Titans (The Canadian Establishment, Vol. 3)

Peter C. Newman's series on The Canadian Establishment has made publishing history, its two previous volumes having sold more than half a million copies. In this new book, Titans: How the New Canadian Establishment Seized Power, Newman takes a daring look at Canada's mega-wealthy, all powerful gunslingers, who will define the way we live and work in the 21st century. For the first time we get an intimate look into the lives and careers of these men and women who are true inhabitants of the global village, creatures more of their time than their place. They dictate the agenda of Canada's politicians, and gain legitimacy by donating surprisingly large gobs of cash to anyone willing to name buildings after them-what they call "f_ _ k-you money with a social conscience."

As well as tackling the great Titans whose greed and influence straddles the nation, Newman details regional and local establishments that rule the roost in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver.

Like all of Newman's books, Titans is an explosive mixture of good humour ("New Money regards waiters as their buddies; Old Money treats them as self-propelled furniture") and tough comments (The Titans have reduced the idea of Canada to a flag of convenience-or occasionally, inconvenience-to be used or discarded, like a moth-eaten T-shirt.")

Titans is sure to be the most cussed and discussed book of the year.