Reddit reviews Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City

I'm not sure if this will help you, but consider grabbing the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City. I found that learning the actual history that the show is based on was fascinating, and helped me to enjoy the show that much more.

There is a book that the show was based on, but I was largely disappointed because the era the show takes place in was only one or two chapters.

This is the book:

Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City https://www.amazon.com/dp/0966674863/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_5pqwub1CSBS85


This is a book about Lucky Luciano that I especially liked. It's mostly about his life but talks about his association with Meyer Lansky too, as that was a big part of his life. (In paperback it was called Boardwalk Gangster: The Real Lucky Luciano)

Lucky Luciano: The Real and the Fake Gangster https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312601824/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Wnqwub0C9QY5P


This is a book about Arnold Rothstein that I really enjoyed too.

Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465029388/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_quqwub0XWB3GD


I haven't read any books about Capone- yet. I read a book about Frank Nitti that talks a lot about Capone though. I can look it up if you're interested.

Unfortunately I haven't found a book about everybody involved in the show. I wish that somebody would write a couple of novels about the seven years between season four and season five. Even though they'd be largely fictional due to Nucky's life being fictional in the show they could be VERY interesting, I think.

Boardwalk Empire is exactly the book you're looking for. It's about the history of Atlantic City and its gangster past. It's the inspiration for the top notch HBO show.

FWIW: Boardwalk Empire is loosely based on real people as are many of the themes in the series. Of course, vast theatrical liberties are taken to make the story work in a modern venue, but "Nucky" and many of the other characters actually created a boardwalk empire in Atlantic City.