American Desperado: My Life as a Cocaine Cowboy. Jon Roberts and Evan Wright

Politics & Social Sciences

Roberts, Jon

Social Sciences

Ebury Press

In 2008 veteran journalist Evan Wright, acclaimed for his New York Times bestselling book Generation Kill and co-writer of the Emmy-winning HBO series it spawned, began a series of conversations with super-criminal Jon Roberts, star of the fabulously successful documentary Cocaine Cowboys. Those conversations would last three years, during which time Wright came to realize that Roberts was much more than the de-facto “transportation chief” of the Medellin Cartel during the 1980s, much more than a facilitator of a national drug epidemic. As Wright’s tape recorder whirred and Roberts unburdened himself of hundreds of jaw-dropping tales, it became clear that perhaps no one in history had broken so many laws with such willful abandon. Roberts, in fact, seemed to be a prodigy of criminality – but one with a remarkable self-awareness and a fierce desire to protect his son from following the same path. American Desperado is Roberts’ no-holds-barred account of being born into Mafia royalty, witnessing his first murder at the age of seven, becoming a hunter-assassin in Vietnam, returning to New York to become -- at age 22 -- one of the city’s leading nightclub impresarios, then journeying to Miami where in a few short years he would rise to become the Medellin Cartel’s most effective smuggler. But that’s just half the tale. The roster of Roberts’ friends and acquaintances reads like a Who’s Who of the latter half of the 20th century and includes everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Richard Pryor, and O.J. Simpson to Carlo Gambino, Meyer Lansky, and Manuel Noriega. Nothing if not colorful, Roberts surrounded himself with beautiful women, drove his souped-up street car at a top speed of 180 miles per hour, shared his bed with a 200-pound cougar, and employed a 6”6” professional wrestler called “The Thing” as his bodyguard. Ultimately, Roberts became so powerful that he attracted the attention of the Republican Party’s leadership, was wooed by them, and even was co-opted by the CIA for which he carried out its secret agenda. Scrupulously documented and relentlessly propulsive, this collaboration between a bloodhound journalist and one of the most audacious criminals ever is like no other crime book you’ve ever read. Jon Roberts may be the only criminal who changed the course of American history.

American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset

Wright, Evan

Crown

The true story of super-criminal Jon Roberts, star of the documentary Cocaine Cowboys. American Desperado is Roberts’ no-holds-barred account of being born into Mafia royalty, witnessing his first murder at the age of seven, becoming a hunter-assassin in Vietnam, returning to New York to become--at age 22--one of the city’s leading nightclub impresarios, then journeying to Miami where in a few short years he would rise to become the Medellin Cartel’s most effective smuggler. But that’s just half the tale. The roster of Roberts’ friends and acquaintances reads like a Who’s Who of the latter half of the 20th century and includes everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Richard Pryor, and O.J. Simpson to Carlo Gambino, Meyer Lansky, and Manuel Noriega. Nothing if not colorful, Roberts surrounded himself with beautiful women, drove his souped-up street car at a top speed of 180 miles per hour, shared his bed with a 200-pound cougar, and employed a 6”6” professional wrestler called “The Thing” as his bodyguard. Ultimately, Roberts became so powerful that he attracted the attention of the Republican Party’s leadership, was wooed by them, and even was co-opted by the CIA for which he carried out its secret agenda. Scrupulously documented and relentlessly propulsive, this collaboration between a bloodhound journalist and one of the most audacious criminals ever is like no other crime book you’ve ever read.

Biographies & Memoirs

Professionals & Academics

In 2008 veteran journalist Evan Wright, acclaimed for his New York Times bestselling book Generation Kill and co-writer of the Emmy-winning HBO series it spawned, began a series of conversations with super-criminal Jon Roberts, star of the fabulously successful documentary Cocaine Cowboys. Those conversations would last three years, during which time Wright came to realize that Roberts was much more than the de-facto “transportation chief” of the Medellin Cartel during the 1980s, much more than a facilitator of a national drug epidemic. As Wright’s tape recorder whirred and Roberts unburdened himself of hundreds of jaw-dropping tales, it became clear that perhaps no one in history had broken so many laws with such willful abandon. Roberts, in fact, seemed to be a prodigy of criminality – but one with a remarkable self-awareness and a fierce desire to protect his son from following the same path. American Desperado is Roberts’ no-holds-barred account of being born into Mafia royalty, witnessing his first murder at the age of seven, becoming a hunter-assassin in Vietnam, returning to New York to become -- at age 22 -- one of the city’s leading nightclub impresarios, then journeying to Miami where in a few short years he would rise to become the Medellin Cartel’s most effective smuggler. But that’s just half the tale. The roster of Roberts’ friends and acquaintances reads like a Who’s Who of the latter half of the 20th century and includes everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Richard Pryor, and O.J. Simpson to Carlo Gambino, Meyer Lansky, and Manuel Noriega. Nothing if not colorful, Roberts surrounded himself with beautiful women, drove his souped-up street car at a top speed of 180 miles per hour, shared his bed with a 200-pound cougar, and employed a 6”6” professional wrestler called “The Thing” as his bodyguard. Ultimately, Roberts became so powerful that he attracted the attention of the Republican Party’s leadership, was wooed by them, and even was co-opted by the CIA for which he carried out its secret agenda. Scrupulously documented and relentlessly propulsive, this collaboration between a bloodhound journalist and one of the most audacious criminals ever is like no other crime book you’ve ever read. Jon Roberts may be the only criminal who changed the course of American history. From the Hardcover edition.

