3 comments about Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History.

1. The well-written memoirs of a man forever to be identified with John F. Kennedy's political career, especially the White House days. While not telling all, this book is the candid product of a bright, honest, but still politically driven man, a 1960s liberal, who writes in the twilight of his life.
   
   Mr. Sorensen is one of the last living central participants of JFK's Administration and his story would have value for this fact alone. Readers wishing to learn about presidential political campaigning, the art of speech writing, and more on such important historical events as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the presidential transition from JFK to LBJ will profit from reading this book.
   
   While material on his later private law practice is not as interesting as the rest of the text, this is only to be expected. In terms of his post White House career, I did find of value his description of his ill-fated nomination by President Carter as DCI and noted the fact there is little mention of President Clinton's years. (A prominent picture of Senator Obama and Ted Sorensen is in this book. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that the author sees the current junior senator from Illinois as his pick for this year's Democratic Party nominee for president--and the direct and true successor to JFK's legacy.)



2. I know Ted Sorensen through our common support of Barack Obama and was eager to read this magnificent biography. I bought it on Tuesday, May 6 the first day it was published and I didn't put it down ( with the exception of eating, showering and sleeping about four hours each of the last two nights) until a few hours ago when I finished reading it.
   
   It is a magnificent opus. The writing is superb. Rarely do the heart and head come together so well without sacrificing or compromising either.
   
   Modest without being falsely self effacing, this truly is an indispensable book for any American citizen or world citizen. And its an absolute must for any political junkie from Al Franken to Ann Coulter.
   
   Stop what you're doing. Run out and get it. Its a great gift for anyone's birthday in May (June is too late -- its that good).
   
   Ted Sorensen is a historical figure in his own right. He was indispensable to Kennedy and now to Obama.
   
   There are many reasons to read this book. Not just for its great insights with an unobscured and unobstructed perspective, but because of new information into the life of JFK whose reputation will be enhanced by this near reverential but still candid volume.
   
   A mutual friend of Ted Sorensen's just forwarded me the first reviews including the Wall Street Journal. To say they were raves is to understate them.



3. I know Ted Sorensen well, so what I have to say about his extraordinary personal history is obviously being written as a friend and admirer. As a friend, I can say that Ted speaks truth to power; as an admirer, I can say that he speaks truth forcefully and candidly. He was arguably John Kennedy's alter ego. At the very least, Ted was the man who shaped JFK's lyrical, intellectually vigorous speeches. But Ted was also a canny adviser, the lawyer who marshaled his facts well, made the connections between random thoughts and workable ideas, and produced a consistent body of work for the president he loved and trusted. Ted once told me that not a day goes by without him thinking of JFK -- of the man JFK was, and about what might have been. Like his late friend Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Ted occupied an honored place at the table in Camelot. What his memoir makes plain -- in his own special, witty way -- is how much Ted shaped JFK's Camelot itself.

5 comments about My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir.

1. Wow! An excellent book, and now we can all see where the mysterious neo-conservative black Supreme came from.
   
   As a lefty who loathes His Honor's politics and view of the law, I was taken by the writing and the story, but the real take away for me is that this is one angry, messed-up man, filled with bile and loathing for all things not in line with his viewpoint. Irony abounds. I expect that writing this book was LIKE therapy for Judge Thomas, but really he should be IN therapy, not sitting on the Supreme Court, inflicting his vile, angry, contemptuous view of America on the rest of us, via the law.
   
   Left, right, center - a great book. I'm left, and am left with a great personal respect for Judge Thomas, while maintaining little to no respect for his view of the law.



2. A truly dreadful book, in my opinion. Thomas writes a self-serving, whiney tale that draws a constant stream of drivel to his plight of being Black. His life would have to be hellish to endure all the perceived slights, insults and bigotry that apparently happen to him 24/7/365. Given how far he has come, it is very hard to imagine the kind of difficulties he describes, were a handicap The book was boring, tedious and ultimately insulting. He seemingly turns to God, but it felt like a sham to me. His writing is horrible and his tale, long-winded and I am more convinced than ever that Anita Hill was badly used.



3. My Grandfather's Son, has been out for several months now. I passed on my purchasing it many times, this was a mistake. Judge Thomas' autobiography is an easy, but interesting read.
   
   In the telling of his story, Judge Thomas, is candid about his excessive drinking, his difficult, if loving relationship he had with the grandfather who raised him, his strict upbringing, his almost constant lack of money, and the pain of his divorce. His personal experiences with racism and his views on racial issues in general are weaved nicely into his personal story.
   
   Not surpringsly, Judge Thomas doesn't have anything favorable to say about Anita Hill. However, to his credit, he mentions that she passed a polygraph. He also admits that is lack of judicial experience (just 15 months) was a legitmate argument to oppose his appointment to the Supreme Court.
   
   Where this autobiography breaks down, is at the end. He compares the Senate judiciary committee to a modern-day lynching. Yes, the process was extremely political, but to call it a "lynching" is beyond excessive. Doing so cheapens the meaning of the word. Comparing senators -- the same senators who write laws that a Supreme court justice may later rule on -- to a lynch mob should itself have disqualified him for appointment to the Supreme court.
   
