Aug. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Besides its provocative title, Vincent Bugliosi's ``The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder'' comes with an exciting back story. The author -- a lawyer best known for putting away Charles Manson -- states in his first paragraph that major publishers ``did not want to have their name connected with'' it.

Two liberal law professors ``were afraid to even look at the book,'' Bugliosi adds. The reader courageous enough to buy a copy feels entitled to a bodyguard. But after 20 pages or so, the adrenaline wanes -- and all you have left is one of the most unoriginal, repetitious and self-indulgent books to reach the market in living memory.

Its argument -- which may be heard for free in many bars, where I might even be making it myself -- is that George W. Bush is ``a spoiled, callous brat who became president only because of his father's good name.'' He lied us into an unnecessary war. Somebody really ought to put him on trial. At least that would make presidents more careful in the future.

Also, Dick Cheney and Condi Rice are deserving of scorn and possible co-indictment. And you can tell that Karl Rove is ``a pasty, weak-faced and mean-spirited political criminal'' just by looking at him. (Bugliosi includes a photo of Bush and Rove together so you can study their respective physiognomies.)

Shocking!

Bugliosi repeatedly announces that the thing he is about to say will be shocking and controversial -- and possibly even dangerous to read while standing up ``because it could affect your physical equilibrium'' -- and then he presents some well- known fact or familiar complaint. The danger to your equilibrium, for example, comes from Bugliosi's revelation that Bush expressed a lack of interest in Osama bin Laden's whereabouts just six months after Sept. 11.

The author, who has also written books on the Supreme Court, O.J. Simpson and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, offers an extensive dossier of evidence that Iraq was invaded on spurious and falsified grounds -- all of it based on recent books and newspaper articles. For anyone who has been living in a bunker for the past five years, ``The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder'' is a good way to catch up.

Otherwise, it reads like a blog in disguise. The author exhibits a pronounced tendency to ramble. We learn that comedian Dennis Miller, back when he was a liberal, once called Bugliosi ``brilliant'' -- but now, given Miller's post-9/11 move to the right, Bugliosi feels the sad obligation to dissect his foreign policy at length.

He also finds himself reminiscing (apropos not much in particular) about the electrifying closing speech he made during the Manson trial. Besides which, the country is going to hell in a hand basket.

``I should tell you that I don't think too much of modern- day America,'' he notes, a land full of ``stupidity and/or ignorance.''

Publicity Stunt

Bugliosi's outrage is not in doubt, but it never yields anything more coherent than the blueprint for a publicity stunt. He urges one or more attorneys general to prosecute Bush for having knowingly caused the deaths of soldiers by starting an unnecessary war. Arguably The Hague would be a better venue than Hartford, Connecticut; but the author dismisses this as impractical, as if his own proposal were the height of realism.

He imagines how the trial might unfold -- complete with scenes of Bush on the witness stand, squirming and squeaking out feeble replies under the prosecutor's masterful questioning. Seldom has a work of nonfiction wandered so deep into the realm of wish-fulfillment fantasy as ``The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder.''

Why did publishers and lawyers look away when Bugliosi presented them with his manuscript? Not from fear, necessarily. At times embarrassment is a decent feeling.

``The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder'' is published by Vanguard (344 pages, $26.95).

(Scott McLemee is a critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer of this review: Scott McLemee in Washington at mclemee@gmail.com.

Last Updated: August 1, 2008 00:01 EDT