Customer Reviews

The Courage of Their Convictions: Sixteen Americans Who Fought Their Way to the Supreme Court

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have used this book three times in UC and CSU public law classes have taught: Intro to Judicial Process, Intro to Judicial Politics, and American Government. It is a personalized, almost biographical approach to leading constitutional rights cases, replete with the "human" as well as "legal" story behind each of the 16 cases. Though short on some of the important legal arguments at the Supreme Court level, it covers well the dispositons and judicial personalities of the lower courts. More importantly, however, it deals with the suffering and courage of the litigants themselves.

As such, it is a terrific book for both introductory American Government and judicial politics/process courses at the college level.

I have also used Irons' new book JIM CROW'S CHILDREN in my upper division course on Racial Equality and the U.S. Supreme Court at U.C., Irvine, just this summer.

This was a fantastic book! People may know about some Supreme Court decisions and its impact but I do not think people understand why such important cases were brought before the Supreme Court. We never learn in school who these people were, (they are everyday people) and exactly how much courage and determination it takes to fight your case to the Supreme Court (after all I think S.C hears about 1% of all cases filed to the Court). Irons is an academic but boy you can read this in a day-this is not a dreaded book you are assigned to read for school.

Irons does of fine job of describing the uphill battle that a variety of individuals have faced in asserting their basic rights as Americans. Some of these cases righted grevious wrongs, and others are more open to debate. But then, the law is not a popularity contest. The fact that humble and even unpopular cases can nonetheless get their day in court, and get fair and due process, is something that every American should be proud of. It's something worth remembering and defending, something worth protecting, and Peter Irons shows you *why* in this book.

This book speaks to lawyers and non-lawyers alike. It can give lawyers pause to think about the power they really have to change lives, and it gives non-lawyers an insightful, in-depth look into the American legal system at work. This book is a must-read.

I was instructed to read The Courage of Their Convictions as a summer reading assignment for AP US Government. Usually, I dread reading summer assignments, but this book was written in a way that made the cases relatable and interesting. I appreciated the fact that it had first hand accounts of the major player in each of the suits, the person who was defending their freedoms as an American. It wasn't written in a complex way, the text had a good flow to it. I felt like I was getting a proper idea of how the Supreme Court actually runs, and overall it was a worthwhile read.

Peter Irons exhibits his amazing skills of persuasive communication all throuout this book. For instance, he teaches us American History while at the same time making an indepth analysis of the Judicial System with Constitutional emphasis based on a number of true stories. Further, he does it with so much wit bringing those individuals' drama to life instead of what would usually be complicated Caselaw with boring facts and precedents.

We have become an apathetic society. This book is the story of those who dared enough to care.

I work at a University Library and see many, many books. This book caught my eye and I found myself compelled to read it. The situation in our government seems to leave many people I talk to feeling discouraged and powerless. Iron's book reminds us that we don't have to be powerless.
I encourage High School teachers to read the book and consider assigning at least parts of it to their students. Most Americans don't understand our legal system or the power we have as individuals to stand up for our civil rights.

A powerful testament to the will of the people to prevail no matter what the cost. One of the very best books I read in grad school, selected for an undergrad history class who were inspired and challenged by it. Judge for yourself if Irons is fair-minded and consider the shrill quality of the dissenting reviews. Well worth reading.

I did not like this book at all. I had to read it for my summer assignment for Government AP. It was extremely boring, however, not very complicated to read. If you have trouble falling asleep at night then purchase this book immediately.