Customer Reviews

D.A.: Prosecutors in Their Own Words

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With movies and tv shows that center on courtrooms as popular as ever - and an entire cable channel devoted to trials on television - it is refreshing to get a picture of prosecutors by hearing their own words. Oral historian Mark Baker sums up the situation in his chapter openers, but refrains from editorializing. Instead, he lets the prosecutors - and sometimes judges and defense attorneys - lay it all out for you by pretty honestly talking about themselves and what they do for a living. The various voices have the ring of truth about them. Some seem pretty impressed with themselves, while others ackowledge that the job of dealing with a constant stream of criminals lacks any form of glamour. Most, however, seem to be somewhere in the middle, and it is interesting to get a picture of people in this profession that shows them to be like someone you and I might actually know.

Im sorry to say this is a very mediocre book. It's got no heart, ir poorly organized and feels like it was put together in a week. The author interviewed 30-some people and tries to use their experiences to tell a story much too large for the effort he has invested. All the quotes are anonymous, which leads to reader to wonder just how real they are. This is a good idea, poorly executed, one that promises far more than it even attempts to deliver. It's a deceitful book and a real disappointment. Stay away.

I am glad I did not let other customer reviews dissuade me from reading this excellent book on prosecutors. The editorial reviews are much more akin to my experience.

Poorly written book. Disorganized. Would have been better if the author had focused on a specific geographic area, e.g. Manhattan/Bronx/Queens or L.A.-- alternatively, focusing on the culure and organizational dynamics of a single office (e.g. Manhattan) or unit (e.g. sex crimes). The author is all over the place, and really does not give the reader substantive info.

This book did offer insight into the minds of prosecutors and their daily struggles and tribulations. However, it was extremely repetetive and the manner in which the book was assembled was cut and paste over and over with little coherency. I rate it two stars, and that is very generous.