Description
The Mad Ones – Crazy Joe Gallo and the Revolution at the Edge of the Underworld – Paperback Book
The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe Gallo and the Revolution at the Edge of the Underworld by Tom Folsom is a fascinating dive into the life of one of the most colorful figures in the history of the American Mafia, Joe Gallo. This non-fiction book explores the tumultuous life and times of Gallo, often known as ‘Crazy Joe,’ who was notorious for his eccentric behavior and attempts to overthrow the established Mafia hierarchy in New York City during the 1960s.
Tom Folsom presents a vivid portrayal of Joe Gallo, a gangster who was both a charismatic leader and a feared criminal. The book delves into Gallo’s involvement in the Profaci crime family wars, his role in the cultural and social movements of the time, and his connections with the bohemian and celebrity circles, including his relationships with figures like Jerry Orbach and other famous personalities.
The Mad Ones paints a picture of Joe Gallo as more than just a mobster; it depicts him as a rebel within the underworld, who saw himself as a sort of revolutionary. The book also explores the influence of the era’s counterculture on Gallo, highlighting how he blended the beatnik and hippie lifestyles with his life as a mobster, which made him an unusual figure in organized crime.
The narrative captures the gritty atmosphere of New York City’s underworld and the chaotic life of crime, while also providing insights into the broader societal changes happening in America during the 1960s. Folsom uses extensive research and interviews to bring depth to the characters and settings, offering readers a detailed look at the complexities of both the individual and the criminal landscape he inhabited.
The book has been praised for its engaging and fast-paced narrative that reads like a novel, yet is grounded in thorough research and factual accuracy. Readers and critics alike have appreciated the detailed historical context and the lively, rich descriptions that Folsom employs to bring this notorious figure and his world to life.
For those interested in true crime, mafia history, or the social dynamics of the 1960s, ‘The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe Gallo and the Revolution at the Edge of the Underworld’ is a compelling read. It not only explores the life of a significant figure in the history of organized crime but also provides a window into how the Mafia intersected with broader cultural and societal movements of the time. This book is a captivating exploration of one of the most turbulent periods in New York City’s criminal history, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.
The Mad Ones chronicles the rise and fall of the Gallo brothers, a trio of reckless young gangsters whose revolution against New York City’s Mafia was inspired by Crazy Joe Gallo’s forays into Greenwich Village counterculture.
Crazy Joe, Kid Blast, and Larry Gallo are steeped in legend, from Bob Dylan’s eleven-minute ballad “Joey” to fictionalizations central to The Godfather trilogy and Jimmy Breslin’s The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight. Called the toughest gang in the city by the NYPD, the Gallos hailed from the rough Red Hook neighborhood on the Brooklyn waterfront. As low-level Mafiosi, they were expected to serve their don quietly, but the brothers stood apart from typical gangsters with their hip style, fierce ambition, and Crazy Joe’s manic idealism.
Here, for the first time, is the complete story of the Gallos’ war against the powerful Cosa Nostra, an epic crime saga that culminates in Crazy Joe’s murder on the streets of Little Italy, where he was gunned down mid-bite into a forkful of spaghetti in 1972. The Mad Ones is a wildly satisfying entertainment and a significant work of cultural history.
ISBN – 9781602861244
Cover – Soft
Pages – 268
