Michael Moore, Al Franken, and the NYTimes

:: When Michael Moore's book, Stupid White Men, appeared in print after some post-Sept 11 delays, it shot to the top of the NYTimes Best Seller List, remained there for weeks, and was the best selling non-fiction book of 2002. Nonetheless, the NYTimes never published a review of the title (I've never found one on the web site, and a review never appeared in their book review section). Al Franken's new book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, has been #1 on the list for five weeks, having been bumped to #2 this week by none other than Franken's drinking buddy and book cover subject, Bill O'Reilly. A review of Franken's book appeared recently, written by former NYT chief film critic, Janet Maslin. Oddly enough, Moore's new book, Dude, Where's My Country?, goes on sale tomorrow, and what do you find in the Times this morning? Well, hush my mouth - a review by Janet Maslin!

This fascinating observation suggests the NYTimes Best Seller list is revealing that, after perhaps a decade of domination by right wing authors, the playing field has been levelled by an equally successful number of writres from the left. I bought the Franken book on the weekend, it's next on my list of must reads. I hope to buy the Moore book later this month.