Shawn Levy certainly captures the zeitgeist of the Rat Pack era in this tell-all (and sometimes tell too much) exposé. Full of juicy details, back stories, and illuminating character portraits about stars (and politicians) you thought you knew, be prepared to be shocked but thoroughly entertained. Some of the timelines of events were difficult to follow or seemed off, hence the 4 stars.

Well researched, well written. If you’re a fan of Las Vegas history, don’t pass this by. This is not just the story of five men who became paradigms for Las Vegas entertainment, but the stories of the city that was being built up around them. The photos are also quite excellent. Bravo!

Audible Audiobook

Great book

I found this book to be fascinating. It's the story of the star that was Frank Sinatra and of those in his orbit. The writing slips into idolatry at times, but it is undeniable that Sinatra was a star, a star of the type that has vanished from today's world. The parts dealing with Sinatra's "pals" are equally absorbing, especially that laying out the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. Davis had his flaws, of course, but what a talented and courageous man he was!

A damn good read! If your interested in the coolest gang of men ever to rule Vegas (hell, they put vegas on the map), than you'll love this book.

For those interested in Sinatra and his cronies this is a good book. There is much to be admired about Sinatra and some thing not to admire, but he was a immense talent. That is undeniable. In telling the "Rap Pack" story, Levy tosses in a lot of biographical material of all the other personalities involved.

Very interesting read, mostly because of the players, not the writing. For some reason, Mr. Levy felt the need to be quite vulgar at times, maybe because his subjects were vulgar at times. I will search for another account of the Rat Pack for my own library and divest myself of this one.

Trashy journalism at its best! A bygone era is effectively recreated as mini-biographies of all five of the principals are woven into the story (once you've met Lawford's mother, you'll understand why he turned into such a freak). Great bathroom reading.

Meh. Perhaps a bit more that a puff piece, but scarcely illuminating. (The "Confidential" is a misnomer). Levy is obviously a big fan of these guys, and it show. An interesting story, but probably more so of the era than the blokes, who often came across as arrogant pricks who didn't appreciate everything being handed to them.

7/10

enjoyable read, what a story

What led me to this book is my curiosity as to how Sammy Davis Jr. was treated by this lot. Levy's detail and lingo made me feel like a fly on the wall or a sixth member. I'd never thought one way or the other about Dean Martin but this book as made me a bit of a fan. Enjoyable read!

If you believe The Rat Pack was the pinnacle of sophisticated grown-up entertainment in the 20th century, as the author claims, this is the book for you. It’s not a hatchet-job of Frank Sinatra disguised as unauthorized biography like Kitty Kelley wrote, but the “Confidential” in the title clues you in that it’s going to be dark ride, Clyde.

Booze + chicks + music + crappy movies + The Kennedys + mobsters = Come Fly With Me, Daddy-o!

I’m under 30 40, 50, just started getting AARP literature in the mail, Jeff. Just who is this Rat Pack?

Well, Ring-a-Ding-Ding, kids. During the shooting of the original movie, Ocean’s Eleven, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop would hang out on the stage of the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas and sing and cut-up and booze it up for the entertainment of guys who would give their right nut to be them and the “broads” who wanted to be with them. Everyone else was a “Harvey”. A square.

Sinatra was the puppet master, at the height of his popularity, a gifted singer, a decent actor when he cared enough and a bully. If you didn’t do it Frank’s way, you could hit the road, pally.

Dean Martin was the epitome of cool (or sheer indifference) and refined the drunkard-as-an-on-stage-persona routine.

Sammy Davis’s story is heartbreaking. Davis had to deal with years and years of some of the most virulent racism you can imagine. He would perform at a hotel/casino, yet couldn’t stay there or mill around in the lobby because of Las Vegas’s Jim Crow laws. Once he displeased Sinatra and had to literally beg on his hands and knees in order to be let back into the Pack.

Peter Lawford, British, was an iffy actorentertainer at best, but because he married Pat Kennedy, JFK’s sister, he was Sinatra’s ticket (or so he thought) to the White House. He guest starred on the Love Boat.

Joey Bishop was a comedian. He wrote some of the Rat Pack stage material. He ended up on Hollywood Squares, to the left of Paul Lynde.

There aren’t a lot of original stories here and most of them have been oft repeated elsewhere (fist fights, Marilyn Monroe, JFK, Sam Giancana, Frank Jr. gets kidnapped, etc.). The Rat Pack wasn’t the apex of show biz but as portrayed here, it seemed like fun. For your grandparents.

If you’re interested in the subject matter, it’s a not uninteresting gateway. Or you could just pick up a Sinatra or Dean Martin CD - the music - the real legacy.