Oliver Wendell Holmes

A Life in War, Law, and Ideas

By: Stephen Budiansky

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Oliver Wendell Holmes twice escaped death as a young Union officer in the Civil War when musket balls missed his heart and spinal cord by a fraction of an inch. He lived ever after with unwavering moral courage, unremitting scorn for dogma, and an insatiable intellectual curiosity.

Named to the Supreme Court by Theodore Roosevelt at age 61, he served for nearly three decades, writing a series of famous, eloquent, and often dissenting opinions that would prove prophetic in securing freedom of speech, protecting the rights of criminal defendants, and ending the Court's reactionary resistance to social and economic reforms. As a pioneering legal scholar, Holmes revolutionized the understanding of common law by showing how the law always evolved to meet the changing needs of society.

Drawing on many previously unpublished letters and records, Stephen Budiansky's definitive biography offers the fullest portrait yet of this pivotal American figure, whose zest for life, wit, and intellect left a profound legacy in law and Constitutional rights, and who was an inspiring example of how to lead a meaningful life in a world of uncertainty and upheaval.

©2019 Stephen Budiansky (P)2019 Tantor

Best biography of one of the most original thinker

of American jurisprudence. The Holmes model should serve as a model for all of our current supreme Court justices!!

A life well lived

I highly recommend this book to anyone, at any stage of life, because besides being very interesting it is full of many nuggets of wisdom which put life into perspective

Absolutely Fantastic!

A recommended read for anyone interested in US legal history and SCOTUS decisions which continue to influence our lives.

Enlightening history. Well done.

It’s the law so it’s dry sometimes. Belabored a few points. Excellent book in my opinion.

very enjoyable

This is a very good biography of Holmes, captures his life and influence well and moves along quickly. Dean is a terrific narrator, as usual.

Always something to learn

Of course I had heard of Oliver Wendell Holmes, but I knew nothing about him. This book is well told, informative and certainly a great introduction to such an influential man.

Awesome all around

This was an awesome audiobook. The contact was amazing, the narrator was clear and concise and easy to listen to in the book was a perfect length. I was interested the whole time coming from a legal background.

Immeasurably gratifying

Stephen Budiansky has written a singularly intellectually satisfying biographies, really any book I have read recently. The book offered everything I hope when I sit down to read. It has had an immense impact on my philosophical outlook. It was exciting and illuminating as a lawyer to read about Holmes cases. He was a man of wide interest and accomplishments, and also a man who lived a long life in action impacting the lives of scores of people. He continues to inspire in this fine biography. Additionally Robertson Dean gives a well modulated performance. Pleasant, very well performed, with a good ear, and smooth baritone voice.

Excellent biography

Great book. It takes an unjaundiced look at a towering figure, warts and all

Great story

the complete biography of Oliver wendal Holmes. he is a very interesting g character who was not afraid to express his own opinion. he had a great legal ming and wrote great opinions.