True Crime

Random House Audio |

This issue-centered thematic reader presents a range of provocative and politically balanced readings from the left, the right, and the center of the current political spectrum by journalists, activists, theorists, academics, and policy makers. Accompanying questions and writing assignments teach students to think and write critically about the selections and the issues they represent.

Left, Right and Center: Voices from across the Political Spectrum

Reference

Atwan,Robert

Words, Language & Grammar

Bedford/St.Martin's

'Language Teacher Education' is an introduction to language teacher training and development for teachers and providers in pre-service and in-service programmes. The text outlines the main theories of human learning and applies them to teacher education. Based on a broadly social constructivist perspective, it suggests a framework for planning pre-service and in-service programmes, and is illustrated both with case studies from a range of training situations around the world and appendices containing teacher education materials. Language Teacher Education is intended to inform readers' practical decisions and to help them build their own theories of teacher learning.

Language Teacher Education (Hodder Arnold Publication)

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Routledge

This is an introduction to language teacher training and development for teachers and providers in pre-service and in-service programmes. The text outlines the main theories of human learning and applies them to teacher education. Based on a broadly social constructivist perspective, it suggests a framework for planning pre-service and in-service programmes, and is illustrated with case studies from a range of training situations around the world. There are also appendices containing teacher education materials.

Language Teacher Education

Hodder Education Publishers

Evaluation in ELT (Applied Language Studies)

This work aims to equip ELT teachers to deal with the types of evaluation they may be involved in during their professional lives: as agents of insider or outsider evaluations or as subjects of evaluation. It provides a framework of the field, a series of case studies illustrating types of evaluation and guidance on essential evaluation procedures. Based on the practical experience of the authors as insider and outsider evaluators of institutions, teacher education programmes, language courses, short training courses and ELT projects, the book should be of value as a guide for practitioners and as a coursebook for students of the field.

Evaluation in Elt (Applied Language Studies)

Weir, Cyril J.

Blackwell Pub.

This book equips readers to deal with the types of evaluation they may be involved in during their professional lives, as agents of insider or outsider evaluations or as subjects of evaluation. It provides a framework of the field, a series of case studies illustrating types of evaluation, guidance on essential evaluation procedures, and a comprehensive bibliography. Based on the practical experience of the authors as insider and outsider evaluators of institutions, teacher education programmes, language courses, short training courses and ELT projects, it will be of value as a guide for practitioners and as a coursebook for students of the field.

Weir, Cyril

Wiley/Blackwell

A beautiful, colorful picture book for children which gives insight into the world of autism. Kya goes to school with her best friend, Martha, who is also on the autistic spectrum but expresses herself very differently. While Kya is quiet in the class, Martha is talkative and asks lots of questions. Both enjoy the sensation of eating, but Martha doesn't understand that she can eat too much. Both like a bedtime routine, but while Kya can keep going until late at night, Martha knows when she is tired and takes herself to bed.

Through the Eyes of Us

Children's Books

Growing Up & Facts of Life

Graffeg

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Roberts, Jon. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Roberts, Jon

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Roberts, Jon. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

American Desperado: My Life as a Cocaine Cowboy. Jon Roberts and Evan Wright

American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset

American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset

American Desperado: My Life--From Mafia Soldier to Cocaine Cowboy to Secret Government Asset

Left, Right and Center: Voices from across the Political Spectrum

Language Teacher Education (Hodder Arnold Publication)

Language Teacher Education

Evaluation in Elt (Applied Language Studies)

Evaluation in ELT (Applied Language Studies)

Through the Eyes of Us