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mkmcelroy's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
An interesting book that gave some insight into the Rehnquist court. Going into the book, I was hoping for greater insight in the collaboration and consensus building among justices. This book didn’t give as much attention to those aspects as I wanted but did give detail on the personalities and evolving approaches/styles of the justices. The author does a decent job weaving together the narrative of the court’s timeline with the political timeline of the other two branches of government, providing some valuable context.
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in a bit of insight into each justice’s approach to constitutional interpretation and the personalities that shaped various key decisions between roughly 1986-2006.
But for those more well versed in & focused on, the court and key cases, you likely won’t learn more about the cases than you already know.
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in a bit of insight into each justice’s approach to constitutional interpretation and the personalities that shaped various key decisions between roughly 1986-2006.
But for those more well versed in & focused on, the court and key cases, you likely won’t learn more about the cases than you already know.
sabrinaliterary's review against another edition
3.0
If you didn't care about the personal lives of the Supreme Court justices before, you will after you read this.
mrbear's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the great nonfiction books that I have ever read. It combined readability with a good, comprehensive analysis of the last 20 years of the supreme court. Perhaps its greatest accolade is that after reading it I'm certain that I have a good foundational understanding of the workings and doings of the recent court, and that when it ended I really was hoping it was (magically) going to continue into the Obama years (after the book was published).
Overall, highly recommended if you're interested in the Judicial system at all. Ranks right up there with Team of Rivals as "Best Historical/Political Nonfiction"
Overall, highly recommended if you're interested in the Judicial system at all. Ranks right up there with Team of Rivals as "Best Historical/Political Nonfiction"
alice_wonders's review against another edition
4.0
A closer look at the nine Supreme Court justices & the cases that have shaped & continue to shape, the political front today.
ebethinri's review against another edition
5.0
Oddly interesting. Better than I thought it would be.
jteddy90's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read about the supreme Court and how's it's changed over the years. It ends timewise around the 2008 election. Reading about Bush v Gore was fascinating
toastyghostie's review
4.0
Very informative and quite accessible. An interesting focus on the changes in political influence, both within the Court as they made decisions as well as how they were selected and confirmed. I added several books by multiple Justices to my list after reading this, as I'm now curious to read their own perspectives on the same years.
Mildly related, but I went to a Con Law summer camp in middle school (yup, I was the kid who picked summer camps because they were school related), and every once in a while I remembered a case Toobin mentioned, which was fun. I know we had to write a decision (or some sort of conclusion to a case, which I'm sure were terribly simple after a mere five day crash course) for our final day in class, and in light of reading this, I would be fascinated to read my "decision" now.
Mildly related, but I went to a Con Law summer camp in middle school (yup, I was the kid who picked summer camps because they were school related), and every once in a while I remembered a case Toobin mentioned, which was fun. I know we had to write a decision (or some sort of conclusion to a case, which I'm sure were terribly simple after a mere five day crash course) for our final day in class, and in light of reading this, I would be fascinated to read my "decision" now.