nd makes the decisions and has the most money and respect, then the underboss, the capo, who is the communicator and the go-between, then the soldiers, the front men, who are the corrupt bookies. Each family also runs legitimate and illegitimate activities. Legitimate activities might be labor unions, meat distribution, or operations on the waterfront, while illegitimate activities consist of things like bootlegging and prostitution. "Underboss" also related to the class in other ways, through the power structure and relations of a crime family, through the basic themes of organization crime, as well as the characteristics that define organized crime - job specialization, restricted membership, and corruption for example. Mainly, one of the parallel themes between the book and the things that I have learned in class are the six categories of crime, easily applied to the Gravano crimes - illicit services, illicit goods, conspiracy, the penetration of legitimate business, extortion, and corruption. In conclusion, "Underboss" is a good reading and applicable to our class. It is an interesting story of crime and corruption that has significance to the lessons of Organized Crime and is relevant to the class work this semester. The book tells a true crime tale that is authentic and real. The author tells Gravano's story with irony and truth. The story is very familiar, but the author, along with Sammy the Bull, puts a new spin on it and keeps it appealing. In short, "Underboss" brings new blood to an old crime....
