American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset Audiobook, by Jon Roberts Play Audiobook Sample

American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset Audiobook

American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset Audiobook, by Jon Roberts Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Mark Bramhall, Erik Davies, Mark Deakins, Kimberly Farr, Kirby Heyborne, Thomas Vincent Kelly, Steve Kramer, Meredith Scott Lynn, Johnathan McClain, Christina Rooney, others Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 11.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 8.38 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: November 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780307704658

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

168

Longest Chapter Length:

09:06 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

37 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

05:57 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

1

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

Overall Performance: 3.5625 out of 53.5625 out of 53.5625 out of 53.5625 out of 53.5625 out of 5 (3.56)
5 Stars: 4
4 Stars: 5
3 Stars: 4
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " very good read about the cocaine buisness . If you watched the documentory Cocaine cowboys you will love this book !!! "

    — Paul, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " ** the best best book I've read in a long time. "

    — Spencer, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The best true crime memoir I've read so far "

    — Wayne, 11/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Guy is a total sociopath....fascinating. "

    — Veronica, 11/24/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very scary how this guy lived his life, "evil is stronger than good." It was a very interesting book. "

    — Steve, 9/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Even if only 65% of this book is true, this guy lead an amazing life. "

    — Mike, 6/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fascinating insight into the cocaine business in the 80s "

    — Bill, 4/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Wasn't the best book I've read, but interesting with a lot of repetitive statements. "

    — Shandra, 11/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Unreadable crap "

    — Davehbo, 8/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 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

Mark Bramhall has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, more than thirty AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has repeatedly been named by AudioFile magazine and Publishers Weekly among their “Best Voices of the Year.” He is also an award-winning actor whose acting credits include off-Broadway, regional, and many Los Angeles venues as well as television, animation, and feature films. He has taught and directed at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.

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.

Kiff VandenHeuvel, voice talent and audiobook narrator, is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is an alumni of the Second City comedy theater. He is an accomplished improviser and sketch comedy director, and he teaches voice-over, improv, and directing at Second City Hollywood. He has appeared in hundreds of television and radio commercials and is well known in the video game community as the voice of Zachary Hale Comstock in Bioshock: Infinite.