In Las Vegas, there's a
family-owned business called the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, run by
three generations of the Harrison family: Rick; his son, Big Hoss; and
Rick's dad, the Old Man. Now "License to Pawn "takes readers behind the
scenes of the hit History show "Pawn Stars" and shares the fascinating
life story of its star, Rick Harrison, and the equally intriguing story
behind the shop, the customers, and the items for sale.Rick hasn't had
it easy. He was a math whiz at an early age, but developed a similarly
uncanny ability to find ever-deepening trouble that nearly ruined his
life. With the birth of his son, he sobered up, reconnected with his
dad, and they started their booming business together. "License to Pawn
"also offers an entertaining walk through the pawn shop's history. It's a
captivating look into how the Gold & Silver works, with incredible
stories about the crazy customers and the one-of-a-kind items that the
shop sells. Rick isn't only a businessman; he's also a historian and
keen observer of human nature. For instance, did you know that pimps
wear lots of jewelry for a reason. It's because if they're arrested,
jewelry doesn't get confiscated like cash does, and ready money will be
available for bail. Or that WWII bomber jackets and Zippo lighters can
sell for a freakishly high price in Japan. Have you ever heard that the
makers of Ormolu clocks, which Rick sells for as much as $15,000 apiece,
frequently died before forty thanks to the mercury in the paint. Rick
also reveals the items he loves so much he'll never sell. The shop has
three Olympic bronze medals, a Patriots Super Bowl ring, a Samurai sword
from 1490, and an original Iwo Jima battle plan. Each object has an
incredible story behind it, of course. Rick shares them all, and so much
more--there's an irresistible treasure trove of history behind both the
Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and the life of Rick Harrison.
This book was flipping fantastic! It was a short, quick and fabulous read and I enjoyed every single minute of it. So much so I stayed up until about 5 in the morning to finish it, it was that good. I loved learning more about the Harrisons, the shop, and the items and people who have frequented it over the years. I learned so much and was engaged the entire time. Rick is a great writer, and made me laugh and learn. It felt like a friend and I had gotten together, and started telling each other stories from our lives. I was shocked to see chapters written by Old Man, Corey and Chumlee. They also had great writing styles that were true to their voices. I loved learning about their lives as well, especially Chumlee. I loved seeing that he really isn't as dumb as he's made out to be on the show. I also liked learning the history behind the show Pawn Stars. I never would have known on my own that Rick had been wanting a reality show for years before this show happened.
This is such a great book, if you love Pawn Stars and the Harrisons/Chumlee, you'll love this book. If you want a quick and good read, you'll love this book.
My next post will be coming up soon.
Until next time, viva la literature!
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