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Sharks in the Desert | 
 enlarge | Author: John L. Smith
Publisher: Barricade Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $8.99
You Save: $15.96 (64%)
New (26) Used (18) Collectible (1) from $4.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 99765
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6 x 1.6
ISBN: 1569802742
Dewey Decimal Number: 979.3135
EAN: 9781569802748
ASIN: 1569802742
Publication Date: October 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW BOOK! + Fast Shipping - Independent Bookstore Many Best Of Awards During Past 25 Years.
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Product Description
The story of the evolution of the gambling racket from mobbed-up vice to corporate success story as told through the biographies of the men who made it happen.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Sloppy, Fragmented and Unfocused March 21, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a book that appeals to no one. If you're not already familiar with Vegas history, it is not a good place to start. And if you already know something about Vegas, it will not teach you anything new.
In theory, the structure of this book seems like a good idea -- devote a chapter each on the movers and shakers who built Las Vegas. The problem is that they all influenced each other, so separating them results in an arbitrary, fragmented, sometimes difficult-to-follow, narrative. Even the chapters themselves tend to jump back and forth in time and place. Structurally, the book just doesn't work.
Then there's the problem of sketchy information. Smith doesn't go into great detail explaining the why's and how's of events, leaving the reader with a great longing to know more about the individual characters of these men and what makes them tick. If you're looking for some good dish on Vegas -- which is what the snappy title promises -- there are better choices.
Compounding the reader's frustration are the numerous typos, spelling, and grammatical errors. Smith either had no editor or edited this himself. It feels like a first draft in serious need of a major rewrite and fact checking. It's difficult to believe Smith makes a living as a journalist. He must have a good editor at the Review/Journal.
 The Real McCoy. March 5, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book gives you the real story behind the Vegas gaming legends. Nobody does justice to this topic like John L. Smith. His research is impeccable.
 It delivers on the title but in a less than thrilling way October 30, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is a fun read if you are someone who is familiar with Las Vegas. The book indeed delivers on what the subtitle, "..The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas" states. Each chapter is more or less devoted to discussing a specific person and the impact they had on setting the stage for the evolution of Las Vegas. I imagine those of you who have never been infatuated with Las Vegas will want to pass on this one.
Based on some of the anecdotes, it seems amazing that some of the Vegas hotels are still open today. The mobsters and the so called "straight laced" owners who ran (or still run) the hotels come off as either extremely brilliant or totally incompetent. It is no wonder that most of the Strip hotels have all been swallowed up by one or two companies. The author also seems to question if some hotels are completely honest when it comes to gaming.
The problem I had with the book was perhaps I was expecting something more chronological and dramatic. Instead, the book is like a compilation of old newpaper columns that are all put together in one place(of course, maybe that is not a surprise since the author is a newspaper reporter). Much like other books of that nature, the reading becomes almost repetitive and seems easier to take over a long haul rather than a week or two of reading cover to cover. Also note that there are a few typos and errors that make it seem like someone did a spellcheck with a computer rather than really proofreading it.
If you can stick with this type of book, you will probably enjoy it. Now this is the first book about Las Vegas I have read so I can not compare it to anything but I've got to believe there is probably something a bit more compelling.
Las Vegas history: from mob to corporate March 16, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The complete saga of Las Vegas from its early roots with the mob to modern corporate times is presented in a lively history of the city's real rulers in SHARKS IN THE DESERT: THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND CURRENT KINGS OF LAS VEGAS. Many made their fortunes developing the casino business the city is most famous for today - but many myths have surrounded their activities - myths which columnist Smith dispels in an investigative history which tracked mobsters and their connections to the city's rich and monied.
Great book and great shipping time February 17, 2006
2 out of 8 found this review helpful
I received this book almost right away. It's a very good summary of the people of Las Vegas written by someone who knows, John Smith.
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