Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining

For the past 10 years, Sheindlin has been the supervising judge for Manhattan Family Court, with a reputation for cutting through judicial and bureaucratic obfuscation. Joined by Los Angeles Times correspondent Getlin, she continues her outspokenness in this hard-hitting book, whose title is obviously chosen with malice aforethought. She considers our society to be in trouble because we have infantilized part of it ``by shifting the emphasis from individual responsibility to government responsibility.'' After giving an overview of ``our crumbling system,'' she discusses the cost to taxpayers, then examines underlying reasons for ``the lack of responsibility and honesty in American society.'' Her prescription, offered without any detailed plan of implementation: self-discipline, individual accountability and responsible conduct. (Feb.)