Gaspipe

Confessions of a Mafia Boss

By: Philip Carlo

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, the boss of New York's Lucchese crime family, was a Mafia superstar, responsible for more than 50 murders. Currently serving 13 life sentences at a federal prison in Colorado, Casso has given journalist and New York Times best-selling author Philip Carlo the most intimate, personal look into the world of La Cosa Nostra ever seen. By pure happenstance, Casso had lived next door to the family of young Philip Carlo, who was able to get into the mind, heart, and soul of one of the most cunning, ruthless mob bosses in the annals of crime history. In Gaspipe, Casso reveals the shocking details behind headline-making crimes and crime figures, such as:

The mob's decision that John Gotti had to be taken out after whacking Big Paul Castellano without approval - and how Casso got the order to hit Gotti

A fly-on-the-wall view of the Mafia commission sit-down at which John Gotti was made capo di tutti capi, the boss of all bosses

The insidious relationship between La Cosa Nostra and the Russian Mafia, and how the Lucchese family murdered the most-feared assassin in the Russian mob

Details of secret sit-downs with mob bosses Vincent "The Chin" Gigante and John Gotti, and the notorious Sammy "The Bull" Gravano

How Gravano made fools of the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI

The real story of the Mafia Cops and the revelations of other law enforcement personnel on Casso's payroll

How the Mafia managed to get a tight stranglehold on most unions in America

The truth behind the Mafia's real role in bringing huge amounts of narcotics into the United States

How federal prison officials were bought and sold by the Mafia

The intimate details of the women behind the Mafiosi

The truth behind the assassinations of JFK and RFK

Who killed Jimmy Hoffa, and where his body is

©2008 Philip Carlo (P)2008 Tantor

Interesting!

Great historical explanation of the mob's decline. Fascinating--if you're a mob fan. Don't bother if you're not--this isn't literature.

Chilling Insight into the Underworld

An amazing story about a man's journey through the innerworkings of the NY Mafia with names most people will remember from the headlines. I thought this was an excellent account of what it really takes to become a made man. In the end, I thought Gaspipe ended up sounding a little sympathetic but then I remembered all of the people he admitted to "taking care of" and I got over it.

If you loved the Henry Hill story, mob or Mafia movies or tales of secret societies, you'll enjoy this enthralling story of life in the mob.

Memoirs of the Mob.

Would you listen to Gaspipe again? Why?

I might for some information I might have missed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gaspipe. Such an interesting character.

What does Alan Sklar bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He pulls off a New York accent well at several times.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The creepiest part is in the prologue when Casso shoots up a guy who tried to kill him, even shooting his penis.

Any additional comments?

A must have in my opinion.

thoroughly enjoyed this book

I really thoroughly enjoyed this book. narrator was actually pretty good . I could have done without is deflection of the Italian language Wikipedia said every Italian name but all in all great book by Philip Carlo looking forward to several more is Friday

Decent book, poor narration

The book was pretty good but the guy reading it should learn how to pronounce peoples names correctly. It hurts my ears to hear him constantly calling Al D'Arco "Al Darko" Most everybody in the book gets their names butchered by the narrater including Anthony Casso..

A good read with a grain of salt...

Entertaining and informative. Author writes the book more like an auto-biography vs that of an objective biography. However, it still provides interesting story lines about organized crime syndicates, mob life, and the government's treatment of the subject after his capture. Personally, I could not bring myself to empathize with Casso's reported 'unfair' treatment at the hands of the government given his life of crime. Ultimately, Casso's chickens come home to roost in a way you do not wish upon anyone. The book was worth the credit!

Interesting perspective from an insider

Having read quite a few books on the subject of the mafia, I found that this book gave a new perspective in some ways. The narrative is simple and easy to listen to. The later part of the book held some surprises for me in terms of just how many people turned state's evidence and Carlo explains what was done with that evidence.

Informative, Interesting

Not on a par with "I Heard You Paint Houses" but quite another inside story that will hold your attention, your ear and your imagination! It all started so honorably and is made, quite clear, how "this thing of ours" devolved into chaos and treachory. Well read by Alan Sklar too!!

Gaspipe-

Would you consider the audio edition of Gaspipe to be better than the print version?

Yes I do.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Author and Gaspipe.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Didn't hold anything back, voice was great. Tone was used the same throughout the story which is great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Alot of moments. Top 3 are as followed...

Death of Lillian, Gaspipe turning, Gotti & Sammy The Bull started the fuse to the end of the good life.

Any additional comments?

Excellent book a must read for any interest in Mafia. Start to finish could not place the book down. I will make on comment. I believe Gotti and his decision to take out a Boss should have left him dead. I truly believe that him and that idiot the Bull ruined the whole LCN. The Gaspipe followed suit. Gotti wasn't a boss he was a Las Vegas act. Why didn't he end up in a ditch? Blows my mind...Gaspipe was a hero in LCN of course I'm upset with his desception but it was a regular way out by that time. I believe everything that was said in this book.

Super interesting

The life and Times of this particular guy to me was super interesting to hear about in fact I’ve listened to this book more than one time because it is so fascinating it seems there is many facets to this guys personality,
And although he was a bad guy in the big picture you know I believe that he was screwed over and not given the deals that others were given when he decided to cooperate
But of course that’s just conjecture I advise checking it out and reading it especially if you’re into what is now a part of early American crime culture,
I think it’s fascinating stuff I don’t think you’ll regret checking this one out.
Enjoy