Doctor Dealer: The Rise and Fall of an All-American Boy and His Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Empire
Who Would Like This Book:
If you're a fan of true crime that reads like a novel, this one's for you! Mark Bowden dives deep into the double life of Larry Lavin - a dental student turned notorious coke dealer - with a real knack for getting inside his subject's head. Expect plenty of wild anecdotes, complex characters, and a fascinating look at how someone can charm, hustle, and stumble their way from Ivy League respectability to criminal infamy. Anyone who enjoys psychological portraits and morally gray stories will find this book hard to put down.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers might be put off by the pacing, especially since the buildup is much more detailed than the latter part of Lavin's downfall. Others have noted discomfort with the handling of race and gender in the book - Bowden's language and portrayals at times feel dated or lacking in nuance. If you're looking for a crime thriller packed with action or gritty violence, you might find this story of suburban, white-collar rebellion a bit too tame.
About:
'Doctor Dealer: The Rise and Fall of an All-American Boy and His Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Empire' by Mark Bowden is a gripping account of Larry Lavin's transformation from a successful dentist with an Ivy League education to a notorious drug kingpin in Philadelphia. The narrative delves into Lavin's rise in the drug trade, his complex relationships with his wife and associates, and his attempts to launder money through legitimate businesses. Bowden's writing style is described as engaging and captivating, providing an in-depth look at Lavin's life and the intricate web of crime he was involved in.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book may contain high content warnings due to its exploration of drug abuse, violence associated with drug dealing, and potentially troubling portrayals of race.
From The Publisher:
By the early 1980s, Larry Lavin seemed to have everything going for him: he was a dentist with an Ivy League education and thriving practice, a beloved father to a young family living in one of Philadelphia's most exclusive suburbs. But behind the façade of his successes was a dark secret-he was also controlling a cocaine empire that spread from Miami to Boston to New Mexico that was generating over $60 million in annual sales. In Doctor Dealer, journalist and best-selling author Mark Bowden tells the saga of Lavin's rise and fall with a gripping, novelistic narrative style that has won him international acclaim.
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Doctor Dealer: The Rise and Fall of an All-American Boy and His Multimillion-Dollar Cocaine Empire?
About the Author:
Mark Bowden is the author of thirteen books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Black Hawk Down. He reported at the Philadelphia Inquirer for twenty years and now writes for the Atlantic and other magazines.
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