What people are saying
Jim Agnew's
Picks...
"My Fall From Grace: City Hall to Prison Walls by James J. Laski (Author House) A true-crime must read. Jim Laski takes us on a long journey...start of crime, execution of crime, implicated in his crime and finally his indictment, confession and sentencing and his time in prison. This outstanding book stands alone with the chapters on the U.S. Atty's office in Chicago. "
"I thought your book was extraordinarily compelling --the chapter that I found particularly riveting was your description of the cognitive 'retraining' -about which there has been so little discussion particularly from the point of view of an inmate who's experienced this from the inside. I wanted to thank you for this -- and for having the courage as well as the very great skill to have put this onto paper."
"a truly landmark book. It is the first written by an "insider" to expose the seamy underside of Chicago politics."
"a gripping personal narrative of a man who, as the title suggests, suffered a tragic downfall, due to his accepting bribes in the city's infamous Hired Truck Program scandal."
"Should be mandatory for all political science students."
""Laski draws out his side of the story in this well written book. Laski breaks it down so that anyone can understand and provides a new perspective on the path from politician to inmate."
"The chapters about Daley are worth the price of the book. Nothing goes down in Chicago without Daley knowing about it. Nothing."
"My Fall From Grace: City Hall to Prison Walls by James J. Laski (Author House) A true-crime must read. Jim Laski takes us on a long journey...start of crime, execution of crime, implicated in his crime and finally his indictment, confession and sentencing and his time in prison. This outstanding book stands alone with the chapters on the U.S. Atty's office in Chicago. "
"I thought your book was extraordinarily compelling --the chapter that I found particularly riveting was your description of the cognitive 'retraining' -about which there has been so little discussion particularly from the point of view of an inmate who's experienced this from the inside. I wanted to thank you for this -- and for having the courage as well as the very great skill to have put this onto paper."
"a truly landmark book. It is the first written by an "insider" to expose the seamy underside of Chicago politics."
"a gripping personal narrative of a man who, as the title suggests, suffered a tragic downfall, due to his accepting bribes in the city's infamous Hired Truck Program scandal."
"Should be mandatory for all political science students."
""Laski draws out his side of the story in this well written book. Laski breaks it down so that anyone can understand and provides a new perspective on the path from politician to inmate."
"The chapters about Daley are worth the price of the book. Nothing goes down in Chicago without Daley knowing about it. Nothing."
Dead People Voted
Absentee ballots changed. Petitions were round-tabled. Who was involved in the “Hired Truck" scandal? How much did Daley know? But most importantly, did someone in City Hall help the Feds get Laski? After becoming City Clerk, the second-highest ranking elected position in Chicago, he helped a friend make hundreds of thousands of dollars. That same friend, as he learned on September 18, 2005, had worn a wire and carried a hidden camera for the FBI. This betrayal led to Laski’s ultimately being sentenced to a West Virginia federal prison on September 11, 2006, and to a confrontational and controversial drug program. All in all, over forty people were indicted in the “Hired Truck Program" scandal, and five, including Laski, sent to federal prison. This is the story of one unfortunate man’s fall from grace.
Order online now from the Author House Site
Jeff was very frank and straight-forward.
He came right out and said, “Jim, your political career is over. You've done a lot of good things in office and you probably could have been Mayor some day, but it's done now.” I didn't know what to say; I felt as if I'd just gotten a cold shower...At that point, the reality finally hit home: no matter what, I was going to prison.
Order online now from the Author House Site
Order online now from the Author House Site
My Fall From Grace
City Hall to Prison Walls is the story of James J. Laski, Jr., former Chicago City Clerk, and his fall from the second-highest elected position in the city to his incarceration in a West Virginia federal prison for his role in the infamous Hired Truck Program scandal. It is the story of big city politics, betrayal at both political and personal levels, and the dehumanization of federal prison and its drug and rehabilitation program. This book takes readers where many have never been before: literally behind City Hall walls and prison gates, to tell a truly inspiring tale of success, downfall, faith, and survival.
Why does America's most powerful mayor, Chicago's Richard M. Daley, NOT want you to read this book? Why has the government BANNED (view the letter here) it from all federal prisons across the country? Read My Fall from Grace: City Hall to Prison Walls for the answers to these questions--and MORE!
Click here to view TV interviews of Jim.
Order online now from the Author House Site
Why does America's most powerful mayor, Chicago's Richard M. Daley, NOT want you to read this book? Why has the government BANNED (view the letter here) it from all federal prisons across the country? Read My Fall from Grace: City Hall to Prison Walls for the answers to these questions--and MORE!
Click here to view TV interviews of Jim.
Order online now from the Author House Site
