bookhawk's review
4.0
The Brethren still stands up as a compelling read more than 30 years after publication as a look at how SCOTUS operates and how it reached a number of historically significant decisions. Woodward impresses as one of the best technical writers in communicating exceedingly complex ideas clearly and concisely. Certainly Woodward delivers the information with a slant that favors the more liberal policy view but it does not stilt the comprehension or value of the reporting. Warren Burger and Thurgood Marshall did not emerge with enhanced reputations after reading this book. This is almost a must read for any lawyer who studied many of these cases. It is a challenging read intellectually and fascinating in many ways.
jdm9970's review against another edition
5.0
Brethren is fascinating as a demonstration that even at the level of the highest court in the US, that was created and is intended for the purpose of objectively interpreting laws, human nature reigns supreme. It’s centered around Chief Justice Warren E Burger’s court from 1969-1975, and paints a particularly uncomfortable picture of and both his leadership ability and his legal mind, but it goes beyond any one individual.
There are several interesting cases decided during this span. To me the most notable would be a couple desegregation cases, primarily involving bussing, the Pentagon papers, Roe v Wade, and the Nixon tapes. The story this book tells involves multiple justices conspiring to rework Burger’s opinions sentences at a time, others threatening to dissent over single phrases, Burger repeatedly changing his votes just to be able to assign the majority opinion, justices telling each other, “I don’t agree with this ruling but I’m going to be the fifth vote anyways to make Justice X happy”, and all sorts of other manipulation and gamesmanship.
Ultimately you’re relying on the word of the authors, and I believe they’re fairly credible, but I can’t speak to veracity. But man, the story it tells is terrifying and this is well worth a read.
There are several interesting cases decided during this span. To me the most notable would be a couple desegregation cases, primarily involving bussing, the Pentagon papers, Roe v Wade, and the Nixon tapes. The story this book tells involves multiple justices conspiring to rework Burger’s opinions sentences at a time, others threatening to dissent over single phrases, Burger repeatedly changing his votes just to be able to assign the majority opinion, justices telling each other, “I don’t agree with this ruling but I’m going to be the fifth vote anyways to make Justice X happy”, and all sorts of other manipulation and gamesmanship.
Ultimately you’re relying on the word of the authors, and I believe they’re fairly credible, but I can’t speak to veracity. But man, the story it tells is terrifying and this is well worth a read.
bookitbecky's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent snapshot of the supreme court under Burger. Good for supreme court newbies or those interested in this particular court.
miscbrah's review against another edition
3.0
Good book and revolutionary for its' time, however it lacks a clear storyline. Just a bunch of cases over an 8 year period. It's great that the author provides a lot of behind the scenes action and what happens before/after an oral argument. Although, at times, this book was very boring.
The author doesn't get into the details of the cases. He ust skims the surface and brings up the key legal issues that were debated by the justices. What did enable me to get through this book was the development of the characters(justices). To see how they interact with eachother and the funny stories they have is great. You kind of get to understand the justices on a personal level through the book.
This book is on a lot of recommended reading lists for 0Ls. It's not bad but you need to be a Supreme Court junkie to really get a lot out of this book. I would recommend reading the US Constitution before reading this book. You need to understand article 2-3, 4th, 8th, and the 1st ammendment. It would also be wise to go over the Earl Warren years of the Supreme Court via Wikipedia. Just to get a nice primer for this book.
The author doesn't get into the details of the cases. He ust skims the surface and brings up the key legal issues that were debated by the justices. What did enable me to get through this book was the development of the characters(justices). To see how they interact with eachother and the funny stories they have is great. You kind of get to understand the justices on a personal level through the book.
This book is on a lot of recommended reading lists for 0Ls. It's not bad but you need to be a Supreme Court junkie to really get a lot out of this book. I would recommend reading the US Constitution before reading this book. You need to understand article 2-3, 4th, 8th, and the 1st ammendment. It would also be wise to go over the Earl Warren years of the Supreme Court via Wikipedia. Just to get a nice primer for this book.
2000ace's review against another edition
4.0
His first foray in what would turn out to be a long-term fascination with the U.S. Supreme Court, Bob Woodward along with co-author Scott Armstrong wrote the first comprehensive insider book on the US Supremes. The time period ranges from1969 to the historic decision of Gregg v. Georgia in 1976, part of the "July 2 cases" which reopened the states' power to impose the death penalty.
The Court's decisions shaped American policy on civil rights, Watergate, the Vietnam war, abortion, and even laws dealing with oral sex and homosexuality. These were exciting days for the US Supremes, and for everyone in the country who waited for the last Monday in October (when the Supreme Court issued its last opinions for the year), to find out the fates of millions of Americans.
This is a fascinating, impeccably researched book. It is a must for any student of American history.
The Court's decisions shaped American policy on civil rights, Watergate, the Vietnam war, abortion, and even laws dealing with oral sex and homosexuality. These were exciting days for the US Supremes, and for everyone in the country who waited for the last Monday in October (when the Supreme Court issued its last opinions for the year), to find out the fates of millions of Americans.
This is a fascinating, impeccably researched book. It is a must for any student of American history.