You have to be tough, cold-blooded, and ruthless to survive in organized crime, and the same can often be said for many places in the real world.
A lot of people don’t believe you can make it to the top being a nice guy, and this book could be a great survivor’s guide on how to be a tough guy in slightly less tougher environments than La Casa Nostra.
Louis Ferrante was a former member of the notorious Gambino crew, and he’s now written the book “Mob Rules: What the Mafia Can Teach the Legitimate Businessman,” out now from Portfolio.
The book has received terrific reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, as well as from Nicholas Pileggi, screenwriter of GoodFellas and Casino, Fat George” DiBello, who was the “caretaker” of John Gotti’s social club during the high flying days of “The Teflon Don,” and Rita Gigante, daughter of another infamous mob boss, Vinnie “The Chin” Gigante.
So what does this book promise to teach you?
Here’s a few sample lessons: “Respecting the chain of command without being a sucker…Never bad-mouth the boss…Watch what you say every day…How to bury the hatchet – but not in someone’s head…,” as well as “Leave the gun, take the cannolis…and beware of hubris.” (Indeed the mob really knows the Godfather movies backwards and forwards.)
Years ago in Playboy, there was a great article written anonymously that had a bunch of mob maxims you could apply to the business world, quite a few I often follow myself.
Here’s a few I know very well: “Nothing weighs less than a promise.” “Misfortunes always come in by the door left open for them.” “When skating on thin ice, skate fast.” “Women, wind and luck soon change.” “If you must lie, be brief.” ”Treat a stranger as a friend. Trust them as you would a stranger.”
And of course, one last favorite: “Open your mouth and your wallet cautiously.”
