Overview

A rollicking true story of Bibles and bank robberies in Southern California, from a talented and highly praised gonzo journalist. Chas Smith grew up deeply enmeshed in the evangelical Christian world that grew out of Southern California in the late 1960s. His family included famous missionaries and megachurch pastors, but his cousin Daniel Courson was Grandma's favorite. Smith looked up to Cousin Danny. He was handsome, adventurous, and smart, earned a degree from Bible college, and settled into a family and a stable career. Needless to say, it was a big surprise when Cousin Danny started robbing banks. Known as the Floppy Hat Bandit, Courson robbed nineteen of them in a torrid six-week spree before being caught and sentenced to seven years. When he tried to escape, they tacked on another year. And when he finally got out, despite seeming to be back on the straight and narrow, Cousin Danny disappeared. Banks started getting robbed again. It seemed Cousin Danny might be gunning for the record. Smith's Blessed Are the Bank Robbers is the wild, and wildly entertaining, story of an all-American anti-hero. It's a tale of bank robberies, art and jewel heists, high-speed chases, fake identities, encrypted Swiss email accounts, jilted lovers, and the dark side of an evangelical family (and it wasn't just Danny; an uncle was mixed up with the mujahideen). It's a book about what it means to live inside the church and outside the law.

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9798200924820

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Reviews

"A rollicking portrait...Vicariously fascinated by his cousin's life 'on the lam, ' Smith started corresponding with Danny, and he incorporates their communications into the narrative, as well as Danny's PowerPoint presentation on 'how to make a living as a serial bank robber'...An intriguing tale of rock bottoms, daredevil escapes, and life on the wrong side of the law. Readers will enjoy the ride. -- ""Publishers Weekly"" A wild ride, for sure, but it's also a tale of family and faith, of the American dream turned upside down, and of one of the greatest unknown legends to ever walk the West. -- ""Tod Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author"" Smith examines aspects of his cousin's character in an attempt to analyze Courson's behavior...[and] reflects on his own need for adventure and rebellion...A fascinating exploration that will appeal to those who appreciate the intersection of true crime and memoir. -- ""Library Journal"""

A rollicking portrait...Vicariously fascinated by his cousin's life 'on the lam, ' Smith started corresponding with Danny, and he incorporates their communications into the narrative, as well as Danny's PowerPoint presentation on 'how to make a living as a serial bank robber'...An intriguing tale of rock bottoms, daredevil escapes, and life on the wrong side of the law. Readers will enjoy the ride. -- Publishers Weekly A wild ride, for sure, but it's also a tale of family and faith, of the American dream turned upside down, and of one of the greatest unknown legends to ever walk the West. -- Tod Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author Smith examines aspects of his cousin's character in an attempt to analyze Courson's behavior...[and] reflects on his own need for adventure and rebellion...A fascinating exploration that will appeal to those who appreciate the intersection of true crime and memoir. -- Library Journal

Author Information

Chas Smith is the author of Cocaine + Surfing; Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell, which was a finalist for the PEN Center USA Award for Nonfiction; and Reports from Hell. Smith began his career as a foreign correspondent, writing pieces for Vice, Paper, and BlackBook, among others, from Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Azerbaijan, and Colombia, which led to a brief career as a war correspondent for Current TV. He lives in Los Angeles. Chas Smith is the author of Cocaine + Surfing; Welcome to Paradise, Now Go to Hell, which was a finalist for the PEN Center USA Award for Nonfiction; and Reports from Hell. Smith began his career as a foreign correspondent, writing pieces for Vice, Paper, and BlackBook, among others, from Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Azerbaijan, and Colombia, which led to a brief career as a war correspondent for Current TV. He lives in Los Angeles.

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