Fundamental Cases

The Twentieth-Century Courtroom Battles That Changed Our Nation - The Modern Scholar

By: Alan M. Dershowitz

Narrated by: Alan M. Dershowitz

The courtroom trial has fascinated human beings from the beginning of recorded history. Trials are theater, trials are history, and the great trials of the 20th century and beyond provide a unique window into American history and the sense of America's enduring commitment to law.

It was Alexis de Tocqueville who, when he visited the new republic for the first time, said that America was a unique country when it comes to law. Every great issue eventually comes before the courts.

With this in mind, esteemed professor and civil liberties lawyer Alan Dershowitz looks at history through the prism of the trial, because a trial presents a snapshot of what's going on in a particular point in time of the nation's history.

What's a great trial? People will often say the trial of the moment. But those trials are often not enduring. The focus of this course is on landmark trials and the important, dramatic aspects of the history of the time in which they occurred.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2006 Alan M. Dershowitz (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

loved it.

timeless. I learned a lot and saw things from a new perspective. entertaining and great narrator.

Fascinating and engaging

Had low expectations going into this but found myself addicted quickly to the story telling and commentaries of Alan Dershowitz. He shows how court cases are a window into the soul of American history and culture. There are also a few practical lessons here on lawyering.

Fascinating learning

I'm really enjoying this book. I'm about 90% finished but the book is so enjoyable, I am not worried about my review changing.

Dershowitz discusses the cases that have influenced our law and politics. This book is especially interesting in light of the recent Supreme Court hearings on DOMA and same sex marriage. You don't have to be a lawyer to appreciate this book, but it does make it easier.

Dershowitz discusses cases including OJ, Mike Tyson, Klaus von Bulow, and Bush v. Gore. Keep in mind that he was personally involved in some of the cases so his opinions are different than the average person. I definitely got the feeling that he thinks OJ did it - big shocker, I know.

Keep in mind that he is very left wing so take his opinions with a grain of salt if you are not.

This is like listening to a fascinating law school lecture - and that's a good thing.

A mixed bag

Parts of this book are thought provoking and interesting. Other parts left me wondering why they were included. I felt like the instructor was singing his own praises a bit. Still, my understanding of how courts cases proceed has been enhanced.

I'm a bit disappointed, I guess

The book was interesting enough in particulars, but I guess I wasn't expecting so many of the cases to be ones with which we're all fairly familiar. It was interesting to hear some of the stuff that went on behind the scenes or after the verdict, and I suppose this information flushes out our understanding of Roe V Wade, The Scopes Monkey Trial and the Mike Tyson trial, but I didn't find the impact of most of the cases mentioned to be particularly compelling. As for the interesting cases (Roe v Wade and Scopes), the author didn't reveal much I couldn't have guessed about the impact or repercussions of these cases.
Maybe I was expecting more of a history of the supreme court or then evolution of jurisprudence in the US.