America on Trial: Inside the Legal Battles That Transformed Our Nation

America On Trial - Inside The Legal Battles That Transformed Our Nation by Alan M. Dershowitz (Warner Books). © Marc Wickert October 1, 2008 www.knucklepit.com This book is literary shock treatment. Although written by the world's most famous criminal lawyer, the book is easy to read, but hard to put down. Professor Dershowitz has defended such clients as Patty Hearst, Jimmy Bakker, and former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. Dershowitz was also a member of O.J. Simpson's `Dream Team' defense group. In his book, he covers cases from the Salem Witchcraft Trials of Colonial America to the Trial of the Lincoln Assassins; from the Shoeless Joe Jackson Case to the Trial of Jack Ruby; and the Trial of the Chicago Seven to the Cases of the Terrorist Detainees - in Guantanamo and unknown places around the world. If you ever wondered whether Mike Tyson was really guilty of rape, or thought it strange a beauty pageant contestant was innocently visiting the boxer in his hotel room at 2am, then wait until you've read Professor Dershowitz's chapter "The Trial of Mike Tyson". "America On Trial - Inside The Legal Battles That Transformed Our Nation" is a knockout book from cover to cover. This book should be in every library on the planet.

Who else but Alan Dershowitz could deftly put in context America's greatest landmark trials and legal controversies that shape the nation in a thorough and succinct Prologue on the foundations of American Law? It is almost like a refresher course in history and philosophy, the foundation of all knowledge, hence we are given a quick rundown on the "..stories of the Bible, with the accounts of famous Greek trials such as that of Socrates, with the infamous Continental Inquisitions against Joan of Arc and Galileo, with the British prosecution of Thomas More, and with the notorious regicide and treason trials of Europe.." and the American legal system which is "..based on a written Constitution, judicial review and most important, the separation of church and state." He argues that trials can tell us a great deal about the passions, conflicts and attitudes of the time and "America on Trial" represents the episodic history of the nation "..viewed through the prism of our most dramatic and influential public court proceedings." Dershowitz, the renowned civil liberties lawyer and Harvard Law professor who is best known as America's most outspoken lawyer of last resort, presents this first class and highly insightful and readable book. As is with all great teachers, Dershowitz always has the most perceptive ability to anticipate questions and clearly explains with wit and his unique compelling writing style, making the otherwise dry legal concepts and jargons at once fascinating and informative as well as going beyond the legal. This is a riveting read for anyone not just people in the legal field.

Fantastic read. must have for anyone who cares about the american legal system.

I had a expected a bit better book but this book is still excellent. If someone else had written the book I might be less ambivalent but it is written by Alan Dershowitz, long time Harvard Law Professor, well known appeals lawyer, media commentator, author of 20 previous books, at least one of which I know was made into a movie, and perhaps one of the most talented living lawyers - so I expected a better book. To give some perspective I recently read the book on Stalin by Montefiore and he must have really toiled to write that book. This book in comparison seems like somewhat less of an effort - see below. Still it ranks 4 or 5 stars and is a great buy. When I discovered the book at my book store I was ecstatic and bought it immediately. I started to read it as soon as I got home. The first chapter is beautiful. He explains how the early trials of Socrates, and Jesus, and Galileo, and Thomas More, and Mary Queen of Scots, the trial of Louis XVI all have contributed to our legal thinking and how these helped form what became of the current legal system. He quotes from the bible: Adam and Eve, Susanna, Jacob, etc. He references the Federalist Papers, Greek trials, the Romans, etc. After that chapter I thought this was going to be a legal "tour de force" but it is not. After page 25 and "The Foundations of American Law" we find a compilation of cases - a series of short stories on famous trials - each a few pages long starting with the Salem Witchcraft Trials in 1692 (8 pages long) going through approximately 60 trials in total. We learn the names, the trial date, location, defendants, charge, verdict, and the sentence of each trial. These are grouped into sections with an introduction for each section. Each section has its own notes and the book is almost 600 pages long. The author adds many comments on each case and explains how the trials support basic freedoms and rights, and commenting on how the laws have evolved ( I suppose that is what another reviewer refers to as political bias) and quotes from people such as Justice Brandeis etc. All the information is interesting and informative and clearly indicates how are laws have evolved; there is a difference between the laws and justice; sometimes laws evolve through the action of juries and bright lawyers and against the wishes of conservative judges and meddling politicians. He does a nice job with Susan B. Anthony and Andrew Johnson's impeachment, and Alger Hiss, and Roe vs Wade and many more. The conspiracy charges against Dr. Spock were chilling to say the least and are almost unimaginable. He goes from Salem to Guantanamo and it all seems well balanced except for the O.J. case where he is not objective, but that was not an important legal trial from a viewpoint of forming or changing laws. It is mostly a wonderful summary of trials and their results but it is not perhaps Dershowitz's "tour de force" culmination of 20 books. Still the trial comments and the end results are good. I did spo

Who isn't facinated by some of the most spectacular trials we have seen unfold in our newspapers and on television. America On Trial takes the reader on a historical trip through the most significant trials of the past few centuries. The insight of Professor Dershowitz illustrates how America, and indeed Americans, have been shaped by the decision of judges, justices, juries and popular opinion. The evolution of our society is presented in a thoughtful and compelling way by one of the most reknowned and respected lawyers, a professor of great distinction and a captivating storyteller. America On Trial is a must read for anyone who is interested in how and why we have become the country and people we are today.