Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Warring Prison Cartels Carving up Ecuador
Book Recommendations
The Underworld Podcast
Underworld exposes the secret world of transnational criminal networks that have flourished since there were banks to bust, drugs to smuggle, and scams to run. Journalists Danny Gold and Sean Williams bring their experience reporting on dangerous people and organizations to take listeners on a globa...
Episodes
133
Books
34
Recently mentioned
Latest Recommendations
The Art of War (Deluxe Hardbound Edition) (Fingerprint! Classics)
Sun Tzu
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Warring Prison Cartels Carving up Ecuador
Guerrilla Warfare by Guevara, Ernesto Che (2013) Hardcover
unknown author
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Warring Prison Cartels Carving up Ecuador
Tokyo Vice
Jake Adelstein
Mentioned 1 year ago
Fentanyl & Dirty Cash: How Chinese Money Launderers Took Over the Narco Underworld
To Have and Have Not (Scribner Classics)
Ernest Hemingway
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Legend of Bum Farto and the Florida Keys Cocaine
Kilo
Toby Muse
Mentioned 1 year ago
Colombia's FARC Guerillas: From Revolution to the Golden Age of Cocaine w/Toby Muse
The Gangs of New York
Herbert Asbury
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Westies, Psycho Killers of Hell's Kitchen and the Last of the NYC Irish Mob
The Westies
T. J. English
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Westies, Psycho Killers of Hell's Kitchen and the Last of the NYC Irish Mob
Great Shark Hunt 1ST Edition Gonzo Papers Volume 1
Hunter S Thompson
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Westies, Psycho Killers of Hell's Kitchen and the Last of the NYC Irish Mob
Drugs Unlimited
Mike Power
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Rise and Fall of the Dark Web Fentanyl King
American Kingpin
Nick Bilton
Mentioned 1 year ago
The Rise and Fall of the Dark Web Fentanyl King
The Last Narco
Malcolm Beith
Mentioned 1 year ago
EL MAYO ARRESTED! Was he betrayed by Chapo's son?!?!
Most Recommended
Burma In Revolt
Opium And Insurgency Since 1948
Danny Golds highlighted the book as a massive, comprehensive look at Burma’s opium trade and insurgency since 1948, noting its extensive coverage and catchy title. He mentioned having read it during the discussion, indicating it as a noteworthy resource for understanding the region's conflict history.
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Episode: The Headhunting Burmese Tribe Running the World's...
It is a book about Burma, with a focus on opium and insurgency.
"
I was reading Bertolt Lintner's book. It's a massive Burma book, has the coolest title ever, which is Burma In Revolt, Opium and Insurgency since 1948.
American Warlord
A True Story
The host highlighted that a writer was working on a new title that serves as a prequel to Narcotopia, noting it as a great title and linking it to the ongoing discussion. The mention was brief and positive, focusing on the upcoming nature of the work.
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Episode: The Headhunting Burmese Tribe Running the World's...
This book is being written by David Lawit, and covers a story that is sort of a prequel to Narcotopia.
"
There's a writer named David Lawit's who I consider it sort of a creative partner we reach others work and share information everything he's writing a book called American Warlord great title.
The Art of War (Deluxe Hardbound Edition) (Fingerprint! Classics)
In the episode, the host recounted that President Daniel Noboa listed the book among his favorite and "default" reading material alongside Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. The mention highlighted the president's appreciation for strategic and philosophical works, but no further analysis was provided by the podcast.
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Episode: The Warring Prison Cartels Carving up Ecuador
President Daniel Noboa mentioned this book as one of his favorites, along with Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. He cited them as his "default" reading material.
"
He said, Sun Tzu, Art of War, and Marcus Aurelius, The Dialogue.
Drugs Unlimited
The Web Revolution That's Changing How the World Gets High
The book was highlighted as a resource for understanding how the internet reshaped the narcotics industry, especially the rise of online drug markets. Danny Gold recommended it to listeners, calling it a very cool look at the digital transformation of the trade. The discussion positioned the title as a key reference for anyone interested in the web's impact on drug distribution.
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Episode: The Rise and Fall of the Dark Web Fentanyl King
It was discussed in relation to the internet's impact on the drug trade, specifically how it transformed the narcotics industry.
"
If you want to know more about this stuff by the way, check out Mike Power's Drug 2.0, very cool book about how the internet transformed the narco industry.
American Kingpin
The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road
In the episode, Danny Gold recommended the book as a compelling account of Ross Ulbricht's rise and fall, noting its gripping and entertaining narrative. He described it as a pulpy thriller that offers good fun while illuminating the Silk Road saga. The discussion highlighted its appeal as both informative and enjoyable for listeners interested in the dark web.
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Episode: The Rise and Fall of the Dark Web Fentanyl King
It was recommended as a good read about the rise and fall of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, and was described as a gripping, entertaining thriller.
"
Nick Bilton's American Kingpin is a great read about the rise and fall of Ulbricht and it's pretty pulpy thriller good fun but of course
The Gangs of New York
An Informal History of the Underworld (Authoritative Illustrated Edition)
Host Danny Gold referenced Herbert Asbury’s classic, The Gangs of New York, calling it a beloved source for foundational New York City history. The book was used to provide essential historical context, tracing the lineage back to the original NYC gangs while discussing the modern Irish Mob. It was presented as an authoritative and respected text for those interested in the city’s underworld history.
