Editorial Review

It's taken for granted today that the Supreme Court has final say on how the Constitution is interpreted, but this principle--hotly debated in the republic's early years -- was established by John Marshall (1755-1835), the fourth Chief Justice.Historian Smith's definitive biography, detailed and lucid, is a model of scholarly writing for the general public. The author claims our admiration for the justice and sparks affection for the man: warm, gregarious, fond of drink, a Federalist with the common touch, a seasoned political infighter who remained on good terms with his opponents. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

An excellent biography and overview of early American history from a different perspective
What a book and what a topic for a non-lawyer, early American history buff.I actually feel smarter now!
Great book
I love early American history, the early Constitutional period to be more exact.I've read the biographies of many of our Founders but I have never read one about a Supreme Court justice.After visiting the Court's building in D.C. a few years back, I became interested in Marshall and found this book about his life.
Forgotten Giant
I don't think that there are any major monuments to John Marshall in the United States.He is nowhere to be found on the Mall in Washington, his face isn't carved into any mountains, and his image doesn't grace any form of national currency.Yet, if one were challenged to make a short list of individual Americans who had the greatest influence on the structure of our government and whose actions have reverberated down to our every day life, John Marshall would have to be on it.
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Subjects:  1. 1755-1835    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Historical - U.S.    7. Judges    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. Marshall, John,    10. Political    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (13)

What is happening in the US Justice System?
This is one of a series of books written by different writers aimed at mentoring a range of groups from young conservatives to golfers. The format is to talk about skills which can be of use for those starting out.
Excellent book. FYI - BEWARE OF Common Sense Rules by EVANS!
I recommend Letters to a Young Lawyer and consult it frequently. Highly recommended.
Packed with Knowledge!
This is an excellent book - well written, cogent and persuasive - the perfect launch of the new Art of Mentoring series. Alan M. Dershowitz, an impassioned and outspoken attorney, is keenly aware of the risks and pitfalls of legal practice. He squarely confronts the fact that lawyers often find themselves having to make moral or ethical choices in ambiguous circumstances in which the lesser of two evils is the only possible choice because there is no clear good - and yet, no clearly lesser evil. The book does not pretend to be objective. It is a compilation of advice, great courtroom war stories, practical tips and philosophical conclusions. Dershowitz is a fighter who chose his side long ago and has no intention of deserting it. Some of his more liberal positions will seem wrong-headed or ill-considered to those who disagree. Well, not ill-considered; he is a thoughtful man who takes lawyering seriously. We recommend this book to you whether or not you intend to study or practice law. It is valuable for an audience far broader than only young lawyers, including those who hire them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Dershowitz, Alan M    4. Law    5. Lawyers    6. Lawyers & Judges    7. Legal Profession    8. Literature: Classics    9. Practice Of Law    10. United States    11. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    12. Essays   

Reviews (6)

The best judicial biography written
Learned Hand was in many ways a great man.A dedicated judge, the gently forgiving husband of a straying wife, a kind and thoughtful person, brilliantly intelligent and clear-thinking - and yet, in the end, almost unknowable.Gunther's biography shines a light on every aspect of the judge's work and personality, including the mystery at his inner core. Hand really wasn't like other people, and Gunther, who knew him personally, captures that.
I Thought It Was Great
This is an outstanding biography written by one who is a true legal scholar in his own right.Gunther's understanding and insight into the legal issues surrounding the life of Learned Hand made reading this book a fine experience.

insufferably boring.
notwithstanding Justice Powell's glowing introduction, reading this book is like wading through cold oatmeal.anyone who can endure this avalancheof turgid prose to mine those incredibly few nuggets of interestinginformation about this great judge is a dedicated person indeed. save yourmoney. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Lawyers & Judges    5. American English    6. Biography: general    7. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    8. Law / General   

Reviews (2)

Essential Reading for Understanding Israel's Current Conflic
Fascinating book tracing the ideological and judicial development of Simon Agranat.Agranat's changes over time mirrored Israel's and reflected the tensions within the developing state of Israel-- democracy and pluralism versus unity and nation-building, progressivism and universality versus particularism, human rights versus "security," etc. The sections on the Eichmann trial and the ongoing "Who is a Jew" controversy are the most powerful sections, while other sections, such as that on the powers of the Attorney General, are a bit dense. Since Israel is still confronting virtually all of the issues and conflicts which Agranat faced as a judge over many decades, this book provides essential historical background and context.

