roller coaster ride and she was not oblivious to the many threats  and temptations that faced Lennon and the Beetles while on the road.  As a first hand witness, her story is a part of history and serves as a first hand account of the beginning of one of music’s greatest bands.  Today Paul McCartner and Ringo Starr are the surviving members of the foursome.  Other one-time members are still alive as well.  Decades have passed since they have last recorded a song but the Beatles remain cross-cultural icons.  And John Lennon remains one of music’s most tragic figures.   This account by Cynthia is a good look into his private life and what it was like to live with the most famous men in the world.

ISBN-10: 0307338568
ISBN-13: 978-0307338563

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor’s Story of Life and Death In The People’s Temple -Deborah Layton

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poisonThe mass suicide and murder of more than 900 people that occurred on November 18, 1978,  in Jonestown, Guyana is still the largest in history.  Their deaths and the murder of Congressmen Leo Ryan are regrettable moments in what could have been a movement that changed the way people view society.  Jim Jones had high hopes for his People’s Temple and their mission to reform social conditions and give way to freedom, equality and happiness.  Jones himself died of a gunshot wound to the head and did not drink the poisonous concoction.  Prior to Jones’ final meltdown, several members of the People’s Temple had expressed desire to leave the organization disillusioned with promises of grandeur.   The reality that Jonestown was a nearly impossible task began to set in causing many to question their decision to leave the United States. As a result of the final action by the maniacal Jones, families were permanently separated and several generations died at the same time. Those who were lucky enough to escape that day or beforehand were spared the agonizing final moments of the People’s Temple.

Deborah Layton, her brother Larry and mother had joined the People’s Temple attracted to Jones’ rhetoric and vision for the church.  She becomes a personal secretary of Jones and in the process becomes one of many victims of Jones’ inappropriate conduct.  Following Jones to Guyana, they quickly become absorbed into the alternate reality that became the backbone of the commune’s existence.  As time progresses, she becomes dissatisfied with what is clearly a dictatorship run by Jones.  Leaving her brother and mother behind, she makes her escape from the People’s Temple and this is her story of why and how she made the decision to leave behind the people that she loved the most to save herself from a fate destined to nearly 1,000 people, many of whom she knew on a first name basis.

Larry had served as one of the gunmen who fired upon Congressman Ryan’s plane, killing him and several news reporters in the process. He was the only person convicted for the massacre and was subsequently convicted and incarcerated. He served 18 years in prison before he was paroled in 2002. He lives a quiet life Northern California and to my knowledge, has not made any public statements regarding the tragedy at Jonestown.  Among those wounded was a young reporter named Tim Reiterman who later wrote the definitive account of Jones’ reign of terror.  The book was published under the title Raven: The Untold Story of Jim Jones and His People.

More than thirty years have passed since the Jonestown tragedy.  Layton has her own Twitter page devoted to her career as an author and a survivor of Jonestown.  She carries with her the memories of her time with Jones compounded with the conviction of her brother and the loss of her mother. Her story is tragic and bittersweet but key to understanding why Jones and his words were seductive poison.

ISBN-10: 0385489846
ISBN-13: 978-0385489843

My Infamous Life – Albert “Prodigy” Johnson

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prodigyOn March 7, 2011- Albert “Prodigy” Johnson is released from Mid State Correctional Facility after serving time for a gun possession charge.  The Queens, New York native and one half of the rap duo Mobb Deep, is a legend in the music business.  A few years ago, I was standing online at the Penn Plaza Deli, now Cafe Bravo, to pay for my lunch when out the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a face I knew I had seen before.  Upon closer inspection I realized that it was none other than Prodigy himself.  We exchanged greetings and chatted briefly before parting ways.  When I saw this autobiography on Amazon, I picked up and learn about the life of the person I crossed paths with that day at the deli.

Born into a show business family, his exposure to stardom begins a child and the show has never stopped.  Queens is the borough he called home and a lot of his later escapades take place at the notorious Queensbridge Houses.  Barely fifteen and not even old enough to drive unsupervised or buy a pack of cigarettes, he sets his sights on a career in the music industry and becomes a rapper.  His partnership with Kejuan “Havoc” Muchita resulting in the formation of Mobb Deep stands as one of the genre’s most celebrated groups.  This autobiography reveals Johnson’s incredible life, one filled with music, fame, money, fatherhood, relationships and reflection.  The hip hop genre is quite unique in that it is the only genre in which many of the stars have live the life that they often speak about.  Reading as if it’s a New York Times true crime bestseller, the biography is filled with old memories of the gritty reality of the street life.  Violent altercations,  gun battles and deadly car accidents take center stage revealing a life filled with constant turmoil and stress.  His battle with sickle-cell anemia serves as a backdrop and emerges throughout the book as a reminder about the mortality we all face. Today, he and Havoc are older and wiser and their craziest days are behind them.  But their place in music history is unquestionable and their lives, as infamous as they may have been, are examples of the dark side of the streets of New York City and the high-speed nature of the music industry.

