Judge Judy gives new book away, citing her own salary

Most authors probably aren’t willing to give their books away free of charge. Then again, most authors aren’t Judge Judy Sheindlin, the television personality and author of the unfortunately titled 1996 book “Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining.”

The court show host recently announced that her latest work, “What Would Judy Say?: Be the Hero of Your Own Story,” can be downloaded for no charge as a PDF or e-book on her website.

If you’re concerned about what effect this will have on the judge’s pocketbook, don’t be. According to Business Insider, Sheindlin is television’s highest-paid celebrity, earning over $900,000 per work day, a rate slightly above most other judges (and, it should be noted, arts journalists).

Sheindlin’s new book is aimed at women, according to a note on her website. “In this book I want to have an honest conversation with women about what it really takes to get what you deserve out of life ... [how] to ignore the chattering classes (and the fearmongers) and create your own destiny.”

The chattering classes have already started chattering, though. Katie Rife at the A.V. Club seems unimpressed by Sheindlin’s largesse” in a post headlined “Judge Judy is tired of your foolishness, so she’ll give you hers for free.”

That probably won’t matter to Sheindlin’s fans, who can’t seem to get enough of the judge, whether she’s giving the business to deadbeat dads, lazy parents, or even Paul Rudd.