First published 2011
Rick Harrison opens up about building the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop into a Las Vegas institution alongside three generations of his family. The math prodigy turned troublemaker nearly destroyed his life before his son's birth motivated him to get clean and partner with his father in their booming business. Harrison walks readers through the shop's daily operations, sharing wild encounters with eccentric customers and the remarkable items that cross his counter. He reveals insider knowledge about everything from why pimps favor jewelry over cash to the deadly mercury poisoning that killed French clockmakers. The shop houses treasures Harrison refuses to sell: Olympic bronze medals, a Patriots Super Bowl ring, a 1490 Samurai sword, and an original Iwo Jima battle plan. Each piece carries its own incredible backstory. Harrison combines business insights with historical observations, showing how human nature drives both collecting and commerce. This memoir captures the personalities, relationships, and unexpected discoveries that transformed a family pawn shop into the foundation of a hit television series.
Genres: business, memoir, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate
Tropes: rags-to-riches, redemption
Setting: Las Vegas
Period: 21st-Century
256 pages · Hardcover · Hyperion