WEAPONS OF MASS DISTORTION: The Coming Meltdown of the Liberal Media

A political talk-show circuit regular, Bozell runs the Media Research Center, an organization that has published several books documenting liberal media bias. In his first solo effort, Bozell richly—and selectively—documents examples of liberal influence in America's newsrooms. There's little doubt that a good deal of what Bozell identifies does exist—there are plenty of examples of "liberal hate" that went unnoticed and undenounced in the press (e.g., the New Yorker 's Seymour Hersh stating, "We have an attorney general [John Ashcroft] that is, I don't know, how would you describe him, demented?")—but his thesis nearly requires that he present a partial picture. Bozell enlists right-tilting Bernard Goldberg as rhetorical ally and labels Eric Alterman and his ilk as "liberal media deniers." Many similar books are rife with contradiction, and Bozell's is no exception (which isn't to imply that left-leaning books are any fairer). Thus Bozell mocks Newsweek as a left-wing rag akin to the Nation —until he approvingly quotes Newsweek pundit Howard Fineman when it suits him. Readers may come away thinking there's too much bias in both directions. Bozell's book is music to conservative ears and may even open some liberals' eyes—assuming they'll deign to read it. Agent, Alex Hoyt. (July)

Forecast: A national conservative radio campaign and author interviews will kindle sales.