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tracithomas's review against another edition
4.0
This is really strong collection. I loved hearing how each author interpreted their case. I also loved how there were different readers for each essay on the audiobook. It’s powerful. It went in slightly too long for me and some essays were medium. But I’m glad I read this book.
glendareads39's review against another edition
4.0
Very insightful, inspirational and informative book on how the ACLU was formed and highlighting the landmark cases that the organization been involved in. This Year marks the 100th anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union. One of the Supreme Court cases led to the founding of the ACLU. A diverse group of writers who have written personal reflections on these cases include Yaa Gyasi, Brit Bennett, Jacqueline Woodson, Louise Erdrich, Charlie Jane Ander, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Morgan Parker, and more. The cases reminds readers that there's more work to do in standing up and fighting for the civil liberties against a overzealous policy or government.
katieproctorbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was super interesting— a cast of awesome authors and narrator is breaking down ACLU cases that made it to the Supreme Court. We have a long way to go…
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
4.0
This was really interesting and absolutely should be read slow but steady, but I have a hard time thinking who I might recommend it to.
pjdas1012's review
5.0
"I wish for all of them the best thing you can wish for a soul. The result we strove for together but only sometimes achieved. I wish them freedom."
A collection of essays each written by a famous author about a landmark ACLU Supreme Court case from the past 100 years. There are two emotions that filled me while reading this. The first was shame. Shame that there are people throughout the history of our country who sought to restrain the rights of others, whether because of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or the variety of other excuses humans find to differentiate from one another. I was ashamed that some of these cases took so long to happen, and that many, many injustices still stand to this day. And I felt ashamed of the horrific history of this country, and the fact that many seemingly obvious rights were not always deemed to be rights in the eyes of the law. The other emotion that I felt while reading this was pride. Pride that there are people in this country that faced enormous personal sacrifices in order for these cases to go to court, and ensure a better future that they may never have gotten to see. I felt pride that though the arc of the moral universe is indeed long, it has bent toward justice, and we certainly are in a better country now than the one that existed 100 years ago. And I feel pride that there is an organization such as the ACLU that advocates for the inalienable rights of every American. This may be the most important book that I will read in 2020.
A collection of essays each written by a famous author about a landmark ACLU Supreme Court case from the past 100 years. There are two emotions that filled me while reading this. The first was shame. Shame that there are people throughout the history of our country who sought to restrain the rights of others, whether because of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or the variety of other excuses humans find to differentiate from one another. I was ashamed that some of these cases took so long to happen, and that many, many injustices still stand to this day. And I felt ashamed of the horrific history of this country, and the fact that many seemingly obvious rights were not always deemed to be rights in the eyes of the law. The other emotion that I felt while reading this was pride. Pride that there are people in this country that faced enormous personal sacrifices in order for these cases to go to court, and ensure a better future that they may never have gotten to see. I felt pride that though the arc of the moral universe is indeed long, it has bent toward justice, and we certainly are in a better country now than the one that existed 100 years ago. And I feel pride that there is an organization such as the ACLU that advocates for the inalienable rights of every American. This may be the most important book that I will read in 2020.
felicereviews's review against another edition
5.0
as my 'history' selection for the year - it was wonderful
as a book to read and learn from - it was wonderful
i found some new authors to follow and some more issues to break my heart
as a book to read and learn from - it was wonderful
i found some new authors to follow and some more issues to break my heart
lukewhenderson's review against another edition
5.0
A great collection of essays from a variety of voices. A lot of them take a deeper dive into the background of each Supreme Court case as well as the themes underlying each.
bergamee's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0