THIS IS AN ESSAY-BOOK REVIEW ON THREE WORKS ON THE MAFIA (IANNI WITH REUSS-IANNI, 1972; ALBINI, 1973; AND CAMERA DEI DEPUTATI, 1972). THE THREE WORKS TOGETHER GIVE A BALANCED VIEW. THE FIRST BOOK DISCUSSES KINSHIP AND SOCIAL CONTROL IN ORGANIZED CRIME. THE SECOND DISCUSSES CRIME IN RELATION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIAL SYSTEM. IN THE THIRD BOOK, THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION (IPC) INVESTIGATES THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS OF THE MAFIA IN SICILY. THE FIRST BOOK CONCERNS FAMILY ASPECTS OF ORGANIZED CRIME, AS AN UNDERSTANDING OF FAMILY IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING THE MAFIA. THE FAMILY IS BOTH INFLUENCED BY OUTSIDE CULTURE AND A TRANSMITTER OF THE CULTURE. IN THE SECOND BOOK, IT IS STATED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYNDICATE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY IS AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE, A PRODUCT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY THAN ANYTHING WITHIN THE NATURE OF THE ITALIANS. IT IS ASSERTED THAT THE MAFIA FILLS A NEED IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE AUTHOR FINDS THAT THE PROMINENCE AT VARIOUS TIMES IN AMERICAN HISTORY OF A CERTAIN ETHNIC GROUP IN ORGANIZED CRIME IS DUE TO THE RELATIVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POSITION OF THE GROUP. THUS, THE TERM 'SYNDICATE' SHOULD REFER TO A METHOD OF ORGANIZED CRIME RATHER THAN TO A PARTICULAR GROUP. THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION ATTEMPTED TO INVESTIGATE THE ROOTS OF THE MAFIA WITHIN SICILY. IT DECIDED THAT THE MAFIA WAS A TYPICAL FORM OF EXTRA LEGAL POWER, GIVEN FORM AND SUBSTANCE OVER YEARS OF PRACTICE AND RESULTING IN ACCEPTANCE BY SOCIETY. THE COMMISSION, WHICH DID NOT 'NAME NAMES' IN SICILY, ALSO SPOKE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CRIME ORGANIZATION, ITS CLIENTS, AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM. IT WAS AGREED THAT IN STUDYING ORGANIZED CRIME THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON SOCIETAL REACTION.