| |  | Author: Jeffrey Toobin
Publisher: Anchor
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
Buy Used: $5.02
as of 9/6/2010 20:31 CDT details
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Rating:  247 reviews
Sales Rank: 2,762
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 480
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 1400096790
Dewey Decimal Number: 347.7326
EAN: 9781400096794
Publication Date: September 9, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 16-20 of 247
 High Praise for The Nine January 30, 2010
John G. Jazwiec (Chicago IL)
I read this book awhile back while it was in hardcover. I was interested in reading the book, because I had seen Jeffrey Toobin on TV - and I liked hearing what he had to say and how he said it.
After reading the book and I can tell you it is a great book unmasking the Supreme Court. While the book is valuable by showing all of it's individuals and their particular indiosyncrasy's - for instance after taking off his robe, Justice Thomas is a serious RV camper - it is also illustrates the Supreme court's increasing political role and the election of George W. Bush in 2000.
The books is rare in that it is not only an interesting read, but the author writes in a profound but easy to read style.
This was the exact premise I bought the book for - Toobin - has great insights and he is easy to understand.
Eye-opener January 18, 2010
S. S. Cox (Portland, ME)
Reading this book is seeing the Supreme Court from the inside out. A must-read for anyone who wants to stay tuned in to US politics and current history.
 Clouded January 10, 2010
Wayne Lucas (United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Providing insights into the nine justices that served together from 1994-2005--including who they are, where they came from, and what they believe--Toobin claims to provide an inside look at what happens behind those engraved, bronzed doors and marble columns in downtown Washington. He frames his picture, though, using the Court's fractious opinions on various social issues, primarily abortion. At one point early in the book Toobin states, "There were two kinds of cases before the Supreme Court. There were abortion cases--and there were all the others." If you agree with this sentiment, then it will largely influence how you react to the rest of this book. For me, such a narrow focus on social issues, which is a very small percentage of what the Court does day to day, undermines Toobin's claim and makes his book little more than a popular history of the Rehnquist Court followed by an introduction to the now emerging Roberts' Court.
Bush v. Gore also plays a significant role in Toobin's tome, and in presenting this case and those above, Toobin is prone to bias and double speak. Favorably painted are those "liberal" justices who are guided by wisdom and adhere to stare decisis. Not so favorably painted are those "conservative" justices who are held captive by a debilitating and destructive philosophy. Applying these labels to the justices in a consistent manner is nearly impossible since, for one or reason or another, the justices vote in ways you otherwise might not expect (although using the social issue litmus test that Toobin does, he makes this task a lot easier for himself). The justices are more nuanced and the law more complex than Toobin gives either credit for, and in this treatment Toobin has done the Court a disservice.
Maybe as one reviewer has posted it is impossible to write a politically neutral book on the Supreme Court. If so, it should not be impossible to propagate a consistent message. Throughout Toobin can't seem to reconcile his views. For example, he praises those justices that bend the law in accordance with public opinion, but never addresses how this comports with his belief that the Court is to be praised for its political independence. After warning of an ominous "conservative" revolution that is occurring in the Court, Toobin repeatedly revels in their continuous rout. This double speak can be annoying, if not disingenuous, and while subtle at times, Toobin can also be blatant.
Such a vacillating tone gives the impression that Toobin is trying to be even handed and just can't force himself to be. When he is closest, Toobin is at his best. Throughout he has sprinkled vignettes of each justice, their confirmations, and highlights of some of their major (social) decisions. When divorced from the larger political narrative, each portrait is educating, none more so than Kennedy's who, as Toobin rightly points out, is now the swing vote on the Court. With the exceptions of Souter's and Ginsburg's, one who is no longer a justice and one who Toobin says too little about, these portraits remain relevant. The story of Bush v. Gore from within the Marble Palace, despite the tone and incessant political jabs, is absorbing. Equally absorbing can be the insights into the Court's inner wrangling.
But all are haunted by Toobin's shallow and biased approach to the law, which casts a cloud over even his brightest moments. Read for an introduction to the Supreme Court and most of its current justices, but read it with skepticism.
Intriguing...well done...except....... January 6, 2010
SPF (Illinois)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Mostly, well written. Many intriguing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories. I particularly like the way that we got to know who these judges are, beyond the stereotypes we might have of them. He has a way of making all of them likeable, whatever we might think about their politics. .
However, like many writers, Toobin uncritically accepts the assertion that the self-proclaimed "Originalists" interpret the Constitution the way our Founding Fathers intended. A look at the record reveals that they adhere to the Constitution only when it serves their agenda, but they legislate from the bench with a vengence to twist the law and the Constitution to the benefit of the corporations and elites. Certainly, in a work of this type, a claim like that of the "Originalists" ought to be scrutinized.
Take Chief Justice Rehnquist, who contended that all that the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment hoped to achieve with the Equal Protection Clause was to prevent the states from treating black and white citizens differently. Consequently, according to Rehnquist, that clause should not apply when the state has not intentionally discriminated (Columbus v. Penick, 1979) nor when the state has not participated in discrimination (Moose Lodge v. Irvis, 1972); nor should the Equal Protection Clause be construed to prohibit disparate treatment based on gender (Craig v. Boren, 1976; Michael M. v. Superior Court of Sonoma County, 1981). Meanwhile, Rehnquist was quite consistent in his support of corporate rights. Geoffrey Stone, law professor at the University of Chicago, observed in an article on the First Amendment, "not only was he [Rehnquist] the justice least likely to protect these freedoms, but his general passivity toward these freedoms cannot be defended as principled, coherent or neutral. When all was said and done, Rehnquist's 1st Amendment belonged to corporations, wealthy political candidates, and churches.
The case of Bush v. Gore, of course, says it all about Rehnquist and the other "originalists." Even though they normally take such a narrow view of the 14th Amendment, they were quite willing to expand their view when it served their agenda to ensure that Bush became President--even to the point of stopping the counting of votes. They had no interest in what the people actually wanted.
 Interesting "behind the scenes" look, but too overtly political December 30, 2009
Alex Berezow (Seattle, WA United States)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Two of my biggest pet peeves are as follows: (1) Hypocrisy in political analysis-- that is, denouncing conservatives for something liberals do (and vice versa). (2) Believing one's own views are moderate and everyone who disagrees with you is an extremist. Unfortunately, this book is absolutely riddled with both. For instance, liberal justices are called "moderate" by the author, while conservative justices are deemed extremists. Even worse, it even has a smack of moral superiority about it. (If you disagree with the author, not only are you a right-wing extremist, but you're also slightly morally repugnant.)
On the upside, I did appreciate the "behind the scenes look" at the justices, their personalities, and their interactions. Toobin successfully gives a peek into the mysterious world of the Supreme Court. The book is well-researched and interesting. However, as I discussed above, the author's political viewpoints interfere far too often in what could have been a very fascinating book.
Showing reviews 16-20 of 247
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