ISBN-10: 1439103194
ISBN-13: 978-1439103197

Finding Fish: A Memori-Antwone Quenton Fisher

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FisherOn April 23, 2013, Antwone Fisher gave testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee about the trauma suffered by children placed in the foster care system.  His story was adapted for the silver screen and told in the 2002 film ‘Antwone Fisher’ starring Denzel Washington and Derek Luke. Washington also directed the biopic.  The film is based on of Fisher’s autobiography which became a New York Times bestseller upon its release.   This is history and frankly one of the best autobiographies I have ever read.

His story about a young child entering the foster care system and placed in a family composed of biological and foster children is critical to understanding the fears and concerns that consume young boys and girls as they struggle to fit in with a family the have never before met.  The household he enters is beyond dysfunctional and created an environment that would prevent most children from having what would be considered a normal life. As he grows up, he find ways to survive his existence at home while learning more lessons about life on the streets.  His experiences on the street are frightening but the harsh reality of the chances a person will take in an effort to escape a detrimental domestic environment. At time during the book it does seem as if all hope is lost for Fisher and that all the odds are completely against him.  Along with his foster brother Dwight, the two of them learn to navigate the system of anarchy encouraged by the Picketts, their foster family and their biological children.

Towards the end of the book as he approaches adulthood,  his life takes on new meaning with his admission into the United States Navy where he finds himself and begins his journey to manhood.  A chance experience in Japan and a commander who becomes the father he never had change his life.  And as the book closes, we are uplifted as he completes his journey and embraces having a family of his own and putting the past behind him.   He never forgets his beginning and his actions towards his former foster family are understandable and respectable.  The book pulls the reader in from the start and refuses to let go and by the end of it, you too will be rooting for Fish to succeed.   His experiences as a child in foster care highlight the existence that thousands of children today must go through here in the United States.  And at times when they feel as if all hope is lost they can turn to Fisher’s story for inspiration and hope.   This is his life and the incredible journey he undertook as he was finding fish.

ISBN-10: 0060007788
ISBN-13: 978-0060007782

When I was Puerto Rican- Esmeralda Santiago

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santiagoMarch 2, 1917- President Woodrow Wilson signs the Jones-Shahfroth Act granting U.S. citizenship to the residents of Puerto Rico.  And while it prevents residents of Puerto Rico from voting in U.S. presidential elections, it opens the door for the migration of thousands of Puerto Ricans to states throughout the nation.  New York City was and still is the number one destination for Puerto Rican immigrants.  Many settled throughout the five boroughs with strongholds erected in small neighborhoods such as Spanish Harlem, parts of the Bronx, Bushwick, Williamsburg and East New York, Brooklyn.  The relationship between the United States and its neighbor in the Caribbean is unique and conflicted. The island is officially designated a commonwealth that uses American currency and whose laws are sometimes subject to U.S. approval.  Its designation as a commonwealth has placed in a precarious position; it is neither a state or a country on its own and its fate is inextricably tied to America.  The iron of Puerto Rico is that its citizens have contributed to the well-being of the United States in ways which many are unaware of.  During the Vietnam war, more than 48,000 Puerto Rican men served in the military. I personally know one of these men who proudly served this country in Southeast Asia.  Today he is a grandfather living out his days comfortably at a retirement home as he deals with the rigors of aging.  His story is one of millions that tell the story of the Puerto Rican experience in the land of the free and home of the brave.   Among the many stories is this one by Esmeralda Santiago, who recalls her childhood and journey to New York as her mother searches for a better life for her growing family.

Born in the San Juan district of Santurce, her early life is typical of most families at a time when U.S. involvement in the island’s affairs caused both apprehension and resentment at the meddling of Uncle Sam in Puerto Rican culture.  Today it may be hard to imagine, but less than one hundred years ago, the majority of governors of the island were American and helped corporations and the government rule the island with an iron grip. For several years, English was the mandatory language to be spoken in schools making Spanish unwelcome and the act of speaking it, an offense.  During this climate of colonialism and culture suppression lived a young girl whose life was about to change in a most dramatic way.

