The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption [Paperback]

Bob Ingle (Author), Sandy McClure (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2009

The New York Times Bestseller
Updated with the Latest Scandals

It’s not a joke
New Jersey leads the country in corruption

The Soprano State details the you-couldn't-make-this-up true story of the corruption that has pervaded New Jersey politics, government, and business for the past thirty years. From Jimmy Hoffa purportedly being buried somewhere beneath the end zone in Giants Stadium, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, the Garden State might indeed be better named after the HBO mobsters.

Where else would:
- A state attorney general show up after police pulled over her boyfriend who was driving without a valid license?
- A state senator and mayor of Newark (the same guy) spend thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money on a junket to Rio days before leaving office?
- A politically connected developer hire a prostitute to tape sex acts with his own brother-in-law and then send the tape to his sister?
Only in the Soprano State.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book is a page-turner. You start out laughing and end up pounding the table for reform.”—Tom Curley, CEO, The Associated Press

“Far and away, the best nonfiction I’ve read in years! I feared it might only be of interest to those who live in New Jersey. Boy, was I wrong. Ingle and McClure are remarkable reporters who’ll keep you spellbound.”—Cissie Cooper, San Francisco

From the Back Cover

It's Not a Joke

New Jersey leads the country in corruption

 

“Ingle and McClure have been chasing the people, politics,and plundering for years in the best Ben Hecht Front Page style. Investigative journalism in New Jersey is not for the faint at heart, the lazy, or the impatient.”

—from the Foreword by Dick Hughes 

 

“We’re often asked by people elsewhere if New Jersey residents are aware of what the rest of the country thinks and why they don’t do something about it. The answer to the first question is: They know. The second is harder. Do they like being the national butt of jokes? Do they wait for the day when they can get their share of graft? Are they too busy working more than one job to afford the extraordinary cost of living? Have they given up?”

—from The Soprano State 

 

“This book is a page-turner. You start out laughing and end up pounding the table for reform.  May the book inspire those who care about New Jersey to imagine a better place.”

—Tom Curley, CEO, The Associated Press

 

“New Jersey is arguably America’s most corrupt state, and it is not an
achievement to be proud of, as Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure starkly
demonstrate. Only the people of the Garden State can stop the jokes—both the ones elected to office and the ones told about the crooked truth of
political life there.”

—Dr. Larry J. Sabato, author of A More Perfect Constitution and director of the Center for Politics, University of Virginia

 

This three-decade journey through the political and economic weeds of the Garden State, led by two of its finest journalists, will astound, outrage, and empower any American taxpayer.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (January 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312539207
• ISBN-13: 978-0312539207
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN HONEST LOOK AT DISHONESTY, February 21, 2008

By 

Edcon Press LLC - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption (Hardcover)

The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption
This is an excellent book. I am familiar with many of the people and events in the book and I am very impressed with the writing ability of the authors to present the material in a clear concise and fair way. I was only sorry the book ended but I appreciate the updates on www.thesopranostate.com. A MUST READ!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really....... It's not fiction!!, February 25, 2008

By 

Speed Racer "Speed Racer" (Somerset, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption (Hardcover)

Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure deserve a Pulitzer Prize for this fine piece of journalism. With NJ being a cesspool of corruption for over 35 years I am amazed the book is only an inch thick. I was expecting a the book to be the size of NY phone book, but then again the publisher probably edited many of the stories.

They should have called the book volume 1 because I am sure there will be thousands of pages to follow in the upcoming years. The big problem with the book is that people from out of state (lucky individuals) and people who are not up to date on NJ politics may pass this off as fiction.

It should be mandatory reading for every pupil in the United States. I give the book, Bob, and sandy an A+!! I could not put it down.

By the way, I am so disgusted with NJ that I will be moving to Delaware. Yes my friend, learn how to pump your own gas and go!! NJ is doomed!! Have a nice day

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must reading regardless of where you live, February 26, 2008

By 

Cecilia A. Cooper (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption (Hardcover)

Absolutely the best nonfiction book I've read in several years!

"The Soprano State" reads like fiction and is must reading no matter where you live. Even if you're like me and live somewhere other than New Jersey, you'll find this book hilarious, incredulous and fascinating.

Ingle and McClure are crackerjack reporters who will take you on an unbelievable, wild ride.

A real page-turner, you won't want to put "The Soprano State" down.