Customer Reviews

Liberty and Sexuality: The Right to Privacy and the Making of Roe v. Wade, Updated, With a new epilogue.

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I purchased this text for an Indepdendent Study course, figuring I could at least flip through the book and gain a summary idea of the case's depths and legal foundation. Although I prided myself on a good grasp of Roe prior to this point, reading the expansive text gave me a greater understanding and appreciation for the case.

While this book might be better suited for policy wonks and/or those with some legal training, the substantial read is definently worth it. Even if it is not as animated or lively as other histories of the historic 1973 Supreme Court decision, it is essential to understanding that case in the larger context of constitutional law and public policy. The right to privacy had gradually been building prior to the Roe case, and did not happen in a vaccum as some opponents would later claim.

The book concludes with an equally impressive account of the years following Roe and the combined impact of subsequent/rulings and legislation. Because this book does not rely on the "interest groups/grassroots" perspective, individuals in search of such information need to be prepared for further research.

This book is a must read for anyone exploring the law surrounding reproductive rights in this country. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the law, in the legal right to privacy, and who is willing and eager to learn. It is by far the most enlightening and simply outstanding book I have read on the subject.

I bought this book not for its material on Roe but actually for research on Griswold. I have to say, it is full of well researched information dating back to about the 1920s debates on the 1879 Connecticut law banning contraceptives. You can't go much further back to the foundations of Roe than this book takes you, but it will be a difficult read. The editor of this book seriously failed at the job. It comes out to about 739 pages of material, minus notes, bibliography and whatnot, but there are only 9 chapters and an epilogue. To make things worse, there are NO HEADINGS ANYWHERE. Garrow jumps from character to character, year to year, and event to event with no clear breaks or organization. If you're looking for an interesting read about Roe, stay away from this book. If you're looking for information about Roe or the right to privacy, this book will probably have it, but be prepared to go through hell to find it.

Absolutely unreadable. Worse than a bad encyclopedia.

what was mr. garrow thinking when he wrote this book? obviously he wasn't thinking about the well being of the country. his book is one sided and uninformed. i think he should do some real research before writing a book. anyways, what can he say about abortion? he's a man! it's certainly something he'll never have to deal with.