Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes by Leah Litman

4.23 AVERAGE

polychromie's review against another edition

4.0
informative reflective medium-paced
stephrauscher22's profile picture

stephrauscher22's review against another edition

4.75
challenging informative sad medium-paced

happyappalachyreads's review against another edition

3.75
informative fast-paced

bunnyhugger75's review against another edition

5.0
challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
Fantastic use of pop culture references! 

gracelong4's review against another edition

5.0
challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
My new go-to book recommendation! This book is an essential read for everyone. We must stay informed.
hkeogh13's profile picture

hkeogh13's review against another edition

4.75
challenging informative reflective medium-paced
I am so glad something like this has been written! I have been following American politics fairly closely recently and was pleased to hear that informed people were talking about parts of the system of which I am not super familiar. It's easy to simplify politics to try and understand it more easily, and I think sometimes people do this, leading to the belief that 'if we just do this, we can solve the issue'. This book was illuminating as it showed the layers of systemic dysfunction which contributed to Trump ending up back in the White House (amongst other things).

What I loved about this book:
  • I learnt absolutely loads about the system, its history, American politics more generally and the justices themselves. I will be going around and telling people about the different things I've learnt as I feel they are so relevant to things still unfolding in politics today.
  • Litman relates the themes of the book to pop culture references. I didn't feel patronised by this. Instead, I kind of felt like it brought the court as a topic down a few pegs, told it that it's not above the more accessible interests people have in popular culture. I think sometimes the law can stand at a level where it assumes it's superior, and this writing technique was a clever way to challenge that whilst also making the book relatable and more fun to the reader.
  • It was easily chunked into themes which made sense and felt equally pressing.
  • It didn't shy away from sometimes being technical, bringing the reader up to pace with the legal details rather than dumbing down for the audience.
  • It was critical without being doom and gloom. The fact that the conclusion brought up ways that we can make a change, highlighting examples of where that is already being done, was uplifting without having its head in the clouds.

I have lots of political reflections which have stemmed from the book too. As a progressive, I am totally on Litman's side, and it abhors me to read some of the vibes included in comments from the justices. Being so removed from what people in society think/ want/ need is yet another reason we need (but won't get) a court which looks different to one full of Presidentially appointed lifers. That said, it's an interesting position to be in as someone who appreciates my life here in the US and who does not have a right to participate in the democracy of this country. 

bluebleeder2001's review

5.0
informative medium-paced

madelinekahnivore's review against another edition

4.0
challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

backsong's review

4.25
informative tense fast-paced

politicalqueery's review

3.75
dark tense