   Still, while Judge Thomas overplayed the "lynch" metaphor, his book is a worthy read. My Grandfather's Son is not your everyday I'm-so-great autobiogrpahy. Don't keep passing this one up.



4. Even if you don't agree with his politics, you can't help but to admire this man for his fight and determination. His book does a great job of making his story to the top very personable as the reader share very intimate thoughts and decisions from the beginning til now. This book is filled with life lession he learned that was taught by his father, Aunt Tina, brother, and a host of other family and friends along the way. Interesting from the beginnin go the end, this book was hard to put down and I recommend it to those who are skeptcal of Thomas's views.



5. What an excellent autobiography. It provides great insite into the mind, life and thoughts of such a great man. For a man of such great stature and of such quiet reverence, this was a treat to hear about Clarence Thomas' life and trials. Very inspirational, very much worth reading!

5 comments about One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School.

1. Turow offers great insight into the tribulation of first year law school that only a survivor can convey. If you are a reader simply curious to read about the stress of Harvard law school then I highly recommend this book. However, if you are a reader looking for a solid reference to the first year law school experience then you will probably find this book a little dissapointing. Turow tells a great story and emphasizes the high and lows of law school, but law school has changed a lot since the antiquated 70's and the commanding tone of Harvard Law does not necessarily resonate among all law schools. It's a good read overall but lacks applicability.



2. For anyone interested in possibly attending law school--this is a must read. Turow is highly entertaining and informative throughout the book. Despite the many vicious and competitive scenarios, this book has encouraged my desire to attend law school. Even those of you who are not interested in a legal profession, it is a great read. Now i would like to read the sequel to this book.



3. Before I started law school, I was repeatedly told to buy best selling author Turow's version of his first year at Harvard "if for no other reason than everyone else there will have read it".
   
   Well, I'm in my second year of law school, and I think it has been mentioned, oh, once, thanks. Still, it wasn't a waste of time. Turow does a nice job of capturing the stress and camaraderie that develops int he first year of law school, when everyone is changing the way their mind works, and at least some of the professors seem bent on making you cry.
   
   Turow's writing is punchy and enjoyable, and he makes the Harvard classroom come alive. If you're headed to law school you should read this, an if you're not, it might be enough to make you thankful you're not.



4. If you are reading this book, then you are probably trying to ask if law school is right for you. That, or else you are attempting to discern how you will respond when a spouse or friend goes to law school.
   
   This book has a lot of imitators now that blogging has emerged as a convention of daily life. I see blogs cataloged for almost every law school and for almost as many business schools. They all attempt to provide detail to the foreboding mystery that surrounds the gatekeeping institutions of professional life.
   
   Turow attended Harvard Law School, beginning in 1978. He takes on the competition among his peers, the fear within the Socratic system of teaching, and the strain on his own conscience. The last element is key to this book.
   
   Going to law school is like riding a wave. The force is in the water, not in whatever is bobbing along. It is only that Turow can identify when his values are provoked by the transformative pressures of HLS that the book makes a real comment. By contrast, a book like the Paper Chase is more about relationships. There is more narrative content in that approach.
   
   This is as much a documentary journal. Fear is not an abstract notion. It is borne out through the personification of Contracts Professor Rudolf Perini. Outlines matter. Study groups become fortresses against anxiety. Law Review is a beacon, at least for some.
   
   I think the reason to read this book is answered by One L. There are a few comments, here and there, that hint at the strain. When Turow realizes that he cannot tell his friends what Boston is like, although he has lived there for four months, he realizes that he has only walked back and forth on a two-mile corridor from apartment to school.
   
   The 1996 edition includes an afterword by the author. He writes a bit about how a career in the law has subsequently forced him to think about what a legal education provided and how it differs from practice. Law school serves to train people to become law professors, he says. Nonetheless, he doesn't think it would serve the profession to make school more focused on career skills. If anything, he appreciates that his profession shares a common training ground that differs from the constraints of the practice.
   
   At several points in the book, Turow poses a riddle: when you buy a hamburger, when does it become a contract and what would it mean to break the deal. I don't think he answers it specifically, because he seems to be saying that the law doesn't have a firm and final answer.



5. I read this book because I want to go to law school. I searched the web sites of various Law Schools for recommended reading lists and this book appeared on more than one list. And for good reason. It is a great book for someone considering law school. It describes how Harvard Law School breaks down its students in the first year as "One L"'s before building them back up. It also describes, better than other books I have read, the impact on the rest of your life a commitment to law school has, including your family and social life, or lack thereof.
   This book may make some people question whether the path through law school is the one for them. But if anything, I am even more anxious to go and face the challenge.

5 comments about A Piece of Cake: A Memoir.

1. Well, Well, Well, What can I say that other reviews haven't. It's a truly inspirational story and it show that if you have the drive the determination you can get whatever it is you want. I thought the line that was most profound for me " I decided the type of seclusion provided by the dumpster would be an ideal place to get high, especially since no one looks for anyone in the trash" This goes to show you the state of mind she was in but once you get to the end of the book you can see how she brought herself up, and she didn't do it alone... She had so many angels that God sent to watch over her and guide her along the way. Cupcake Brown really got it together, the graduation at the end brought me to tears! It just an amazing story that she lived to tell because it's many places in her life that Cupcake could have died. But, God had a plan for her. If you ever think you can't do anything read this book it will give you hope and guidance.



