Mr Nice - Howard Marks

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 ...
...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 ...

Salgirl 03.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

...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 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

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) · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

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 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

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 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

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 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

Very intrigueing book. The book starts off in the days of his youth in Wales and carries on through his entire life experience. The book takes a look at the "Dope Smugglers" life through a series of stories told to you by Howard Marks himself and goes to great detail in all his life adventures. Starting off in the early days of his Oxford eduacation, to his involvement with the IRA, MI5 and cannabis smuggling industry. Each chapter gets its title ...
...for reasons of evasion from the autorities. Very amusing to read as most of the stories involve the foolish acts which can only take place under thee influence of cannabis. From the smuggling of cannabis into Ireland, Pakistan & the US from Columbia to the bogus businesses set up to hide the true money making scheme. Howard Marks is a true legend & from this book it can be seen just how intelligent the mastermind is, revealing all his little tricks ...

mike_ire 28.02.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

...out of my tree. But Mr Marks states that he was never in it to deal hard class A drugs just pot. He also makes it clear that at no time would he use or consider violence to make money. It truly is agreat story - don't buy boring celebrity autobiogs, buy the story of a man who has realyy lived. You may never have heard of him but his life is far more interesting than most famous peoples will ever be. Please give it a go and enjoy! ...

liammartin 24.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

Howard Marks, millionare dope smuggler a man with friends in the right places, this witty, well written autobiography tells the story of Howards life of crime. His charisma shines through and it easy to see how he got away with so much! hated by the authorities and loved by the public, you can read his introduction to the wonders of cannabis and how he became rich smuggling consinments of the drug and selling it for huge profits. You will laugh as ...

tyrone 07.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

Mr. Nice was certainly an eye opener for me! The first book in a long time that has captured me. Once started you will not be able to put this book down. An absolutely amazing story about one man from Wales, his international dope deals and on how it is to be on the wrong side of the law. This man’s personality is not what one would expect of a drug-dealer, he’s chilled out and easy-going. Am man who went to Oxford university, had connections ...

vicsterb 31.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks

oddly found in the departure lounge of east midlands airport. from the start to the finnish this was an incredable book. to be honest it was the first book i ever read from cover to cover. as im not a big reader of books and didnt really learn to read while i was at school. i could not put it down the more i read the more i wanted to read. all the way through i could see these things happening to him everything he discribed every word he wrote. for ...
...in its self there aint meny books that can keep my mind going as to want to read it. this one had me from the start and didnt let go till i had finnished it and when i had well i just put the book down went for something to eat then picked it back up and gave it another go once i had finnished a second time i that was it this man had got me so the more books he writes the more ill read ...

bozie1 03.02.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Mr Nice - Howard Marks