Rupert Murdoch likes money more than politics. Rupert Murdoch likes newspapers more than television. And Rupert Murdoch liked Michael Wolff circa last year more than Michael Wolff circa right now. Wolff, of course, is the Vanity Fair columnist and Newser.com proprietor who is also writing Murdoch's biography. Actually, it's already written, and will be published in December — with what was supposed to be Murdoch's blessing. The News Corp. chieftan cooperated with Wolff's book, sitting for interviews and such, but now he wants to take it all back ever since an advanced copy of The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch landed on his desk, and one of his aides had a chance to outline it for him.

Accusations made in the book — like Murdoch being embarrassed by his own Fox News, its chief Roger Ailes, and the ridiculous conservative slant they both share — have left Murdoch fuming. And complaining, all the way to Wolff's publisher Doubleday, an imprint of Random House, a company Murdoch actually does not own. (This would've been so much easier if News Corp. owned them, instead of Bertelsmann AG. Alas.)

Except Wolff has Murdoch on tape, and there are recordings of interviews with the Aussie's children and even 99-year-old mom. Which means the book is probably based in fact. Also evidence that Wolff got it right: Murdoch and News Corp. aren't even threatening legal action.

Which leads us to believe:

CONTINUED »

With Markus Dohle taking over at Random House after Peter Olson stepped down, ending his 10 year tenure, there are two very different scenarios playing out at the Bertelsmann publisher:

• "People are panicking and saying it couldn't be worse," said one Random House author. "On the face of it, it looks like the guy is a complete production bean counter. It doesn't look hopeful that he'll share the romantic idea of literature and publishing."

and:

• "In the near term, I think our new CEO will be doing a lot of listening," said [publicity VP Stuart] Applebaum. "Any speculation about sweeping changes is counter to what the new CEO and [Bertelsmann CEO] Hartmut Ostrowski are telling the staff - despite what some agents and hand wringers are telling you." [NYP]

The publishing industry suddenly cares about whether its authors have integrity!

Though scribes Abigail Hart and Nancy Joyce Callahan weren't outed for passing off a fictional memoir, their gossip book Great Reservations: Two Concierges Dish about Outrageous Requests, Celebrity Encounters and Guests Behaving Badly at a Luxury Hotel may have violated confidentially agreements they signed with the Four Seasons Chicago when they worked there as concierges. And now their publisher is caving to fear.

The celebrity guest tell-all was supposed to hit bookstores on April 22; a PR campaign is already underway, and review copies have been mailed. But now that's all been canceled. Even the book's website, GreatReservations.com, is offline.

When the Four Seasons got wind of the coming tome, they notified Random House imprint Three Rivers Press that any material published would breach Hart and Callahan's privacy agreements. Except those two say they had been upfront about the confidentially contracts from the beginning.

And while the luxury hotel chain might want to protect its reputation of discretion, it's not like they were out to air the dirty laundry of celebs. Well, except John Cusack. Literally.

CONTINUED »

Despite hurting Oprah’s feelings, only 1,729 readers actually mind that James Frey lied to them. That’s the number of people who filed suit against Random House for publishing A Million Little Pieces as non-fiction.

A federal judge settled their suits and Random House will reimburse readers who bought A Million Little Pieces under false pretenses. Random House will pay $27,348 to disgruntled readers, plus $1.2 million in legal fees and $180,000 to the American Red Cross, the Hazelden treatment center, and First Book, a reading non-profit.

CONTINUED »

After Oprah castrated James Frey on national television early last year, the non-fiction fiction writer seemed done for. But if A Million Little Pieces taught us anything, it’s that we should never underestimate the fictionalized will power of James Frey.

The author has sold a new book, this time really fiction, to HarperCollins to be released next summer.

Frey’s agent, Eric Simonoff denied that the whole lying about his memoir thing was an issue. "When word began trickling out that I had a novel from James Frey … every publisher in town contacted me.”