2. I read this book and I was absolutely shocked...I'm still reading it but it is really shocking so far..I recommend this book to everyone!!



3. I read this book over a year ago and highly recommend it.
   
   It is an inspirational story portraying strength, courage and determination.
   
   What irked me throughout this book was how the system failed her and in my opinion was ultimately responsible for the path that she followed. If only she was able to live with her father or uncle even, she may have experienced a normal childhood. After reading about her earlier years and what she endured it is no wonder she followed the path that she did.
   
   Just as she reaches rock bottom she takes a glimpse of her skinny self and realises her life needs to change. Not only does she get clean, she gets an education and is now working as an attorney in a top law firm. She also makes some valuable friendships on the way.
   
   It is good to read stories like this from time to time as it helps to put a different perspective on those living on the streets and not just tar them all with the same brush and assume that they have choices and want to be there.



4. While reading this book, I found myself fascinated by the obstacles this woman has overcome in her life. By the book's end, I found myself questioning several aspects. I'm not sure how the author was able to recall so vividly the details that this story goes into. With the amount and number of years that the author consumed hard drugs and alcohol, I doubt if these details were actually remembered. However, I am not against a bit of poetic license to ensure the story flows and the meaning gets across.
   
   But...also by the book's end, I found the racial incriminations to be a bit tiresome. It would have been more striking if the author had taken more responsibility for her own actions and behaviors. While those actions are understandable given the circumstances, everyone has choices. To cast blame and set aside personal responsibility in order to play the race card is deplorable. While her race most certainly affected many aspects of her life to some degree, it is still not the main issue. When she shows up late or not at all to work day after day, and when she does show up, she is drunk, high, unbathed, and unable to perform her duties, then that is the reason she is fired, not because of her race.
   
   The book would have been more inspiring if the author had taken complete responsibility instead of elevating minor issues to a priority status. This book only encourages an attitude that we are currently fighting against in the country. That someone else is always to blame.
   
   Most likely, I would not recommend this book. While her achievements are wonderful, there are many other stories that better describe overcoming adversity than this one. By the time I had read 2/3 of this book, it was leaving a bad taste in my eyes!



5. This woman has risen above some terrible circumstances;I agree to this fact 100%, but with that being said her editor should have really taken a red pen to this horrible writing style. Considering Cupcake is now a lawyer I would think she would be a stronger writer? Also, something about her story feels exaggerated, as if they exploited her life even more. Overall there are a few golden moments in the book but many key characters are never fully developed or simply disappear leaving a lot of unanswered questions.

2 comments about What Would Martin Say?.

1. I am so impressed with Mr Jones' observations. He takes the historical Martin King and brings him to 2008, addressing topics such as Black-on-Black crime, the current status of 'the struggle', the responsibility of modern Black America, the 'Jena Six', today's modern so-called 'Black Leaders', and a host of others.
   
   Mr Jones prefaces each topic with an historical account of how Dr King addressed a similar or identical situation. Mr Jones uses each recollection as a launching pad to address current subjects pertinent in the lives of Black America today, eminently qualifying him to surmise what he believes Dr King would say on the subject in 2008.
   
   Most if not all of these journeys in time are the accounts of the man who was present with Dr King at the time. More than just interesting sidebars, they validate Mr Jones as he gives compelling, rational argument for the positions he believes Dr King would take today.
   
   Mr Jones does not shy away from topics that he could have just as easily avoided. He could have successfully written a book where he honors Dr King's memory but steps on fewer toes. Mr Jones does just the opposite - he gets his big stompin' boots out and commences to "kickin' & takin".
   
   I stopped reading this book and immediately gave it to my niece for a college graduation present. I am ordering additional copies for my son, daughter, other nieces & nephews, as well as a copy for myself to finish. I hope that I see a dog-eared, frequently read copy on their bookshelves in the years to come.
   
   Thank you, Mr Jones!
   
   -RCH Sr-



2. Yes, I want to thank the author for writing this book. He tells the true story of a great man and a great movement--told as only someone who was personally there and lived through it can tell it. Jones uses the very close relationship he had with MLK not to aggrandize himself but to inform and educate anyone who chooses to read this book. The book provides balanced context and fascinating and sometimes unexpected insights, told in an unconstrained, thought-provoking manner. The book seems to be written by a self-effacing man who contributed greatly to the civil rights movement and now is passing along his knowledge and insights about MLK to all of us, regardless of our age/generation. I really enjoyed reading about what would Martin say about many issues of our time, and wish the book was longer.

5 comments about How Can You Defend Those People?.

1. Hysterically Entertaining
   
   Enchanted by the quagmires, challenges, and events that surround the lives of attorneys, media commentators, and entertainers?
   
   Interested in the inside scoop on high profile cases, courtroom dramas, actors, players, and the personal boundaries that attorney's often face?
   
