"A riveting account of the birth, ascendancy, and decline of the Mob as revealed through the life and letters of Meyer Lansky and recounted by S. J. Peddie and Lansky's grandson, Meyer Lansky II, who has established himself as one of the premier historians of organized crime in the first half of the 20th century. Both a fascinating story and an invaluable resource for anyone interested in America's criminal underworld, The Lansky Legacy is a must-read."
—Ed Falco, New York Times bestselling author of The Family Corleone
"Recently while at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, I was asked which mobster I would like to have lunch with, and my answer was Meyer Lansky—because of his organizational skills and mathematical genius in establishing casinos, but most of all his ability to work with the Italian Mafia to establish the National Crime Syndicate. This stellar book confirms my reasoning as to why I would choose to have lunch with Lansky above all others."
—Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, former undercover FBI agent and author of Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia and The Bonannos: A Century of Murder
"The authors have penned a standout work wrought from meticulous research and Meyer's
revealing inside information inclusive of the Lansky family dynamics, which make for a rich and
captivating narrative. . . . This is more than the biography of a mobster. It's a chronicle of a
bygone era that left an indelible impact on the ever-evolving American landscape."
—Phil Genovese, grandson of Vito Genovese and author of the award-winning novel The Grandfather Clause
"Meyer Lansky never left a paper trail. Fortunately, this book does. The Lansky Legacy deserves five stars and an offshore account. The writing is well-researched and engaging, and even the endnotes feel like they're hiding something. Highly recommended."
—Malcolm Kushner, author of The Official Book of Mob Humor
"A must-read for anyone interested in organized crime and the behind-the-scenes moves of those who control it. This seminal publication provides a fascinating look into the very private life of America's smartest, most powerful mobster of the 20th century, illustrating how he impacted our society today. Meyer Lansky, the inspiration for Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II, often acted in real life like a corporate chieftain rather than a street criminal. The extraordinary trove of family letters revealed by Meyer Lansky II and S. J. Peddie show how his grandfather built his empire in Las Vegas and especially Havana's lush casinos, only to lose it with Fidel Castro's Communist takeover. Most poignantly, this book shows how Lansky, for all his money and power, was often burdened with difficult family problems, nagging illness, and devastating setbacks in business. With new insights and shocking details, The Lansky Legacy is a riveting tale of how a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe launched an empire through a mix of criminality and sheer guile. It is a classic story of the best and the worst of the American Dream."
—Thomas Maier, author of Mafia Spies: The Inside Story of the CIA, Gangsters, JFK, and Castro
"The Lansky Legacy succeeds as both a historical document and a personal memoir. Through a
collection of deeply revealing letters, it presents a rare and intimate portrait of the legendary Mob financier Meyer Lansky, illuminating the contradictions of an American family bound by love and fractured by reputation, while offering insights into his humanity that history books and Hollywood portrayals have largely ignored. For readers fascinated by organized crime, 20th-
century American history, or family legacies shaped by controversy, this book is a poignant and
essential read."
—Chris Enss, New York Times bestselling author of Meet the Kellys: The True Story of
Machine Gun Kelly and His Moll Kathryn Thorne
"A brilliant and unique insight into one of modern history's most enigmatic characters. With
previously unseen detail, The Lansky Legacy is a must-read about a fascinating era."
—Francine White, arts journalist
"The Lansky Legacy is the first book I've read where Meyer Lansky is a real person. Through one-of-a-kind family letters and oral accounts that simply cannot be found anywhere else, Lansky is brought to life as much as a stranger you might sit down next to and have a heartfelt conversation with. This intimate portrait is a must-read for both fans of crime and anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the 20th century."
—Jonathan Lang, author of the graphic novel Meyer