Listened on Audiobook:

I really enjoyed this comprehensive review of the history of the American Supreme Court, which spans from its very inception all the way to the mid-2000s. It does an excellent job of summarizing the major cases that have had a profound impact on shaping the current state of our judicial system.

The discussion涵盖了多个重要方面， such as decisions that have defined the balance between federal and state powers, the separation of church and state, land rights, civil rights for minorities, and many others. Through this audiobook, I have gained a wealth of knowledge about constitutional law.

One of the big personal takeaways for me was the realization that the Supreme Court has always been a political body with distinct partisan leanings. Its decisions are not static but rather change over time in response to public opinion. Given the partisan history of the court, the concept of lifetime appointments for justices seems rather unwise to me. In my mind, implementing long terms of 10 - 15 years would make much more sense as it could potentially reduce the influence of extreme partisanship and ensure a more balanced and evolving judicial perspective.

As you would expect, given the title, this is a liberal take on the history of the Supreme Court. The author, an activist and legal scholar, has personal experience with significant historical legal issues. For example, he defended Daniel Ellsburg during the Pentagon Papers prosecution and helped overturn the wartime convictions of Japanese Americans in the Korematsu v. U.S. case.

The book focuses on several aspects. It explores the creation of the Supreme Court and the founders' intent. It also delves into the early history, including the establishment of judicial review and the support for the administrative state. The history of landmark decisions related to the Civil War and the court's failure to defend the 14th and 15th amendments is examined. Additionally, it looks at how the court ignored or undermined legislative attempts to improve workers' conditions, favoring the wealthy and powerful. The book also covers the swing towards a more liberal court during FDR's presidency and the recent swing back towards a conservative court eroding liberal precedents.

The author does an excellent job of covering the court, showing the big trends and how precedents were established. He emphasizes that the Supreme Court is a political body and that efforts to claim otherwise are disingenuous. He details how politics influenced presidents' choices of Supreme Court members. However, there are two complaints. The author fails to fully deliver on his promise to make the people behind the cases more real and discuss the intersections between law and ordinary lives. Also, his writing style, which sometimes jumps back and forth in time, can be confusing and leads to repeated facts. Overall, though, it is an interesting and enlightening read, especially for those interested in constitutional law.

Similar in name and intent to Zinn’s ‘A Peoples History of the United States’ (and he writes the Introduction in this book), Iron’s history of the Supreme Court offers an in-depth exploration into the history of the Constitution and the court up to the Clinton era.

It provides a detailed account that delves deep into the various aspects and events that have shaped the Supreme Court over the years.

However, my only complaint is that he gets overly focused on certain cases, dedicating entire chapters to them when there are already numerous books written on those particular cases.

On the other hand, during other periods, the coverage is too brief, leaving the reader with a sense of incompleteness.

Nevertheless, I know he’s done his research on the court because his other books, including ‘The Courage of Their Convictions: Sixteen Americans Who Fought Their Way to the Supreme Court’, demonstrate the breadth of his knowledge on the subject.

Overall, while there are some drawbacks, Iron’s history of the Supreme Court is still a valuable contribution to the field of legal history.

I struggled.

It was a difficult time for me. I faced numerous challenges and obstacles that seemed insurmountable.

I tried my best to overcome them, but it wasn't easy. There were times when I wanted to give up, but something inside me kept pushing me forward.

I refused to let the difficulties defeat me. I persevered through the pain and the frustration.

I knew that if I continued to struggle, I would eventually find a way out.

And that's exactly what happened. After many long and hard battles, I finally emerged victorious.

My struggle had made me stronger and more resilient. I had learned valuable lessons along the way that would stay with me for a lifetime.

I was proud of myself for not giving up and for persevering through the toughest of times.

Now, whenever I face a difficult situation, I think back to my struggle and remember that I can overcome anything if I just keep fighting.

Unlike Zinn's similarly-named book, this one presents a cogent argument. When Irons refers to "the people," he doesn't mean a single, homogeneous demographic like "the oppressed," but rather humans, ordinary folks, regular fellows.

Each chapter provides a summary of a significant event in the history of the Court and its decisions. The difference here is that we get biographical details on Dred Scott and Marbury, rather than just the typical, dry narrative of the administration.

The chapters on the origins of the Constitution and Supreme Court are, by themselves, worth the price of the book. Drawing on Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention (which are rather indigestible on their own), Irons' sketchwork is compelling and gives Elbridge Gerry and other, more obscure conventioneers more personality and individuality than one usually sees in other books.

