The real back-story in the history of this privileged one percenter is the source of his money and the meat-packing fortune sucked out of the human suffering that was chillingly portrayed in “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair. In particular the ugly and ruthless Hormel strike of 1985 (a period much chronicled in this book while all facts are totally cleansed) was chronicled in the film “American Dream,” which won the Academy Award for best documentary in 1990. (See Utube.) A song about the strike, entitled “P-9″ was written by Dave Pirner of the Minneapolis band Soul Asylum. The song can be found on their 1989 album, “Clam Dip & Other Delights.” Hormel’s fortune and his history is that of the 1% who sucked the 99% dry to make of them Spam. While Jim Hormel lived off that fortune had sat on the Hormel board of directors and this book make no mention of activism on behalf of the exploited labor and the bitter struggle of the Hormel workers.

Of course with that much money one can flit about the chi-chi Gucci planet and experiment in California spiritualism to heart’s content. That Hormel buried this history (whisk, whisk) is a disappointment for what he did with his life is testimony not just to transcending his closeted homosexuality but to the humanitarian use such a misery-soaked fortune can be put to. Oh, well let no one call him a traitor to his class.

As can be expected money can buy just about anything even the softball questions of sycophant reviewers who call themselves journalists.