Tough Jews

Fathers, Sons, and Ganster Dreams

De: Rich Cohen

Narrado por: Rich Cohen

Award-winning writer Rich Cohen excavates the real stories behind the legend of infamous criminal enforcers Murder, Inc. and contemplates the question: Where did the tough Jews go?

In 1930s Brooklyn, there lived a breed of men who now exist only in legend and in the memories of a few old-timers: Jewish gangsters, fearless thugs with nicknames like Kid Twist Reles and Pittsburgh Phil Strauss. Growing up in Brownsville, they made their way from street fights to underworld power, becoming the execution squad for a national crime syndicate. Murder Inc. did for organized crime what Henry Ford did for the automobile, and Tough Jews is the first in-depth portrait of these men, a thrilling glimpse at the muscle that made possible the success of gangster statesmen such as Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and Lucky Luciano.

For Rich Cohen, who grew up in suburban Illinois in the 1980s taunted by the stereotype of Jews as book-reading rule followers, the very idea of the Jewish gangster was a relief; for once, a Jew in jail did not have to be a white-collar criminal. With a clear eye and a comic sensibility, Cohen looks beyond the blood and ultimately encounters each of these ruthless killers’ matzo-ball heart. Tough Jews shows what can happen when a member of the tribe combines brains, heart, and a dangerous determination never to back down.

©1998, 1999 Rich Cohen (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

A beautiful ‘remember when’

Hard to believe this time and these people ever existed, but Rich Cohen brings it all to life in vivid prose

Had the physical but wanted to listen.....

Good book. Worth the read.... The book has pics that the audio didn't have but all in all, well worth it....

Fantastic!

One of my favorite books of all time! I’ve read this several times in paperback and was thrilled to see it finally added to audible. Having the author narrate enhances the experience as he nails the pronunciations and inflections that make the stories come alive. I look forward to listening again!

Great book!

Very interesting and informative book that talks about past times and people that were extremely unique and a dying breed

Great book!

Rich Cohen is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I think he depicts Jews and Jewish culture in America through various generations so incredibly well. This book is fantastic. Interesting historical and personal takes and accounts.

OK, but ultimately disappointing

I got this book to learn about an important part of our town’s and country’s history. Yeah, I learned some things about the famous Jewish gangsters, but the author kept skipping about, and spent a lot of time on his thoughts about post-mob days, and his own family, whose story is not relevant to the topic of this book. It’s also very incomplete in telling the ultimate fates of some mobsters..