SmellsLikeDeadElephantsisabrilliantcollectionfromMattTaibbi,apoliticalreporterwiththegonzospiritthatmadeHunterS.ThompsonandP.J.O'Rourkesomuchfun(TheWashingtonPost).BringingtogetherTaibbi'smostincisiveandhilariousworkfromhisRoadWorkcolumninRollingStone,SmellsLikeDeadElephantsshinesanunflinchingspotlightonthecorruption,dishonesty,andsheerlazinessofourleaders.TaibbihasplentytosayaboutGeorgeW.Bush,JackAbramoff,TomDeLay,andalltherest,buthedoesn'tjusthitinsidetheBeltway.Hegetsinvolvedintheaction,infiltratingSenatorConradBurns'sbirthdaypartyunderdisguiseasalobbyistforafictionaloilfirmthatwantstodrillintheGrandCanyon.Hefloatsintoapocalypticpost-KatrinaNewOrleansinadinghywithSeanPenn.HegoestoIraqasanembeddedreporter,wherehewitnessesthemind-bogglingdysfunctionofouroccupationandspendsthreenightsinAbuGhraibprison.Andhereportsfromtwoofthemostbizarreandtellingtrialsinrecentmemory:Californiav.MichaelJacksonandtheevolution-vs.-intelligent-designtrialinHarrisburg,Pennsylvania.Equallyfunnyandshocking,thisisexcellentworkfromoneofourmostentertainingwriters.