Synopses & Reviews
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 in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a gay American” and resigns, 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. Bob Ingle is Trenton bureau chief of Gannett Newspapers. Sandy McClure is a veteran political reporter. The Soprano State details the true story of the corruption that has pervaded New Jersey politics, government, and business for the past thrity years. From Jimmy Hoffa purportedly being buried somewhere beneath the end zone in Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a "gay American" and resigns, the Garden State might indeed be better names after the HBO mobsters.
Where else would: A state attorney general show up after police pulled over her boyfriend, who was driving without a vaild 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 tapes to his sister?
Only in the Soprano State.
"It's difficult for an educator to get the idea across to students (without being too preachy) that we all need to be aware of our moral compasses and make sure from time to time that we don't drift off course. The Soprano State performs this task admirably. It is shock treatment for students who have grown up in a world of moral relativism. Many of the cases in the book involve people who probably didn't intend to steal from the public trough, but were only gradually drawn into this culture of corruption. One can't get such a message across to students using a typical undergraduate Political Science textbook. I used the book last year as a voluntary assignment in my American Government class. Six students accepted the assignment. All said that the book opened their eyes to a world they never knew existed. I plan on making the book a mandatory supplementary text for my 300-level State and Local Politics class."Professor Bill Felix, Political Science, Rutgers University
"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
"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 jokesboth 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
"A pair of seasoned investigative reporters catalogue New Jersey's epic political dishonesty. Gannett Newspapers Trenton bureau chief Ingle and veteran journalist McClure demonstrate that, for Garden State pols, there is indeed such a thing as a free lunch-with lots of gravy. They point to the appointed culprits who administer the state's medical school, the thieves who manage various school districts, the municipalities carrying costly double dippers, long-dead pensioners and unborn employees. Law enforcement is selective, the authors note, with bench and bar contaminated by patronage. As far as the mob is concerned, ethnicity, gender and political affiliation matter not at all. Chiefly by recapping their own investigative articles, Ingle and McClure present a cheerless story of oligarchy and kleptocracy covering the length of the Turnpike from Cape May to Fort Lee, the executive mansion in Princeton to the statehouse in Trenton, horse country and the Pineys, Sinatra's native turf in Hoboken and Joe Piscopo's down at the shore. They nail the backroom intrigues in impressive scope and detail . . . The authors close with a few suggestions for improvement. Readers won't be laughing: The Garden State doesn't smell too sweet here."Kirkus 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 Ive 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 wholl keep you spellbound.”—Cissie Cooper, San Francisco
Review
"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
"A pair of seasoned investigative reporters catalogue New Jersey's epic political dishonesty. Ingle and McClure ... nail the backroom intrigues in impressive scope and detail."—Kirkus Reviews
"It's difficult for an educator to get the idea across to students (without being too preachy) that we all need to be aware of our moral compasses and make sure from time to time that we don't drift off course. The Soprano State performs this task admirably. It is shock treatment for students who have grown up in a world of moral relativism. Many of the cases in the book involve people who probably didn't intend to steal from the public trough, but were only gradually drawn into this culture of corruption. One can't get such a message across to students using a typical undergraduate Political Science textbook. I used the book last year as a voluntary assignment in my American Government class. Six students accepted the assignment. All said that the book opened their eyes to a world they never knew existed. I plan on making the book a mandatory supplementary text for my 300-level State and Local Politics class."—Professor Bill Felix, Political Science, Rutgers University
"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
“Far and away, the best nonfiction Ive 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 wholl keep you spellbound.”—Cissie Cooper, San Francisco
Review
"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
"A pair of seasoned investigative reporters catalogue New Jersey's epic political dishonesty. Ingle and McClure ... nail the backroom intrigues in impressive scope and detail."—Kirkus Reviews
"It's difficult for an educator to get the idea across to students (without being too preachy) that we all need to be aware of our moral compasses and make sure from time to time that we don't drift off course. The Soprano State performs this task admirably. It is shock treatment for students who have grown up in a world of moral relativism. Many of the cases in the book involve people who probably didn't intend to steal from the public trough, but were only gradually drawn into this culture of corruption. One can't get such a message across to students using a typical undergraduate Political Science textbook. I used the book last year as a voluntary assignment in my American Government class. Six students accepted the assignment. All said that the book opened their eyes to a world they never knew existed. I plan on making the book a mandatory supplementary text for my 300-level State and Local Politics class."—Professor Bill Felix, Political Science, Rutgers University
"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
Synopsis
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
“Were often asked by people elsewhere if New Jersey residents are aware of what the rest of the country thinks and why they dont 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 Americas 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.
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
The New York Times BestsellerUpdated with the Latest Scandals
Its 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.
Synopsis
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 in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a “gay American” and resigns, 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.
About the Author
Bob Ingle is Trenton bureau chief of Gannett Newspapers. Sandy McClure is a veteran political reporter. Their work is read by more than a million people daily. Visit www.thesopranostate.com.
Reading Group Guide
1.) In The Soprano State, Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure explain why New Jersey is the most corrupt state in the nation. What do you think makes New Jersey the worst? Or do you disagree? What similar problems do other states have? 2.) People who see political and government corruption at a state level often believe their own government representative is exempt from the corruption. Is that the way you feel? Does that contribute to the problem in New Jersey and other states? 3.) Because of his dramatic announcement, Jim McGreevey is probably the most well known New Jersey governor. Do you believe what he said? If not, why did he resign? What was the worst thing he did during his tenure as governor? 4.) If you could be the judge and the jury, how many years in jail - if any -- would you give John Lynch and Sharpe James? Who else in the book do you think should go to jail? For how long? 5.) In most states citizens look to law enforcement and the courts to protect their interests. In Chapter 5, the authors discuss the people named to the bench and to the post of attorney general. Do you think the New Jersey system is designed to look the other way when there is political corruption? What is the rational explanation for so many ill-equipped people in such jobs? Do appointments reflect badly on the people of New Jersey or the governor and state senate? 6.) Political bosses are the puppet masters behind the scenes, in effect choosing which candidates the voters get to vote for or against. Thus, an important decision is made before ballots are drawn. Is this something unique to New Jersey? 7.) After reading the chapter on Atlantic City and its mob influence, do you think gambling contributed to the corruption? If there were no gambling, would the mob still be there? What is the single worst example of corruption in New Jersey? Who could have stepped up to prevent it? Could it be prevented from happening again? In Chapter 10, the authors propose solutions to New Jerseys corruption. Are they realistic? Can the problem ever be cured? What do you think will curb corruption? People are fleeing New Jersey. Is that the answer? Should they stay and fight for better, cleaner government? Will they take New Jerseys corrupt system with them to other states?