Wonderful Book | The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court

A Joy to Read | The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court | Jeffrey Toobin

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	• The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court Jeffrey Toobin Doubleday, 2007 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 164 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Another Page Turner from an Outstanding Writer

Every one of Jeffery Toobin's books have been a "keeper" and this one is no exception. Toobin is an elegant writer who knows how to craft a story that defies you to put down the book. I always hate to reach the end, but always look forward to the next book. I have always enjoyed overall histories of the Court and the biographies of individual justices, and thought I knew most of what there was to know of these men and women. I should have known Jeff Toobin would reintroduce me to these important people in our lives and provide insights that let us know them and their motivations better. Toobin is incredibly gifted and his books are a treasure. Read this yourself, share it with others, buy it as a gift. It will show your good taste and its possession will educate, entertain and illuminate. It is one of those few books that I would take and stand in line to have signed. If it isn't clear, I really loved this book.

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Wonderful Book

I really enjoyed this book. In the interest of full disclosure, I will mention that I am currently a 3L in law school, so I might have had more perspective than someone not in the legal profession. I had read most of the cases mentioned in the book, but I was repeatedly struck at how amazing the author was at breaking down complicated fact patterns and decisions in way that could be easily understood by someone will absolutely no legal background. The book was very interesting and contained tons of information that helps to more easily understand why the Court so often acts as it does and why it is such a powerful institution. I also thought the book was very fair, and although those who are familiar with the author know his political leanings, I thought he did a magnificent job of being very evenhanded. He managed to protray those than I personally find highly distasteful in a way that made me at least respect them in certain aspects. A very well-written an intriguing book, and a definite must for anyone who wants to know more about the Rehnquist Court, the Supreme Court in general or who just wants to understand what a significant role the Court plays in our democracy.

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A Joy to Read

The Nine leans a bit to the left, but is nonetheless insightful in its history of significant cases and the lives of each Supreme Court justice. Toobin's crafting of prose from his many interviews and secondary sources result in a book that is a joy to read. The Nine covers events in our recent history such as Bush v Gore in 2000 to the failure of Harriet Myers to gain the support needed to win over true conservatives and the Senate confirmation to the end of the 2006-2007 Supreme Court term under Chief Justice Roberts. I have come to know Toobin from the current presidential campaign as part of CNN's "best political team on television" but this book sets him apart from his political contemporaries as a true journalist and modern historian.

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Our rights: defined by 5-4 decisions of 9 "unofficial" LIFETIME politicians

The essence of the book is that it describes how the Constitution is intrepreted according to the political leanings of the members of the court. The "law of the land" is in the hands of lifetime appointees to the highest court.

Regardless of who the President is and who controls Congress, the lifespans of the Supreme Court justices (or sometimes the health of their spouses) can determine the make-up of the court at any given time.

Should our rights be dictated by a series of 5-4 decisions by 9 justices who typically rule according to their political beliefs? Is THAT what the founding fathers intended?

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