Economic depravity, stressful relationships and social conditions force her mother to make the fateful decision to move the family to New York City, a place Santiago had never visited and only heard of.  Her arrival in the city that never sleeps proves to be a rude awakening and culture shock in comparison to the home she was forced to leave.  The dark and gritty side of city life becomes a reality and as she explains in the book, the people were unlike anything she could have prepared for.   Class and racial discrimination combined with pedophiles,deviants and her lack of ability to speak English, transforms her world and forces her to mature ahead of schedule. The highlight of the book  however lies in her discovery of her talent for the performing arts.  Through determination and faith, she rises above her language restriction and excels in high school. And later in life, she earned degrees from both Sarah Lawrence College and Harvard University.   Many years have passed since she was a young girl in a small section of Puerto Rico, but her words make us feel as if we went back in time following her every step of the way.

ISBN-10: 0306814528
ISBN-13: 978-0306814525

Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary – Jasmine Guy

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afeniFollowing the death of Tupac Shakur on September 13, 1996, his mother Afeni was tasked with becoming administrator of his estate and dealing with a staggering amount of litigation resulting from lawsuits filed against the late rap star and lawsuits on his behalf against Death Row records.  Using the proceeds she was awarded through litigation, she established Amaru entertainment in her son’s memory.   Her efforts are characteristic of the former revolutionary Black Panther.  Tupac often talked about his mother to whom he was much closer than his biological father, Billie Garland. Her battles with crack cocaine addiction are well-known and Tupac himself discussed it on several occasions.  In later years after his death, she had been drug-free for a number of years but sadly joined the ranks of African American mothers who have lost their children to the violence of the streets.

Jasmine Guy was a friend of Tupac’s and after his death became friends with his mother.  This book is a collection of their discussions that occurred during their blossoming friendship.  Afeni talks about her own life and as to be expected, her son’s short life and violent death.  Guy visited Shakur’s home in suburban Georgia giving the book the feeling of two old friends sitting on a porch in the summer reminiscing about the days of yesteryear.  Afeni’s story is a deep one, rife with tragedy, drugs, revolution, motherhood and redemption.  She does not avoid the difficult topics and has come to terms with her past actions and inactions.  As this point in her life, she comes across wise beyond her years, freely able to admit when and where she went wrong in life.  She opens up to Guy and the result is a hidden literary gem that fans of the late star will come to appreciate.

Since Tupac’s early death, Afeni has been the voice of his legacy, keeping it alive for future generations.  Sadly, on May 2, 2016, she passed away at the age of 69 from a suspected heart attack.  Her voice has been silenced forever, but for those seeking to understand Afeni and the life she lived, this is her story in her own words.

ISBN-10: 0743470540
ISBN-13: 978-0743470544

The Black Hand: The Story of Rene “Boxer” Enriquez and His Life in the Mexican Mafia-Chris Blatchford

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indexLatin America continues to struggle with poverty, gangs and rising murder rates.  Central America and northern South America are rife with turmoil due in part to the continuing pattern of political instability.  The surge in homicides have made the region one of the most violent places on earth.  Honduras is now the deadliest country in Latin America and has the highest murder rate in the world.  The devastating effects of famine and economic depravity have combined with the proliferation of MS-13 (Mara-Salvatrucha) to make life utterly unbearable for the majority of Hondurans.  The rise of MS-13 and other Latin American gangs has not gone unnoticed.  The gang culture has spread north and taken hold in the United States with California becoming a stronghold of gang activity.  And shockingly, nearly half of all gang members in the United States are Hispanic American.

Beginning in 1973, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began to watch a new gang that proved to be as violent and ruthless as any this country has ever seen, the Mexican Mafia.  They have been glorified on the silver screen, most notably in the film ‘American Me’ starring Edward James Olmos.  But the reality is that the real Mexican Mafia is far stronger and far more dangerous than portrayed in the film.  Rene “Boxer” Enriquez teams up with author Chris Blackford in recounting his life as former member of the gang, telling all in this memoir that is guaranteed to leave you speechless.  In 2003, Enriquez was still a ranking member of the gang, but the loss of several loved ones, a brother with health issues and the realization that the gang he swore allegiance to didn’t swear allegiance to him, he decided to step away and become a cooperating witness for the U.S. government.  His testimony has proven to be critical in the apprehension and subsequent incarceration of members of the Mexican Mafia.   He has also become a motivational speaker in the hope of preventing young men and women from making his mistakes.   As of today he is still incarcerated and the possibility of parole is uncertain.

It is with remarkable courage and self-examination that Enriquez is able to tell us his life story.  He does not glamorize the gang life and admits to his failures.  The book is gritty, sad but the reality that awaits young men and women enticed by the fast lifestyle enjoyed by gang members.  Sadly, there will be young adults who readily accept a life on the streets believing that they are invincible or too intelligent to make the same mistakes as Enriquez.  But there others who may read this book and make a decision that will ultimately save their lives.  So take a seat and follow Enriquez as he takes us deep inside the Mexican Mafia and all that is has to offer.

ISBN-10: 0061257303
ISBN-13: 978-0061257308