A cogent argument against the death penalty and an inspiring account of a meaningful career, I was genuinely moved by the empathy in this book and I am still marvelling at how one could engage as a civil rights attorney and not become a furious, embittered, cynical mess.
Despite the cruelty inflicted on the children and minorities held in prison by specious reasoning or vindictive revenge, despite the obstinate and flawed system that they fight against, despite the incredulity one cannot help but feel for those who are executed and innocent, I felt my outrage at the injustice counterbalanced by the kindness of the author. I was left with a surprisingly hopeful aftertaste.
Much of the information was not new to me, or to anyone interested in juvenile justice or popular false-accusation cases. I would recommend this book as a good introduction to criminal injustice issues, as it is clear, level-headed and easy to read. There is a nice mix of anecdote and fact, personal and objective.
He discusses mostly cases where the victims were innocent of either intention or the actual deed, which makes it palatable for those moral outrage types. However, the beautiful title and underlying context allows for broader forgiveness.
Occasionally, it gets a little too emotional and saccharine for my taste, such as the poor old lady who is afraid of dogs but insists on attending William's trial. Vivid, but I prefer more matter-of-fact writing. How he can expend so much kindness and not have some rage is also beyond me. He is a new Thurgood Marshall