The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court by Bob Woodward, Scott Armstrong
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Book Reviews of The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court
Book Review: Great research, good effort, reads like the Washington Post
Summary: 2 Stars
Depth: B
Style: C
Content: B
Research: A
Historical Impact: D
Woodward and Armstrong write a tale of 7 years and 14 Supreme Court judges. To actually write the book, and to access dozens of law clerks and judges, and to amass huge documentation is in itself the feat of the book. The Supreme Court has been the most sheltered of all public institutions with only trifles of coverage before. The book does portray the quirks of the judges, the key decisions of each year, the infighting and the peculiarities of an institution founded on politics yet delivering fundamental cultural dictates.
W and A fall down on two points - first, this is not a history book, but a retro-newspaper account. The two can't help but fall into the mode of journalists (which they tacitly state in the intro). This is not a book by Foote, Sandburg, Tuchman, or any other great historian.
Secondly, in style they go year by year, day by day practically, without developing any great over-arching themes, lessons, keys, or even predictions.
Toobin's recent book "The Nine" is actually sounder and more stylistic due to Toobin's political analysis and book writer's flair.
It is clear that the authors despise Warren Burger, and their portrayal of him is of a petty, manipulative man with little integrity. Other accounts will have to be checked to see if the man is actually so unredeemed.
all rights reserved - Scott Jones