Winner of the 1998 Gratz College Centennial Book Award
"This is a judicial biography in the grand style, one which looks notonly at the central actor, but at the law he influenced as well as thetimes in which he lived. We learn not only about Agranat, but about Israel,and about an area on which relatively little has been written in English,the development of Israeli constitutional law and the impact of Americanlegal traditions on that development."Dr. Melvin Urofsky Director,Center for Public Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,Virgini ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1906-    2. 20th century    3. Agranat, Shimon,    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Courts    9. History    10. History Of Zionist Movement    11. Israel    12. Jewish - General    13. Judges    14. Law    15. Lawyers & Judges    16. Zionism    17. Agranat, Shimon    18. Biography: general    19. Jewish studies    20. Laws of Other Jurisdictions & General Law    21. Religion / Judaism / General    22. USA    23. World history: postwar, from c 1945 -   

Reviews (8)

An Impressive, Engrossing Biography
Joan Biskupic's biography _Sandra Day O'Connor: How the First Woman on the Supreme Court Became Its Most Influential Justice_ provides a compelling picture of the first woman Supreme Court justice and of the inner workings of the Supreme Court through four presidential administrations.Biskupic combines assiduous research with a writing style that makes the intricacies of Supreme Court proceedings accessible and fascinating.The biography is impressive on many counts, especially in how it captures O'Connor's skilfull handling of the challenges of being the nation's first female Supreme Court Justice.Throughout, Biskupic's stance is balanced, outlining the strengths of O'Connor's jurisprudence while acknowleding O'Connor's critics.
Engaging
This is a most engaging portrait of a model justice in the common law tradition. Justice O'Connor is a true American icon of humble and hardworking origins rising to the heights of leadership based on character, critical thinking and an ethic of service. Her good will and civility toward those with whom she disagreed is an example to follow. The narrative is well informed, nuanced and flows steadily in a current that merges national, judicial and personal events in the judge's life most artfully. A wonderful book about a wonderful lady and an excellent Supreme Court justice. It is the likes of Sandra Day O'Connor that make one proud to be an American. And though I've never (yet) voted Republican she is also one more beautiful reason to love Ronald Reagan.
Interesting Summary of an Interesting Person
Biskupic picks up where Justice O'Connor left off in her joint biography (with brother Alan) of growing up on the Lazy B ranch in southern Arizona, and includes O'Connor's decision to pursue law studies at Stanford ("to make a difference," and as an outgrowth of a professor contending that an individual had a responsibility to the community).
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Subjects:  1. 1930-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Courts - General    7. Judges    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. O'Connor, Sandra Day,    10. Political    11. Supreme Court    12. U.S. Supreme Court    13. United States    14. United States.    15. Women    16. Women And Politics    17. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (12)

Acosta was not just Thompson's sidekick
Oscar Acosta's works stand on their own, give a unique perspective, and cover important topics. It's a given that most HST fans will also like Acosta, but even readers who aren't familiar with or (perish the thought) aren't fond of the good Dr's works may still like Acosta's frank (and not ostensibly exaggerated) depictions of his life as a chicano civil rights lawyer in the 1960's.

Read this and watch Fear and Loathing in Vegas again
By reading this book before watching the movie, you will see what Dr. Gonzo's life was like right before he decides to become a lawyer.If you have ever felt alienated by American ideals, regardless of your race, you will relate to this book.Acosta's writing is good and he does a great job of describing what the character is feeling when he encounters life, drugs, and ulcers.

A good story at heart
It is easy to dismiss this book. The hallucinations and drug-induced rants become a little exaggerated and tedious. Although, his friend and partner in crime, Hunter S. Thompson, would detail similar bizarre experiences in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, their intent seemed different. Whereas HST played with fantasy in social satire as a form of comic relief, OZA seems to want you to believe it to be fact...or at least for you to trust that he believed it.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Acosta, Oscar Zeta    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Ethnic identity    8. General    9. Hispanic Americans In The U.S.    10. History    11. Lawyers & Judges    12. Mexican Americans    13. People of Color    14. Popular culture    15. United States    16. West (U.S.)    17. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges   

Reviews (5)

A Patriot, A Republican of Integrity
What I realized from this book is that my ancestors, who where were life long Republicans, have no relationship to the Republicans of today.Ingersoll represents the party of Lincoln, Grant, and TR.
Interesting but no more
If you are interested in his work and thoughts and not very interested in his personal characteristics and when he did what this book is probably not for you. Thoroughly researched though.

