My Own Words (original: 2016; edição: 2018)

The more I learn about RBG, the more I love her. I adore the way that she is able to give credit to people who do go things even though they have different opinions politically. She talks about her friendships with them even. I aspire to be so evolved. I love how she's still fighting for what she believes is right. This book is a mix of her background and personal life, speeches she's given and some of her thoughts about laws. She's an inspiration for sure. ( )

My Own Words is a collection of essays, speeches and bench statements from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Though not a biography, the book does give you a strong sense of who Justice Ginsburg was, and what she stood for.

The book is divided into five parts, moving from her early years, to tributes she wrote to others, her commitment to gender equality, her nomination to the US Supreme Court, and some speeches and opinions from her time on the Court.

I listened to the audiobook on this one, and if you can get a hold of the audiobook I really recommend it. It's unique in that many of the speeches or statements where recorded, and it's those recordings of RBG that you hear in the audiobook, along with brief introductions by her co-authors Mary Hartnett and Wendy Williams (and read by Linda Lavin). It's an effective way to present the material.

One of my favorites is not a speech by the Justice, but by her husband Martin Ginsburg - it's hilarious. Who knew a tax attorney could have such a good sense of humor? ( )

A vast and complete collection of speeches, writings and bench announcements dating back to the 8th grade. In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was the second women ever appointed to the Supreme Court. Her remarkable character and humanity surface in these writings and excerpts. Ginsburg's legacy will always be as a humanitarian, who has done so much work towards gender equality and woman's rights, inspiring many along the way.
This is not a memoir, but it does share her insight into her education, and how her upbringing has been so important to her philosophical outlook, in life. A great edition to any book collection. ( )

Excerpts of her writing and speeches with context. Best for RBG newbies. ( )

Here's the thing about RBG: she's got such a sharp intellect, you're likely to cut yourself on it if you're not careful.

The first time RBG was part of the team that sued for sex discrimination (or maybe it was the second) someone gave the Courts a very long list of laws that were written to include specific gender descrimination language.

RBG turned that list into a hit-list: laws that she wanted changed.

She went on to change them.

Here's the other thing: she doesn't dissent unless the dissent holds water, is worthwhile, and is necessary to clarify what the dissent is about. Her most famous dissent, at least as I see it, was over Roe V. Wade. She did not dissent over the requirement that abortion be made legal; she dissented in the way that it happened.

To understand, imagine you have a big container (a very, very large container. Bigger. There you go.). This container is filled with water. If you drop a pebble in, some water is displaced and a ripple shows, but it really isn't that big a deal and truly, nobody would notice. Plop some more in there. Enough to cover the bottom, and then some.

If you toss a big rock in there, though, all at once, you'll get wet, water will splash out, and everyone is unhappy. You might have even dented or scraped or cracked the container. That's not good, because you need the container to last a long time.

From what RBG, and the two co-authors to this biography told me, laws are very similar to pebbles. You need a lot of pebbles in place to support the big rocks, or everyone is uncomfortable, annoyed, and/or wet.

Roe V Wade didn't have the kind of structural support it needed to be a truly excellent judgement. RBG argues that the SCOTUS made an incredibly preemptive ruling--nay, law--that could have been left up to Congress or states to make into stronger laws that everyone agreed on.

This is not to say that I don't think the decision reached in Roe V Wade was a wrong one. But it has left an unfortunate juxtaposition for state and federal laws to attempt to make work.

Again, to be clear: I agree that abortion must be legal. And quite honestly I'd rather it be federally protected, especially considering that if we left it up to the states, we would see a large upswing in denial of care from deeply religious states, despite the supposed separation between it and law.

Back to the book.
I really enjoyed reading it. It clarified a lot about who RBG is as a person, as a lawyer, and as a justice. I fully recommend you read it, as it includes discussion on SCOTUS's practices, histories, and traditions. There is some minor legalese but it is always explained.

10/10. Read this book. ( )