PRINTMore catastrophic reads
The list of schemers and swindlers goes on
April 9, 2009 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Ruining thousands of people’s lives can only be cause for investigation.
Watergate, Enron, New Jersey corruption and yet another Ponzi scheme start the catalog of books covering the sleaze that has sullied the country. Several authors, some with experience in investigative reporting, have worked their way into the thorny details behind these shattering events. These four books narrate a few of the most recent of the epic disasters.
The Strong Man: John Mitchell and the Secrets of Watergate by James Rosen
This is a biography of the fellow who worked as attorney general during Nixon’s campaign. It takes the heat off the collapse of the presidency itself during the Watergate scandal and turns the flame onto the personal and professional life of Nixon’s most trusted colleague. The travails of Mitchell’s wife, Martha, are exposed as well, which are entertaining enough on their own. She tipped the bottle a bit too far a bit too often and eventually went mad, which led to a divorce. Researched with a fine-toothed comb, Rosen’s book gives voice to an unsung participant in Watergate.
Innovation Corrupted: The Origins and Legacy of Enron’s Collapse by Malcolm S. Salter
This book is about an energy company we all know and, well, loved (especially MU’s business school). But Innovation Corrupted actually treads a new route and answers some original questions with fresh sources. It uses the sit-on-your-dad’s-knee moral discussion approach but also provides smart analysis and a deeper understanding of Enron’s disastrous crash. Salter even goes so far as to provide suggestions for avoiding the devastating outcome of such an innovative corporation. Hint: Don’t cook the books.
The Soprano State: New Jersey’s Culture of Corruption by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure
The Garden State tops the country’s corruption charts. We’re not sure if Zach Braff made that clear or not. And the mob scene isn’t the only reason. Business, government and politics in New Jersey have all been tainted for decades. Two investigative journalists tackle the gritty details of New Jersey’s dishonest ways through years of research and dish up jaw-dropping information that any taxpayer will find useful. It is a rude awakening into countless schemes that seem too outlandish to be true.
The Hit Charade: Lou Pearlman, Boy Bands, and the Biggest Ponzi Scheme in U.S. History by Tyler Gray
He spent 20 years using portions of earnings from those dreamy crooners the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync. But Tyler Gray was the only journalist able to reach band manager Lou Pearlman while he was in jail. Pearlman’s first-hand accounts as well as thoughts from his family, friends, business associates and band members weave together the expanse of his criminal activity. He even scammed his cousin, Art Garfunkel. Talk about collapsing the “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
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