Monday, November 21, 2016

Nonfiction November, Week 4: Supreme Reading


Nonfiction November is entering its fourth week already... and Julz of JulzReads has taken over the hosting duties. This week's prompt:
Be The Expert/Ask the Expert/Become the Expert: Three ways to join in this week! You can either share 3 or more books on a single topic that you have read and can recommend (be the expert), you can put the call out for good nonfiction on a specific topic that you have been dying to read (ask the expert), or you can create your own list of books on a topic that you’d like to read (become the expert).
I'm not a lawyer, but I have been interested in the Supreme Court for most of my adult life. The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin is the best book I've read on the subject. Earlier this year, I enjoyed Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik. (my review)

This month my Nonfiction November reading seems to have (unintentionally) taken on a Supreme theme. Last weekend I finished Sisters in Law, a dual biography about Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by Linda Hirshman. As I was reading the final pages, I impulsively decided to dive right into My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor... a wonderful book so far.




by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik




My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor


Can you recommend other books about the Supreme Court?

32 comments:

  1. I've never given the Supreme Court a lot of thought until this year so all of these books sound good to me.

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    1. Kathy - I think the Supreme Court will be in the news quite a bit over the next few years.

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  2. I've always wanted to read Notorious RBG! The title alone is worth it. :)

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    1. A Bookshelf Monstrosity - Notorious RBG is excellent! Be sure to read a physical copy or use an e-reader that allows color.

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  3. Very timely topic and great list! I haven't read anything about the Supreme Court, but probably should.

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  4. Great topic, very timely indeed. I'm especially interested in the two women justices (and hoping they can hang in there a few years longer).

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    1. Lory - I hope RBG sticks around a while longer, too... she's a remarkable woman!

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  5. The Toobin book looks fascinating. I should learn more about the Supreme Court, and his book looks like a good place to start!

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    1. Nick - I cannot recommend The Nine highly enough... I'd like to reread it myself!

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  6. Great list! I'd like to get to both Sisters in Law and Notorious RBG :)

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  7. I want to read the Toobin book first. It seems fascinating to me. The title of Sisters in Law seems very clever, like it!

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    1. Susan - Toobin's book is the best book on the Supreme Court I've ever read!

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  8. I must admit that I'm not all that intereted in the US Supreme Court, although that may change in the future as the effects of your new president are felt.
    The Sisters-in-Law book has intrigued me this month, though.

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    1. Debbie - The Supreme Court is such a narrow and specific interest, but I can;t get enough!

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  9. These all look really good. 'Sisters in Law' looks especially awesome.

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    1. looloolooweez - Sisters in Law was excellent. It was so interesting to see the different paths both women took on their way to the highest court. In fact, they were different in so many ways, but equally amazing.

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  10. Well done! I would have thought reading about the Supreme Court would be deadly boring but all these women would be a fascinating read. I had heard of The Notorious RBG, and I love when Kate MacKinnon plays her on SNL.

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    1. raidergirl3 - You're right.. I think most people would find reading about the Supreme Court pretty boring, but I just love learning about the personalities behind the law.

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  11. I have had my wye on all of these books over the last few years. I think that reading them all would give one a very well rounded and illuminating view of the Court.

    My wife loved The Sotomayor biography.

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    1. Brian Joseph - I think everyone will be paying closer attention to the Supreme Court over the next several years... and with good reason! Your wife has good taste in books;)

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  12. Like Kathy I haven't given the Supreme Court much thought until this past month. All of these books sound intriguing and I hope to read each and every one! Perhaps NEXT November when I have more time to relax and read rather than exhaust myself at work, only to read for 10-15 minutes a day, if that. Thanks for the great list!

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    1. Les - Fingers crossed for nest November! I think the Supreme Court is going to be attracting a lot more attention over the next few years...

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  13. Again, I'm very impressed by you raking on all these Supreme Court women! It's more important than ever for us to all be well informed. Bravo!

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    1. Susie - This hasn't been a chore at all... these women are so interesting that it's been a pleasure!

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  14. Oh my gosh... I've read two of these and have a third on my bookstand. I guess I didn't realize it, but I have a Supreme Court reading virus, too. Thanks for highlighting these books!

    I really liked Sandra Day O'Connor's memoir "Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest." Obviously, not much there about the Supreme Court, but there's fascinating insight into how she became such a remarkable woman.

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    1. Unruly Reader - Thanks for the suggestion! I'll add Lazy B to my list... hadn't heard of that one.

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  15. I can't offer any recommendations but I bet there will be lots of new books on this topic over the next four to eight years.

    Do you read SCOTUS blog? I'm an occasional reader. It's an excellent site for coverage of current activities on the court.

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    1. Thank you, James. I'm following the SCOTUS blog now. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  16. What an interesting theme! I have been feeling a bit down in the dumps this month so I didn't get to week four's post. But as you can see I'm catching up on my comments and seeing what other people wrote. I'm all caught up on your blog now. :)

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