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American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset Audiobook
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(3.98) - 321 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The true story of super-criminal Jon Roberts, star of the documentary Cocaine Cowboys. American Desperado is Roberts’ no-holds-barred account of being born into Mafia royalty, witnessing his first murder at the age of seven, becoming a hunter-assassin in Vietnam, returning to New York to become--at age 22--one of the city’s leading nightclub impresarios, then journeying to Miami where in a few short years he would rise to become the Medellin Cartel’s most effective smuggler. But that’s just half the tale. The roster of Roberts’ friends and acquaintances reads like a Who’s Who of the latter half of the 20th century and includes everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Richard Pryor, and O.J. Simpson to Carlo Gambino, Meyer Lansky, and Manuel Noriega. Nothing if not colorful, Roberts surrounded himself with beautiful women, drove his souped-up street car at a top speed of 180 miles per hour, shared his bed with a 200-pound cougar, and employed a 6”6” professional wrestler called “The Thing” as his bodyguard. Ultimately, Roberts became so powerful that he attracted the attention of the Republican Party’s leadership, was wooed by them, and even was co-opted by the CIA for which he carried out its secret agenda. Scrupulously documented and relentlessly propulsive, this collaboration between a bloodhound journalist and one of the most audacious criminals ever is like no other crime book you’ve ever read.
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"What a fascinating audio book to listen to .you wont be able to stop listening to it because Jon (Riccobono) Roberts was the EVIL Forrest Gump. Roberts and Wright weave a narrative spanning many cultural eras that was as disturbing as entertaining. His insights into the life of a child of an old school gangster who witnesses his father casually commit murder grow into the life long criminal who is now trying to raise his son not to be like him is captivating. If you enjoyed Goodfellas, Platoon, French Connection, Miami Vice, or American Made this book has something for you"
— Ian (4 out of 5 stars)
American Desperado Listener Reviews
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" very good read about the cocaine buisness . If you watched the documentory Cocaine cowboys you will love this book !!! "
— Paul, 2/12/2014 -
" ** the best best book I've read in a long time. "
— Spencer, 1/26/2014 -
" Really engrossing read about the life of a truly evil man. I'm honestly not sure if I believe all of it, hell, I'm not sure the author did, but it's makes for a compelling story whether it is or not. "
— Ajay, 1/25/2014 -
" So this book was interesting for a while, but then you start to feel like you're just listening to some dude brag incessantly about how much of a bad ass he is. At the beginning of the book he Roberts states that he wrote it to set the record straight for his son, but who wants their son to read about how he used to skin people alive in Vietnam? I'm all for brutal honesty but Roberts doesn't seem to regret anything. He's clearly a psychopath and proud of it.. I felt like I needed a shower and a good comedy after this read.. If I wanna hear war stories I'd go to an AA meeting.. "
— John, 1/5/2014 -
" The best true crime memoir I've read so far "
— Wayne, 11/27/2013 -
" Guy is a total sociopath....fascinating. "
— Veronica, 11/24/2013 -
" I love the action in this book. If you like Maria stories, this is a good one for you. Got this book through Good reads and very much appreciate it. "
— John, 10/28/2013 -
" The cocaine cowboys of the 80's is awesome to learn about. It was amusing to learn that the coast guard was buying boats off the same man building the boats for the Colombians. Also about how to properly dispose of a body in the ocean. "
— Stephan, 10/10/2013 -
" Very scary how this guy lived his life, "evil is stronger than good." It was a very interesting book. "
— Steve, 9/18/2013 -
" Even if only 65% of this book is true, this guy lead an amazing life. "
— Mike, 6/7/2013 -
" Fascinating insight into the cocaine business in the 80s "
— Bill, 4/3/2013 -
" I agree with Gervais' comments. The narrative is too repetitious and becomes boring. I have read much better books on the cartels and the mafia. I cannot understand why it is a bestseller. Fortunately, I borrowed it from our public library. I did not like the style, windy. "
— Jacquelinelborda, 2/11/2013 -
" Wasn't the best book I've read, but interesting with a lot of repetitive statements. "
— Shandra, 11/1/2012 -
" I hate to admit I really enjoyed reading this book. Though overly violent, aggressive and illegal for my taste it must have been the shock factor that kept me hooked. I can't believe people actually lived (still live) like this! An interesting read. "
— Joleen, 9/3/2012 -
" Unreadable crap "
— Davehbo, 8/14/2012 -
" VERY detailed...almost too much. But it is a very interesting read. "
— Amy, 12/6/2011
About the Authors
Jon Roberts is the man considered most responsible for bringing cocaine into the United States during the era in which the Medellín Cartel flourished. He is a central figure in the documentary Cocaine Cowboys, which has been watched by millions.
Erik Davies is an accomplished audiobook narrator and voice-over actor. His stage credits include G.R. Point, Unpublished Letters, and Flats Fixed. Some of his television and film appearances include ER, Third Watch, and a starring role in the hit indie comedy High Society: A Pot Boiler. His audiobook narration has won three AudioFile Earphones Awards.
About the Narrators
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.
Erik Davies is an accomplished audiobook narrator and voice-over actor. His stage credits include G.R. Point, Unpublished Letters, and Flats Fixed. Some of his television and film appearances include ER, Third Watch, and a starring role in the hit indie comedy High Society: A Pot Boiler. His audiobook narration has won three AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Mark Deakins is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and actor whose television appearances include Head Case, Star Trek: Voyager, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His film credits include Intervention, Star Trek: Insurrection, and The Devil’s Advocate. He wrote, directed, and produced the short film The Smith Interviews.
Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.
Steve Kramer is a prolific voice actor. Known for his work in anime, he has voiced characters in various Power Rangers series, including the voice of Darkonda in Power Rangers in Space.
Johnathan McClain is an American actor, voice-over talent, and Earphones Award–winning narrator. He pursued stage acting in New York for a number of years and has appeared in many television series, including Law & Order: SVU, Medium, Scoundrels, and CSI: Miami. He also has several narration credits, including Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series and Jeremy Logan novels by Lincoln Child.
Bahni Turpin, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and several prestigious Audie Awards for her narrations, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. Publishers Weekly magazine named her Narrator of the Year for 2016. She is an ensemble member of the Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. She has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, Cold Case, What about Brian, and The Comeback. Film credits include Brokedown Palace, Crossroads, and Daughters of the Dust. She is also a member of the recording cast of The Help, which won numerous awards.
Edoardo Ballerini, an American actor, director, film producer, and multiaward–winning narrator. He has won several Audie Awards for best narration, including for 2019’s Best Male Narrator of the Year. He was named by Booklist as winner of their 2023 Voice of Choice Award, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, from classics to modern masters, from bestsellers to the inspirational, from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners to spine-tingling series, and much more. In television and film, he is best known for his roles in A Murder at the End of the World, The Sopranos, 24, I Shot Andy Warhol, Dinner Rush, and Romeo Must Die. He is also trained in theater and continues to do much work on stage.