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The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court
by Jeffrey Toobin (Author)
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Product Details
- Binding: Paperback
- ISBN-10: 1400096790
- ISBN-13: 9781400096794
- Edition: Reprint
- Number Of Pages: 480
- Publication Date: September 09, 2008
- Publisher: Anchor
- Release Date: September 09, 2008
Product Features
- ISBN13: 9781400096794
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Product Description
In The Nine, acclaimed journalist Jeffrey Toobin takes us into the chambers of the most important—and secret—legal body in our country, the Supreme Court, revealing the complex dynamic among the nine people who decide the law of the land. An institution at a moment of transition, the Court now stands at a crucial point, with major changes in store on such issues as abortion, civil rights, and church-state relations. Based on exclusive interviews with the justices and with a keen sense of the Court’s history and the trajectory of its future, Jeffrey Toobin creates in The Nine a riveting story of one of the most important forces in American life today.
Customer Reviews
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I've always been curious about the Supreme Court and this book explains, in a very readable way, the Court processes and, captivating insight into the personalities of the Justices. Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down.
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This is neither a polemic nor a political excoriation of the Supreme Court. Rather, the reader is offered insight into the behind the scenes working of the Justices. Many of the critical cases addressed by the court are reviewed and the interplay between the justices on each case is revealed.
Beginning with a summary of the court, its history, structure and the past impact it has exerted upon the legal, political and social aspects of the nation. The basic premise is that the SCOTUS historically reflected the national mindset. Its decisions tend to confirm the prevailing mores of the nation rather than set new directions.
The mainstay of the discussion delves into the recent past court members, their individual judicial styles, philosophy and decisions. The author revels the relationships between Justices and offers insight as to their apparent thought process and their individual growth or lack there of into the job.
The background of each justice is reviewed with an emphasis upon the influences forming the personal aspects each has experienced. The book concludes with a reporting and analysis of the selection process leading to the appointment of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. The reader is given a behind the scenes look at how the Court reaches its decisions, forming alliances, development of Majority, Minority decisions and the influences affecting them.
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Gee, any chance Toobin might be a liberal with a rather dull ax to grind? Following are some typical gems (one could list hundreds) from this book to give the flavor of his supposed "journalism":
Leftist justices "exert a powerful and lasting influence over American law" but conservative justices wage a cynical "war of ideas."
Breyer "smiles with gregarious good nature" while Scalia "smirks."
Souter is "modest," "ascetic," and "self-sufficient" while Thomas is "isolated" and "marginalized."
Thomas "endorses barbarism" (really).
Souter is a "fierce advocate" with a "sophisticated understanding" while Scalia has a "messianic sense of himself."
"To the conservatives, nothing mattered - not consistency, not fairness" but liberal justices are praised as "results-oriented."
Liberals are always "principled"; conservatives always "ideological."
Stevens is "typically astute" and his decisions show "wisdom and selflessness" in contrast to Scalia's "juvenile petulance" and "weary and angry dissent."
Readers who view the above as empirical facts should like this book. All others beware!
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This book takes you inside the US Supreme Court, introduces you to the members, makes them human, and give a great insight as to its operation--all the while making you turn page after page.
It gives you a feel for the great importance of the US President's opportunity to appoint members to promote their adjenda, frequently with much surprising results. It should be required reading for anyone the least interested in the working of the Court and other aspects of recent politics.
It's a book you can't put down.
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I read this book awhile back while it was in hardcover. I was interested in reading the book, because I had seen Jeffrey Toobin on TV - and I liked hearing what he had to say and how he said it.
After reading the book and I can tell you it is a great book unmasking the Supreme Court. While the book is valuable by showing all of it's individuals and their particular indiosyncrasy's - for instance after taking off his robe, Justice Thomas is a serious RV camper - it is also illustrates the Supreme court's increasing political role and the election of George W. Bush in 2000.
The books is rare in that it is not only an interesting read, but the author writes in a profound but easy to read style.
This was the exact premise I bought the book for - Toobin - has great insights and he is easy to understand.
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