Epic! I don't normally read non-fiction, but after watching Narcos, I wanted to read more about Pablo Escobar. About halfway through I didn't want to finish because then I'd know what was going to happen in Narcos season 2. I can't believe the life Pablo led and the insane search for him! This book was a little hard for me to follow all the characters and names, but I'm bad with names in general.

Better than watching Narcos. Outstanding work of journalism that reads like a thriller novel.

Recommended!

Too much info-dumping spoiled the narrative flow. Some heavy editing was needed from mid-way onwards.

Better watch Narcos.

„Polowanie na Escobara” to interesująca książka o jednym z najbardziej kontrowersyjnych i mitycznych osób XX wieku – Pablo Escobarze, kolumbijskim baronie narkotykowym, który przez lata kształtował nie tylko historię Kolumbii, ale i światowy rynek narkotykowy.

Mark Bowden ukazuje Escobara jako postać pełną sprzeczności – brutalnego, ale charyzmatycznego, bezwzględnego, ale pełnego siły. W tej książce poznajemy nie tylko samego Escobara, ale także system władzy, korupcji i przemocy, które kształtowały życie w Kolumbii lat 80. i 90. XX wieku. Ciekawie przedstawione są również portrety ludzi, którzy stali za „polowaniem” na Escobara – zarówno tych, którzy go ścigali, jak i tych, którzy z nim współpracowali. Autorowi udaje się przenieść czytelnika w mroczny świat narkotykowego biznesu, pokazując jego wpływ na lokalne społeczności, politykę i gospodarkę.

„Polowanie na Escobara” to książka dobrze napisana, pełna rzetelnych informacji, zróżnicowanych źródeł i interesujących perspektyw. Książka łączy dokumentalizm z literacką narracją, trzymając w napięciu i angażując emocjonalnie. Gorąco polecam!

A fascinating and harrowing chapter of history. Another fast paced cracker from Mark Bowden (although not quite as good as Black Hawk Down, still really enjoyable and recommended).

-¿El enemigo de mi enemigo es mi amigo aunque sea mi enemigo?.-

Género. Novela.

Lo que nos cuenta. Relato breve del ascenso del narcotraficante Pablo Escobar hasta ser el líder del Cartel de Medellín y largo relato de los hechos que desembocaron finalmente en su muerte.

¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

The content of the book is good in terms of details and information, but the tone in which it’s written is biased and patronizing. Most of the statements have been historically proven and considered facts as of today but it lacks objectivity.

I was impressed with the reporting that this book would have required, especially for a U.S.-based author writing about Columbia's underworld. While Pablo Escobar remains a household name nearly two decades after his 1993 death, I knew almost nothing about his brutal life and the also brutal effort to kill him.

I know some readers criticized this book because it wasn't very fast-paced. In fact, it's very methodical, giving an in-depth look at the rise and ultimate fall of Pablo Escobar. While you may think you know this story, Bowden's book goes deep into the role of the US in bringing Escobar down and offers a better understanding of Escobar's influence on Bogota and the level of corruption among the police and courts, which helped Escobar avoid capture for many years. As someone who appreciates details, I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Before reading this book I knew, through popular media, that Pablo Escobar was a drug kingpen who lived lavishly while publicly evading the law but who eventually fell and was jailed or something. A conversation with a Colombian student of mine who was surprised that I didn't know more about this cocaine mafioso led me to Mark Bowden's narration of the events that led to Escobar's assassination.

Upon reading the first 100 pages, my opnion of Escobar evolved from a general disliking of the type of business he ran to a deep loathing of everything he did and how he justified it. Pablo Escobar didn't just excel at smuggling contraband to North America and Europe and knocking off the competition. When the government mounted a campaign to bring Escobar to trial, the crime boss started kidnapping prosecutors, bribing judges and setting off bombs in the Colombian capital. The authorities and political class became scared of him and the poor saw--and continue to see--him as a hero because of his ongoing philanthropy and ability to employ many among the desperate and destitute. It's the perfect recipe for impunity.

Bowden is not a master of literary technique, but the book reads like a good suspense novel with enough description of those involved to get emotionally invested in this true story. When Pablo finally is executed, there is a mixed feeling of relief and frustration. The Colombian and US forces celebrated a victory, but it came at a cost paid in human lives, compromised ethics and state-supported terrorism.

Very well researched and truly a page-turner kind of book. I didn't need to refer to other sources while reading and the investigation was not biased as I was expecting..

If you are interested in money laundering and illegal activities this book will be a very good real life case study, it gets exciting with every chapter towards the end of the story.

Highly recommended.

Mark Bowden is an American writer and author. He has been The Distinguished Writer in Residence at The University of Delaware since 2013. He is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and also a National Correspondent for The Atlantic. Another famous book by Bowden is "Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War".

Mark Bowden does an excellent job of telling the story of the hunt for Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar. The story of Pablo's life and his meteoric rise to the top of the Colombian drug trade is very reminiscent of the rise to power of many American mafia dons with just as much murder, mayhem, and corruption.

I read this book after seeing the History Channel documentary and learned even more from the book. The "chase scene" at the end of the book is riveting and it felt like I was reading a novel instead of a non-fiction book.