Overall, Irons did an admirable job. My only real issue is that he sometimes chose the obvious civil rights cases (such as Dred Scott and Brown v. Board) instead of the less glamorous but equally consequential ones. I would have liked to read more about Lochner v. New York, the evolution of Indian law from Marshall onward, and the period between the Civil War and the robber barons, which for some reason often gets overlooked in books like these written by leftists (despite giving us the separation of church and state, the temperance movement, frontier justice, and many other interesting legal dilemmas).

This is an outstanding and in-depth account of the history of the United States Supreme Court.

For readers who are unfamiliar or new to US History, this book offers a valuable opportunity to learn about the early and mid-US History of this crucial branch of government.

Interestingly, in these times of the Roberts court's activist rulings, it may come as a surprise that the Supreme Court wasn't always a co-equal branch of the United States Government.

The book also delves into the leaders who played a significant role in raising the court's influence and power throughout American History.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for all students of history. It provides a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the Supreme Court's history, which is essential for understanding the development of the United States as a nation.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student of US History, this book is sure to offer valuable insights and perspectives.

The United States has a rich and complex history, and one way to understand it is through the perspective of the Court. This provides a very thorough look at the nation's past, as it includes a sampling of notable cases.

These cases are presented with excellent contextualization, which helps to emphasize the themes and through lines that have shaped the country. The writing is of high quality, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.

By examining the decisions and rulings of the Court over the years, we can gain a deeper understanding of the political, social, and legal issues that have faced the United States. It allows us to see how the nation has evolved and how the Court has played a crucial role in that evolution.

Whether you are a history buff or simply interested in learning more about the United States, this perspective of the Court offers a fascinating and informative journey through time.

The book cover presents it as a collection of human interest stories that revolve around major Supreme Court decisions. At times, it is indeed engaging, but the book is far denser than I had initially expected. In fact, it took me two library renewals to finally complete it.

Nonetheless, it offers nice descriptions of famous cases. For instance, the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford is detailed, which was a significant decision regarding the rights of slaves.

The case of Hirabayashi v. United States is also covered, highlighting the complex issues during a particular historical period.

Similarly, Brown v. Board of Education, which had a profound impact on desegregation in the United States, is described in an interesting manner.

Finally, Roe v. Wade, a highly controversial and influential case regarding abortion rights, is also included in the book's discussions. Overall, despite its density, the book provides valuable insights into these important Supreme Court decisions.

I read this book over a year ago.

The detail is indeed there within it, but unfortunately, the pages are a bit tattered.

The author seems to have spent an excessive amount of time discussing Article 3 and meticulously explaining various terminologies.

It would have been better if the book had adhered more closely to its own title and provided more in-depth information on the 'why' behind the shaping of the US Constitution.

Moreover, for my personal taste, the book leaned too far to the left, making it a bit difficult for me to fully digest and understand.

Perhaps if the author had balanced the content more evenly and focused less on certain aspects, it would have been a more engaging and enlightening read.

Overall, while the book had its merits in terms of detail, it also had some不足之处 that could have been improved upon.

This approach makes the entire subject far less intimidating.

By zeroing in on the human aspects of the justices, plaintiffs, and defendants, it provides a more relatable perspective.

Rather than delving too deeply into the legal minutiae that often make Supreme Court cases and opinions seem dry and confusing, it simplifies the complex.

This way, it becomes easier for the general public to understand and engage with the subject matter.

It allows people to see the real people behind the legal proceedings and gain a better appreciation for the significance of the Supreme Court's decisions.

Overall, this focus on the human element enriches the understanding of Supreme Court cases and makes them more accessible to a wider audience.

Peter Irons presents the history of the Supreme Court in a comprehensive manner.

While it may lack some depth in certain areas, it does a fairly good job of highlighting the individuals behind the court decisions.

Irons patterned his book after Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, which makes his stance on each issue quite clear (perhaps extremely liberal?).

However, I can understand that if one is not already familiar with most of the court cases, it would be easy to get lost in the book.

Overall, I had a great liking for it, mainly because it aligns with my interests.

People who have a moderate interest in Supreme Court jurisprudence and do not wish to struggle through excessive legal jargon might also find it enjoyable.

It provides a broad overview of the Supreme Court's history and the key figures involved, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Although it may not offer in-depth analysis of every case, it does offer valuable insights into the court's decision-making process and the impact of those decisions on society.

My breakfast book has now become my nighttime book.

It was laid aside for a while, but now I have picked it up again.

I still have the feeling that I should be taking notes while reading it.

This book serves as excellent supplementary reading for an undergraduate constitutional law course.

It provides in-depth insights and perspectives on various aspects of constitutional law.

The content is presented in a clear and engaging manner, making it accessible to students.

By reading this book, students can enhance their understanding of the subject and gain a broader perspective.

It also helps to reinforce the concepts learned in the classroom and provides additional examples and case studies.

Overall, it is a valuable resource for any student studying constitutional law.