Book Review - Wrong Way: The Fall of Conrad Black

Okay, okay, I know that for the most part, most people reading this may not find this type of book their cup of tea. But I found it fascinating and thought I'd share.

Conrad Black, for those of you who don't know, was the Canadian born press baron who later became a member of the U.K. House of Lords and is currently under SEC investigation. This book basically follows the last two to three years of his career, the pitfalls he endured, and some of his more controversial plans to save face.

It's amazing that, in this day and age, someone can act (allegedly) as arrogant as Black while running a publicly-traded company and still attract major investors. Yet he did, and the charm he displays in wooing these bigwigs is nothing short of remarkable.

What I like particularly like about this book is how the authors capture the drama and boardroom politics in a way that you won't see following this story in the daily papers. You also get after-the-fact comments from some of the key players in the company's internal investigation.

Is this book for everyone? Well, no. But if you're a fan of intriguing tales about corporate America (or corporate Canada, for that matter), this one's for you. An excellent read.