Mr. Untouchable: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Heroin's Teflon Don

by Leroy Barnes and Tom Folsom

Book Overview

From inside the Federal Witness Protection Program, the "Black Godfather" chronicles the 1970s New York City underworld and the most devastating urban crime wave in history. 1962 LEROY "NICKY" BARNES... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159071041X
• ISBN13: 9781590710418
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Rugged Land Books
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Read

This is a great book tells how the drug trade was done when Heroin was King of New York before crack cocaine. Nicky Barnes could have been the Ceo of a Fortune 500 company with his business sense. but he went down the wrong road and it cost him 30 years of his life and Betrayal from his Women and his crew. i would highly recommend this book

Almost as if he is in the room with you...

This book is amazing. I was hooked as soon as I got into it, and it was a clear and direct read. The format and layout of the whole story was told so well. I would read this book over and over again if I had some more time to kill. Leroy Barnes is one ruthless but intelligent businessman.

BIGGER THAN LUCAS

IN MY YOUNGER YEARS OF VISITING HARLEM [1980-85]FOR "WHATEVER", I HEARD OF THE LEGEND OF NICKY BARNES IN THE STREETS. I HAD NOT HEARD OF MR LUCAS.THIS IS NOT TO MINIMIZE ANYONE. CLEARLY THOUGH, NICKY BARNES LEFT A BIGGER IMPRESSION IN STREET FOLKLORE.I HAVE NOT FINISHED HIS BOOK YET BUT I AM SURPRISED TO READ THAT HE WAS A SUCH A THINKER AND ORGANIZER.IN THE STREETS HIS NAME CONJURED UP ONLY FEAR. SOONER OR LATER WE ALL HAVE TO RENDER ACCOUNT TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY. MAYBE I AM DREAMING BUT I HOPE MR BARNES LACK OF REMORSE IN HIS BOOK IS TO SELL COPY AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE QUIET MOMENTS IN ALL OF OUR LIVES WHEN WE HAVE TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED IN A POSITIVE WAY TO SOCIETY AND TO OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. GETTING HIS STORY IN HIS WORDS AS EVENTS HAPPENED IS FAR MORE INTERESTING THAN SOME OF THE OTHER POETIC AND ROMANTIZED GANGSTER BOOKS FROM PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS AND WRITERS.

Nicky Barnes' Charisma Jumps off the Pages...

Nicky Barnes' "Mr. Untouchable: My Crimes and Punishment" is one of the most riveting books I've ever read. As CEO of Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute, I'm responsible for keeping abreast of the latest books on business. And yes, the drug trade is a business. Growing up around New York City during the 1970's, Nicky Barnes was a legend. Obviously, I'm not condoning the drug trade and Barnes' account is startling candid as he takes you through his rise, fall and redemption. Not only couldn't I put it down, it took precedence over all my other readings.You literally fall in love with the character despite his foibles. Some days after completing the book, I missed him. He was literally a compilation of the father, uncles and the street men who influenced my manhood. Yes, Barnes was a drug kingpin, but in the end, you see his humanity. It goes to show that even the most ruthless people in the world can be lovable. Edward S. Brown Core Edge Image & Charisma Institute, Inc.

cold and smart

Nicky was no sucker, and his life story as told here (he is currently in his 70s) shows that he never looked back on his life in regret. Unlike some criminals who write books full of self-loathing and pleas for forgiveness, Nicky's book reads like a mix between a gangsta novel and a criminal operations manual. Indeed, this will likely become one of the most widely read books among anyone interested in intricacies of thug life, and will be right at home on the shelf next to your Scarface DVD. On the other hand, smart law enforcement agents and scholars should also grab a copy as it is more insightful and certainly more interesting than most books out there on organized crime logistics. Controversial, entertaining, and yet highly educational- does it get any better than that?