nleiby's review against another edition
4.0
There were a lot of good and varied essays in this. The variation between personal anecdote and historical discussion of the cases means that I would have like more historical background in some cases. The introduction and short bios of the authors is also saved for back matter, when it would have been nice to have for context when the essays are particularly personal.
At the start of this book (which is roughly chronological) I was feeling hopeful for America- look at how far we've come, that some of these ridiculous cases were considered law not so long ago! At the end, the fact that the recent cases were just as frustrating somewhat dampened my optimism.
At the start of this book (which is roughly chronological) I was feeling hopeful for America- look at how far we've come, that some of these ridiculous cases were considered law not so long ago! At the end, the fact that the recent cases were just as frustrating somewhat dampened my optimism.
shieldbearer's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
4.0
It's been less than a year but some parts of this book have not aged well. I'm aware this book is funded by the ACLU, but I would have liked to see more essays dealing with the cases LOST by the ACLU, or the cases where the essayist thought the ACLU was in the wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Transphobia, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Deportation, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, and Torture
coltonchase_'s review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one. The only issue I had was that there was only one reflection that was in dissent of the side that the ACLU took. I would have liked to have seen more diversity in content — not every position that the ACLU has taken has been a good one.
However, thank you to the ACLU. For doing the good work and making sure our civil liberties are protected at all costs.
However, thank you to the ACLU. For doing the good work and making sure our civil liberties are protected at all costs.
asjchae's review against another edition
Library loan ended and I don't think this is the right time for me to read this. I'll come back to it.
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review against another edition
5.0
“This belief that black people, brown people, queer people, trans people, disabled people, women are perpetually less is the great American Gorgon, and these endless terrible laws and behaviors are its myriad heads, regenerating one after another. Rooting us in place with one glance, miring us in inequality.” (Jesmyn Ward’s essay “We Gather,” reflecting on the 1999 decision in City of Chicago v Morales).
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY edited by Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman is an anthology of essays penned by writers reflecting on landmark decisions that the ACLU have been involved with over the last 100 years. I’ve loved the stories behind some of the circumstances of the decisions, many will be well known to readers though there were definitely many that I found myself learning about for the first time. Lauren Groff writes about Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” in Roe v Wade, and the two “young and green” attorneys from the University of Texas Law School that took her case to the Supreme Court. The quote shared above from Jesmyn Ward’s essay was a reflection on an anti gang loitering law that disproportionately targeted youth on racial grounds, and the impact of this robbing the community of the “very human pleasure of gathering in public and sharing community.” The legal history component is balanced with the very personal reflections shared by these authors, making this an incredibly moving and informative collection. I can not recommend it highly enough!
Thanks to @nycbookgirl & @avidreaderpress for sending me a review copy.
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY edited by Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman is an anthology of essays penned by writers reflecting on landmark decisions that the ACLU have been involved with over the last 100 years. I’ve loved the stories behind some of the circumstances of the decisions, many will be well known to readers though there were definitely many that I found myself learning about for the first time. Lauren Groff writes about Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” in Roe v Wade, and the two “young and green” attorneys from the University of Texas Law School that took her case to the Supreme Court. The quote shared above from Jesmyn Ward’s essay was a reflection on an anti gang loitering law that disproportionately targeted youth on racial grounds, and the impact of this robbing the community of the “very human pleasure of gathering in public and sharing community.” The legal history component is balanced with the very personal reflections shared by these authors, making this an incredibly moving and informative collection. I can not recommend it highly enough!
Thanks to @nycbookgirl & @avidreaderpress for sending me a review copy.
bookishly_introverted's review against another edition
5.0
Fight of the Century is an excellent book covering 100 years of landmark cases that the ACLU has been involved in. The book was compiled with a brief summary of each case that was followed by an essay from a well-known writer discussing the impact of the case on our lives today. Some of the writers even explained h0w the cases had personally affected them. Fight of the Century is such a great collaboration that is sure to keep one's interest while educating them about the history of the ACLU and the landmark cases that have made American lives what they are today