Trying to pick a biography to read

[Tigermoth]

My Silent War by Kim Philby.

This is the autobiography of a Russian double agent who worked for both the British and American intelligence agencies while passing info back to the Russians during WWII.

[jfk]

"God Wants You to Roll" is about two high school educated SoCal teenagers who pulled off a $20+ million dollar scam selling non-existent cars to trusting church goers across the country. The scam lasted years and pulled in car dealers, former NFL players and foreign officials.

The SoCal card room scene figures prominently as they ran much of the proceeds through the Commerce and other rooms as one of the perps turned himself into the biggest gambler in the state, mainly as a pai gow player. Ask any SoCal card room regular or employee about "Buddha" and he'll have a story. There's a story in there about a 100K tip he bestowed on one of the Network M employees during a huge run at the tables. He won and lost seven figure amounts at times.

Despite each serving 20+ years for the con and having a falling out, the two who ran the scam have never fully come clean about the structure and origin of the scam and much of the money is still missing.

[Potvaliant]

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is excellent.

[SoloAJ]

I'm going to just ask this question here. Has anyone read the auto of Ben Franklin? I read a section of it and found it worthwhile and it is something that I have always felt I needed to read because of what I've heard is in it (in terms of thoughts and stuff).

Is it one that I should be considering can't miss, as I currently do?

Blarg, you mentioned it, and I assume you read it and thought it was good based on the post, but it is hard to tell when something is just recommended by "I heard it was good" and "It was one of the best books I've read."

[GTL]

the Jaco Pastorius biography is right up your alley if you like stories about eccentric characters. the writing is nothing special, but Jaco is such a character, and was such an amazing musician that it is well worth it.

Jaco was a groundbreaking electic bass player. I highly suggest giving him a listen.

[Zeno]

Mark Twain and Bertand Russell autobiographies are choices to consider.

-Zeno

[ChipWrecked]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The book about Sammy Gravano, who was the biggest murderer/rat of all time, was pretty good. It may have been called "Sammy the Bull," but I really don't remember.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, this was an excellent one.

[/ QUOTE ]

It was called 'Underboss'. I liked it as well.

[Phat Mack]

Papillion

[bernie]

How about a biography of a rock band?

Motley Crue: The Dirt.

Or, if you want interesting, gang related stuff: Monster. About Kody Scott. One of the most notorious from LA.

b

[samsdmf]

'Vera' By Stacy Shiff is an excellent biography of Vladimir Nabokov's wife