The best Ingersoll Biography
The best (albeit the ONLY) biography I've ever read on Ingersoll. Anyone with more than just a pssing interest in RGI should read this. Not too long, but long enough to introduce this great man to those of us who will never have the pleasure of meeting him in the flesh. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1833-1899    2. Agnostics    3. Atheists    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges    6. Free thought    7. Ingersoll, Robert Green,    8. Lawyers    9. Orators    10. Religion / Atheism    11. United States   

Editorial Review

Johnnie Cochran had been famed as a folksy oratory in Los Angeles courtrooms since the 1960s, but the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial catapulted him to international fame--a status he gladly acknowledges in this bare-knuckles memoir of his years in court.Read more

Reviews (12)

Better than expected
I think it's always good when a storyteller can take us inside the courts and tell us what happens there. And according to this book's author, every lawyer is a storyteller. I believe him.
Splendid
I thought the readings from chapters 1 through 9 were great.I mean Johnnie Cochran took the reader through cases familiar, and unfamiliar.In detail how some police are just terrible, how the system has bias in who will be the victim.But, the last chapter 10.Oh MY!If you dont read the book, just read chapter 10 it'll make you rethink alot of things.Its powerful-Johnnie goes on stating how the system has failed so many, how corporations get away with discrimination.His life and what its like to be a lawyer.Its just great.Read the book, and if you dont do that.Just read the last chapter, number 10 its worth it.

Heart-touching account of real life stories
Great reading; in depth information from a perspective other than the media of true life events as told by an intelligent, compassionate individual that was truly interested in the well-being of all mankind. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1937-    2. African American lawyers    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Cochran, Johnnie L.,    8. Lawyers    9. Lawyers & Judges    10. People of Color    11. Personal Memoirs    12. United States    13. Cochran, Johnnie L    14. Law / General   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Copyright    4. Intellectual Property - Copyright    5. Internet entertainment industr    6. Internet entertainment industry    7. Law and legislation    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Media & the Law    11. Music    12. Piracy (Copyright)    13. United States    14. Licensing, gaming & club law    15. USA   

Reviews (58)

The story of a man of integrity and his running The FBI.
Louis J. Freeh the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations has written and outstanding book concerning his tenure at the FBI. He has also earned my respect and has been added to the list of vicarious mentors.
Blah
Gossip is the inaccurate and undocumented repeating of information just to have something to talk about and stir up drama - period.

The truth is the salvation
The biggest crime of Director Freeh is that he lies the society. The uninformed society does not have the possibility to protect itself. This is big crime. An excellent example is the killing of the CIA Director William Colby. Freeh preferred to kill Colby, instead to charge him officially. The FBI stories of Ames and Colby are far far... far away form the truth. (If you are interested to read the real story, read the memoirs of Dekov at the Web, Google Groups, Search, "Dekov, Colby".) The society is the loser. The society will pay big money. The society will give victims. This is very dangerous criminal activity against the American people. The persons who praise the Director Freeh (see the other opinions at this page) will pay the price, too. Their children will die, as the whole nation. The USA Senate must accept a special law, forcing the FBI to say the truth. The truth is the only chance for salvation of the American nation. And the most important - Freeh must go into the jail, as killer of the American nation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Freeh, Louis J    7. General    8. Government executives    9. Intelligence Agencies    10. Lawyers & Judges    11. Police    12. Political    13. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    14. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges    17. Criminal investigation & detection    18. USA   

Reviews (7)

