Guys, I just got this awesome new book THE WAY OF THE WISEGUY by Joe Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco)

Just check out those chapter listings below! What's great about this book is, it includes a CD with AUDIO from the FBI Surveillance tapes from the Donnie Brasco operation!

And get this: Pistone is going to be at my local library on Saturday for a talk and book-signing! I wonder if he'll be wearing a disguise or be behind a bed sheet? I can't wait to get my book signed -- I wonder if he'll pose with me?

This book is the real deal -- from the real undercover FBI agent -- not a comedic look at The Life by an actor:

1. Wiseguys are not nice guys...
2. Wiseguys mean business...
3. Why wisegues will kill you...
4. Wiseguys and money...
5. Gambling and loan-sharking...
6. Wiseguys and women...
7. Wiseguy table manners...
8. How to embarrass a wiseguy...
9. Wiseguys don't like to wait...
10. Why wiseguys never lose fights...
11. Wiseguys don't make reservations...
12. Wiseguys won't be ignored...
13. Wiseguys don't hide who they are...
14. The boss...
15. How wiseguys get straightened out...
16. How wiseguys get respect...
17. How wiseguys take over a business...
18. How wiseguys carry out a hit...
19. A typical day in the life of a wiseguy...
20. Wiseguy nicknames...
21. What wiseguys say and what they mean...
22. Wiseguys work scams 24/7...
23. A few things wiseguys don't do...
24. Why you can't bullshit a wiseguy...
25. Why wiseguys love Donnie Brasco...
26. Wiseguys all over the world...
27. Wiseguys are patriotic...
28. Wiseguys are cheap...
29. Wiseguys aren't great shots...
30. Wiseguys love their food...
31. How wiseguys go to the mattresses...
32. Wiseguys have no friends...
33. Old wiseguys, new wiseguys...
24. The way of the wiseguy...

Appendix: Transcripts from Undercover Surveillance Audio (included on CD)

I put it on top of the Store page: Check it out!
THE WAY OF THE WISEGUY by Joe Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco)

Maybe he'll disguise himself as Henry Hill?
Thanks for the tip, Geoff! I'm gonna order it now
!

Hey Geoff are you paid for that post,sorta sounded like you should be :p
In the back of my Godfather book theres an order form for a bunch of those Donnie Brasco books. I think its just a way for this idiot to get rich fast for doing his job, and I doubt that any of the books say anything that wasnt in one of his previous books. However, I might check into one of them

DSC - No, I wasn't "paid" to say that Funny guy....

Sorry if I sounded excited. I just am, knowing I'm gonna get my copied signed by the guy in a few days... :p

Wow, I'm not suprised why you're so excited JG. I would be too. I'm a huge fan of his work as Brasco was probably the best I've read of a true life Wiseguy book. I'll have to try and get hold of this new book. I don't know why Scotland Yard are classed as a gang though in your link?

I don't think he goes by disguise anymore, I've seen him a few times on tv uncovered.

I ordered the book from Amazon the other night.
JG: Did you get your autograph?

I guess I should comment on how it went

The small room at the library was pretty packed: probably over 100 people. He wore no disguise; he's probably in his 50's so likely doesn't look like he did. (We were not allowed to take photographs, however). He talked for about a half an hour, and then took questions for another 45 minutes. It was very interesting to hear him speak.

I went with my buddy from SicilianCulture.com who asked him about working with Pacino and Depp for the movie Donnie Brasco. He said it was wonderful -- that Pacino was rather shy and introverted among strangers, but he was very intense with his craft, though he would loosen up afterward off the set when out to dinner but on the set he was "strictly all business." He said that Depp was very easy-going and laid back. I guess we already knew all of that

It was interesting to hear of his work. He had spent 6 years under deep cover (as Donnie Brasco) and the next 7 years in court putting on the order of 175 Made guys behind bars out of about 200 cases.

He was asked if he feared for his life, and he seemed less concerned these days because most of the old guys are either still in jail or dead, and, "these new guys, well, they couldn't find their ass in a phone booth." He didn't seem very impressed w/ the latest organization, whose members not only deal drugs, but also use them. (The old guys would sell drugs, in bulk, but not in their neighborhoods).

Someone asked him about how real The Sopranos was, and he said it was pretty accurate - except for all the swearing. He said real wiseguys never cursed like that in their homes or in public. And god forbid if their wives or children spoke like that. (You hardly heard any cursing in The Godfather, right?). But otherwise, he said it was fairly accurate.

He said that Goodfellas was a great movie, but Henry Hill wasn't such the prominent figure as one was led to believe.

Some of the questions from the audience asked "do you know so and so" and some he did, some he didn't.

Someone asked him who the current Boss of New Jersey was, and he just quipped, "Tony Soprano, right?"

It was very fun, and yes, I got my book signed. While doing so I asked him if he was of Sicilian decent, and he said yes. Then he asked me if I was, and I said "half." The guy w/ Pistone asked me "which half?" and I said "the good half"

If I think of any more, I'll post...

More:

A few friends were with him. One was a really big guy, who appeared in the Donnie Brasco movie . I believe it was George Angelica ("Big Trin")

Pistone says he's been touring the world lecturing to law enforcement agencies. He's worked w/ Scotland Yard (not against them ) and has been in deep cover around the world, not just this one job.

He said this new book was basically like a FAQ -- answers to questions he's gotten a lot during his talks. That's why many of the chapters are only a page or two.

He also said that he had to take courses in jewels and lockpicking, etc, so he could be convincing as a jewel thief. At one point he said he was on the verge of trouble when 2 guys had him in a room, unconvinced he knew what he said he did. After a couple hours he came out unscathed.

He never carried a gun during his Mafia infiltration, except near the end one of the men gave him one because a war was breaking out.

He was pulled out of the assignment shortly thereafter, for his safety.

He had committed crimes, in fulfillment of his duties, but I don't think he ever killed anyone. He said, though, that if it were he or another mob guy, the other guy would be killed. But never a civilian.

Very cool JG, thanks for sharing.

lucky you Don JG , thanks for share this with us.

I got my copy yesterday and started reading it. So far, so good...

Great stuff!!!

Thanks for the feedback of your sit down with Pistone

I'll be getting a copy of this latest book for sure. Cheers Geoff

FH

does anyone knows if the book is also translate to the dutch language?

what a trip i just watched the movie five minutes ago.