The story begins a bit sluggishly as the years that defined the Supreme Court, while significant, weren't precisely the kind of captivating material that would draw in a large audience.

However, as the narrative progresses and reaches the well-known cases such as Plessey, Brown, and New York Times, the novel truly takes flight. It offers profound insights into the arduous and often painful struggle for justice that occurs within the walls of the Supreme Court.

Particularly remarkable is the author's analysis of those individuals who championed fairness and equality, even in the face of public opposition. Their unwavering commitment serves as a powerful reminder that such qualities are sorely needed in our society today.

This novel not only provides a fascinating look at the history of the Supreme Court but also offers valuable lessons that are relevant to our modern times.

As others have astutely noted, the writing in this book is quite dense, both in a literal sense and figuratively. The print size is perhaps around 11 font, and I'm even tempted to say it might be 10, with a margin of approximately 1/4\\". So, it's really all about the text.

The author delves into a rather substantial amount of detail regarding the justices and the key cases that he discusses. If you're the type who likes to skim through books, then this is definitely not the one for you.

It's also worth noting, as the author himself states in his preface, his judicial views, which lean to the left of the current court's views. He does an eloquent job of explaining and reasoning out his points. Whether or not you agree with him, his conclusions and logic are crystal clear.

I'm certain that I added this book as part of a 'history of the Court' phase. It took me a few years to finally get around to reading it, but I'm truly glad that I did. I believe the author is an excellent teacher for any casual student of the Constitution, the Court, and the legal history of the US. It's important to note that this is also the goal of the book - it's a people's history, not a tome for scholars. If you desire to know and understand Constitutional law a bit better, then this is a great book to pick up and read.

The Supreme Court can almost be regarded as an afterthought of the Founding Fathers.

Initially, its purview was limited, but future cases expanded its role in American life.

Today, it stands as a powerful "third leg" of the U.S. Government.

Iron's takes the reader on a largely chronological journey, starting from the earliest cases following the formation of the U.S. Supreme Court and ending with the last cases heard immediately after the 2004 Presidential election.

It is truly fascinating to witness how "landmark" cases have evolved from the practical to the political over the past 200-plus years.

The comings and goings of the actors, some leaving little impact while others truly altering the course of U.S. History, make for an engaging read.

However, the true value lies in the important cases themselves – the clash of values and perspectives of each justice, and how time and experience sometimes led to reversed decisions by the same justices in future rulings.

The book is not an easy read. It is dense with historical dates, personalities, and background information.

But by the end, one will have gained an understanding of how things have evolved – both the Supreme Court itself and the changing perspectives it has brought to the U.S. Constitution.

Well worth the read, but the end is not a conclusion, but a stopping point with tepid assessments of Justices Roberts and Alito.

It is an extremely challenging task to compress over two hundred years of history into a single book, yet Irons managed to do a commendable job.

The Dred Scott decision, which was a significant event in American history, could have benefited from more in-depth discussion. Additionally, the topic of gun rights was completely unmentioned, which is a notable omission.

The beginning of the book offers a detailed examination of the Constitutional Convention. While I would have preferred if he had skipped this part and instead covered more cases, his point about the Constitution being a highly debated document where not all the founders were in agreement is a crucial one. This perspective is especially relevant in today's political climate, where there is often intense disagreement and polarization.

Overall, despite its flaws, this book provides valuable insights into American legal history and is well worth reading for anyone interested in the subject.

I would have preferred a more balanced, objective telling.

However, the book is titled "The People's History...," and it has a forward by Howard Zinn.

This perhaps indicates a certain slant or perspective that the author intends to convey.

While a more objective account might have presented a broader range of views and interpretations, this book seems to focus specifically on the experiences and voices of the people.

It may offer a unique and valuable perspective that might otherwise be overlooked in more traditional historical narratives.

Nevertheless, it is important for readers to be aware of the potential biases and to approach the book with a critical eye.

By doing so, they can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the historical events and their significance.

Overall, while I may have preferred a different approach, this book still has the potential to offer valuable insights and perspectives on history.

Did anyone proofread this book before publication?

