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An Offer We Can't Refuse:

The Mafia in the Mind of America
Front Cover
2 Reviews
Faber & Faber, Jan 23, 2007 - Social Science - 438 pages
"Invites Italian-Americans of all backgrounds to the family table to discuss how mob-related movies and television shows have affected the very notion of what their heritage still means in the 21st century." --Allen Barra, The New York Sun

"A detailed, textured meditation. Whether De Stefano is summarizing causes of 19th-century Italian immigration, sketching the Mafia's origin in Sicily, or dissecting the appeal of Hollywood mobster characters, he catches links to evolving capitalism, discomfort with modern society, psychological urges for strong father figures, and other complex topics not usually addressed by opponents of Mafia pop culture. [De Stefano] provokes hard thought about why the Mafia, to the exclusion of almost every other dimension of Italian American life, stays lodged in 'the Mind of America.'" --Carlin Romano, The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Fascinating." --James F. Sweeney, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

"Not a history of organized crime but a study of how we think about organized crime, more precisely about Italians and crime. . . Valuable and interesting." --Elliott J. Gorn, Chicago Tribune

"A thoughtful, thorough analysis." --Renee Graham, The Boston Globe

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Review: An Offer We Can't Refuse: The Mafia in the Mind of America

User Review  - Edward Stevens - Goodreads

Excellent and original study of the history of the "Mafia myth" in American pop culture from early films like "Little Caesar" and "Scarface" to "The Sopranos." The author covers a lot of ground, from ... Read full review

Review: An Offer We Can't Refuse: The Mafia in the Mind of America

User Review  - Nicole G. - Goodreads

A must-read for anyone interested in the "mafia culture" portrayed in movies such as The Godfather trilogy and shows like The Sopranos; both of the aforementioned merit their own chapters in the book. Totally engrossing and written in an engaging style Read full review

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About the author (2007)

George De Stefano is a journalist and critic who has written extensively on culture for numerous publications, including The Nation, Film Comment, and Newsday.

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