Toobin brings three invaluable gifts to this work. His writing is lucid, his narartives are engaging and his politics are (as much as humanly possible) put aside in favor of a clear recitation of the facts. He is not without a thesis, however. He is determined to bring the reader to the conclusion that the American judicial system has co-opted the political system; and both of them have been diminished by that fact. While his arguments are powerful, they are not the compelling component of this book, and I cannot bring myself to completely accept his conclusions.
However, as historians turn back to examine these incidents in the future (I believe it will be of far less interest than we'd like to think) Toobin's book will provide an excellent, mostly dispassionate recital of those elements in these events that have a basis in verifiable fact. He avoids rumor, innuendo and propoganda as much as any person intimately invovled with the reporting of the case could possibly manage. He spares no one from any side of the battle (including, but not limited to the fourth estate). He turns a bright light on the actions of all the players but refuses to indulge in a plethora of psycho-babble to analyze motives, intents or feelings. This is a welcome relief for a reader who wants to separate the muddy swirl of politcal spin from the factual events, in an understandable chronicle.
Partisanship is, for many of us, as essential as breathing. We prefer to indulge in a conspiracy of agreement, reading only those who verify our preconceived beliefs and rejecting utterly anyone who challenges them. Toobin must be read with the understanding he will not pander to your most cherished wishes about this Presidency, whatever they may be. That alone makes this book worth reading, re-reading and retaining for the future.