... He manages to make Mr. Lovato appear an amateur. When he is finally busted, Craig is able to get his own back. And he takes it out on not just him, but his wife and family too.
I liked this book enormously, because it's an extremely well written book that charts the highs and invariable ... Read review
During the mid 1980s Howard Marks had forty three aliases, eighty nine phone lines and ... more
owned twenty five companies throughout the world. Whether bars, recording studios or offshore banks, all were money laundering vehicles serving the core activity: dope dealing.
During the mid-1980s, Marks had 43 aliases and 25 companies, all laundering money from ... more
dealing cannabis. After a world-wide operation, he was arrested and sentenced to 25 years at a State Penitentiary in Indiana, but was released in 1995 after serving seven years. This is his own story.
What an extraordinary fellow Howard Marks is. His autobiography takes him from his South ... more
Wales childhood and Oxford University education through his life dealing marijuana and the enormous mythology that accrued around what the tabloids called "the English Toff Drugs King of the World". This book is called Mr Nice after one of the many aliases Marks's life as a merchant of pot obliged him to assume, but it describes him perfectly too: the epitome of British niceness, the nicest international criminal you could hope to meet. It's not hard to see why this has become a cult book--Marks is a brilliant version of a mate down the pub, telling you the gobsmacking stories of his many adventured life. The writing is direct and the narrative will detain you as comprehensively as Marks himself was detained for seven years at Terre Haut Penitentiary, Indiana. He was released the same day as Mike Tyson. "I had," he observes mildly, "been continuously in prison for the last six-and-a-half years for transporting beneficial herbs from one place to another, while he had done three years for rape." Truly there is no justice; but there are eye-popping adventures, hilarious touches and a thorough-going wisdom in this excellent book. --Adam Roberts
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
What an extraordinary fellow Howard Marks is. His autobiography takes him from his South ... more
Wales childhood and Oxford University education through his life dealing marijuana and the enormous mythology that accrued around what the tabloids called "the English Toff Drugs King of the World". This book is called Mr Nice after one of the many aliases Marks's life as a merchant of pot obliged him to assume, but it describes him perfectly too: the epitome of British niceness, the nicest international criminal you could hope to meet. It's not hard to see why this has become a cult book--Marks is a brilliant version of a mate down the pub, telling you the gobsmacking stories of his many adventured life. The writing is direct and the narrative will detain you as comprehensively as Marks himself was detained for seven years at Terre Haut Penitentiary, Indiana. He was released the same day as Mike Tyson. "I had," he observes mildly, "been continuously in prison for the last six-and-a-half years for transporting beneficial herbs from one place to another, while he had done three years for rape." Truly there is no justice; but there are eye-popping adventures, hilarious touches and a thorough-going wisdom in this excellent book. --Adam Roberts
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
With sales of Howard's autobiography, Mr Nice, exceeding 600,000 in the UK alone, at long ... more
last Howard's celebrated stand-up show is released on DVD.Mr Nice - The DVD, features interviews with Howard and friends, exclusive backstage footage and captures for the first time life on the road with Howard Marks.
Advantages: Excellently writte. Funny. Sad. And at last, the truth Disadvantages: Only if you disapprove of cannabis
Depending on your viewpoint on the use of cannabis, you will either tut loudly all the way through, or have a right good belly laugh. Either way, this is a highly entertaining and informative look at the world of drug smuggling.
Howard Marks still possesses his slow, rather deep and drawling Southern Welsh accent, and if you've heard his voice the once you can clearly hear it telling you his stories.
Stories about growing ... ...of academia and universities; the gradual drift into the world of quick money drug dealing; the friendships that would haunt him in later life.
The relationships forged in his early years of the 1960's helped Howard get a toe hold into a very lucrative market. By a gradual process of networking he comes into contact with a variety of people who are ready, willing and able to help him set up the necessary chains. Some are decent, some ... more
Depending on your viewpoint on the use of cannabis, you will either tut loudly all the way through, or have a right good belly laugh. Either way, this is a highly entertaining and informative look at the world of drug smuggling.
Howard Marks still possesses his slow, rather deep and drawling Southern Welsh accent, and if you've heard his voice the once you can clearly hear it telling you his stories.
