My May 5, 2020 book culture column for the San Francisco Chronicle:
I was one of those weirdos who was perversely addicted to the media frenzy a dozen years ago surrounding Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Of course I acknowledged the enormity of the tragic consequences for many of Madoff’s investors. Nevertheless, I gobbled up every detail about the scandal, right down to stories about his wife, Ruth, whose exclusive Manhattan hair salon, florist and favorite Italian restaurant declared her persona non grata.