Born to Kill: The Rise and Fall of America's Bloodiest Asian Gang
Throughout the late eighties and nineties, a gang of young Asian refugees cut a bloody swath through New York's Chinatown. They were the lost children of the Vietnam War, severed from their families by violence and cast adrift in a strange land. Banding together under the leadership of a megalomaniacal young psychopath, David Thai, they took their name from a slogan they had seen on helicopters and the helmets of U.S. soldiers: "Born to Kill." For a decade their empire was unassailable, built on a foundation of fear, ruthlessness, and unimaginable brutality--until one courageous gang brother helped bring it down from the inside.
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T. J. English is a noted journalist and author of the New York Times bestsellers Havana Nocturne, Paddy Whacked, The Savage City, and Where the Bodies Were Buried. He also authored The Westies, a national bestseller; Born to Kill, which was nominated for an Edgar Award; and The Corporation. His journalism has appeared in Esquire, Vanity Fair, Playboy, and New York magazine, among other publications. He lives in New York City.
"A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. ...This book is must reading for anyone with an interest in the enduring effects of the Vietnam War, the subject of crime in our streets, and the issue of personal responsibility in a harsh, chaotic world."--Le Ly Hayslip, author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places
"An alarming portrait... smoothly readable."--Kirkus Reviews
"A vivid look at the exotic world of Asian organized crime and one young man's attempt to escape it....The book has the dramatic force of a novel and the satisfying shape of a story well told."--Library Journal
"An unforgettable account...essentially a crime story, it also explores themes of displaced humanity and unattainable American prosperity, as well as the Asian experience in America....an intriguing glimpse into the historically clandestine world of organized crime."--Booklist
"Hard-hitting...torrid and fascinating...Born to Kill is a fine piece of work, an involving read about an important subject."--Austin Chronicle
"T.J. English has hit the bullseye again."--Publishers Weekly
"A revealing, exciting read. ...A must for anyone interested in the emerging multiethnic face of organized crime in the United States."--Washington Post Book World
"Entertaining, exciting... puts a spotlight on an aspect of the Vietnamese-American experience that enriches understanding of our complex society."--Oakland Tribune