   Want to read something that will make you laugh out loud, get teary eyed, stir your nerves, rock your views, and motivate you to live each day as you see fit?
   
   If your answers are yes - then "How Can You Defend Those People" is a MUST READ! It's rare to find a book where readers are so moved by one man's life experiences! Mickey Sherman's accounts are so vividly cast and frankly depicted that they leave you yearning for more and wondering how all these interesting events could possibly have happened to one person! From Michael Skakel, OJ Simpson, Scott Peterson, Martha Stewart, the Menedez brothers ... to the quite unknown yet poignant story of Roger Ligon ... this book is well-written, exciting, and hysterically entertaining!



2. "How Can You Defend Those People" is the greatest new book for spring. After being written about in novels and on television shows, Mickey Sherman has finally penned his own story of his colorful and distinguished career. Mickey Sherman is a criminal defense attorney who is also a legal analyst for CBS and a frequent media commentator on legal issues for all the major networks. Having appeared regularly on NBC's "Today Show," CNN's "Larry King Live," "20/20," and many other news shows, Mickey has now written extensively for legal publications and has lectured nationwide on criminal law issues, as well as on the media coverage of them.
   
   This book boldly explains how the famed attorney dealt with impossible cases and sometimes extremely impossible or difficult clients. But one thing is known in the legal world: Sherman's the man to hire when you are dealing with an impossible legal mission.
   
   But those who have read this book all rave about Mickey's literary work. Bestselling author Dominick Dunne raves about "How Can You Defend Those People." Dunne, known as a victims' advocate, said, "I'll never agree with Mickey Sherman, but I must admit I really enjoyed his book. Underneath his sometimes fierce demeanor in the courtroom, Sherman is a witty man with an amiable personality, an expert story teller, and a lover of the law who fights hard for his clients."
   
   Even TV legal powerhouse Nancy Grace raves about reading Mickey's book. She says of defense attorneys, "They are usually my natural enemy, but I enjoyed getting inside the brain of this defense attorney." Other fans of Sherman's work include the LAPD Chief, William J. Bratton and Oscar winning director, screenwriter and producer, Barry Levinson. But fans don't stop there. The new book is doing well with everyday readers and many of the famous in Hollywood as well. Lounging recently at Beverly Hills' Polo Lounge, it was in the hands of several well known agents in the business. Wonder if they were pondering what to do with some of their clients.
   
   Sherman's defense strategies are frequently groundbreaking and sometimes more fascinating than the clients themselves, which is why he is a frequent source for NBC's "Dateline" and "Law & Order," CBS's "48 Hours," Court TV, and all the national news channels, the "New York Times," "Time," and "Vanity Fair." He is even a recurring character in James Patterson's bestselling novels. In the tradition of bestsellers by Alan Dershowitz and Dominick Dunne, Sherman delivers a powerful, extraordinarily candid, and humorous account of his legal career that gives readers an all access backstage pass to the sausage factory that is the criminal justice system, as well as to many cases we have all lived through via TV, which Sherman has provided commentary for and insight on the various news channels. Sherman pulls no punches in his candid and often irreverent account of his experiences, observations and antics on and off the air, covering the big (and not so big) cases for the networks.
   
   Sherman started his career as a public defender, then worked as a prosecutor, and later became a criminal defense attorney for clients such as Michael Skakel (convicted 27 years after the fact for the murder of Martha Moxley) and Alex Kelly (who, on the eve of his double-rape trial in Darien, fled to Europe for nine years). The raw Court TV coverage of his successful PTSD defense of a Vietnam veteran charged with murdering an unarmed man over a parking space argument was nominated for a Cable Ace Award. Many who know Sherman believe that his humble upbringing is what makes him such an advocate for everyone in the system. Sherman tells "Canyon News," "Whether you like criminal defense attorneys or not. We all have a job to do and if you are ever accused of a crime that you didn't commit or you did commit, wouldn't you want a defense attorney to fight for your rights? Every citizen in our nation has constitutional rights; that's what makes America so great." Another reason America's great is because of Mickey Sherman. "How Can You Defend Those People," Sherman's first book, is available at Amazon and at bookstores across the nation. Here's hoping for more of Sherman's masterful storytelling to be weaved around the pages of more books.
   
   I've known Mickey for years and he's always a fixture in Hollywood. He navigates the terrain of entertainment as easily as he does the corridors of courtrooms around the nation. Sherman is very well known and respected in Tinseltown and when his career as an attorney is done, he's surely going to break into some field in the entertainment biz. Charming, charismatic, handsome and very witty, he's comfortable with almost anyone.
   
   Mickey Sherman is a criminal defense attorney who lives in New York and Greenwich, Connecticut. He's married to fellow author, legal analyst for FOX News, and former prosecutor, Lis Weihl.
   
   Tommy Garrett is Editor of Canyon Newspaper in Beverly Hills and Contributing Editor of San Francisco News.



