Tony Soprano's America: The Criminal Side of the American Dream

Hit Man. Family Man. Drug Dealer. Devoted Dad. Meet Tony Soprano - the chilling mob boss and central character of the popular HBO series The Sopranos . To millions of viewers, Tony is the "good guy," the solid provider who nevertheless commits nearly every crime conceivable - all the while maintaining a loyal fan following. Tony has defined for us an entirely new, if skewed moral code. Tony Soprano's America looks at the relationship between the American Dream and the manner in which we pursue it. Like Tony, can we do the effectively expedient thing without sacrificing honor? Must we be held accountable for our behavior? In this fascinating look at the social and family dynamics of Tony's life and at the societal problems that surround it - crime, drugs, infidelity, gambling, corruption, and their wide-reaching effects - writer and criminologist David Simon takes the reader through all aspects of crime in America: from the streets to the boardroom, and from the local hood to far-reaching international syndicates. With penetrating insight, Simon challenges us to hold up a mirror to ourselves, to make better sense of our fascination and worship of those like Tony who not only use criminal acts to take shortcuts to the American Dream, but who also get away with it.THIS BOOK WAS NOT PREPARED, LICENSED, APPROVED, OR ENDORSED BY ANY ENTITY INVOLVED IN CREATING OR PRODUCING The Sopranos TELEVISION SERIES