"Alex Daoud may have thought he was just writing a first-hand account of his experiences as a South Beach city commissioner. What he has really done is show in microcosm how municipal governments in the United States have lost control of America's cities through a mixture of apathy, ambition, and a preoccupation with petty politicking.

Daoud's actions and opinions may be controversial, but no one can accuse him of not caring about the people he was elected to represent–and no one can deny that ultimately he was denied the opportunity to do so by men and women more concerned with their own self-interests than in fulfilling the duties of public service.

This is a must read for anyone who believes that a little altruism can make a difference at any level of government–and a cautionary tale of how a person's best work can be undone by little men and women who strive only for their own agendas"

Alex has more than sins to tell about, though they alone are scintillating enough to make the book a great read. It is also a history book and a law book. Daoud presided over and tells of the redevelopment of South Beach from an old folks colony to one of the most vibrant hotel and night club areas in America. He tells how Miami Beach suffered through the Mariel Boat Lift. He gives valuable legal advice like 1 of the things they don't tell you in law school is how expensive it is to defend a case against the federal government, I lived through all this and know it is true.

"An astonishing expose on Miami Beach by one of the city's most beloved mayors."

"Compulsively readable, there's shock after shock on almost every page. A naked mea culpa of graft and corruption in America's most popular winter resort."

"The revelations are stunning. Sex, corruption, police misconduct, villains and heroes. It's going to shock people to the core."