3. I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Sherman last year at the Michael Skakel hearing in Stamford, Connecticut. It is difficult not to like Mickey. He is always upbeat and one of the best story-tellers I have ever encountered. I enjoyed his book from start to finish. It is very informative, but also littered with humor and is obviously written by Mickey himself. Nobody else but Mickey would think those jokes are funny! Keith A. Weeks, Legal Investigator



4. As a long-time employee in the legal profession and a fan of many trial-based shows, I was instantly drawn into Mickey Sherman's book and won over by his ability to make me laugh out loud and his ability to laugh at himself while still maintaining his professionalism and ethics. I agree that defense attorneys sometimes are pre-judged by who they represent and I think Mickey Sherman handles this issue in the only way possible . . . by infusing humor and compassion into his story telling. I hope there will be many more books like these in his future! I have had the honor of meeting Mr. Sherman and can honestly say that he is an excellent attorney who manages to be intelligent and extremely humble at the same time! What an extraordinary first book for this gentleman!



5. I once read somewhere that there are no funny lawyers, only funny people who have made a career mistake. But that's not true! Mickey Sherman is a great lawyer and TV talking head who is also very funny, and this book proves it. He's hysterically funny about the law, courts, defendants, judges, TV lawyering, and himself, all at the same time.

5 comments about Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining: America's Toughest Family Court Judge Speaks Out.

1. I am a fan of Judge Judy. I like her no nonsense approach to life and the legal system. Having myself grown up in a family of police and police chiefs, I know full well the crap that goes on in life as well as the legal system. Having just gone through a legal fiasco of being accused of something I didn't and wouldn't do, I prayed to have a judge like Judge Judy preside over the case. This drug out for 2 years while the other person smeared my name in every media outlet she could think of - even the FBI - and every place where I was scheduled to give talks about my book. I finally had to sue her to shut her up and then she hid like a scared @*&%$! Well after dragging this out by not providing us with their evidence and discovery - which I am sure she didn't have, they decided to settle out of court with a public retraction and an apology as to what she had said about me. So I never got my day in court, but oh I wish I had just to hear Judge Judy tell her "you can't fix stupid and dumb is forever!" I recommend her books, they are funny, comical and down to earth legal approches to life in the court system. You will get a whole new perspective on the way things are done and they might get you fired up to get a wrong you have been dealt righted. Read Them!!



2. First off I love Judge Judy, I think she is brilliant, funny, and right on the money with her quips and viewpoints.....secondly, i found this book absolutely tortuous to read, and gave up after about 70 pages of it, for some reason I just could not go on with it anymore....Judy's ideas on how to solve what ails our society are insightful, and worth taking note of. However, the book is so poorly written, i couldn't continue to finish it. maybe its just the way it was put togther, but this was not at all what i was hoping it would be.



3. I got this book at the libary and I was so disapointed. From the title I thought it was a book of funny cases. Its not.Its a book on how she became a Judge. there may have been cases ,but I don't remember any.



4. All I know is that watching her shows and reading bits of this book it is clear why she is no longer a sitting judge. She would not be allowed in court anymore. Her attitude and behavior are totally unprofessional.



5. This is a very insightful book about her life experiences as a family court judge in the New York City Area. She has stories from her life, which she ties into some social changes she thinks would make the US a better place to live. It was a very interesting book and I would recommend it.

5 comments about Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

1. This book was originally published by Barbara Olson in 1999 prior to her tragic death in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the pentagon. The timing is unfortunate in that if this book was just hitting the bookstores now (April 2008) I think it would prove to be Hillary's undoing, much as the Swift Boater's undid John Kerry with "Unfit for Command".
   
   This book is a real eye opener, following Hillary from her high school years through the Clinton White House to her election as a senator from New York. I think Ms. Olson might even have one up on Dick Morris in her documentation of Hillary's past. If even half of what Ms. Olson relates is true this woman should be sitting in a federal penitentiary somewhere, not running for President of the United States, a job she is about as qualified to perform as I am to perform open heart surgery. The book makes it clear that had she not been the First Lady of the United States she probably would have done some time in the slammer. From her shady an often illegal business deals and investments, to her blatant violation of the law by holding Hillarycare meetings in secrete, to funneling money to the PLO and Communist party, to lies, bribes, threats, insults, firings, perjury, blocking investigations, obstructing justice, hiring staff for the White House who couldn't get security clearances or required random drug testing, and altering public documents. Not to mention the fact that people who get too close to the Clintons have a bad habit of turning up dead. Ms Olson depicts Hillary is a one-woman crime wave.
   
   Shortly the American public will be asked to choose between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama as the Democrat Party's nominee to run for the Presidency of the United States. Anybody who is even entertaining the though of voting for Mrs. Clinton needs to buy this book and read it! And quickly! It sure changed my mind.



2. In an effort to objectively write a key chapter in my book, America, You Will Be Destroyed !: Thus Saith The Lord - and Other Amazing Prophecies I read Ms. Olson's book as a part of my research. While many other Hillary books focused on her and husband Bill's scandals, Olson's book tried to capture the psyche and inner workings of the former First Lady.
   
