A White House spokesman said, "We hate that sonovabitch." They're not alone: From corporate suites to Osama's cave, they fear what Britain's Guardian calls "investigations up there with Woodward and Bernstein — and a lot funnier." But Greg Palast's fanatic following (nearly two million readers of his Web column) has made him "a cult fave among progressives" (Village Voice) who can't wait for his next release.

Palast's old-style gum-shoe detective work to dig out the info on the War on Terror, greed-dripping schemes to seize little nations with lots of oil, the hidden program to steal the 2008 election, and the media biases that keep it unreported are the meat and bones of this BBC television reporter's new book. Armed Madhouse is illustrated with dozens of documents marked "secret" and "confidential" that have walked out of file cabinets and fallen into Palast's hands.

You won't find Palast in the New York Times (except its bestseller list), but you will read his reports on the hottest Web sites worldwide, hear him regularly on Air America and the Pacifica radio networks, and see his stories reappearing as the basis for Eminem's hit video "Mosh," Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, and sampled by a dozen of today's top platinum rock artists.

"Mesmerizing, if it weren't so depressing, Palast delivers some hard-to-refute facts about the contemporary political scene from the fraudulent elections of 2000 and 2004 to advance economic schemes of the haves to virtually enslave the have-nots to the war in Iraq and the obsession of oil. Palast questions the authority of the leaders of this 'armed madhouse,' often using their words, documents and resources to bring to light some rather disconcerting truths. As narrator, Palast keeps the pace consistent, taking his time with the more complicated passages, while surging forward on the straightforward parts. His ironic and even deadpan tone provides laughs for his listeners. This audiobook employs a host of cameo voices, including Ed Asner, Janeane Garofalo and Larry David for various quotes. Asner proves engaging with a raspy deep voice that could easily land him a career in audiobooks. Harry Shearer's commentary on gambling and homeland security is also very entertaining. But a few guest vocals may have been better delivered by the author. In the end, it's not the voices that are important, it's what Palast has uncovered. Simultaneous release with the Dutton hardcover (Reviews, June 12). (June)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"The greatest investigative journalist in America." Alan Chartock, NPR

"The type of investigative reporter you don't see anymore — a cross between Sam Spade and Sherlock Holmes." Jim Hightower

"Upsets all the right people!" Noam Chomsky

In ARMED MADHOUSE, Greg Palast uses old-style gum-shoe detective work to dig out the info on the War on Terror, greed-dripping schemes to seize little nations with lots of oil, the hidden program to steal the 2008 election, and the media biases which keep it unreported and quiet. This funny and controversial book is illustrated with dozens of documents marked, "secret" and "confidential" that have somehow walked out of file cabinets and fallen into Palast's hands.

GREG PALAST is the author The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, a New York Times bestsellerit spent 6 months on the listand produced and starred in the hit BBC documentary Bush Family Fortunes. His undercover reports appear regularly in Harper's magazine, on BBC's Newsnight, and on Pacifica's Democracy Now! Palast has won numerous awards for his investigative journalism, including six Project Censored awards and the Guerrilla News Network Reporter of the Year.