Scathing tell-all books
Who wrote it: Frank Bailey
The scathe factor: Frank Bailey, Sarah Palin's former aide, draws from thousands of saved emails between him and Palin to dish the dirt on one of the decade's most polarizing politicians. This scathing account portrays Palin as immature, power-hungry, paranoid, flaky and unethical.
'A Royal Duty'
Who wrote it: Paul Burrell
The scathe factor: In this controversial account of "the people's princess," her former butler and close confidant, Paul Burrell, reveals the inner workings of Britain's royal family and seeks to clear his name after his high-profile arrest.
'The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron'
Who wrote it: Bethany McLean, Peter Elkind
The scathe factor: Before the Bernie Madoff fraud ring and the housing bubble, there was Enron. This tell-all book reveals the story behind one of the nation's most infamous white-collar scandals, giving a ruthless account of how the arrogance and dysfunction of the CEO and his fellow executives brought the company down.
'The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O'Neill'
Who wrote it: Ron Suskind
The scathe factor: Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Suskind uncovers the story behind the Bush administration's decision to go to war. This best-selling tell-all uses documents provided by Bush's treasury secretary to show that the war was planned several months before the Twin Towers fell.
'Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big'
Who wrote it: Jose Canseco
The scathe factor: Before it became a regular fixture of sports news reports, former MLB player Jose Canseco shared with the world baseball's biggest secret. In his groundbreaking book, Canseco outed several players as steroid users, including this home run hitter and this "Silver Slugger" award-winner.
'If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer'
Who wrote it: O.J. Simpson, Pablo Fenjves
The scathe factor: This sickening and supposedly hypothetical account of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman was the subject of harsh public criticism by those who did not want the former NFL star to benefit from the high-profile killings. In response to the controversy, the title and cover were tweaked, and a court ruled that the proceeds from book sales would go to the Goldman family.
'Life With My Sister Madonna'
Who wrote it: Christopher Ciccone
The scathe factor: Christopher Ciccone cashes in on his family secrets with this tell-all about his ultra-famous sister. Ciccone claims Madonna treated him like a servant, says her former husband is homophobic and reveals his sister's sexual escapades with several celebrities, from a Kennedy to this former NBA basketball player.
'What Happened: Inside the Bush White House'
Who wrote it: Scott McClellan
The scathe factor: Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan slams the Bush administration in this insider account, which claims the Iraq War was part of a pre-planned agenda. The administration responded that there was "no evidence" that it purposely misled the nation.
'Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology'
Who wrote it: Marc Headley
The scathe factor: A former member of the Church of Scientology, Headley details the cult-like nature of the organization and reveals how he was "audited" by the church's most famous advocate. Headley says he was labeled a suppressive person by the church after the book's release.
'Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography'
Who wrote it: Andrew Morton
The scathe factor: Known for his revealing biographies, Andrew Morton writes a scathing account of the controversial actor's life. He claims this actress had to audition to be his wife and describes how Cruise supposedly recruits other celebrities to his religion. Cruise's business partner says the book is full of "distortions and outright lies."
'The Yankee Years'
Who wrote it: Joe Torre, Tom Verducci
The scathe factor: Former Yankees Manager Joe Torre takes a swing at his former players in this tell-all book about his years with the baseball club. He reveals the nasty nickname given to his third baseman by fellow team members and claims the team's general manager betrayed him.
'The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal'
Who wrote it: Ben Mezrich
The scathe factor: The book that inspired this best picture nominee tells the riveting story behind Facebook and the man who created it, including his relationship with Sean Parker and these Olympic rowers.
'Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime'
Who wrote it: John Heilemann, Mark Halperin
The scathe factor: Two political journalists tell the tale of the 2008 Democratic primary race, revealing tidbits about one candidate's infamous affair, the controversial GOP ticket and how this one-time front-runner missed out on getting a crucial endorsement from a high-profile Kennedy. The book kept many of its sources anonymous, sparking criticism and speculation over the truthfulness of its claims.
'Oprah: A Biography'
Who wrote it: Kitty Kelley
The scathe factor: This unauthorized biography of the beloved talk-show host dishes on the star's famous weight struggle, her book club blunder and other potentially embarrassing topics. However, according to this review, Kelley leans toward innuendo and speculation rather than known facts.
'The Best of Friends: Martha and Me'
Who wrote it: Mariana Pasternak
The scathe factor: Martha Stewart's former best friend reveals how Stewart's fame and arrogance led to their eventual falling out. Pasternak shares juicy details about her ex-friend's penny-pinching ways and claims that Stewart supposedly stalks her love interests.
'The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down'
Who wrote it: Andrew Young
The scathe factor: After cheating on his wife and conceiving a baby with his mistress, John Edwards initially denied he was the father. In this astonishing tell-all, a key member of Edwards' campaign staff says the former North Carolina senator asked him to fake a DNA test and claim paternity of the child.
'Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World's Most Dangerous Website'
Who wrote it: Daniel Domscheit-Berg
The scathe factor: This insider account of the world's most controversial website reveals tension within the organization and criticizes the controversial founder. Domscheit-Berg portrays Assange as paranoid, egotistical and financially irresponsible.
'Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN'
Who wrote it: Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller
The scathe factor: This expose on the inner workings of ESPN is jam-packed with juicy allegations of drug use, racial troubles and sexual harassment at the TV network.
'Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft'
Who wrote it: Paul Allen
The scathe factor: This tell-all by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen made headlines after exposing his somewhat fractious relationship with Bill Gates and Microsoft's current CEO. Allen argues that he deserves more credit for his part in creating Microsoft.
'Katrina's Secrets: Storms After the Storm'
Who wrote it: Ray Nagin
The scathe factor: The former mayor of New Orleans, a target of criticism over how he handled Hurricane Katrina, tells his side of the story in his new memoir. According to Nagin's website, the book is "disarmingly candid" and boldly exposes secrets that have previously been "glossed over."
'Deer in Headlights: My Life in Sarah Palin's Crosshairs'
Who wrote it: Levi Johnston
The scathe factor: The controversial former fiance of Sarah Palin's eldest daughter has penned a tell-all memoir about his life with Alaska's former first family. The book, due in September, has already lit up the blogosphere after the release of its humorous cover art.
