5 Books about Las Vegas–from the Mob to the Neon Lights
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This post may contain affiliate links or Google Ads and we may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no additional cost to you and helps with our website expenses.
Books about Las Vegas
Las Vegas: An Unconventional History
by Michelle Ferrari and Stephen Ives
Discover the unconventional history of Las Vegas with this comprehensive and entertaining book. Learn about the unique and surprising background of the city that made it so famous.
From its modest beginnings as a railroad town to its current status as an international destination, you’ll be astounded by all the interesting stories, facts, and events that have shaped Las Vegas into what it is today. This book provides an engaging and well-researched look at how one small city has become one of the most iconic cities in the world.
This coffee table book has a variety of images that include vintage poolside photographs. One complete chapter covers the involvement of the Mob in Las Vegas. This history also includes information about the Rat Pack, marriage mills, and neon-suffused architecture.
For more information on this book or to purchase click here: Las Vegas: An Unconventional History
When the Mob Ran Vegas: Stories of Money, Mayhem and Murder
by Steve Fischer
This book is a riveting true-crime nonfiction look into the darker side of Las Vegas during its golden era, when the Mob ran the town. Experience a firsthand account of the mob’s rise to power in Las Vegas.
It details the explosive growth and eventual decline of Las Vegas through an inside look at the mob’s scheme to make money and gain control. It covers everything from crime bosses who used violence, bribery, and intimidation to get what they wanted, to how they created some of the first-ever casinos in Vegas.
Vegas in the 1950s and 60s was (and still is) the hottest spot in the Mojave Desert. This behind-the-scenes look at the Mob, celebrities and the people is an attention grabber. The book includes stories about big names like Frank Sinatra, Harpo Marx, Sam Giancana, Meyer Lansky, Carolos Marcello, and Frank Costello.
For more information on this book or to purchase click here: When the Mob Ran Vegas: Stories of Money, Mayhem and Murder
Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman’s Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas
by John L. Smith
This is an incredible and detailed look into the life of one of the most influential figures in Las Vegas. This book tells the remarkable story of Oscar Goodman – from his days as a mob mouthpiece, to his time as mayor of Las Vegas.
It provides a unique glimpse into the heart and soul of a man who changed the face of Las Vegas for decades to come.
With vivid detail, Of Rats and Men reveals how Goodman’s often controversial decisions turned Las Vegas into the city it is today. It also examines his personal struggles along the way, including dealing with mob controversies, racism, and political scandals.
The illustrious Mayor Oscar Goodman spent over three decades defending some of the most notorious crime figures in Las Vegas. He defended Anthony Spilotro, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Rosenthal, to mention just a few. This book describes how Goodman rose from a modest childhood in Philadelphia to become the “happiest mayor in America.”
For more information on this book or to purchase click here: Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman’s Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas (True Crime)
The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America
by Sally Denton and Roger Moris
This is a must-read book for anyone interested in exploring the history of Las Vegas. Written by award-winning journalist Sally Denton, this book dives deep into the city’s history and its impact on American culture. Comprehensive insight into Las Vegas – From its origins as a small desert outpost to its rise as a world-renowned entertainment capital, The Money and the Power provides readers with an in-depth look at how Las Vegas has shaped our nation’s identity.
American history would not be complete without including the incidents and individuals involved in the history of Las Vegas. The power of Vegas cannot be overestimated. Las Vegas thriving economy was under the control of a handful of influential and commanding men. This played a major role in the United States’ economy and politics.
This ambitious and jarring investigative history explores the little-known history of Las Vegas and how the city grew with notorious criminals and eccentrics into an empire of gambling and tourism. Organized crime and corrupted police all played a central role to Las Vegas’ economic boom.
For more information on this book or to purchase click here: The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America
The Grit Beneath the Glitter
by Hal Rothman and Mike Davis
The Grit Beneath the Glitter: Tales from the Real Las Vegas is a captivating and eye-opening collection of stories about life in the notorious city of sin. Through a series of interviews, essays, and personal accounts, this book provides an authoritative look at what it’s really like to live in Las Vegas.
Readers will be transported to the gritty underbelly of the glitzy city, and gain an understanding of its hidden depths. The Grit Beneath the Glitter offers an immersive look into the city, through touching stories and intimate conversations with locals who have experienced it all.
Taking readers into a look of Las Vegas from the inside out this book reflects on how Vegas became one of the most celebrated cities in the world. Seeing Vegas as the locals do, where they live, work, attend school it separates the fantasy and glitter from everyday real life.
Long-time citizens and professionals talk about the transformation of Vegas. You can get a sneak peak at the world that employees experience when they enter casinos–from the parking lot to the glitter of the casinos themselves.
For more information on this book or to purchase click here: The Grit Beneath the Glitter: Tales from the Real Las Vegas.
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