   I felt that the little, seemingly insignificant or trivial details of her life and childhood helped me to paint a better mental picure of the driving forces in Hillary's life. As a former national and state licensed therapist, the little details helped me to create a case study snapshot. The influences of the feminist movement, her continued pursuit and espousal of radicalism and socialism, her upbringing under a driven father, the upheaval of the 60's, the me-generation of the 70's, the self-consciousness towards her own body (specifically her legs), the disdain and reproachful way Bill treated her... Whew, her issues of being driven, loathing of men in general, thirst for power/dominance and control, all make sense. as another reviewer said, "When peeling back the layers, we need to know this stuff to get at what makes Hillary tick."
   
   Looking at all the background and biographical details makes me realize (and hopefully others) that in her machinations we see clearly that she has not become more conservative or even centrist. She is a radical socialist to the core, and the most frightening thng in this revelation is that she seems to truly believe that she alone is right, that she alone is the people's champion and this sense of righteous indignation fuels her passionately to apire to the pinnacle of power at all costs.
   
   Like a true socialist, Hillary will do anything and everything to obtain power. She will reinvent herself over and over to do so. This book shows clearly that pragmatism is all a pose to make her attractive to the broad electorate. For her, the end (her obtaining power) will justify any means.
   
   By examing the actions/reactions of Hillary during key events such as Whitewater, the Travel agency firings, etc. The reader has an opportunity to see the venal, petty, cruel, vindictive, vulgar and violent side of a woman that is in a position of power and who is wanting yet more. Though all writer's have some non-altruistic motivation(s) for putting pen to paper, the work of digging out new details and reframing existing ones is crucial in the discovery phase of the case against HillaryThe Case Against Hillary Clinton (another work by a different author). There will be "Hell to Pay" if Hillary is elected.



3. One of the best reviews I have read on this personality, and I have read seven books. Underlines the development of her radicalization in politics and how her dysfunctional family of orgin undergirds her indefensible justification of her husband's sex addiction and thereby blaming Christians for his deeds.



4. Since Hillary's own "Living History" was such a sterile and lifeless academic exercise - at least compared to Obama's "Dreams of My Father," or even to Bill's "My Life" -- and thus did powerful little to reveal the real person behind the "political persona," one is forced to stoop (almost embarrassingly so) to "anti-Hillary tracts" (such as I thought this one would be), to peel back the veneer covering the "Hillary Rodham" mystique.
   
   Whether intentional or not, much to my surprise, this book is NOT an altogether uncomplimentary analysis of Mrs. Clinton's life. With many rich details that highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly -- along the often bumpy road her life has taken -- this volume, quite adequately "fills in the blanks" about who the real Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton is.
   
   Even though one can clearly see from the title that it was intended to appeal to the "I Hate Hillary Club," it turns out to be amazingly straightforward and free of the usual slander, political vitriol, and below the belt personal jabs that one normally associates with, and expects of books with titles of this sort. Nothing could have been more satisfying than to realize that I had misjudged this book based solely on its cover. I had indeed discounted its value, expecting it to be little more than a carefully disguised "attack ad." And even though much of the juicier aspects of its content seem to have been "culled" from other more respectable sources, it is still much more than just an "attack ad in disguise." It is meaty, coherent, and sticks tenaciously to the main task of trying to unravel, who the person behind the Hillary political persona really is. In short, those looking for an "attack ad" disguised as a book: Well, I am here to tell you, this ain't it. This is not the "National Enquirer's" version of the ex-First Lady's life. Ms. Olson can think and write, and has very high standards for her craft and exercises them all quite well here.
   
   The high points of the book lie in the careful way the author uses the details of her subject's life to outline, against the backdrop of the many layers of American society, the essential elements of Hillary's character and the motivation for her often difficult life choices. The ex-First Lady evolves from a "Goldwater Girl," to a "wide-eyed 1960s Leftist Radical," to Bill's "Hippy gal-pal," to a university Law professor, to a partner in a major law firm, to the ambitious "power grabbing money hungry" political predator that she is now thought by many to be. In the best of the American tradition, she "clawed her way to the top of the food chain."
   
   The public portrait of her is as a person seemingly willing to cut whatever moral corners are needed to advance herself; to protect her Golden Goose (Bill); to grab the brass ring for herself (the U.S. Presidency), and in the end" to find financial security for herself and her family. However, the author is careful to note that she is much more complex than just this demeaning portrait. Hillary does a great deal of good along this very treacherous and tortuous path, especially in improving education in Arkansas, with the Children's Defense Fund, steering Bill's campaigns and comebacks to victory, showing uncommon strength in "facing down" one scandal after another, and in raising consciousness about women issues.
   
   The low point of the book is watching the author get stuck chasing her own tail: Trying to graft her own self-created "Leftist Radical" image onto Hillary. No matter how many Saul Alinsky epigrams she uses, the graft simply does not "take." And the reason is because of the much larger, much deeper picture that the author's own analysis shows the ex-First Lady to be: Hillary, more than anything else, is an evolving political animal that is no longer easy to pigeonhole politically, morally or ethically.
   
