TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Nonfiction

Week of November 9, 2003

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1
NEW
DUDE, WHERE'S MY COUNTRY?
Michael Moore
Cover of DUDE, WHERE'S MY COUNTRY?

DUDE, WHERE'S MY COUNTRY?

by Michael Moore · Warner

#1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Moore's incisive examination of the failures of the United State's political system, paired with thoughtful guidance on how to move forward. In case anyone in Washington hasn't noticed, Americans are fed up with the status quo. In this, the first shot fired over the bow of the 2004 Presidential election, Michael Moore aims to unseat the man who slithered into the White House on tracks built by the bloody hands of Enron and greased with the oil of his daddy. As if an unelected, semi-literate president weren't problem enough, America's Democrats have managed to take the liberty out of "liberal," signing on with the G.O.P. for dirty corporate money and the ill-gotten gains of globalization. The "left" is just as satisfied as the right to stand idly by as the chasm between the haves and the have-nots grows wider and wider. Thank god for Michael Moore because Dude, Where's My Country tells us precisely what went wrong, and, more importantly, how to fix things. In a voice that is fearless, funny, and furious, Moore takes readers to the edge of righteous laughter and divine revenge.

2
LIES (AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM)
Al Franken
Cover of LIES (AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM)

LIES (AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM)

by Al Franken · Dutton

10 wks on list

Al Franken, one of America's savviest satirists has been studying the rhetoric of the Right. He has listened to their cries of 'slander', 'bias' and even 'treason'. He has examined the Bush administration's policies of squandering our surplus, ravaging the environment, and alienating the rest of the world. He's even watched Fox News. A lot. And in this fair and balanced report, Al bravely exposes them all for what they are: liars. Lying, lying, liars.

3
NEW
WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?
Bill O'Reilly
Cover of WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?

WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?

by Bill O'Reilly · Broadway

From the mega-bestselling author of The O'Reilly Factor and The No Spin Zone, a no-holds-barred exposé of the people and institutions who are letting Americans down – and what we should do about it. Bill O’Reilly is mad as hell – and he’s not going to let you take it anymore. In his most powerful and personal book yet, this media powerhouse and unstoppable truth-teller takes on those individuals and institutions in American life who are failing in their duties – big-time. In his inimitable style, mixing wit, pugnacity, and plain common sense, O’Reilly kicks butt and takes (and also names) names – from crooked corporate weasels to venal politicians to lazy and/or politically correct bureaucrats to sexually predatory priests and the Church hierarchy that protects them to a media establishment rife with political bias and economically hooked on violence and smut. At the same time that he calls the famous and powerful to account, he dares to get personal, questioning just how much our closest friends, families, and lovers do look out for us, and delivering a powerful message about personal responsibility and self-reliance in an uncertain world. He forces us to ask just how much genuine altruism is left in a society that thrives on self-indulgence and ruthless competition. Who’s Looking Out for You? is a book that boldly confronts our worst fears and biggest problems in a post-9/11, post-corporate-meltdown world. Its sage, candid advice on regaining control and trust in these troubled times will resonate with the millions of readers and viewers who have come to believe in Bill O’Reilly as the man who speaks for them.

4
1
FLYBOYS
James Bradley
Cover of FLYBOYS

FLYBOYS

by James Bradley · Little, Brown

4 wks on list

FLYBOYS is the true story of young American airmen who were shot down over Chichi Jima. Eight of these young men were captured by Japanese troops and taken prisoner. Another was rescued by an American submarine and went on to become president. The reality of what happened to the eight prisoners has remained a secret for almost 60 years. After the war, the American and Japanese governments conspired to cover up the shocking truth. Not even the families of the airmen were informed what had happened to their sons. It has remained a mystery--until now. Critics called James Bradley's last book "the best book on battle ever written." FLYBOYS is even better: more ambitious, more powerful, and more moving. On the island of Chichi Jima those young men would face the ultimate test. Their story--a tale of courage and daring, of war and of death, of men and of hope--will make you proud, and it will break your heart.

5
NEW
REFLECTIONS
Barbara Bush
Cover of REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS

by Barbara Bush · Lisa Drew/Scribner

1 wks on list

“There is a myth in the United States—you’ve heard it many times. It says that all American mothers hope that their child will grow up to be President of the United States...” —Barbara Bush Not since Abigail Adams has one woman been both the wife and mother of presidents. Barbara Bush’s prominent place in American history is matched only by her extraordinary popularity: Republicans and Democrats alike appreciate her wit, her compassion, and her devotion to her family. Dignified, loyal, and unpretentious, the former First Lady defied skeptics to become one of the most admired first ladies in history—and she remains a beloved public figure today. In this inspiring follow-up to her number-one bestselling memoir, Mrs. Bush covers the momentous eight years between President George H. W. Bush’s leaving office and President George W. Bush’s 2001 inauguration. Reflections comprises Mrs. Bush’s diary entries, travelogues, family photographs, even secret recipes. She discusses her experiences in the White House, on the campaign trail, and in the public eye, as well as her own views about such controversial issues as her husband’s resignation from the NRA, the caning of an American student in Singapore, and—in her candid epilogue—her family’s reactions to September 11, 2001. Throughout, the extraordinary amount of love and pride Mrs. Bush feels for her husband, five children, and fourteen grandchildren is always clear. Reflections will delight Barbara Bush's millions of admirers with her touching anecdotes and personal revelations from the past decade of a full and fascinating life.

