Organized Crime

Organized Crime is a social bad, that harms people and the economy. Yet it is also a phenomenon that goes beyond the profit motive, involving rituals, norms of behaviour, and codes of conduct. This book by Danesi and Nicaso is an excellent general introduction to the topic, that also sheds light on several neglected aspects of this phenomenon. A text well worth reading.

Federico Varese, Author of Mafia Life, Professor of Criminology, Oxford University

At long last, a book that combines the rigour of an academic text with the accessibility and page-turning qualities of some of the best works of literary non-fiction covering the Mafia. In Nicaso and Danesi's latest offering, we once again see their non-traditional and multidisciplinary approach to exploring the cultural underpinnings and rituals of organised crime and their place both within not only larger and complex social and legal structures but also within the popular imagination. The format of this book also allows for quick reference as needed, making it ideal as a course text for those criminology courses out there focusing on not only the Mafia per se, but also any groups recognized as being adherents to the "traditional" organised crime model.

Dr. Michael Arntfield, Criminologist & Homicide Scholar, Western University, Canada

Like many people, I am, I must confess, both drawn to and repelled by certain types of organised crime, at least in terms of what I see in the movies and elsewhere. The family bonds in The Godfather draw me in, I never wanted Sonny to die like that, the slaughter in Al Pacino’s Scarface repels me. The news most nights tell me that organised crime is behind most of society’s ills. But what’s behind the emotional (and sometimes glamorous) images and the headlines. Organised Crime: A Cultural Introduction by Antonio Nicaso and Marcel Danesi explains fully. This interdisciplinary approach to the subject of organised crime is a truly fascinating read which will be an eye-opener for scholars and students across a range of disciplines including criminology, sociology, anthropology and psychology. Academic authority, cultural and semiotic sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the subject matter shines through this important book.

Professor Geoffrey Beattie, Edge Hill University, UK

Organized Crime is a social bad, that harms people and the economy. Yet it is also a phenomenon that goes beyond the profit motive, involving rituals, norms of behaviour, and codes of conduct. This book by Danesi and Nicaso is an excellent general introduction to the topic, that also sheds light on several neglected aspects of this phenomenon. A text well worth reading.

Federico Varese, Author of Mafia Life, Professor of Criminology, Oxford University

At long last, a book that combines the rigour of an academic text with the accessibility and page-turning qualities of some of the best works of literary non-fiction covering the Mafia. In Nicaso and Danesi's latest offering, we once again see their non-traditional and multidisciplinary approach to exploring the cultural underpinnings and rituals of organised crime and their place both within not only larger and complex social and legal structures but also within the popular imagination. The format of this book also allows for quick reference as needed, making it ideal as a course text for those criminology courses out there focusing on not only the Mafia per se, but also any groups recognized as being adherents to the "traditional" organised crime model.

Dr. Michael Arntfield, Criminologist & Homicide Scholar, Western University, Canada

Like many people, I am, I must confess, both drawn to and repelled by certain types of organised crime, at least in terms of what I see in the movies and elsewhere. The family bonds in The Godfather draw me in, I never wanted Sonny to die like that, the slaughter in Al Pacino’s Scarface repels me. The news most nights tell me that organised crime is behind most of society’s ills. But what’s behind the emotional (and sometimes glamorous) images and the headlines. Organised Crime: A Cultural Introduction by Antonio Nicaso and Marcel Danesi explains fully. This interdisciplinary approach to the subject of organised crime is a truly fascinating read which will be an eye-opener for scholars and students across a range of disciplines including criminology, sociology, anthropology and psychology. Academic authority, cultural and semiotic sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the subject matter shines through this important book.

Professor Geoffrey Beattie, Edge Hill University, UK