Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law Kindle Edition by Alan Dershowitz (Broadway Books)

The list of legal issues and controversies that bear Dershowitz’s thumbprints is breathtaking. That one man involved himself in the Pentagon Papers case, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick investigation, Sharansky’s release from a Soviet prison, the O.J. trial, Bush v. Gore, the Mike Tyson rape case, the Woody Allen-Mia Farrow custody dispute, the Julian Assange WikiLeaks investigation and the public debate over Trayvon Martin, reflects not just the breadth of Dershowitz’s experience but also its depth and duration. Love him or hate him, Dershowitz has lived a life that matters, hugely and enduringly. He is a man in full at a time when most of us aspire to be little more than a presence on Twitter." -

My political philosophy and that of Professor Dershowitz could not be farther apart, but I admire him for the many good things he has done throughout his legal career. This book was an eye opener for me, as I was really not well versed in his many and varied cases, other than the ones that made national news. He has taken many principled stands in his life, and is not willing to back down from what he believes. Not a lot of lawyers, these days, can say that.One of the most distinguished lawyers of his generation reflects on his life and extraordinary career...The youngest full professor ever at Harvard Law School...more than four decades, he has used this perch to teach, write and speak about the law’s intersections with science and psychiatry and especially about matters pertaining to constitutional and criminal law. Most unusually for a law professor, Dershowitz has maintained a highly active appellate practice, and he narrates...his life in the law through the many cases he’s handled. Many of these unfailingly interesting tales feature high-profile clients like Leona Helmsley, O.J. Simpson, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton...Dershowitz has become an important voice with an active role in the evolution of American law, touching on an astonishing breadth of issues, including capital punishment, affirmative action, pornography, national security, academic freedom and human rights. An engaging recounting of a life of serious purpose and splendid flair.

My only disagreement with him is in his characterization of the case of Bush v. Gore. He opines that the majority in that matter voted to support the way they voted in the ballot box. There's really no way of knowing that, however. While he castigates the majority's political stance, he neglects to assume also that the minority may have voted to support the way they voted at the ballot box. Decisions termed "political" cut both ways, you know. That disagreement with his remarks did not change my wholehearted admiration for him, and particularly his avid support for Israel. As a Catholic attorney who has had two Jewish partners, I can understand the Professor's position. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, and must contend not only with its neighbors, but also with the anti-Israel faction in the United nations. Dershowitz supports Israel, and so do I.