Stories about growing up a intellectually gifted child; his rise to the world of academia and universities; the gradual drift into the world of quick money drug dealing; the friendships that would haunt him in later life.
The relationships forged in his early years of the 1960's helped Howard get a toe hold into a very lucrative market. By a gradual process of networking he comes into contact with a variety of people who are ready, willing and able to help him set up the necessary chains. Some are decent, some aren't. Howard's wonderful narrative describe the characters beautifully, but the one who will stick in anyone's mind after reading the book is the magnificently mental Jim McCann. The out-of-control Irishman who boasted connections with the IRA appears frequently and hilariously throughout the book. Although no-one would laugh in front of him, obviously.
Howard is such a genial sort of bloke that it's hard to slap the Major Criminal or Public Enemy No.1 labels on him. That, however, is ultimately what happens to him when he incurrs the wrath of one DEA agent, Craig Lovato. This is a Drug Enforcement Agent who takes his job seriously, and Howard's impish successes made Craig take it personally. It starts off as quite a laugh as Howard skips in and around, disguised with false names and appearances. He manages to make Mr. Lovato appear an amateur. When he is finally busted, Craig is able to get his own back. And he takes it out on not just him, but his wife and family too.
I liked this book enormously, because it's an extremely well written book that charts the highs and invariable lows of being a drug dealer. Some of the myths that have grown up around Howard are effectively dismissed by simple explanation. Yes, he had been offered work by MI5 (so hilariously inept it's almost a Carry On script), but not to the extent that was suggested when he was arrested. The infinitely more sinister IRA link is explained away with the introduction to Jim McCann. Of course he had dealings with the CIA and The Mafia, how can you not when dealing with Americans and their drug culture?
Howard Marks might not cut such a dramatic figure without the hype, but he certainly comes across as a well-meaning, humourous, clever, loving husband and father, and proves that he's no drug-ravaged, depraved, evil Baron.
He might have had 43 aliases, 25 world-wide trading companies and just under 90 phone lines, but a more straight-forward and downright nice guy, you couldn't wish to meet. Especially if you've got just the right amount of money in your pocket...
Advantages: Funny, fast, exciting Disadvantages: Should we really make a hero of Howard?
...throughout the book), of which Mr Nice was one. He also had over eighty phone lines going, and owned 25 'respectable' companies which traded dope throughout the world. Throughout it all, he smoked his product constantly, which sort of refutes the claims of the anti-marijuana brigade that the stuff makes you lazy/incapable/slow.
Howard justifies his profession with his belief that marijuana is not harmful, and attempts to separate himself totally ... ...he will not knowingly deal or mix.
Indeed, the only harm the drug seems to do to Howard is that it ends up getting him jailed for 25 years (of which he serves 7) in Terre Haute Penitentiary, Indiana, after being extradited from Spain. During this time he remains an enterprising soul and takes the opportunity to get himself a degree in law.
Along the way to prison, Howard gets involved with MI6, the CIA, the IRA and the Mafia, and a host of almost ...
sandrabarber 03.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks
Advantages: Good Read Disadvantages: high level of details
Mr Nice Is the autobiography of Howard Marks an international Dope Smuggler. The story is a bit of commedy the way it is written. Howard is so blaze about everything it is all matter fo fact.
Each Chapter is titled according to howards Current Name in the story, for example Master Marks is when he was at Oxford University Studying and Marco Polo Is when he was Mistaken for a mafia Drug Barron.
Howard Knew what he was doing was wrong but justified ... ...harm it wasnt like he was supplying crack or heroin.
Howard Travelled the world meeting people Like Malik from Pakistan on of his main suppliers to a daft Lord In the Philipines who ends up doublecrossing him to the DEA. Ammusing stories about when howard and Co got off their heads all over he world.
The story ended after him getting extradited from his house in Spain to America where he was prosecuted with dodgy evidence and was framed for a lot.
...
richardjmeek 05.01.2001 (06.01.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks
Advantages: An Excellent, Intelligent, Thought-provoking, Honest read. Disadvantages: Sags a bit in the middle but picks up again as soon as he is in prison!
