The Bartcop Books Library

This is where we keep the books that are permanently recommended to all Bartcop readers. All of them are worth having, in our not-so-humble opinion.

Want to suggest a book for inclusion in the Library? Email me - there's sure to be something I've missed out.

	The Betrayal of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and chose our President by Vincent Bugliosi For a legal perspective on just how wrong Tony and the rest of the Supremos were in December 2000, look no further. Bugliosi uses all his skills and knowledge as a lawyer to show just how they became little more than the judicial wing of the Republican Party, preventing 'irreparable harm' to Dubya's ego but destroying justice in the process.
	The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by Greg Palast One of those people the BFEE don't want you to read, Greg Palast has become one of the best investigative journalists in the world, causing trouble for governments on both sides of the Atlantic. This is a collection of some of his best columns exposing just how easily democracy is bought and sold around the world from East Timor to Florida. Read the man C-Span called 'the last of the great journalists' before they decide to make him illegal.
	The Hunting Of The President: The Ten Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons Remember the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy? Remember how the 'liberal' media told you it was all a myth? Yet again, they were lying to you. Conason and Lyons descend into the murk of Arkansas politics and the web of influence spun by Richard Mellon Scaife to show just how much of the supposed 'evidence' against Bill Clinton was manufactured for profit and just how close a determined cabal came to destroying a democratically elected President.
	Fools for Scandal: How The Media Invented Whitewater by Gene Lyons Following on from The Hunting Of The President, Lyons uses this book to look specifically at how the general media created the Whitewater 'scandal', specifically refuting the scandal-mongering masquerading as journalism practised by Jeff Gerth of the New York Times. Lyons' knowledge of the 'scandal' is probably greater than anyone's and he uses it to great effect in this book. In a way, it's quite chilling to know that the truth can be manipulated to this extent, but it's reassuring to know that true journalists like Lyons are on the case.
	Fortunate Son: George W. Bush and the making of an American President by J.H. Hatfield Buy it while you still can. An expose of Dubya's past, including the dodgy business deals capitalising on the family name, showing just how in debt he is to the big corporations who made sure that no matter how many business he bankrupted, he always came out with a smile on his face. Oh, and there's the litte matter of his cocaine bust in the 70s as well (is it unpatriotic to mention that yet?) and the author's own suspicious death...
	The Bush Dyslexicon: Observations on a National Disorder by Mark Crispin Miller Rarely is the question asked: Is our President learning? On the surface, Miller's book might seem like just another collection of 'Bushisms' with a bit of commentary added to make it seem like more than just another quickie book. In fact, it's something much deeper, looking at how the manipulation of Bush's image by his handlers and a compliant media allowed an image of 'likability' to transcend Bush's shortcomings and generally lack of ability to be President, showing just how easily substance can be moved out of debate.
	Buck Up, Suck Up... and come back when you foul up by James Carville and Paul Begala Carville and Begala were two of the principal architects behind Clinton's successes in 1992 and 1996. This book is a distillation of their campaigning philosophies, giving readers the chance to see how you can craft a winning strategy. With real-life examples of the lessons they preach, plus a rare ability to admit they're wrong, this isn't just a useful tool for political campaigners, but has advice to help just about anyone who needs to think strategically or just wants to see how professionals organise a campaign.
	Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot and other observations by Al Franken Given that Bartcop.com started off under the title 'Rush Limba - Lying Nazi Whore' this book is a natural for inclusion in the Library. Franken takes on the various lies of Rush and the rest of the right with his natural mockery and satire, exposing their supposed 'truths' for the bluster they are, and also turning the tables on their own propaganda, notably with Operation Chickenhawk, where he imagines just what the Vietnam War would have been like if all those Republicans who failed to make it over there (but criticised Clinton for 'draft dodging) had gone...

Flashbacks: Twenty-Five Years of Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau The great liberal comic strip has been ongoing now for years, in fact it now has dedicated readers who were born after it started, yet it still manages to remain fresh and interesting, with an ability to lay bare the bones of modern life with a biting satire unmatched on the comics pages till Boondocks came along. This collection is an excellent introduction to the life of Doonesbury, spanning the decades from Mike, Zonker and BD's first meeting in college, right through to the present day.

	The Boondocks by Aaron McGruder If you read Bartcop regularly then you'll already have experienced the Boondocks cstrips as they've regularly featured on the site. There have been various attempts to describe Boondocks, from the black Doonesbury to Calvin & Hobbes in the hood, but like all good works it can only be defined in terms of itself, funny, satirical and with the ability to actually make you think about the issues it raises.
	What Would Betty Do? How To Succeed At The Expense Of Others In This World And The Next by Betty Bowers (America's best Christian) Not content with merely advising those with weaker (and poorer) souls than hers at Landover Baptist and her own bettybowers.com website, America's Best Christian (so close to God she knows his pin number) has chosen to distill her advice into book form, so those who know the Truth can have another text besides the Bible and the TV Guide in their house. If we didn't recommend this, we're sure we'd be sentenced to an eternity to hell. She's a better Christian than you - and don't you forget it!

	The Sopranos: A Family History by Allen Rucker & Jeffrey Wernick Now, I've not seen CSI yet so I can't judge Bartcop's claims that it, rather than The Sopranos, is the best series on TV right now. However, regardless of whether it places at number 1 or number 2, The Sopranos is one of the best TV series to come about in years. Just to show it's class, even it's spinoffs are of a higher quality than other series and what could have been a ripoff becomes a useful resource for fans with extensive details on the characters and series as well as an intirguing explanation of life in the Mob.
	The Sopranos Scriptbook by David Chase et al OK, here's a little bonus for you. I've looked and looked and this book doesn't seem to be available in the US, so it's a little bonus for us Sopranos fans in the UK. Containing scripts from all three series ('Pilot', 'College', 'The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti', 'The Happy Wanderer', 'The Knight In White Satin Armor' and 'Proshai, Livushka') it shows the quality of writing that distinguishes the series from others and also contains an introduction from series creator David Chase, revealing just how the series went from idea to script to screen.	Only at:
	Las Vegas: The Rough Guide by Greg Ward (ed) As anyone reading this probably already knows, while bartcop.com may have a physical home somewhere in Knuckledrag, Oklahoma, it's spiritual home is Las Vegas. So, whether you're planning a spiritual odyssey to the Venetian, a lost weeked of tequila tasting, or just want to visit one of the craziest cities on Earth, this is the guide for you. All the hotels, all the casinos, all the attractions - and still cheap enough to leave you with enough money to lose on the slots!