Rastelli had the Persico effect where he couldn't stay out of prison. Worse, he lacked the dark charisma of The Snake. Say what you want about Persico, but he knew how to make an impression. The Colombos wanted him DESPITE his proclivity of getting arrested. He was on record as once asking a young Sammy Gravano to bring him someone's ear using a cleaver who owed him money. Persico's a legendary figure and Rastelli is just the guy who had his family taken from him and barely won it back. Indeed the Bonanno golden age would be under Uncle Joe and silver age under Massino. But they have a history of very weak dons.

I really enjoyed the Bonanno biography. Even if it was self serving it was filled with rich literature, descriptive vacations around Sicily, and smoky rooms where bosses held Commission meetings. Just appreciate it as history. It reminds me a bit of Amore by Roger Friedland, and you have to wonder if life imitated art when the words on the page feel Puzo's writing.