NYPD: Stories of Survival from the World's Toughest Beat

by Studs Terkel

Book Overview

New York has always inspired larger-than-life tales and great writing -- but on the topic of cops and crime it provides more raw material than almost anywhere else. A long history of classic films, television hits, and of course, books, have turned the New York City Police Department into a symbol for the dark drama of urban police work. And the rich and colorful vein of literature which has grown up around this culture makes NYPD not only a gripping...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560254122
• ISBN13: 9781560254126
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 364 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Good stuff.

Any law enforcement officer or just one who likes to read about the beat will enjoy this story of cop tales. Good reading material.

telling it like it is...

As a native New Yorker from Brooklyn and an aspiring police officer candidate, I'm glad I picked up this book. It gave me some insight on what I'm going to be dealing with...the thugs out there don't care if you're black or white..they see blue. I really felt like I was sitting in the seat in the first chapter: "brooklyn bounce"..and the "buddy boys" chapter about the corrupt police officers...great read for anyone who likes true crime stories

Great read for those thinking of becoming a officer

The stories in this book tells the many different aspects of policing. From stories of ghetto cops,corrupt cops, draft riots, hero cops, and many more. I myself am planning to become a cop, and these stories help me realize what it takes and what i will be dealing with.If you are thinking of becoming a cop, or like cop stories, you must pick up this book, its simply great.

Covers a wide spectrum........

I've just started reading this book about 3 days ago and it's already given me much pleasure. As a police sergeant and a former NYC resident, I have to smile at the dry no bull section on ghetto policing and I'm in awe when I read the story about the draft riot in New York. It is hard to believe that the city was the stage of what amounted to an all out war within it's boundries!If you like police stories and you love New York, then I know you'll enjoy this one!

You won't be able to put it down, but you should know this -

it's a terrific book, with no weak stories, but they are NOT the ones listed above in the editorial review. Enlarge the cover photo - those are the writers you'll see. There's nothing by Maas, Wolfe, Stroud, Hellman, etc. I don't know where that other list came from. The stories included, though, are gritty and compelling. I liked the one by Joe Poss so much that I have already ordered a copy of his out-of-print book. I consider myself to have read a lot of NYPD stories and I had seen none of these before. The variety has always been the greatest thing about the Adrenaline series - my shelves now have many books I first "met" through this series. Anyway - no weak sisters here; it's all strong stuff, from the late 1800's to very current events (no WTC). There are 12 entries - three authors each wrote two, but you won't care - when the cops themselves write you feel like you're sitting next to them in the car. A great gift, one of the series' best volumes.