Product Description

During the mid-1980s, Marks had 43 aliases and 25 companies, all laundering money from 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5518 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 466 pages

Customer Reviews

Sorry not another "best book ever" review
There's no doubting Howard Marks has done and achieved some amazing things in his life. However, after the account of his Oxford background has passed, I found the book - due to its nature - often drifted into tale after tale of fake passports and opening bank accounts. Some of the amazing characters Howard meets on his travels and some of the events and scenes he witnessed are rushed over to keep the smuggling theme as the emphasis of his tale. This of course is completely understandable, but at times it reduces the fluency of the book in my opinion.
Despite the claim on the front of the cover, I did not always like Howard Marks. His constant justification that weed is "harmless and beneficial" may be true but it belies the fact that smuggling leads to misery and violent terror for many further down the line, as did many of the groups that Marks dealt and associated with. Likewise, I don't see that money laundering, deceit, and purposely cheating the courts of justice make a likeable guy. Marks may be intelligent and charismatic, but Mr. Nice? I don't think so.

Boring Boring Boring
I have read many books on crime and i wasn't feeling this book. Its not very gripping and very cliche in places that makes me question how much of it is true. I dont find Mr marks appealing through his writings and in the end ya couldn't care less what he gets up to, Its bit like when you talk to a really boring person that has a interesting subject but the way they express it leaves you wanting to slap them. It has no flow at all.

If your teenage boy i guess this book might have some magic but if you know about drug culture or have read or watched dvds on same kinda subject then this book will do nothing for you.

Mr Nice vs High Times
Yes ok, so we are all by now very familiar with Mr Nice. Mr Mark's particular angle is of course extremely charming and entertaining. I would advise however to read his biography "High Times" which tells his stories in a different light. This will allow you to draw your own conclusions to how much fact vs fiction there may bwe in the portrayal of his life and crimes.