The Job

True Tales from the Life of a New York City Cop

By: Steve Osborne

Narrated by: Steve Osborne

"How ya doin?"

With these four syllables, delivered in an unmistakably authentic New York accent, Steve Osborne has riveted thousands of people through the legendary storytelling outfit The Moth (and more than a million times on their website) with his hilarious, profane, and touching tales from his 20 years serving as an NYPD street cop. Steve Osborne is the real deal, people, the tough, streetwise New York cop of your dreams, one with a big, big heart. Kojak? NYPD Blue? Law & Order? Fuggedaboutem! The Job blows them out of the water with this unpauseable book.

Steve Osborne has seen a thing or two in his 20 years in the NYPD - some harmless things, some definitely not. In "Stakeout" Steve and his partner mistake a Manhattan dentist for an armed robbery suspect and reduce the man down to a puddle of snot and tears when questioning him. In "Mug Shot" the mother of a suspected criminal makes a strange request and provides a sobering reminder of the humanity at stake in his profession. And in "Home" the image of his family provides the adrenaline he needs to fight for his life when assaulted by two armed and violent crackheads. From his days as a rookie cop to the time spent patrolling in the Anti-Crime Unit - and his visceral, harrowing recollections of working during 9/11 - Steve Osborne's stories capture both the absurdity of police work and the bravery of those who do it. His stories will speak to those nostalgic for the New York City of the 1980s and '90s, a bygone era of when the city was a crazier, more dangerous (and possibly more interesting) place.

Includes two live stories from The Moth - "Hot Dogs" and "Dentist".

Stories from The Moth courtesy of The Moth.

©2015 Steve Osborne (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Cops are innately good storytellers, and Osborne must be one of the best." ( Booklist)

"Steve Osborne is a born storyteller, and anyone expecting a cop book to be filled with action and adventure won't be disappointed with The Job. But what makes this story so powerful is its compassion and bittersweet comedy, the unexpected moments in which the worst situations bring out the best in people. Anyone who knows a cop - or wants to - should read this book." (Edward Conlon, author of Blue Blood)

"Nobody tells a cop story better than a cop, and Osborne tells them as well as I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot of them). Go buy this book, for the chases, the laughs, and the poignancy. Go buy it now, especially now, because for every bad cop there are 20 heroic ones - and Steve Osborne was one of them." (Brian McDonald, author of My Father's Gun: One Family. Three Badges. One Hundred Years in the NYPD)

This is "The Job".

Steve told some great stories in classic NYPD cop talk and lingo. That sketch may have been done by me.

moving!

saying goodbye to his beloved Dad, his dog and his wife on 911. how moving!

His story telling ability is fantastic.

It’s a view of a cops life told with a lot of emotion that will you engaged. Couple that with his thick New York accent and I didn’t want the book to end.

Unsurprising, yet quite the "page turner"

Those who have hardened views of the police and the culture of law enforcement will not find any new deep insights here. What you will get is insights into the humanity of a police officer as an individual. Yes, there are lots of "good guys vs. bad guys" lingo, rhetoric and stayed imagery of what many of us don't particularly care for about police and law enforcement, but there are also fresh notions about what it takes, both physically and psychologically, to do what clearly can be an immensely difficult and immensely important job.

Say what you will about the general attitudes and at times, the abusive culture of law enforcement in America (and I'd probably agree with a lot of it), but make no mistake, Steve Osborne, as both the author and narrator, paints a pretty convincing picture about what it takes to be a cop, and what it means to bear the burden. I for one, learned a lot from one man's account. You will also come away with a clear understanding that the author is without a doubt, a human being.

Did I mention that this is an incredibly entertaining listen? That's as much due to the content as it is to the character ans personality of the narrator.

Great Listen

I really enjoyed this book, especially with the author reading it . It is a moving and inspirational story, which really helped me understand what stressors police officers in big cities endure on a daily basis.

The Job

Best part was hearing these stories told in Steve Osborne's own voice: the passion, New York accent, and everything. Made me feel as if I was there with Steve as these stories were happening in real time. Only wish is that this book was longer. Highly recommended to anyone and everyone, especially those seeking a career in law enforcement like myself.

Good stuff!

Have you ever started listening to a book that was so entertaining that you stopped listening to it? If I finish it I won’t have this awesome story to look forward to anymore. Ridiculous, I know. That’s how great this book is. If you’re thinking about getting it, just do it, you won’t regret it.

This guy is fantastic!

Great stories a I hope to hear more! I was a cop and some of these really got to me. It's too bad he retired so soon. He tells itlike it is. Some people need an ass beating and others are a victim of their environment and deserve a break. Cops really do cry. This book will make you laugh and cry.... even the liberals.

Brilliant

If you're a cop, used to be a cop, want to be a cop, think you're a cop, know a cop, love a cop, or hate a cop... this is your book. Coming from a far different environment with an astoundingly similar job to do, the universal truths in Steve's stories are undeniable, and undeniably presented in the best voice to tell them. As the ticker wound down and I saw I only had 3 chapters... 2 chapters... 1 chapter left, I became sad knowing it would end. I'd love to see more from Lieutenant Osborne in the future. If you give it a listen you'll find yourself wishing you could buy the man a beer. Top notch storytelling.

Loved his voice

Great story, his voice is fun to listen too. I Enjoyed a cops point of view in these times of police violence.