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Episode: The Westies, Psycho Killers of Hell's Kitchen and...
It was referenced as a source for information about the original gangs in New York, providing historical context for the episode's topic.
"
I kind of I love the New York City history stuff going back to the original gangs in New York book by Herbert Asbury.
The Westies
Inside the Hell's Kitchen Irish Mob
The book was highlighted as the definitive source on the Westies gang, with Danny Gold describing the author as one of the best old‑school crime writers in New York. He noted that the episode relied heavily on its detailed history and praised it as the main reference for accurate information.
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Episode: The Westies, Psycho Killers of Hell's Kitchen and...
It was mentioned as the definitive source on the Westies gang, providing detailed information about their history and actions, and was heavily relied upon by the podcast.
"
One of the guys I think he was probably the best crime writer in New York like that, like Herbert Asbury, whose books we always use as sources is TJ English. His book is actually the definitive source on The Westies.
You won't find a better old school crime writer than him by his book. I used it as probably the main source in this episode.
But when you read articles about The Westies, some of them don't even mention that fact.
In the book, English does go into this.
I think English mentions this is that kind of like at this point, he's clinically insane.
Great Shark Hunt 1ST Edition Gonzo Papers Volume 1
The hosts briefly mentioned the title while discussing a Thompson article that mocked Norman Mailer’s failed Aspen mayoral run, noting that the book contained the piece where Thompson dismissed Mailer as an idiot. Their comment was limited to that context and did not constitute a recommendation.
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Episode: The Westies, Psycho Killers of Hell's Kitchen and...
It was briefly mentioned while the podcasters discussed the journalistic rivalry between Jimmy Breslin and Norman Mailer, as the podcasters discussed an article that Thompson wrote about Mailer.
"
It's funny because I was just reading this great Shark Hunt by Hunter Thompson and he mentions Mailer running in this Rolling Stone article where he tries to run for mayor of Aspen and he kind of writes Norman Mailer off as an idiot for going for such a big city and losing badly.
Courage To Believe
Sean Williams casually mentioned Courage To Believe while discussing the distinctive publishing style often used for British gangster memoirs. The book was cited as an example of the trend, specifically noting its physical attributes like "size 24 font" and a striking red title, grouping it stylistically with other works popular in the genre.
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Episode: The Fugitive British Gangster Instagramming His Cr...
This book was mentioned alongside 'Putting the Boot In' as being a book with large font and a red title, published in a similar style to Dave Courtney's other work.
"
Biographies with size 24 font with red titles like Avernit Large or Putting the Boot in this kind of thing
Kilo
Inside the Deadliest Cocaine Cartels―from the Jungles to the Streets
During the episode, Danny Gold praised the book as the best overall work on the cocaine trade in Colombia, noting its comprehensive coverage of cartels and drugs. He also mentioned that a new Spanish edition was forthcoming, emphasizing its status as a definitive resource for listeners interested in the subject.
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Episode: Colombia's FARC Guerillas: From Revolution to the...
It was described as the best overall book about the cocaine trade in Colombia and was mentioned multiple times throughout the podcast. A new Spanish version was also mentioned to be coming out.
"
which is, for my money, the best overall book on the cocaine trade in Colombia.
I think a new Spanish version is coming out.
Best book about cocaine and Colombia out there, if you ask me.
His book Kilo has been out for a couple of years now.
Probably the best book on on the cartels and drugs in general.
Shadowlands
A Journey Through Britain's Lost Cities and Vanished Villages
During the episode, the hosts recalled the title as a fantastic work they had previously discussed, praising its exploration of Britain's lost cities and vanished villages. Danny Gold and Josh Berlinger both expressed enthusiasm, describing it as a standout recommendation for listeners. The overall tone was strongly positive.
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Episode: The Kingpin Behind Asia's Triad Super-Syndicate Ca...
It was mentioned as a previously published book by Patrick Nguyen that has been previously discussed on the podcast. It is about the Wah.
"
But his old one, what was it? Shadowlands is, is fans. Hello, Shadowlands.
Hello, Shadowlands. It's fantastic. We've talked about it before.
To Have and Have Not (Scribner Classics)
In the episode, the host noted that a character from the novel was based on Hemingway's boat pilot and fishing companion, Joe Russell, offering a brief insight for listeners familiar with the author. The mention served as an informational tidbit rather than a recommendation, and no further evaluation of the title was provided.
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Episode: The Legend of Bum Farto and the Florida Keys Cocai...
It was mentioned that Freddy, a character from the novel, was based on Joe Russell, Hemingway's boat pilot and fishing companion.
"
In case anyone listening is a Hemingway fan, Russell is actually the model for Freddy in his novel To Have and Have Not.
Tokyo Vice
An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan
In the episode, the host highlighted that they had interviewed the author of the new release and discussed its relevance to the show's focus on crime and finance. They also referenced a growing friendship with journalist Megan Twohey, underscoring the book's insider perspective. The conversation conveyed strong enthusiasm for the title.
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Guerrilla Warfare by Guevara, Ernesto Che (2013) Hardcover
The book was referenced in a discussion about Che Guevara, noting that it was among his many writings. The hosts mentioned Jon Lee Anderson's 1997 profile of Guevara and listed the title as part of his bibliography. No detailed analysis was offered, indicating a brief, casual mention.
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Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.