"I Am Not a Crook" (PocketBook)

Buchwald’s best and fenniest book in year is a book for the ages – all ages. Not even Our Man in Washington could improve on the recent front-page news stories, but his incisive wit and needle-sharp insights add a piquant new dimension to the capitol’s grim fairy tales. Here are such classics as “Alice in Washington,” “Rose Mary’s Baby,” “The case of the Missing Mandate,” “Game Plan,” “Expletive Deleted.” “The cherry Tree caper,” “The Joint Return,” “How Kissinger Got Married.” and more than 100 other prize pieces, all scoring bull’s eyes. I Am not a Crook probably won’t adorn the shelves of the oval office, but Buchwald isn’t petty. He’s ready to extend a full and unqualified pardon to the new administration.