Mean as Hell
I have a few copies of this book, for my son and sister. Attorney SidneyBateman was my grandfather.
Interesting but incomplete
I had to buy this book years ago. I bought 6 copies. One for each of my Zumwalt relatives (Father InLaw, Brother In Law, Sister In Law, one for each of our two kids and of course one for us.) . Keeping in mind I married a Zumwalt girl. If you remember from the Chapter titled "Mean as Hell", Mr. Hall was killed by Mr. Zumwalt. That was my wifes Great Grandather. What was not made clear is that the Hall brothers were friends with the Zumwalt brothers. Due to some cattle rustling talk, the Hall brothers threatend to kill the Zumwalts on sight. There was a confrontation and needless to say it wasn't the Zumalts to hit the ground. Irony was that Hall was wearing the shirt that Zumwalt had bought him on his last birthday...The Zumwalts lost their ranch in the resulting trial..cost of courts/legal/ and lawyer fees. Mr. Zumwalt was aquited as the bottom line is Hall's threat ,as well as, went for his gun first..That was the way it was back then. A more realistic look at the life of a real western lawman
A fun vacation read. Anecdotes from a real wild west lawman -- who didn't do a lot of shooting and killing but somehow managed to be in the action none the less.It reminded me a little of the excellent Dustin Hofmann film, Little Big Man. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. Historical - U.S.    6. Lawyers & Judges   

Reviews (7)

An Inspirational Woman!
This book is more than meets the eye. I found it so intriguing that I read it non-stop over the weekend. Snyder chronicles the steps she took to get to where she is today. Her position of priviledge and honour weren't handed to her on a silver plate. She earned it, with a combination of grace, dignity, intelligence, and tenacity. Given her relatively low salary, especially in comparison to the defense attorneys in private practice, it is a wonder that she continues to work in such a demanding, yet thankless job, especially so when she and her family find their lives constantly threatened by the thugs that she protects society from. It is a gripping tale of how criminals run rampant and destroy the lives of innocent bystanders, and how Snyder does more than her part in ending their tyranny. You might expect a book about law to be dry. Think again! 25 TO LIFE is a gripping outline of Snyder's exciting career. I would compare this woman to Rudolph Guiliani in her leadership abilities. She is a role model to all, especially young women. (It's too bad she practices in NY. We could definately use somebody of her calibre here in Canada, to clean up the urban crime). Great book from a fabulous member of society.

A Bell-Ringer
This is such an incredible story, I could not put the book down... how could any one person take on the mob, the druggies, and some of the most vicious murderers ever seen in New York City?And while, much of the time, under death threat to her self and family by these creeps who had been getting away with their murders for years...To label her just a Conservative is ridiculous -- she is also liberal, feminist, family, but above all, AMERICAN.New York City and State, and America, owe her a tremendous debt.However, as I neared the end of her incredible odyssey, I wondered why she did not give a solution for the overall "War on Drugs," obviously a losing proposition. But she does!There are hidden powers in high places that should be doing everything possible to save America from this Drug Hell that has engulfed the nation. Time to wake up, folks...

not exactly enlightening
The best biographies (and autobiographies) are those that do more than catalog their subjects' achievements -- they chronicle some inner struggle that makes the story interesting on a human level.Reading this book, you wonder why it was written.There seems to be no personal revelation, nothing below the surface.The author sees everything in black and white, and there doesn't seem to be anything more going on than a chronicling of local legal issues that have little relevance to anyone but a few insiders.Snyder's "interior" struggle seems to be her understanding that other people are bad.I guess she has always been perfect.This may be true, and if so I congratulate her, but it just doesn't make for interesting reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1942-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Crime    7. Lawyers & Judges    8. New York    9. New York (N.Y.)    10. New York (State)    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Snyder, Leslie Crocker,    13. Women    14. Women judges    15. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges   

Reviews (8)

When the system works against you, turn it against itself
Acosta's book on the left wing Chicano civil rights movement and his involvement in it as a defense attorney provides some incisive and entertaining insight into U.S. social history.
Kansas
Re-Saturday Review of Literature Correction
Re-Saturday Review of LiteratureRead more

Subjects:  1. Acosta, Oscar Zeta    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. California    7. Ethnic identity    8. General    9. Hispanic Americans In The U.S.    10. Historical - General    11. Lawyers & Judges    12. Los Angeles    13. Mexican Americans    14. People of Color    15. Politics and government    16. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges    17. Ethnic studies    18. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    19. Population & demography    20. USA   

Reviews (1)

