Chopper: How to Shoot Friends & Influence People
Memoir Biography True Crime Criminology Australian Non-Fiction Organized Crime Dark Humor
Chopper: How to Shoot Friends & Influence People is the eye-opening, best-selling memoir that introduced the world to Mark “Chopper” Read, Australia’s most infamous reformed criminal. First released in 2002 by John Blake Publishing, this 282-page illustrated paperback delivers the unfiltered story of a man who survived more than three decades of Melbourne’s underworld wars, stabbings, shootings and prison beatings—told with the black humour and brutal honesty that turned him into a pop-culture legend. Readers looking for a true-crime autobiography that is equal parts gripping, darkly comic and chilling will find this edition the perfect entry point into Chopper’s world.
What makes this particular copy special is its clean, collector-friendly condition: no previous owner’s handwriting, ex-libris plates or dog-eared pages, just light cover wear that keeps the price attractive while the pages remain crisp and fully readable. At 198 mm tall it fits easily into a bag or shelf, and the 223 g weight feels substantial without being bulky. The book’s illustrations—rare photos, police sketches and Chopper’s own cartoons—add visual punch to the already vivid narrative, giving fans a front-row seat to the tattoos, scars and characters that defined Australia’s criminal folklore.
Beyond the shock value, the memoir is now studied in criminology circles for its insight into prison culture, outlaw psychology and the code of silence that ruled the streets. First-time buyers discover why the Chopper series spawned a dozen sequels and two feature films, while collectors hunt early John Blake printings like this one to complete their true-crime libraries. Whether you’re after a gritty holiday read, primary-source material for academic work, or simply the book that started the “Chopper” phenomenon, this affordable, gently used copy delivers the full, uncensored ride without the collector-level price tag.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now