Over the weekend, I attended a book talk and author signing at Tiny Raccoon Books in Sayville, NY. I made the 45-minute drive for two reasons—first, I love supporting small, local bookstores on Long Island. And second, I was on the hunt for my next read. When I saw an author coming to town to discuss a book about organized crime on the Lower East Side in the early 1900s, I knew I had to be there. For those wondering why this topic piqued my interest, I was a political science major in college with a concentration in criminology—and I spent a lot of time researching organized crime.
The Incorruptibles: A True Story of Kingpins, Crime Busters, and the Birth of the American Underworld by Dan Slater delves into the criminal underworld of the era and how those on the Upper East Side sought to dismantle these enterprises that threatened their communities. However, their interference had unintended consequences, ultimately paving the way for new mobsters who exploited reform efforts to seize power.
The intimate setting at Tiny Raccoon Books provided the perfect atmosphere for a thought-provoking Q&A session with the author. Since I hadn’t yet read the book at the time of the event, I was especially interested in hearing what inspired Slater to explore this topic and the depth of research that went into it. As someone who has studied organized crime, I’m eager to dive into the book and further examine how pre-World War I crime syndicates set the stage for future criminal enterprises. On a personal level, I also look forward to comparing these historical accounts with the stories my grandmother—who lived on the Lower East Side in the 1920s—shared with me.
From an advocacy perspective, one aspect of the discussion that stood out to me was the conversation around immigration and community care. The late 1800s saw one of the largest mass migrations to the United States, followed by forty years of isolationism. Some of the themes in The Incorruptibles mirror political debates we’re having today and highlight historical patterns that may offer valuable lessons for our current discourse.
Whether you’re a fellow Long Islander or live elsewhere, I highly recommend engaging with and supporting your local independent bookstores. These spaces are vital to our communities, fostering meaningful conversations and keeping our dollars local.
Have you ever attended a book talk that left you thinking about history in a new way? I’d love to hear about your favorite reads or events in the comments!
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