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4.72 AVERAGE
4.72 AVERAGE
I’m not even sure what to say about this book. It is remarkable. What an amazing person to help take on these cases and to write about them. I was so frustrated and saddened by so much of what went on in this book. Knowing that these are real people just breaks my heart.
I loved several parts including when the prison guard (the one that had Mr. Stevenson strip searched at the prison) opened up about his past after finding common ground with the defendant. He even got him the milkshake.
Bryan Stevenson left me filled with hope and a lesson to have Just Mercy.
I loved several parts including when the prison guard (the one that had Mr. Stevenson strip searched at the prison) opened up about his past after finding common ground with the defendant. He even got him the milkshake.
Bryan Stevenson left me filled with hope and a lesson to have Just Mercy.
An absolute must-read about race and the criminal justice system in America.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
This is a must read for all Americans and especially Alabamians.
I can’t believe this is the first time I’m reading this book. Criminal justice and prison reform has been an interest of mine for years but I was never adept at describing why it was so important or why people should get involved. Now I don’t need the words and I can just hand people this book. I’ve already ordered two copies to share.
I can’t believe this is the first time I’m reading this book. Criminal justice and prison reform has been an interest of mine for years but I was never adept at describing why it was so important or why people should get involved. Now I don’t need the words and I can just hand people this book. I’ve already ordered two copies to share.
It starts off well as a blend of autobiography, the story of one person on death row and some history about the death penalty and prison system in this country. For me the history and context were the most interesting, but the human touches added depth and meaning to it.
About halfway through the narrative and style starts to wander and deteriorate. It's as if the author became distracted at the same time as wanting to cram in a bunch more things they still had on the agenda for the book. So it turns into a sort rambly jumble of story fragments and touching stories. While somewhat informative, it lacks focus and isn't very coherent and moving when compared with the first half of the book.
Some main points-
The death penalty is ...
* on a gradual decline (yay)
* seriously inhumane, both before execution and during (why is this even in dispute?)
* imposed on people who often have the least access to a good legal defense
The author and their related orgs have done good work ...
* getting life sentences for juveniles struck down as cruel and inhumane
* freeing innocent people from death row
* trying to change the legal and prison system in the south
The environment in post-slavery america was (is) a system of persistent terrorism against black people. (which brings to mind, among other things : Terrorism: Theirs and Ours by Eqbal Ahmed)
Closing comment - I know of at least one person who was moved to volunteering work related to prisons as a result of reading this. If the effect of this book is to successfully raise awareness and motivate people to become engaged in various kinds of anti-prison/carceral state work then that alone is a success and gain for society.
About halfway through the narrative and style starts to wander and deteriorate. It's as if the author became distracted at the same time as wanting to cram in a bunch more things they still had on the agenda for the book. So it turns into a sort rambly jumble of story fragments and touching stories. While somewhat informative, it lacks focus and isn't very coherent and moving when compared with the first half of the book.
Some main points-
The death penalty is ...
* on a gradual decline (yay)
* seriously inhumane, both before execution and during (why is this even in dispute?)
* imposed on people who often have the least access to a good legal defense
The author and their related orgs have done good work ...
* getting life sentences for juveniles struck down as cruel and inhumane
* freeing innocent people from death row
* trying to change the legal and prison system in the south
The environment in post-slavery america was (is) a system of persistent terrorism against black people. (which brings to mind, among other things : Terrorism: Theirs and Ours by Eqbal Ahmed)
Closing comment - I know of at least one person who was moved to volunteering work related to prisons as a result of reading this. If the effect of this book is to successfully raise awareness and motivate people to become engaged in various kinds of anti-prison/carceral state work then that alone is a success and gain for society.
There are some books you wish everyone would read and this is one of them. If you don't finish reading with more empathy than when you started, you should read it again.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Another amazing book for showing how messed up the justice system is.
Fabulous. Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer from Atlanta who moved to Alabama and started the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), fighting for underpriviliged people on death row, children prosecuted and given life sentences and so many other hard cases. His central story is about Walter, who was tried and convicted of a murder in Alabama that he had nothing to do with, but the lessons and stories throughout the book are tremendous and Stevenson is an excellent writer. This was a winner. I enjoyed every minute; it brought tears and smiles along with the fury.
This is the kind of book everyone should HAVE to read in order to truly understand how flawed our justice system is. Humanizing people incarcerated and on death row.
Showing how situation, upbringing, race, and pure lack of care to find the truth and putting people in a cement box for their entire life with the threat of being put to death at any time. Bryan cares so deeply for the cause and to keep going through the system and losing often and still fighting is commendable and truly inspires me.
Showing how situation, upbringing, race, and pure lack of care to find the truth and putting people in a cement box for their entire life with the threat of being put to death at any time. Bryan cares so deeply for the cause and to keep going through the system and losing often and still fighting is commendable and truly inspires me.