Giuliani: Nasty Man

New York: Barricade Books, Inc., 1999. 1st Printing. Trade Paperback. Very Good. 8vo or 8° (Medium Octavo): between 6" - 9" tall . Konstantin (Author Photo); Charisse Gibilisco/Steven Bower Design (Cover Design). 174 pp. Solidly bound copy with moderate external wear, crisp pages and clean text. Synopsis: Giuliani: Nasty Man is a collection of articles written by former New York City mayor Ed Koch for New York's top newspapers, criticizing the current mayor Rudy Giuliani. This is a challenge book in tradition of Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot by Al Franken. Koch, who became popular all over again as the presiding judge on The People's Court, pulls no punches in discussing some of the biggest names in New York City, including George Steinbrenner, Al Sharpton, Hillary Clinton, and David Dinkins. Many incur the wrath of Ed's pen, but none more so than "Ruthless Rudy". In the pantheon of politicians that people love to hate, Giuliani is number one. The cult of Giuliani-haters in New York is among the most outspoken and passionate in the country. He is regularly compared to Hitler and Mussolini. This book is a dose of reality for Giuliani supporters and opponents alike. While acknowledging that Rudy is a good administrator, Koch exposes Giuliani's nasty streak, which is not only a personality flaw, but also an impediment to effective governing. The killing of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed West African immigrant, by four undercover police officers, and the torture of Abner Louima by officer Justin Volpe, have made police brutality the most explosive issue in New York City. Both tragedies are covered in Giuliani: Nasty Man, and Koch's criticism of Giuliani with regard to the Louima case foreshadows the Diallo shooting. This collection is a fascinating inside look into the way New York City really works. Koch takes the reader deep into the political machinery of the Big Apple, from City Hall to the police department to the courtroom. Students and fans of municipal politic would be hard-pressed to find a better textbook. After reading Giuliani: Nasty Man and understanding Koch's persuasive case against Rudy, no Giuliani critic will ever lose a dinner-party debate again.