No comments about People, Places and Reflections: A Journey with the United Nations.

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No comments about Atrocious Judges: Lives Of Judges Infamous As Tools Of Tyrants And Instruments Of Oppression (1856).

5 comments about The DEFENSE IS READY: LIFE IN THE TRENCHES OF CRIMINAL LAW CASSETTE.

1. Perhaps I'm being anachronistic, but I don't think an autobiography should be written by anyone other than the subject him or herself. If the person doesn't feel up to the job, he should have an authorized biography published with a vignette explaining his involvement in the project. Whatever her reasons, Ms. Abramson's decision to employ Richard Flaste was a big mistake. If she was too lazy to write this book herself, she should have at least taken the time to find a competent writer. Reading this book is like trying to drive across a treacherous bog in a Ferrari. You hope there's something good on the other side but the journey is so needlessly frustrating and unpleasant, you aren't sure if it's worth it. Let me save you some trouble. Even if you had a Range Rover, this journey wouldn't be worth it. My conclusion: for someone who is so assertive and logical in her public speaking, Ms. Abramson has published a very disappointing autobiography



2. I have to question the factuality of the stories written in this book. My family is the subject of one of the stories Leslie chose to discuss in detail within her book. I have to say I was shocked and infuriated to find my family story, including names and a picture sent to Leslie in a Christmas card, printed without our consent or knowledge. After the initial shock I sat down to read the book and was again outraged at the many erroneous facts intertwined in our brief story. I have to wonder if she even looked at our file or if she just tried to pull from memory and/or embelish this brief condensed story of our life. I do not know all the laws governing what you can or can't print in an autobiography, but I would think that if you were writing about other people's lives, you should have to state the facts and be able to substantiate those facts with documentation. I know that the 6 pages of this book dedicated to my life story has so many fabricated and outright false statements, it is impossible for me to read any of the other stories with any degree of faith that what I am reading is the Real story! I would recommend that anyone who reads this book takes it for what it is, an autobiography about Leslie Abramson. Do not read it to understand the subjects of her cases or what the Real facts behind their cases were.



3. I have always liked the way that Leslie Abramson handles herself as well as being a fairly big fan of her courtroom practices. So, I went into this book with some preconceived biases. Well, they were all proven wrong.

   Abramson is an extremely intelligent woman, and an excellent attorney, but her writing, as well as that of Richard Flaste, is quite dry and rather boring. She has some nice stories to tell, but the manner in which she delivers them is undeniably dull.

   The book clearly had no cogent flow to it whatsoever. The book was somewhat hard to get through, but I read on, hoping it lead to something better. But, it truly didn't.

   I gave the book two stars simply because the information on the cases, and the behind the scenes stuff was pretty interesting. Unfortunately, that is all this book really has to offer you.




4. This book gives a very interesting inside look into the world of criminal defense attorneys. The author gives her unique perspective on the law through stories of several cases she defended. While I found the book very interesting, especially her explanation of the Menendez case, I couldn't help thinking that she was giving only one side of the story and leaving out facts that didn't support her views of defendant's rights. Still, it was very enthralling and hard to put down.



5. This attorney either gets way too emotionally attached to her clients or she fashioned her syrupy prose in an artifical effort to win new ones. Numerous convicted drug dealers, murderers, and other felons are inexplicably canonized in this self-serving, turgid memoir. A criminal defense attorney's calling is indeed a noble one, but should stop well short of the glorification and/or rationalization of the criminal element that seeps throughout this book. A few nuggets on trial preparation, tactics, and strategy can be gleaned by a careful reader; however, books such as Black's Law and The Trial Lawyers provide richer insight and are far more credible.

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No comments about Pioneer Notes: Notes from the Diaries of Judge Benjamin Hayes 1849-1875 (Chicano Heritage Series).

No comments about The lives and times of the chief justices of the Supreme court of the United States. By Henry Flanders. (The Lives and Times of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States).

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3 comments about Bram Fischer: Afrikaner Revolutionary (Mayibuye History & Literature Series, No. 86.).

1. This book is a work of top class scholarship. But when, probably at 4:00am, you finally put it down you'll feel like you've been reading the most perceptive poetry or listening to the most beautiful music. Like the Pablo Neruda inspired debut Juluka album (Universal Men) it weaves a commitment to truth, a reverence for what's most nobel in the human spirit and a feel for tragedy and transcendence together with real wisdom and what can only be described as melody. And, although this book is written with the almost clinical economy of style that characterises J.M. Coetzee's work, there is a passionate undercurrent almost as intense as the more explicit passion of a writer like Frantz Fanon.

   Bram Fischer, the Afrikaner Communist who is the subject of this book, was never as romantic a figure as Che Guevarra, Frederick Douglass or Steven Biko but Clingman is so aware of the drama and promise of everyday life that this book ends up being far more engaging than Jon Anderson's recent biography of Che Guevarra.

   The book does have its flaws - for example Clingman's understanding of the South African black consciousness movement is poor - but in a strange way the flaws are part of what give this book its character. That's because this book is about struggle and the flaws make the reader aware of Clingman's stuggle to understand and explain Fischer and his country. So while you're reading about Fischers' struggles and South Africa's struggles and being inspired to think about other struggles Clingman's occassional slip ups make you aware of the author's struggle and leave you inspired by his tremendous, although not total, success.

   This book is important and valuable in itself. It's also an important work of history which, given the extent to which apartheid and 'postapartheid' mimic the new world order (global apartheid?)is profoundly relevent to life in 1999.

   Buy this book, immerse yourself in its riches until they become part of you, and you'll be a better person.




2. This biography chronicles the life of an inspiring Afrikaner who, breaking away from the privileges of his family's background, sacrificed everything for his cause. Fischer's spirited dedication to human rights should provide great insipiration to all those who have ever fought for civil rights. The true treasure in this book is Clingman's ability to see symbolism in even the smallest details of Fischer's life. What an invaluable gift this book is to the Fischer family and to South African history. Truly, this book is a fascinating read.



3. This is a gracefully-written biography of Bram Fischer, a South African lawyer who played a key role in the anti-apartheid struggle in the 1950s and '60s. In spite of his prominence in the Johannesburg bar, Fischer rejected the racist system that oppressed the majority black population. He joined the Communist Party, worked underground, and defended Nelson Mandela and other activists. Eventually, he was arrested and jailed during a crackdown on the Party. Unlike Mandela, who lived to see the collapse of apartheid, Fischer never entered the promised land: he died of cancer in 1975, at the high point of Afrikaner power. Nevertheless, his inclusive, tolerant approach to politics and his saintly personal example influenced a generation of ANC and Communist activists, helping to shape South Africa's current multiracial and democratic constitutional order. This lovely book is a moving testament to a lovely life. Although Clingman is a bit longwinded and uncritical, anyone interested in South African history will learn from and enjoy his tome. Law students and young lawyers should also read it. Six stars!

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