Every publisher in town probably excludes Random House, since they had to refund readers for A Million Little Pieces and their senior editor was disgraced on national TV.

• Good luck getting another author booked on Oprah, Random House!

• Had we joined Cindi Leive and James Brady for lunch, we wouldn've fallen asleep in our soup.

• Redbook fattens up to attract middle-aged heavyset women.

• Surprise! Dean Baquet is job hunting 'round these parts.

• Anna Wintour maintains straight face while telling Barbara Walters the pulse of the nation can be felt in the pages of Vogue.

• WaPo brings the holiday cheer. Err, the holiday jeer.

While it may not make up for the fact that drug addicts everywhere slipped back off the wagon after realizing their inspiration to stay sober, James Frey, was a total fucking liar, Random House is offering a refund to readers who bought A Million Pieces before Frey's public shaming on Jan. 26.

Neither Random House nor Frey actually admit to doing anything "wrong" (drugs aren't wrong) but "a person familiar with the negotiations" told Motoko Rich that the readers who sued Random House and Frey will win the case. (The judge hasn't actually ruled on the case yet, so we're going to take this piece at gossip face value.)

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been accepted by 10 of the 12 plaintiffs who are part of the consolidated case, both Mr. Frey and Random House will pay out no more than a total of $2.35 million, which includes the cost of refunding customers, lawyers’ fees for both sides and a yet-to-be-specified donation to charity.

In addition, readers not involved in the suing of RH can be refunded as well. Random House is making it super easy, too: if you bought the hardcover, send page 163 and you'll get a $23.95 refund; paperback buyers send the front cover for a $14.95 refund; those who can't read and bought the audio version, send in "a piece of the packaging" for your $34.95 back. And finally, if you know what an ebook is and bought one, send in "some proof of purchase" for your $9.95.

And while we think they should, your receipts for the additional 8 weeks spent in rehab due to realizing the "inner strength" method actually didn't work, do not count as proof of purchase.

James Frey and His Publisher Settle Suit Over Lies [Motoko Rich, New York Times]

In a somewhat halfsie apology from author/liar James Frey, his fictional memoir's lack of truthiness is mostly blamed on the writer's history of crack abuse.

"A Million Little Pieces" is "a subjective truth, altered by the mind of a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. Ultimately, it's a story, and one I could not have written without having lived the life I've lived."

See, the problem with that little statement is that isn't going to help people overcome their meth addictions. It's only going to send a million little crackheads over to Random House with the thought that they, too, could hallucinate an untrue story and make a killing.

James Frey's note to the reader of A Million Little Pieces [Random House via AP]

• Is Elizabeth Vargas too hot to quit her job? We think so, Slate thinks no. [Slate]

• See what you've done New York magazine? Thanks a lot. Now this Craig Newmark's all famous, and we're gonna have to pay to find one night stands on-line. [Tech Web]

• As if getting divorced wasn't bad enough, the Elle Accessories editor's ex husband just gave her job away. [WWD]

• Random Random House rumors give people false hope for refunds. Sort of like how James Frey gave people false hope for recovery. [Fishbowl NY]

• Since those Alanis Morrisette CDs were such a darn hit, Starbucks will be pimping out movies, too. [Market Watch]

So, everyone who is so pissed off that James Frey made all this stuff up, you can gather up your million little receipts, and hand them into Random House for a million little refunds, to buy yourself … well, 20 bucks can get you a shitty dime bag at least.

However, we strongly feel that this book, weather truth or lie, was still really good, and definitely worth reading.

Unless you're on crack and are inspired to try and get off of it by not going through a 12 step program. Then, you probably shouldn't read it, and return it immediately. Oh, you didn't buy your copy from Random House? Too bad, can't give it back now.

Well, just keep it around to use as a coaster. Or something to cut your coke on. Whatev.

Readers offered refund on Frey memoir [MSNBC, Reuters]