Justice Stevens's book is a little different than most of the titles read during this aforementioned "sweep", being more personally focused than an objective history monograph. The reader really cannot be blamed for thinking they are getting a biographical sketch of the last five Chief Justices of the Supreme Court (Vinson, Warren, Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts), given the title. However, the book is far more reflective of Stevens's time spend in the vicinity or on the Court. He explores cases I have never heard of that made a big impact on him, leaving the big marquee decisions like Bush v. Gore for others to discuss. Some matter of minutiae are interesting, like the placement of the table during deliberations, and probably would not be examined anywhere else. He doesn't pull his punches when it come to decisions he disagreed with or his feelings about some of his colleagues. It is the kind of honesty you typically only see among the retired. Thankfully, Stevens sees the value in enjoying the last years of life in relaxing retirement and reflection, not keeling over at his desk like Chief Rehnquist, so we can hear Supreme Court stories with a bit of colorful perspective.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Five Chiefs (John Paul Stevens, 2011)
With Five Chiefs, I've completed yet another chronological sweep of American history. I will cap it off with a book of counterfactuals, then a general book, then finally back to the beginning.
Justice Stevens's book is a little different than most of the titles read during this aforementioned "sweep", being more personally focused than an objective history monograph. The reader really cannot be blamed for thinking they are getting a biographical sketch of the last five Chief Justices of the Supreme Court (Vinson, Warren, Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts), given the title. However, the book is far more reflective of Stevens's time spend in the vicinity or on the Court. He explores cases I have never heard of that made a big impact on him, leaving the big marquee decisions like Bush v. Gore for others to discuss. Some matter of minutiae are interesting, like the placement of the table during deliberations, and probably would not be examined anywhere else. He doesn't pull his punches when it come to decisions he disagreed with or his feelings about some of his colleagues. It is the kind of honesty you typically only see among the retired. Thankfully, Stevens sees the value in enjoying the last years of life in relaxing retirement and reflection, not keeling over at his desk like Chief Rehnquist, so we can hear Supreme Court stories with a bit of colorful perspective.
Justice Stevens's book is a little different than most of the titles read during this aforementioned "sweep", being more personally focused than an objective history monograph. The reader really cannot be blamed for thinking they are getting a biographical sketch of the last five Chief Justices of the Supreme Court (Vinson, Warren, Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts), given the title. However, the book is far more reflective of Stevens's time spend in the vicinity or on the Court. He explores cases I have never heard of that made a big impact on him, leaving the big marquee decisions like Bush v. Gore for others to discuss. Some matter of minutiae are interesting, like the placement of the table during deliberations, and probably would not be examined anywhere else. He doesn't pull his punches when it come to decisions he disagreed with or his feelings about some of his colleagues. It is the kind of honesty you typically only see among the retired. Thankfully, Stevens sees the value in enjoying the last years of life in relaxing retirement and reflection, not keeling over at his desk like Chief Rehnquist, so we can hear Supreme Court stories with a bit of colorful perspective.
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