This book is, without a doubt, well written and extremely informative. The author has clearly put in a great deal of effort to present the content in an engaging and accessible manner. However, it is truly disheartening to note that there are numerous typographical errors throughout the text. These errors are so distracting that they have actually caused me to lose my place on several occasions as I was trying to read and absorb the information. It makes one wonder if any proper proofreading was done before the book was published. A lack of thorough proofreading can have a significant impact on the overall quality and credibility of the book. It is essential that publishers and authors take this aspect seriously to ensure that the final product is of the highest standard and free from such avoidable mistakes.

In this book, Peter Irons throws light on the extensive history of the Supreme Court.

He emphasizes not only how it has molded our conduct in relation to laws but also how it influences our perspective on the American social structure.

Many authors view the Supreme Court as an inanimate entity consisting of nine members who base their decisions on Ivy League educations and bench experience. However, Irons probes deeper into this viewpoint, deconstructing the Supreme Court and making it more comprehensible. He also reveals the ways in which the Court governs social change in America.

As a writer, Irons demonstrated to me that sometimes the overall picture is simpler to fathom than the details that contribute to it. The Supreme Court has transformed America, and Irons unquestionably supports this. He also shows how the Court is of utmost significance, venturing beyond the domain that Court historians typically explore. He taught me not to be afraid but to provide the reader with the reason why the subject I'm writing about is so crucial.

In-depth Review of Cases that Significantly Impacted American Laws and Rights

Throughout American history, there have been numerous cases that have had a profound impact on the nation's laws and rights. These cases involve plaintiffs and justices who have played crucial roles in shaping the legal landscape.

One such case is Brown v. Board of Education, which challenged the segregation of public schools. The plaintiffs, a group of African American parents, argued that segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Earl Warren, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, declaring that segregation in public education was unconstitutional. This landmark decision not only desegregated schools but also set a precedent for future civil rights cases.

Another significant case is Roe v. Wade, which dealt with a woman's right to abortion. The plaintiff, Norma McCorvey (under the pseudonym Jane Roe), sued the state of Texas, challenging the constitutionality of its abortion laws. The Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, held that a woman has a constitutional right to privacy that includes the right to have an abortion. This decision has been highly controversial and has sparked ongoing debates about the balance between a woman's right to choose and the rights of the unborn.

These are just a few examples of the many cases that have had a significant impact on American laws and rights. The plaintiffs and justices involved in these cases have made important contributions to the development of the nation's legal system and have helped to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all Americans are protected.

Irons' work offers a remarkable exploration of the Supreme Court's influence and evolution. Beginning with its formation during the Constitutional Convention and culminating in landmark cases like Casey v. Planned Parenthood, "A People's History" delves deep into the Court's impact on the lives of Americans. The book is rich with research and detail, yet remains accessible. Despite my prior knowledge and teaching of these cases, I gleaned a wealth of new information while reading. At times, I was shocked by the language and perspectives of those who served on the Court. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone intrigued by the subject or seeking a fresh perspective on pivotal moments in American history.

This groovy and jargon-free narrative offers a unique perspective that is both more and less than what the title implies. "People's history" now represents an openly ideological attempt to reshape "history" by incorporating sociology, highlighting underground martyrs and tragedies, and giving a voice to the voiceless while largely ignoring the "Great Men" except when they are portrayed as villains. This was Howard Zinn's area of expertise, and his foreword here serves as a blessing. However, Irons doesn't delve too deeply into the Zinn muck: the Great Men (and Women) are still very much present in this account, albeit with a more realistic portrayal.

Although Irons provides some exciting narrative background to cases like Dred Scott and Gobitis, and paints new portraits of the great Justices in action, on the whole, I view this more as a "popular history" - that is, a Supreme Court history that strips away the mystery and legalese, and adds a touch of human frailty and excitement.

Some reviewers were put off by the lengthy account of the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, which takes up 80 pages and describes 115 days of argument. But I was completely engrossed, and I think Irons' purpose is clear: the United States Constitution was not some divinely inspired document created by a gathering of brilliant minds, but rather the result of prejudice, compromise, experimentation, short tempers, and closed windows to keep out spies in the mid-summer heat. Irons exposes the fallacy of "strict constructionists" who ignore the social context and bitter debates - not just in Philadelphia but in twelve state legislatures - that led to the passing of this cool yet obviously Frankenstein-like document. Barely.

