Alan Sakowitz’s book arrived on my doorstep just as I began to digest the whole Bernie Madoff reality. I was confused: how can a man swindle folk out of a billion dollars and end up n jail? How does one like Madoff NOT plan for the get-a-way day? How does a man with a billion dollars get caught and sent to jail. Man… just a small percentage of that Madoff loot would’ve set me straight, I thought to myself. And just when I thought I’d heard enough, Miles Away… Worlds Apart winds up in my mailbox.
I loved everything about this book. It is well-conceived, well-written, and Sakowitz meets Scott Rothstein who makes Alan an offer he can’t refuse. Rothstein offers to let Sakowitz in on a sweet business arrangement which will net the latter a fist-full of money. Everything appears too legit to quit, Rothstein is living the life of the rich and famous, and even has famous friends and political allies. Yet, something doesn’t add up for Sakowitz, who starts asking questions. Before long, Sakowitz realizes Rothstein is nothing more than a crook running a Ponzi scheme. It isn’t long before Sakowitz does the right thing.
On the other side of Sakowitz’s story lay a grand lesson in good, honest living. Sakowitz introduces us to some pretty remarkable people in his North Miami Beach community. The people are loyal neighbors, good folk, striving to enrich the lives of other through charity and love. This scenario serves as a great contrast between Rothstein reality and Sakowitz’s reality.
On that note, Miles Away is more than just a well written crime story. It also serves as a grand lesson in temptation, and what one would do should they find themselves in Sakowitz’s situation. The story is non-fiction and is superbly written in a conversational tone that is readable and easy to follow (given the complex legalities of the matter). Ultimately, Miles Away is a much-needed book because it revisits a time in American life when people cared about doing the right thing. Not only does Sakowitz demonstrates how a simple and honest life could very well be the cure for what ails humanity, but Alan Sakowitz also shows that this is not a fantastic dream of a ridiculous man. Alan Sakowitz is a good guy.
Push Scale: 5/5
what about the kennedys 