The Book That Changed Our Thinking

The Godfather by Mario Puzo has been around for over 40 years. Published in 1969, it introduced society to the world of the Italian immigrants in New York City. Everyone has read this book can relate to it since it was produced. In this review, we will look at how “The Godfather” effected our minds as Americans, what effects it had on American politics, and American ethics.
The Godfather was published during a rocky time in America’s history. Black power groups were increasing, people were starting to become more liberal with sex and drugs use, and the Vietnam War loomed in the background of every heart. Society was beginning to lose faith in the American government. “The Godfather” simply connected to everyone that read it. The story of an eye for an eye, sex scenes, and revenge running parallel with the slow destruction of the Corleone family captured our hearts. “The Godfather” with his solid family and supreme power on both sides of the law, loomed in the public imagination as a figure ironically sympathetic and even nostalgic. Seldom has a literary character had such a major impact on popular culture.” ("Critical Context" Masterpieces of American Fiction Ed. Steven G. Kellman. eNotes.com, Inc. 2000 eNotes.com, n.d.)
The Godfather helped its reader understand what the American Dream was suppose to be and allowed us to understand how tainted it had become. With so much turmoil going on in America during the late 60s and 70s, the novel helped us look at where we’ve come from, something we had long forgotten about. The book demonstrates this through Don Corleone’s journey from Italy, a poor Italian immigrant, working hard to support his family, and quenching the never ending desire to succeed. “In exploring that dream in distinctly Italian-American terms, they succeeded in delivering nothing less than the Italianization of American culture.” (Santopietro, 2012)
A journey through this book also shows us where politics come into play. Becoming a part of the American Society, one has to forget about their own ethical values. Opportunity lies by overcoming your opponent. During this time, the book demonstrates its opponent being the State and church. “Our adoration of The Godfather figures into the recent absurd Mitch Daniels pitch, that "America is not a country of 'haves' and 'have-nots,' but a country of 'haves' and 'soon-to-haves.’” (The Godfather: "I Believe in America", n.d.)
The Godfather portrays the aging Don as an “emblematic of cold-war American power on the decline in a new world where our enemies play by unfamiliar rules, and how the don's heirs uncannily exemplify the three leading schools of American foreign policy today.” (Husman, n.d.) Throughout the book, law enforcement have undercover relationships with the Corleone family. We see this with the Don dispensing justice and during the wedding party, when the police documented the plate numbers of their guests.
After reading this book, its reader understands revenge in a deeper sense. The author does a good of introducing the Corleones and their purpose. What we witness is the Don measuring, focusing, and executing justice easily and precisely. In order to accept this, one has to put their own personal standards on hold, and view each situation as the Don does. Loyalty, honesty, and friendship was the main point of interest for the Don.
The novel was a bestseller for 67 weeks, selling more than 20 million copies and stayed on bestseller lists a record sixty-seven weeks, and more than twenty million copies were sold. The book has been made into a movie “The Godfather Trilogy”.

References
"Critical Context" Masterpieces of American Fiction Ed. Steven G. Kellman. eNotes.com, Inc. 2000 eNotes.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from <http://www.enotes.com/topics/godfather/critical-essays#critical-essays-critical-context>
Husman, J. C. (n.d.). The Godfather Doctrine: A Foreign Policy Parable. Retrieved from P.
Santopietro, T. (2012, February 24). Pop Culture And My Italian Heritage: Why Americans Love 'The Godfather'. Retrieved from Huntington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-santopiento/americans-the-godfather_b_1280057.html
The Godfather: "I Believe in America". (n.d.). Retrieved from The Niles Files : http://nilesfilmfiles.blogspot.com/2012/03/godfather-i-belive-in-america.html