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bnafarrate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
mattnixon's review against another edition
4.0
Exhaustively researched and compelling biography of a fascinating and complex man. Farrell does a great job of focusing his story on what the reader would likely care most about: Darrow's work and cases. He is masterful at keeping the early life history brief, only really providing the depth and detail needed to understand the man and put his public and private life in an meaningful context.
To borrow from Whitman, Darrow contained multitudes. Farrell paints a potrait of the man and his often conflicting traits. The Darrow that emerges from the page is rounded and more fully-formed because of those conflicts instead of in spite of them.
The book end rather abruptly (to me), as I could have used a few pages of summary to contextualize Darrow's life and legacy. What did Darrow's life work mean for the social issues he tirelessly championed? What did his mastery of and techniques in the courtroom mean to the leagl profession? How did his understanding of the need for winning and controlling the court of public opinion mean for American society and the media going forward. These are just some of the themes that I wish Farrell would have explored. That said, throughout his telling of Darrow's life, Farrell never stopped to editorialize or explain what certain events, etc. Capital M "mean" so I can understand why he didn't do so at the end--it wasn't the book Farrell aimed to write. Fair enough. Farrell is content to let Darrow's public and private words and actions speak for themselves. A rich, compelling and truly American story those words tell. The battles Darrow fought and the ideals he fought for are incredibly resonant today.
Informative and inspirational, I would recommend Clarence Darrow: Attorney for the Damned.
To borrow from Whitman, Darrow contained multitudes. Farrell paints a potrait of the man and his often conflicting traits. The Darrow that emerges from the page is rounded and more fully-formed because of those conflicts instead of in spite of them.
The book end rather abruptly (to me), as I could have used a few pages of summary to contextualize Darrow's life and legacy. What did Darrow's life work mean for the social issues he tirelessly championed? What did his mastery of and techniques in the courtroom mean to the leagl profession? How did his understanding of the need for winning and controlling the court of public opinion mean for American society and the media going forward. These are just some of the themes that I wish Farrell would have explored. That said, throughout his telling of Darrow's life, Farrell never stopped to editorialize or explain what certain events, etc. Capital M "mean" so I can understand why he didn't do so at the end--it wasn't the book Farrell aimed to write. Fair enough. Farrell is content to let Darrow's public and private words and actions speak for themselves. A rich, compelling and truly American story those words tell. The battles Darrow fought and the ideals he fought for are incredibly resonant today.
Informative and inspirational, I would recommend Clarence Darrow: Attorney for the Damned.
socraticgadfly's review against another edition
5.0
Ideally, this would be a 4.5 star book, but I'll give it the bump. Beyond the famous Scopes trial, good labor liberals know Darrow defended the McNamara brothers in the LA Times bombing case.
He also defended the poor. Mobsters.
And, rich people presumably politically conservative. And, despite his acquittal on charges, he may well have tried to bribe jurors in the McNamara case.
Darrow was sui generis, in other words, and this book shows that well.
He was also a freethinker, a womanizer and more.
He said he defended the rich because he needed money somehow, but ... it seems more than that.
And, some of his closest friends of earlier life, like Edgar Lee Masters,k had become estranged from him years before he died.
This is an informative bio of the what of Darrow's life, but Farrell doesn't quite get all the why, IMO. Hence, the ideal rating of 4.5 stars.
He also defended the poor. Mobsters.
And, rich people presumably politically conservative. And, despite his acquittal on charges, he may well have tried to bribe jurors in the McNamara case.
Darrow was sui generis, in other words, and this book shows that well.
He was also a freethinker, a womanizer and more.
He said he defended the rich because he needed money somehow, but ... it seems more than that.
And, some of his closest friends of earlier life, like Edgar Lee Masters,k had become estranged from him years before he died.
This is an informative bio of the what of Darrow's life, but Farrell doesn't quite get all the why, IMO. Hence, the ideal rating of 4.5 stars.
bluelotus12's review against another edition
5.0
A truly fascinating life. I loved all the stories of the events that came to define him. Great book for those who like reading about interesting and influential people.
jwest87's review against another edition
5.0
A larger than life book for a larger than life figure. I had known about Darrow from the Scopes Monkey trial, but the chapter on the Sweet trial was absolutely fascinating.
aloyokon's review against another edition
4.0
A former corporate advocate turned a friend of labor. A champion of progressivism. A supporter of civil rights. A hearld of civil liberties. A nemesis of the death penalty. And the hero of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Clarence Darrow was all these things and more, and this book goes through all of the famous (and not-so-famous) cases of his career, and some of the other aspects of his life.
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