   Yet, rather sadly, she misses her own most important lesson and contribution by failing to understand that the corruption of Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, when seen in relief, is little more than a general critique of the American political way of life. For as she so aptly demonstrates, there is nothing unique about Hillary, her personality, her life choices, or her life journey that would make her stand out from the rest of us as predisposed towards political corruption, or towards becoming a "moral retrograde." Yet, as has been the case with so many others of American politicians, she lurched from "Right wing" idealist, to "Left wing" idealist, to a "co-opted and corrupt centrist," to a "bought-and-paid-for" pseudo-liberal democrat, and back into the closet again as a "Right wing Republican in "Democratic clothing."
   
   As a template of how to go from political naiveté to political maturity, Hillary's journey from idealist to corrupt political opportunist, could serve as THE model for anyone who gets caught up in the sausage grinding machinery of American government and politics. The sad fact is that the most likely, and the most probable outcome for any of us, is that we will be consumed by it, and will come out on the other side, grinded into unrecognizable moral mince meat -- a corrupt shell of our previous moral selves. Quite simply, we have a political system that eats and digests its young and spits them out as fertilizer for the next generation.
   
   What was most sobering about the book is that Hillary is the classic case in point. Her life's journey is an object lesson in what not to do. Through her, we can see how truly scary it is that for all but a handful of us, dealt the same hand in life as she, but for the grace of God, we too undoubtedly would have ended up in the same morally corrupt and bankrupt cul de sac that the ex-First Lady now finds herself in: with "unearned riches," dubious but exaggerated accomplishments, hanging on to a failed marriage, and still grasping for a meaningless brass ring, called the U.S. Presidency.
   
   While this is far from a balanced treatment, Hilary's own glossed-over treatment left the door wide-open for a hardnosed assessment, and this is it. Five stars



5. I have never been an admirer of Hillary Clinton. It seemed to me that her "standing by her man" during the Monica Lewinsky scandal was nothing more than a power play. After all, given her pedigree (Wellesley, Yale Law School, her resume and her connections,) it seemed to me that she would not suffer economically if she left Bill Clinton. My instincts told me that there was much more to this than met the eye. In my mind, Hillary Clinton's moving to New York and running for the senate was nothing more than getting her foot in the door to run for President. I had the strong inclination to believe that she had no interest in serving the people of New York. After reading Barbara Olson's book, there is not one shred of doubt in my mind that my instincts about Hillary Clinton were on the money.
   
   Barbara Olson details situation after situation of Hillary's running of the governor's mansion in Arkansas and her stint as co-President in a manner that leaves the reader with not one question that the Clintons are amoral. They are all about power and will stop at nothing to ensure that theirs is kept intact. The blantant illegalities, Bill's womanizing, harassing enemies and their shabby treatment of those who were there to serve them paint a portrait of a couple whose focus in pursuing public office isn't about public service, it's about power acqusition. The thoroughness of the corruption of Hillary and Bill Clinton is absolute and documented in painstaking, thorough detail. The prospect of Hillary Clinton's being in the White House and able to take full advantage of the provisions of the Patriot Act is a terrifying prospect given her amorality. She won't use it to promote national security, she will use it to spy on her enemies. As Barbara Olson shows us so clearly in this book, Hillary Clinton's paranoia knows no bounds.
   
   As frightening as Hillary Clinton's amorality is, her politics are even more frightening. Barbara Olson carefully documented Hillary Clinton's radicalism and her work on children's rights. Wanting to help children is a noble cause in anyone's book, but the reality is that Hillary Clinton's intentions are completely different. As is carefully documented by Barbara Olson, if elected President, Hillary Clinton will bring in her "experts," subjugate parental authority and children will become political entities. More to the point, they will be Hillary Clinton's political entities. It is her plan to wield more power through the well-disguised veil of advocating for children. Her ultimate plan, however, is to create a utopian society that is socialist in philosophy and dependent upon the government for survival-- a society dependent upon Hillary Clinton.
   
   Barbara Olson gave solid proof to my instinct that the election of Hillary Clinton as President of the United States will be an unmitigated disaster for the people of the United States who treasure freedom and security. Barbara Olson is no longer with us because she was one of the victims of the September 11 disaster. Ironically, Bill Clinton chose to let Bin Laden slip away in 1996, and his "dumbing down" of the military gave gave Bin Laden and a host of terrorists a wide-open playing field. September 11 was an accident waiting to happen, much of which can be directly attributed to decisions made and policies put in place during the Bill and Hillary Clinton co-Presidency.
   
   There are those who say that books such as Barbara Olson's are dredging up ancient history and that we need to move on. This country endured one of the most corrupt administrations in our history in the years of Bill and Hillary Clinton as co-Presidents. To those who think this is trivial or a re-hashing of old scandals, I offer only one thing to consider: Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

3 comments about Counselor CD: A Life at the Edge of History.

1. The well-written memoirs of a man forever to be identified with John F. Kennedy's political career, especially the White House days. While not telling all, this book is the candid product of a bright, honest, but still politically driven man, a 1960s liberal, who writes in the twilight of his life.
   
   Mr. Sorensen is one of the last living central participants of JFK's Administration and his story would have value for this fact alone. Readers wishing to learn about presidential political campaigning, the art of speech writing, and more on such important historical events as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the presidential transition from JFK to LBJ will profit from reading this book.
   
