A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born by Harry Harrison

A novel chronicling the beginning of the Stainless Steel Rat's career. Young Jim diGritz has only one abition in life, to become a master criminal. He intentionally gets caught trying to rob a bank so that he will go to jail where he can learn from the masters of crime, only to realize (too late) that the true masters would never get caught. And so begins the Stainless Steel Rat

That tale of how de Griz started his career. We follow de Griz as he tries to learn how to be a master criminal. Funny, witty and fast paced. As must read for fans of Harrisons humorous stuff.