For the general reader looking to learn about Ginsburg's life and work, I suggest buying De Hart's biography.
The book authored by Ginsburg is largely made up of excerpts from her writings - interesting but denser. The De Hart book provides much valuable context about her life, the evolution of her employment, and the associated evolution of her legal and judicial decisions. This context makes it easier to understand how and why she has been so important to American law.
My Own Words Paperback – 7 August 2018
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Product details
- Language : English
- Paperback : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1501145258
- ISBN-13 : 978-1501145254
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Best Sellers Rank:
3,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 15 in Specific Group Biographies
- 87 in Government & Politics
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Product description
About the Author
Born in 1933, Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended the Harvard and Columbia University Law Schools, and taught law at Rutgers and Columbia. During the 1970s, while teaching at Columbia, she was instrumental in launching the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, and became the leading advocate in the Supreme Court for gender equality. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in 1980 and to the US Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993. In 2009, Forbes named Ginsburg among the 100 Most Powerful Women. Glamour named her one of their 1993 Women of the Year and in 2012 presented her with their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015,Time listed her as an Icon in the Time 100, and in 2016 Fortune named her one of the World’s Greatest Leaders.
Mary Hartnett is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law, focusing on international women’s human rights.
Wendy W. Williams is Professor Emerita at Georgetown Law, best known for her work in the area of gender and law, especially concerning issues of work and family.
Mary Hartnett is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law, focusing on international women’s human rights.
Wendy W. Williams is Professor Emerita at Georgetown Law, best known for her work in the area of gender and law, especially concerning issues of work and family.
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Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon.com
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
419 reviews

David D
3.0 out of 5 stars
Which book - Ginsburg's own or the biography by De Hart
22 March 2019 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
192 people found this helpful

Ronald H. Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Speaks for Herself
16 October 2016 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
We have recently been treated to a host of books and articles on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Forthcoming is an authorized biography by the two Georgetown Law professor editors of this collection of Ginsburg writing, as well as one by Teri Kanefield. In my opinion, no matter how many bios and articles you read about the Justice, your understanding of this remarkable lawyer and judge will be incomplete if you don't also review this collection of material authored by the Justice, spanning her life since the eighth grade. I really felt I came closest to understanding both the professional and personal Ginsburg from this book.
The book has many merits. It affords an insight into how the Supreme Court operates and decides cases; provides us with highly personal and quite moving profiles of Chief Justice Rehnquist and her great friend--and adversary--Justice Scalia; reminds us of her pioneering role as the champion of women's rights as author, professor, and deadly litigator; and not least, helps us understand the private Ginsburg through several appearances by her late husband, tax lawyer Marty Ginsburg. Ginsburg speaks for herself in 36 or so pieces, skillfully tied together and placed in context by the two editors.
The book is divided into five sections. For example, "Early Years" surprised me with a Ginsburg essay written while an undergrad at Cornell on the evils of wiretapping, reflecting the influence of her mentor, the constitutional scholar Robert E. Cushman. In Part Two, "Tributes to Waypavers and Pathmarkers," Ginsburg reveals a remarkable talent for writing short profiles of prominent legal and judicial figures, including Belva Lockwood, Louis Brandeis, Judah P. Benjamin (a fascinating figure; look him up), Breyer, Cardozo, and especially Sandra Day O'Connor. Nobody can pack more info into a short piece than Ginsburg.
The central focus of her professional career as advocate and judge, gender equality, is the focus of Part Three. Symposium introductions; defense of the ERA; her bench announcement in the VMI case; and several summer presentations to summer law students abroad make up this section. One should never forget the impact her unceasing determination had in moving the whole idea of gender equality into the spotlight. Ironically, as is well known, she remains unhappy with the Roe opinion, preferring not to rest it upon privacy but upon straight equality grounds. Part IV has some interesting material on her role as a judge and appointment to the Court.
The final section provides an insight into her views of judging and justice. She explains the Court's workways and why she is so dedicated to judicial independence. She defends effectively the role foreign legal concepts can play for the Justices--a hot item with Scalia, while being promoted by Breyer. She articulates the idea of "measured motions," which basically means don't go too far in an opinion in pushing a point. Most interesting, she explains her view of dissents and dissent announcements, an unusual practice in which she has recently engaged. Finally, she shares her most recent second circuit report on Supreme Court highlights for the 2015-16 term; she gives such reports each year and it is quite interesting to read her candid comments.
One of the major reactions I came away with is how well she can write in no matter what format--a point quite obvious from her incisive opinions. The book runs some 370 pages, including chronology, helpful photos, notes and index. My only problem with the book is that the editors have chosen to relegate most notes (which I read religiously) to a webpage (see "A Note on Sources"). No matter how hard I tried, i could not locate these notes, and I am inclined to think such a separation of notes from text is not a good idea for it diminishes the ability to ingest the notes as you read. But the book itself is magnificent, whether you are a Ginsburg fan or not. At 83, this veteran of cancer flirtations, wars with Scalia, and many hard battles, has said she will remain on the Court as long as she meets her own stringent standards. For that, we can all be thankful.
The book has many merits. It affords an insight into how the Supreme Court operates and decides cases; provides us with highly personal and quite moving profiles of Chief Justice Rehnquist and her great friend--and adversary--Justice Scalia; reminds us of her pioneering role as the champion of women's rights as author, professor, and deadly litigator; and not least, helps us understand the private Ginsburg through several appearances by her late husband, tax lawyer Marty Ginsburg. Ginsburg speaks for herself in 36 or so pieces, skillfully tied together and placed in context by the two editors.
The book is divided into five sections. For example, "Early Years" surprised me with a Ginsburg essay written while an undergrad at Cornell on the evils of wiretapping, reflecting the influence of her mentor, the constitutional scholar Robert E. Cushman. In Part Two, "Tributes to Waypavers and Pathmarkers," Ginsburg reveals a remarkable talent for writing short profiles of prominent legal and judicial figures, including Belva Lockwood, Louis Brandeis, Judah P. Benjamin (a fascinating figure; look him up), Breyer, Cardozo, and especially Sandra Day O'Connor. Nobody can pack more info into a short piece than Ginsburg.
The central focus of her professional career as advocate and judge, gender equality, is the focus of Part Three. Symposium introductions; defense of the ERA; her bench announcement in the VMI case; and several summer presentations to summer law students abroad make up this section. One should never forget the impact her unceasing determination had in moving the whole idea of gender equality into the spotlight. Ironically, as is well known, she remains unhappy with the Roe opinion, preferring not to rest it upon privacy but upon straight equality grounds. Part IV has some interesting material on her role as a judge and appointment to the Court.
The final section provides an insight into her views of judging and justice. She explains the Court's workways and why she is so dedicated to judicial independence. She defends effectively the role foreign legal concepts can play for the Justices--a hot item with Scalia, while being promoted by Breyer. She articulates the idea of "measured motions," which basically means don't go too far in an opinion in pushing a point. Most interesting, she explains her view of dissents and dissent announcements, an unusual practice in which she has recently engaged. Finally, she shares her most recent second circuit report on Supreme Court highlights for the 2015-16 term; she gives such reports each year and it is quite interesting to read her candid comments.
One of the major reactions I came away with is how well she can write in no matter what format--a point quite obvious from her incisive opinions. The book runs some 370 pages, including chronology, helpful photos, notes and index. My only problem with the book is that the editors have chosen to relegate most notes (which I read religiously) to a webpage (see "A Note on Sources"). No matter how hard I tried, i could not locate these notes, and I am inclined to think such a separation of notes from text is not a good idea for it diminishes the ability to ingest the notes as you read. But the book itself is magnificent, whether you are a Ginsburg fan or not. At 83, this veteran of cancer flirtations, wars with Scalia, and many hard battles, has said she will remain on the Court as long as she meets her own stringent standards. For that, we can all be thankful.
329 people found this helpful

David Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars
RBGs first book as a judge on the Supreme Court - interesting read!
13 October 2016 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
First I'd say that I'm a moderate in my political views and with this book you do not need to be a liberal to enjoy it. I've been a fan of Ruth Ginsburg since her appointment in the 90s. Her tell of being the 2nd woman appointed and her relationship with Justice O'Connor and the friendship with the late Justice Anthony Scalia. There are funny parts to the book detailing her wit and charm. It was amazing to find out that she sleeps very little when in court is in session and that she doesn't cook (her family prepares homemade frozen entrees for her). The book is 400 pages long but well laid out and allows the reader to skip around and read at your leisure. There are a few black and white pictures and pictures on notes she wrote. I usually only read digital books these days but this is a nice book to own and keep in your library. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

5.0 out of 5 stars
RBGs first book as a judge on the Supreme Court - interesting read!
Reviewed in the United States on 13 October 2016
First I'd say that I'm a moderate in my political views and with this book you do not need to be a liberal to enjoy it. I've been a fan of Ruth Ginsburg since her appointment in the 90s. Her tell of being the 2nd woman appointed and her relationship with Justice O'Connor and the friendship with the late Justice Anthony Scalia. There are funny parts to the book detailing her wit and charm. It was amazing to find out that she sleeps very little when in court is in session and that she doesn't cook (her family prepares homemade frozen entrees for her). The book is 400 pages long but well laid out and allows the reader to skip around and read at your leisure. There are a few black and white pictures and pictures on notes she wrote. I usually only read digital books these days but this is a nice book to own and keep in your library. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Reviewed in the United States on 13 October 2016
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205 people found this helpful

betty whiton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
5 July 2018 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
GREAT book, documenting speeches, writings, and accomplishments. If you are interested in a biography, this book is not for you. If you want a solid understanding of RBG's work, this is the perfect choice!
85 people found this helpful

M Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring, touching, a glimpse into an amazing life of public service.
7 June 2018 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Inspirational. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a force of nature -- and all Americans owe her a big debt of gratitude for what she has done to uphold democratic principles. She is absolutely tireless, exists on very little sleep, survived 2 different types of cancer, and works out with a trainer to keep fit at age 84 and counting.
55 people found this helpful
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