The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court | Jeffrey Toobin

The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court | Jeffrey Toobin | Tremendous Insight

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The Nine: Inside t...

	The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court Jeffrey Toobin Doubleday, 2007 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 154 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin takes you into the chambers of the most important?and secret?legal body in our country, the Supreme Court, and reveals the complex dynamic among the nine people who decide the law of the land.

Just in time for the 2008 presidential election?where the future of the Court will be at stake?Toobin reveals an institution at a moment of transition, when decades of conservative disgust with the Court have finally produced a conservative majority, with major changes in store on such issues as abortion, civil rights, presidential power, and church-state relations.

Based on exclusive interviews with justices themselves, The Nine tells the story of the Court through personalities?from Anthony Kennedy's overwhelming sense of self-importance to Clarence Thomas's well-tended grievances against his critics to David Souter's odd nineteenth-century lifestyle. There is also, for the first time, the full behind-the-scenes story of Bush v. Gore?and Sandra Day O'Connor's fateful breach with George W. Bush, the president she helped place in office.

The Nine is the book bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin was born to write. A CNN senior legal analyst and New Yorker staff writer, no one is more superbly qualified to profile the nine justices.

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A masterpiece , a must read for every american

this is one of the best bookd that I have ever read in my life. it was elegant, detailed and very moving.
Toobin portrayed each judges as fair as you can be.
I agree with all the positive comments sofar.
this is a must read for every student in colleges and law schools, and probably for every american who loves and cares about this country

Tremendous Insight

The Supreme Court is a fascinating subject to me - everything from Time discussing Roberts and how the current court is working, to the interview with Scalia on 60 Minutes and I loved this book.

The discussions of some of the major cases and interaction amongst the justices brings these things to life.

Though you may agree or disagree with some of the justices opinions, or how they look at the law, it is worthwhile to see more about the individuals behind the decsions. To find out Scalia and Ginsburg are friends (which was also in the 60 Minutes Interview) is eye-opening and adds an extra dimension to the people who may in fact be the most powerful people in the country.

Well written and well worth it.

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Well written story of fascinating people

Of the three branches of government, far less is known about the inner-workings of the judiciary-and most specifically the Supreme Court-than the other two branches. Much of this is due to traditions that have developed over the years, but much is innate in the supposedly impartial, non-partisan and independent nature of the judiciary as envisioned by our founding fathers.

Jeffrey Toobin, CNN legal analyst and prize-winning author, has written an insightful, balanced and extremely readable "tell-all" on the modern Supreme Court, based largely upon thousands of interviews with past and present Supreme Court clerks. But this "tell-all" is not of the scandalous, scurrilous and titillating variety that has become derigueur of modern political reporting. This instead is a fascinating tale of the major political and historical events of the past 20 years as seen with the additional insight of its impact by and upon the Supreme Court and its justices.

With the possible exceptions of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court has been seen as largely anonymous individuals making occasionally significant decisions. Toobin not only gives a brief biography of each justice, but he also provides vital information that gives us insight into the background, personality and legal philosophy of these highly disparate individuals.

Toobin, although discussing sometimes complex legal arguments, is always able to examine the topic in such a manner that a layman can understand. This is true whether he is discussing the complexities of Roe v. Wade, affirmative action, Gore v. Bush (the 2000 presidential election), Guantanamo or gun control. The author spends considerable time discussing the important role of Sandra Day O'Connor and later Anthony Kennedy as the swing vote on the Supreme Court. All of these issues and more are described with their overlaying political and legal justifications and ramifications.

What we end up with is a fascinating story of people who can be alternately egotistical and compassionate, prejudiced and sympathetic, inflexible and caring-that is, undeniably human.

Toobin leaves us with the critical dilemma of choosing the next President that will most assuredly determine many closely called social and political decisions for generations to come.

Armchair Interviews says: Toobin gives us a clear picture of the Supreme Court and Judicial Branch.

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The Wind Blows

The founding fathers would not like to read this book. It is well researched and presents a factual case to show that the highest court in the land is devoid of constitutional fortitude and is quite manipulative in its own manner. Not really what most americans expect.

The writing covering the elements of the key cases is quite interesting. Sections in between that show the games in the selection process were very chewey and not worth the shoe leather.

The writings giving insight to the lives of the justices and the relations between them are quite well done. It may not have been the point of the author,but he proved there are nuts on the court.

One reason the lay reader should pick up this book is to realize that the rule of law is a mere extension of the rule of politic. The lay man, common man, average joe may think he is protected by a constitution, but Mr. Toobin will show that it no longer exists. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, the court will move from one 'analysis' of law to the other to fit personal opinions rather than concept of the constitution. Rationalization, justification, twistification and plain old 'because I said so' are what really drives the process behind the black robes.

And if you never knew it before, this book will show you why lawyers are better than the rest of us.

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Interesting History

I found this book very enlightening. Prior to reading this book, I never really followed in detail the movements and history of the Supreme Court. I am not a lawyer but found the book fairly easy to follow and found the politics behind the members surprisingly interesting.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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