Score

I'm not sure "Too Big to Fail" qualifies - none of the major banksters in it have been charged with any crimes, right? (Much to everyone's annoyance...)

Removed.

Sorry FTSE voters, I had to delete it from the list as it's fiction.

What about "A Civil Action"? It's written (and reads) like fiction, but it's actually an account of true events -- with corporate greed at their core.

Themis-Athena wrote: "What about "A Civil Action"? It's written (and reads) like fiction, but it's actually an account of true events -- with corporate greed at their core."

But it's a civil, not criminal case.

Deleted Just Inn Time, which appears to be a children's book about a handicapped child.

Lobstergirl wrote: "Themis-Athena wrote: "What about "A Civil Action"? It's written (and reads) like fiction, but it's actually an account of true events -- with corporate greed at their core."

But it's a civil, not criminal case."

But only because the complaint was brought by the victims themselves and their families -- and it WAS a complaint for punitive, not merely compensatory and/or consequential damages. Had the State of Massachusetts brought the case, it would have been a prosecution for grievous bodily harm, as well as either intentional or negligent homicide in the cases of those victims who had died. In other words: The behaviour at issue -- at least, as described by Harr -- WAS criminal; it just wasn't dealt with by a criminal court for procedural reasons.

And in fact, there ARE cases where environmental and public safety civil class actions are eventually followed by criminal prosecutions as well, once the respective D.A.s determine that they're not merely looking at business dealings causing monetary damages but at criminal behaviour.

So, too, if I recall correctly, when the federal court in the case underlying the narrative in "A Civil Action" dismissed that case, it was NOT on the grounds that the behaviour alleged would not have constituted grievous bodily harm (or worse) -- but because the plaintiffs failed to prove causation. Obviously, such a result will not particularly entice a prosecutor to take up the baton and continue where the victims failed ... because dismissal for failure to meet your burden of proof is a potential risk inherent in ANY court action; it's not germane to either civil or criminal cases.

The fact remains, however, that what distinguishes the case underlying "A Civil Action" from, say, the Madoff and Enron prosecutions is not that the HARM done was outside the scope of criminal law (indeed, in all criminal codes that I am aware of, and that includes those of several American states as well as those of various other countries around the world, homicide is considered a decidedly worse crime than fraud, even fraud on the level it had reached in the Madoff and Enron cases). Nor is the OUTCOME one that takes the MA case outside the scope of criminal law (indeed, if that were the case, the books on the Clinton investigation arguably would have to vanish from this list as well). It is merely the VENUE that is different.

Sorry. Rant over ... ;)

I get it - I was only arguing it should be excluded based on venue, myself. I don't have a problem with you adding it if you feel strongly about it.

When I think of the term "White Collar Crime," I guess I am thinking entirely of financial fraud--ponzi schemes, overreporting of financial statements, embezzlement, or perhaps politicians on the take (which is why I included "The Jersey Sting," which was about a guy facing charges in a $50M bank fraud going undercover to bribe NJ politicians in exchange for favorable building permits). Yet there are a lot of books on here about non-financial political scandals--All the President's Men, books about Iran-Contra, a book about the CIA, books about Clinton's impeachment, a book whining about Bush and Iraq, and so-forth. Some of these aren't even crimes, really. And a book by PT Barnum really seems to be stretching it.

Point being that it might be nice if this list was more narrowly focused on financial crimes, and books that actually report on them. Otherwise, we could add a ton of political scandal books, books about the mafia or drug lords, and of course no end of of books criticizing "the system" (an endless list if we start including books criticizing politicians).

Thoughts?

I want the list to include political crimes, which as far as I'm concerned are white collar crimes. The books you mention which you don't think are about crimes, actually are about crimes. (With the possible exception of the books about PT Barnum, I don't know what those books are about. I didn't add them.) I'm not interested in having books on the list which are solely about political scandal or books criticizing "the system." Crimes have to be involved for a book to be on the list.

These two Lucia Powers books--which appear to be tiny, self-published eBooks about Steve Jobs and mind control, or somesuch--really don't seem to have anything do to with...well, anything, actually, but especially not this list's topic. Can we get a purge?

Gone! Thanks.

Man, those were weird...I guess the democratization of publishing is a two-edged sword.

Anyway, thanks. I wish more people would (legitimately) participate in this list; I'm always looking for more books on this topic.

Speaking of deleting books from the list, how does one actually do this? I started a different list last November, and, I'll take it as a sign of success that it's starting to get spammed with books that have nothing to do with its topic. Yet I cannot figure out how to delete them. What's the secret?

You need a librarian; GR Librarians can do it from the edit list page.

What's the list?

Hey all, is there a group dedicated to white collar crime? I'm new to Goodreads, and would love to talk to people about it.

Joel wrote: "Hey all, is there a group dedicated to white collar crime? I'm new to Goodreads, and would love to talk to people about it."

It doesn't look like it. I've never started a group before, but it's probably not hard. Why not get one going?

Removed Hiding in Sunshine which is fiction.

Suggesting Personal Foul: A First-Person Account of the Scandal That Rocked the NBA
by Tim Donaghy
Excellent portrayal of the (white collar crime) never prosecuted--much larger than just one guy--game-fixing scandal that went on in the NBA. To clarify, Donaghy was convicted (meeting your list definition) but the interest for me lies in the bigger scandal that the FBI investigated and then, just as mysteriously, dropped.

Removed three fiction books.

good

An Indian series worth checking out - Maze of Deceit and Follow the Wall by Vijay Govind...