I found this book to be excellent! It was a really enjoyable read. Howard Marks puts across his entire life in a completely honest and genuine way. He is clearly a likable man and no matter what he has done you really can't help but be on his side! The fact that the basis of this book is his life involved with Cannabis did not really occur to be as a bad point within this book as it is told with such charm, wit, honesty and integrity that he could ... ...I would still find him a brilliant writer and man.
This is not an easy-to-read stoners book, it is a detailed journey of Mark's life and (as I quickly established) he is not a man with no brains who smokes weed, he is incredibly insightful, clever, funny and intellectual. When he gets to prison I really felt emotion as I read. He takes you right inside with him and leaves you feeling the emotions he went through.
I really would recomend this book ...
Caroline202 02.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks
Advantages: Easy to read, fast paced, clever Disadvantages: Sometimes long winded, rather big headed
Overall I would say this is worth a read if you have some spare time on your hands whilst on holiday or a lazy sunday with nothing to do. The book is well written and Howard Marks certainly is a likable character. He comes across as someone who can get on with anyone from any walk of life.
The start of the book is set in Wales during is childhood. He has lots of amusing stories to tell as the book moves through his teenage years and into his early ... ...seems to me he certainly wants the reader to know that. However, once he gets into the cannibis smuggling tales it turns into one long monolog of deals all over the world over and over. The first few times are interesting, of how he worked them out and conducted them, but after a while it becomes a little repetitive and boring. He seems to be boasting a little about all these huge deals. I am indifferent to the fact that it was illegal, its just ...
Will77 06.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks
Advantages: Well written, intelligent, descriptive and emotional Disadvantages: Glamorises drug abuse and smuggling
I do believe truth can be stranger than fiction. I have just read this book, and it is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It is the story of Britains' best known cannabis smuggler, Howard Marks, his remarkable life, his operations and eventual incarceration.
The thing that strikes you about this book, and the way it is written, is how intelligent,shrewd and emotional this book is. It covers his life from childhood, right the way ... ...it is written is very descriptive and evocative, the places he has visited and his knowledge are all so well written and descriptive. If you are not at least sympathetic to his cause by the end of the book then you are a colder person than I am.
The book details his various operations, his family life and prison. It is incredible how this Oxford graduate ended up with over 40 aliases, 25 legitimate businesses, and links with the mafia,MI5, the IRA ...
mrbibbly 05.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks
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Advantages: Interesting, insightful and funny! Disadvantages: Depends on your standpoint regarding drugs
HowardMarks was born in a small Welsh coal-mining village called Kenfig Hill in 1945. For those of you who've never heard of this village (of which I'm sure there are many!!) it is situated near Bridgend, South wales. He was fortunate enough to win a scholarship to study at Oxford University and it was at Oxford that a young Howard was introduced to 1960's drug culture and more importantly, cannabis. Little did he know that this introduction would be the start of a journey culminating in his becoming 'the most sophisticated drug baron of all time' (Daily Mirror) via links with the British Secret Service and the IRA amongs others' along the way!! Truth is indeed stranger than fiction!!
Published by Vintage in 2001, The HowardMarks Book Of Dope Stories was an eagerly awaited release and came five years after 'MrNice', Marks ...
Advantages: opens your eyes to the goings on surrounding drugs Disadvantages: none its a great read
this was the second of books i have read from howardmarks the first of which was mrnice and both where what id call excellent reading for both non users and users of drugs although most stories in this book take some time to understand well it just means you have to read it again and again and the more you read the better it gets moeny of the stories are from diffenrent people from around the world and was supprized to see a story in thre from a town only a few miles away called skateboards and methadone although i have not taken the methadone i have used a skateboard on this road. i have found this book to be a great insight into the world around me and the things that go on if i was asked by anyone about this book i would tell everyone to just simply read it ithink most people weather they have relaxed veiws on drugs or strong veiws ...
Product Information for "Mr Nice - Howard Marks" »
Product details
Author
Howard Marks
Title
Mr Nice
Genre
Biography
Type
Non-Fiction
ISBN
0436203057; 0436203901; 0749395699; 3933806003
Manufacturer's product description
The extraordinary story of Howard Marks who, at the height of his "career" was smuggling consignments of up to 50 tons of hashish from Pakistan and Thailand to America and Canada. He had contacts with organizations as diverse as MI6, the CIA, the IRA and the Mafia.
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