Mob Memoirs - Nonfiction & Autobiographies About Organized Crime

For as long as humans have been trading goods and services there have been thieves and organized crime.

Writing about your mob-life however, especially for the Italian mafia, is strictly against the "code of silence" or "omerta."

Below, in alphabetical order by author, are some notable memoirs and autobiographies written by gangsters themselves (from street soldiers to Dons), their wives, their families, undercover cops, and informants.

Berman, Susan, Easy Street (1981) and Lady Las Vegas (1998)
Susan was the only daughter of notorious Las Vegas mobster Davie Berman. She wrote two memoirs about growing up among the casinos and mobsters of Las Vegas. In what remains an unsolved mystery, Berman was murdered, in classic mob-style execution, in her home in 2000.

Bonanno, Bill, Bound by Honor: A Mafioso's Story (1999)
Published after his wife and father published their own memoirs, Bill Bonanno, son of don Joseph Bonanno, recounts his own experience as prince of his father's crime family.

Bonanno, Joseph, A Man of Honor: The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno (1983)
Sicilian-born boss of the Boananno crime family, the smallest of New York's "Big Five" in 1931. Was involved in the infamous "Castellammarese War" for control over New York City. It is said that he was the real-life model for the "Godfather."

Bonanno, Rosalie Profaci, Mafia Marriage: My Story (1991)
The story of a mafia princess, Rosalie Profaci was married to Bill Bonanno, Joseph Bonanno's son. In her memoir, she swears not to have fully known about her family's position in the mafia.

Calderone, Antonino, Men of Dishonor: Inside the Sicilian Mafia (1992)
Mafioso turned state witness, Calderone wrote his memoirs along with the help of sociologist Pino Arlacchi.

Capone, Chris Knight, Son of Scarface (2008)
The topic of this very website, Son of Scarface is the memoir of Alphonse Scarface Capone's grandson.

Cullotta, Frank, The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster and Government Witness (2007)
Graphic autobiography of Cullotta's journey from Chicago thug to Vegas mobster in Tony Spilotro's gang to informant in the Witness Protection Program.

Eppolito, Louis, Mafia Cop: The Story of an Honest Cop Whose Family Was the Mob (1992)
Eppolito grew up in a real mafia family (his dad, brother and cousins were in the mob. After his father's death however, Eppolito joined the NYPD and became a detective. Long after the publication of this book, in 2006, Eppolito was convicted of eight murders, racketeering, extortion, and conspiracy to commit murder.

DeMeo, Albert, For the Sins of My Father: The Legacy of a Mafia Life (2002)
The author's father, Roy DeMeo, was one of the most ruthless killers in the Gambino crime family. His son Albert grew up as his father's confidant and his father went from soldier to made man.

Ferrante, Louis, Unlocked: A Journey from Prison to Proust (2008)
Ferrante, a former NY Gambino crime family street-soldier, and his book of redemption.

Fisher, Joey, Joey the Hitman: The Autobiography of a Mafia Killer (1973)
Autobiography of mafia "cleaner" Joey Fisher who killed 38 people. Was involved in all aspects of racketeering and reveals how mafia life is very different from it's depictions in television and films.

Franzese, Michael Blood Covenant: The Michael Franzese Story (2003)
Franzese was member of the New York City Colombo crime family. At age 35 he was #18 on Fortune magazines list of the most powerful and wealthy mob bosses in America. Then he fell in love and turned his back on the mob.

Gentile, Nicola, Vita Di Copmafia (1963)
Sicilian Mafioso in NYC during the 20's and 30's. His memoirs revealed many details of the Sicilain mafia's underworld.

Hill, Gregg and Hill, Gina On the Run: A Mafia Childhood (2004)

Hill, Henry and Pileggi, Nicholas, Wiseguy (1986)
Probably the most famous of non-fiction mafia books, Wiseguy would go on to inspire the movie Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese. Written as a collaboration between crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi and mafioso-turned-informant Henry Hill.

Hoffa, Jimmy, The Trials of Jimmy Hoffa (1970)
President of the International Teamsters by 1957, Hoffa made no effort to hide his connections to the mob. Hoffa dictated his autobiography to Donald I Rogers while he was in prison. Hoffa disappeared in 1975 and was declared legally dead in 1983.

Milito, Lynda, Mafia Wife: My Story of Love, Murder, and Madness (2003)
Autobiography by the wife of Sammy the Bull Gravano's partner Louie Milito, both (murdered in 1988, by Sammy himself she claims) of the Gambino crime family.

Pileggi, Nicholas, Wiseguy (1986)
See: Hill, Henry

Pistone, Joseph D, Donnie Brasco, (1998)
One of the most famous of mob memoirs, Donnie Brasco follows the true story of a cop deep in undercover life. Pistone posed as a jewel thief named Donnie Brasco for over 6 years and helped pull off one of the greatest stings in history. The books is inspiration for the movie of the same title, Donnie Brasco.

Valachi, Joseph, The Valachi Papers (1968)
American gangster who was member of Lucky Luciano's mob family. He turned informer in 1962 and his memoirs were published 6 years later.