The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno & the Network Battle for the Night by Bill Carter - ★★★★

I'd seen the movie, but now I read the book. The epic tale of Letterman vs. Leno. Leno had a pitbull working for him, and was willing in hide in closets spying on phone calls to get the job. Letterman never told anyone at the network how much the job meant to him, until it was too late. Johnny Carson's opinion didn't matter at all. Leno took over the Tonight Show and ruined it, ruining it a second time when he stole it back from Conan O'Brien. Great book, by a great journalist. I also enjoyed his second book about the Conan vs. Jay battle.