Impressive Overview of Justice Scalia's Approach to Law and the Constitution
Accomplished scholar Prof. Ralph Rossum has penned a well-crafted book analyzing the legal opinions and writings of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.The result is a solid read about how Justice Scalia views the role of a judge and how he sees himself.At least, Rossum gives his own take on how Justice Scalia sees himself.Obviously, the only person who truly knows how he sees himself is Justice Scalia.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Constitutional    4. Constitutional Law    5. Constitutional history    6. Courts - General    7. General    8. Historical - U.S.    9. Law    10. Lawyers & Judges    11. Political    12. U.S. Supreme Court    13. United States   

Reviews (1)

A Superb Judicial Biography of Justice Souter
Writing judicial biography can be a challenging undertaking.How much of the judge's family history should be included?; what elements of the judge's pre-court career merit careful examination?; how extensive should the discussion be of how and why the judge was selected for the position?; and finally, how many of the judge's decisions should be reviewed to round out the picture?It is a pleasure to report that Professor Yarbrough has mastered the craft well, having written prior biographies of both Justices Harlan, Judge Frank Johnson, and District Court Judge Waring.
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Subjects:  1. 1939-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Constitutional    7. Courts - Supreme Court    8. Government - Judicial Branch    9. Judges    10. Lawyers & Judges    11. Souter, David H.,    12. Supreme Court    13. United States    14. United States.    15. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges    16. Biography: general    17. Courts & procedure    18. Law | Constitutional Law    19. USA   

Reviews (3)

The Womb is Sacred
"Convicted in the Womb" is a deeply captivating too true autobiography that reads like the first half of the life of an untold number of African-American men in the last half century. What is next?
It has been about 4 years now since I read this book. To me it was an excellent autobiography and told a miraculous story. So, Carl, what have you been up to since?

Hope and Inspiration
Carl vividly describes his life beginning as a young child.The challenges he faced growing up in this society are dramatically expressed in the first paragraph of the book.This is clearly a story of hope and inspiration as it shows the struggles one endures in making positive changes in one's life.Carl shows how God worked in his life and how the impact of the Holy Spirit in one person's life can impact the world.Many inmates identify with Carl's life experiences and view him as a role model.Carl's story quickly invites the reader into his life and is difficult to put down until the last page is read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1975-    2. Afro-American leadership    3. Afro-Americans    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. People of Color    10. Social Science    11. Social conditions    12. Biography & Autobiography / Lawyers & Judges   

Reviews (11)

An interesting look at the big law firm experience
I'm investigating careers in the legal field, and I got this from a friend of mine. The book is honestly written and straightforward. However, it must be approached for what it is: a first-job perspective from a 26-27 year old student, fresh out of a grueling 7 or 8 years of law school and academia in general, with no real-world job experience and some highly idealistic preconceptions of how things should work.He gets a job in a top-flight high paying law firm in NYC (apparently, a Hollywoodesque big-time scenario for a lot of young lawyers) and documents his work experiences, interaction with fellow workers, and life in general in an engaging journal-entry style. This is definitely a one-sitting read.
OK - but if you WANT to be a lawyer, see Keith Evans book
An excellent book for lawyers who WANT to be lawyers and effective advocates is "Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers," by Keith Evans.Great book for new associates and 3Ls. Read this book to make an informed decision about the law
This book does a great job of informing people in high school, college, and anyone else thinking about going to law school what practicing law in a prestigious law firm is actually like.The book is an easy read because each chapter begins with an entry from the author's journal, and then focuses on a particular aspect of a large-firm legal practice.The journal entries provide startlingly personal and realistic insights into a top lawyer's lifestyle, while the chapters describe what lawyers really do on a daily basis.The book effectively offers the information that people need in order to make an informed decision about whether to go to law school. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Careers / Job Opportunities    3. Diaries    4. General    5. Keates, William R    6. Law    7. Lawyers    8. Lawyers & Judges    9. Legal Profession    10. Practice Of Law    11. Reference    12. United States   

Reviews (1)

A wonderful book. Very detailed but also lucid.
Two apsects strike me in reading about Holmes. First is his life. What a great subject. Holmes is almost as exciting to read about as Lincoln. The second is his jurisprudence. White does a fine job covering both. I likeWhite's style. Somewhat loose but never inaccurate, his biography is veryreadable.