American True Crime

Billy the Kid once said that he killed 22 men - one for each year that he lived. While it’s more likely that he only killed eight or nine, this young outlaw was clearly deadly. But his brief and brutal life reveals how his tragic existence led him into a life of crime. After growing up in poverty as an Irish immigrant in New York City and losing his father at a young age, Billy the Kid had to endure losing his mother when he was only 15.

America has always preferred heroes who weren't clean cut, an informal ode to the rugged individualism and pioneering spirit that defined the nation in previous centuries. The early 19th century saw the glorification of frontier folk heroes like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. After the Civil War, the outlaws of the West were more popular than the marshals, with Jesse James and Billy the Kid finding their way into dime novels.

Start Publishing Notes' Summary, Analysis, and Review of Nick Bilton's American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road includes a summary of the book, review, analysis and key takeaways, and detailed "about the author" section. Please note: This is an analysis and key takeaways of the book and not the original book.

Cops Aren't Such Bad Guys features a series of blogs I have written about cops and fatal shootings. As discussed in these blogs, most of these killings are actually justified, because of the use-of-force guidelines which cops follow in the face of a deadly threat. But this reaction is fueled by misinformation and sensational media coverage, while the cops involved in these shootings have their lives upended by extensive hearings and huge financial expenses. The chapters in this audiobook are designed to provide a more incisive look at the truth behind these fatalities.