7
1
BUSHWHACKED
Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose
Cover of BUSHWHACKED

BUSHWHACKED

by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose · Random House

5 wks on list

A simultaneously rollicking and sobering indictment of the policies of President George W. Bush, Bushwhacked chronicles the destructive impact of the Bush administration on the very people who put him in the White House in the first place. Here are the ties that connected Bush to Enron, yes, but here, too, is the story of the woman who walks six miles to the unemployment office daily, wondering what happened to the economic security Bush promised. Here are reports on failed nation-building missions in Kabul and Baghdad. Here, too, the story of a rancher who has fallen prey to a Bush-Cheney interior department that is perhaps a wee bit too cozy with the oil industry. Bushwhacked is highly original and entirely thought-provoking—essential reading for anyone living in George W. Bush's America.

8
NEW
A ROYAL DUTY
Paul Burrell
Cover of A ROYAL DUTY

A ROYAL DUTY

by Paul Burrell · Putnam

1 wks on list

Discover the untold story behind one of the most sensational chapters in the history of the House of Windsor 'This book had me in tears and also made me smile' 5***** Reader Review 'A loving, informative, respectful tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales' 5***** Reader Review 'A brilliant and provoking book . . . I was stunned' 5***** Reader Review _______ In A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell reveals new truths about Princess Diana - and presents for the first time as faithful an account of her thoughts as we can ever hope to read. He was the favourite footman who formed a unique relationship with the Queen. He was the butler who the Princess of Wales called 'my rock' and 'the only man I can trust'. He was accused of theft, then acquitted following the historic intervention of the monarch. He was the Princess' most intimate confidante - and is the only person able to separate the myth from the truth of the Diana years. Now, at last, Paul Burrell cuts through the gossip and the lies and takes us closer to the complex heart of the Royal Family than ever before.

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2
THE GREAT UNRAVELING
Paul Krugman
Cover of THE GREAT UNRAVELING

THE GREAT UNRAVELING

by Paul Krugman · Norton

7 wks on list

The Self-Organizing Economy In the last few years the concept of self-organizing systems—complex systems in which randomness and chaos seem spontaneously to evolve into unexpected order—has linked together researchers in many fields, from artificial intelligence to chemistry, from evolution to geology. Now leading economist Paul Krugman shows how principles that explain the growth of hurricanes and embryos can also explain the formation of cities and business cycles; how the same principles of “order from random growth” can explain the strangely simple rules that describe the sizes of earthquakes, meteorites, and metropolitan areas. Weaving together strands from many disciplines, from location theory to biology, The Self-Organizing Economy offers a surprising new view of how the economy structures itself in space and time.

10
NEW
I AM WHAT I ATE . . . AND I'M FRIGHTENED!!!
Bill Cosby
Cover of I AM WHAT I ATE . . . AND I'M FRIGHTENED!!!

I AM WHAT I ATE . . . AND I'M FRIGHTENED!!!

by Bill Cosby · Harper Entertainment

1 wks on list

From the #1 bestselling author, an untitled book of original comedic essays for the adult market focusing on the theme of why Americans are hooked on such bad eating, drinking and other self-indulgent and self-destructive health-related behaviors, beginning in childhood and continuing through old age.

11
2
PERSECUTION
David Limbaugh
Cover of PERSECUTION

PERSECUTION

by David Limbaugh · Regnery

5 wks on list

In this New York Times bestseller, David Limbaugh exposes the liberal hypocrisy of promoting political correctness while discriminating against Christianity. From the elimination of school prayer to the eradication of the story of Christianity from history textbooks, this persuasive book shows that our social engineers inculcate hostility toward this religion and its values in the name of "diversity," "tolerance," and "multiculturalism." Through court cases, case studies, and true stories, Limbaugh details the widespread assault on the religious liberties of Christians in America today and urges believers to fight back in order to restore their First Amendment right of religious freedom.

13
NEW
SWEET CAROLINE
Christopher Andersen
Cover of SWEET CAROLINE

SWEET CAROLINE

by Christopher Andersen · Morrow

1 wks on list

New York Times Bestselling Author Through it all, the sole surviving member of Camelot's First Family, Caroline Kennedy, has remained largely a mystery. Until now, Christopher Andersen draws on important sources-many speaking here for the first time-to proved a full, compelling portrait of Caroline, the young wife and mother left to carry on in her legendary family's name.

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4
VISITS FROM THE AFTERLIFE
Sylvia Browne with Lindsay Harrison
Cover of VISITS FROM THE AFTERLIFE

VISITS FROM THE AFTERLIFE

by Sylvia Browne with Lindsay Harrison · Dutton

2 wks on list

Bestselling author Sylvia Browne presents a psychic's view of ghosts, spirits and hauntings. In Visits from the Afterlife, Sylvia describes her personal encounters with ghosts and explains their appearances. In visiting haunted homes, ships and other locations, she comes face to face with troubled spirits who are still unaware of their own fate. Discover: Why some homes are haunted and what to do about it; What the difference is between spirits and ghosts; The meaning of our nightmares and visions; What psychic attacks are and why they should concern us; Sylvia's personal experiences with hauntings involving celebrities; What it feels like to be a ghost; Sylvia Browne takes readers on a journey through the afterlife and provides an unprecedented look at how the spirit world influences our daily lives.

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.