The rest of the book presents a highly selective history of the Court (arguably our least democratic institution) as it was shaped and reshaped by a bitter, global, and bloody historical trajectory. One thing you'll notice - and Irons is careful to point this out at every turn - is that most Supreme Court justices were mediocrities, dimwits, or worse. Even the position of CHIEF JUSTICE has often been filled by narrow-minded ideologues and political hacks. Dred Scott was not just an institution shooting itself in the foot, but let's face it, a wizened Southern aristocrat using his limited intelligence to arbitrate the future of our country. Similar idiotic results can be seen in Plessy vs. Ferguson and Korematsu, among many others.

However, Irons does justice to the heroes of the story, including John Marshall, John Marshall Harlan, Brandeis, Frank Murphy, Earl Warren, William Brennan, and even Thurgood Marshall (whose epic strategy for the NAACP far exceeded his work as a Justice). Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. comes in for some criticism as an elitist on several fronts, although it's difficult to deny his writing skills and his ability to keep the Court among America's respected institutions during difficult times. Earl Warren is a fascinating enigma - a conservative family-values Republican from California who is now widely regarded as the most liberal Chief Justice ever. Conversely, Antonin Scalia is revealed as a snarky and bitterly ideological justice whose pen seems to be dipped in Bible blood when homosexuality is on the docket. It's fascinating to see justices grappling with their own ideology and this supposedly immutable (ha!) document to decide crazy cases, and when the controversial "right to privacy" emerged in the sixties, well - all hell broke loose. And that continues to this day.

Irons does manage to create a compelling picture of strange times and strange cases, involving righteous plaintiffs and grumpy, witty, and twitchy justices. In fact, I kind of think an illustrated version of this would become a bestseller. But he falls short at the end, when he considers the contemporary (2005) Court. Bush v. Gore, where the Court essentially repeated the mistakes of Dred Scott and made a political decision that had nothing to do with the Constitution - gets a平淡无奇的 recounting without any ideological passion. And he seems overly cautious in his assessment of Roberts and Alito... whereupon the book ends abruptly, with no postscript or any attempt to look back and put these scores of morons and occasional geniuses into perspective as part of American life and history. That omission forces me to deduct a star. Still, it's well worth reading...

My recommendation is to find another book to read. This one is pretty much a waste of time.

I initially considered giving it two stars for its historical content. However, that content is so biased that I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Firstly, this is not an impartial book documenting the Court. Instead, it contains a discussion of several cases, seemingly selected to persuade the reader that the author's convictions regarding the meaning of the Constitution and the direction our legal system should take are correct. The author's writing style emphasizes his points while demeaning others. It reminded me of a statement allegedly in a military base newspaper describing a sports contest. It said that while the enlisted team came in second, the officers' team was next to last (the article was actually describing the results of a single ball game where the officers' team was the winner). When a Court decision aligns with the author's principles but the opinion omits something important, its presence is implied. When a decision doesn't agree with the author's principles and doesn't mention something, it's because the Court chose to ignore it. The author uses inflammatory words to describe positions he opposes but much less controversial ones to describe situations he likes, including the words he uses to describe split (usually 5 - 4) decisions.

To his credit, he does clearly state his position at the start of the book in the introduction, so readers who look at the introduction will be forewarned.

For a lawyer, the proofreading in this book is atrocious. Names are spelled differently on the same page (and I'm not referring to errors in court records here). Capitalization is incorrect throughout the book. Punctuation is even worse than capitalization. There are sentences where the wording is so poor (I suspect due to spelling errors) that I couldn't figure out the meaning. Lest anyone think this is due to spell-check, some of the spelling errors don't form words found in an English language dictionary.

One of the finest novels in the English language is truly a masterpiece that captivates readers from the very first page. It has a unique charm and allure that makes it unputdownable. The story unfolds in a seamless manner, taking the readers on a thrilling journey filled with emotions, suspense, and unexpected twists. The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own distinct personalities and motives. The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture in the reader's mind. Whether it's the beautiful landscapes, the intense dialogues, or the heart-wrenching moments, every aspect of the novel is crafted with precision and care. Once you start reading this novel, you'll find yourself completely immersed in its world and reluctant to put it down until you reach the very end.