   While material on his later private law practice is not as interesting as the rest of the text, this is only to be expected. In terms of his post White House career, I did find of value his description of his ill-fated nomination by President Carter as DCI and noted the fact there is little mention of President Clinton's years. (A prominent picture of Senator Obama and Ted Sorensen is in this book. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that the author sees the current junior senator from Illinois as his pick for this year's Democratic Party nominee for president--and the direct and true successor to JFK's legacy.)



2. I know Ted Sorensen through our common support of Barack Obama and was eager to read this magnificent biography. I bought it on Tuesday, May 6 the first day it was published and I didn't put it down ( with the exception of eating, showering and sleeping about four hours each of the last two nights) until a few hours ago when I finished reading it.
   
   It is a magnificent opus. The writing is superb. Rarely do the heart and head come together so well without sacrificing or compromising either.
   
   Modest without being falsely self effacing, this truly is an indispensable book for any American citizen or world citizen. And its an absolute must for any political junkie from Al Franken to Ann Coulter.
   
   Stop what you're doing. Run out and get it. Its a great gift for anyone's birthday in May (June is too late -- its that good).
   
   Ted Sorensen is a historical figure in his own right. He was indispensable to Kennedy and now to Obama.
   
   There are many reasons to read this book. Not just for its great insights with an unobscured and unobstructed perspective, but because of new information into the life of JFK whose reputation will be enhanced by this near reverential but still candid volume.
   
   A mutual friend of Ted Sorensen's just forwarded me the first reviews including the Wall Street Journal. To say they were raves is to understate them.



3. I know Ted Sorensen well, so what I have to say about his extraordinary personal history is obviously being written as a friend and admirer. As a friend, I can say that Ted speaks truth to power; as an admirer, I can say that he speaks truth forcefully and candidly. He was arguably John Kennedy's alter ego. At the very least, Ted was the man who shaped JFK's lyrical, intellectually vigorous speeches. But Ted was also a canny adviser, the lawyer who marshaled his facts well, made the connections between random thoughts and workable ideas, and produced a consistent body of work for the president he loved and trusted. Ted once told me that not a day goes by without him thinking of JFK -- of the man JFK was, and about what might have been. Like his late friend Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Ted occupied an honored place at the table in Camelot. What his memoir makes plain -- in his own special, witty way -- is how much Ted shaped JFK's Camelot itself.

5 comments about In the Ring: The Trials of a Washington Lawyer.

1. This is one of those books I read hating myself every minute for wasting my time. My recurring thought was that Bennett promised everyone who ever did him a favor that they'd be mentioned in his memoir. Bennett never lost a case even when he didn't win, and teaches young lawyers the value of honesty, preparation, early connections with powerful people, and most importantly the value of having big bucks and political clout behind you. Everyone is "wonderful" save those who disagreed with him. There are no insights which cannot be gained through far less narcissistic and biased sources. What the book in lacked substance, it did not compensate in the writing.



2. This is a fantastic "inside look" of Bob Bennett. He is very detailed in his descriptions of happenings in his life, both as a youngster in Brooklyn, NY and later as a professional in Washington, D. C. My husband and I were glued to the pages, not wanting to put down the book, at least not until we completed the chapter we were reading. In the center of the book are various family photographs, making the text even more enjoyable. It's a great read.



3. A disjointed and uneven presentation of the highlights of the career of a high-profile Washington, D.C. litigator. It is written in the style of that town, with many words devoted (in a modest way, of course) to what a grand job the author did in representing some totally innocent and famous client. Praise is lavished on most public figures, with scores settled on a few notable back hats; here, e.g., Judge Walsh, Senator DeConcini, and NY Times publisher Sulzberger.
   
   Of course a child of the author goes to Sidwell Friends and the manager of The Palm is mentioned. And, growing up in Brooklyn he loved the Dodgers.
   
   Mr. Bennett's advice to young lawyers boils down to be honest and have balance in your lives. Which is good advice, but you probably do not need to buy this book to obtain it.
   
   Mr. Bennett has been a central figure in a number of the most important legal situations of the past few decades. Unfortunately, in this book, he writes in a style that indicates to me that this book was a toss off effort, done while he was still active and distracted in his day job. Rare are the hard, keen and full descriptions of any of the interesting public figures with whom he came into contact. Mr. Bennett, the one-time amateur boxer, pulls his punches.



4. This book provides insight into the real workings of Washington and into the complexities of operating within the rule of law. Bob Bennett is the measure of doing the right thing. His story is pointed and full of insight for the young and old lawyer. He demonstrates that preparation is the key to success. He willingly praises those with whom he works. We would all benefit if there were more lawyers like Bob Bennett. Integrity personified. The book is well worth the read and anyone affiliated with the law or pollitics should read it.



5. If you want to know how Washington works and does not work then this is the book. My only regret is that the author did not keep the original title and moved to the editor's choice. The original title was Mean Town. It is nice to see the town through the eyes of someone who after all these years is still an idealist. In D.C. you can actually find more Kangaroos than genuine idealists.