Spectacularly Dry

As others have mentioned it is nice to hear actual speeches by RBG, unfortunately she isn't a particularly engaging orator. Linda Lavin's performance is very good.
I was disappointed that a decent amount of the book was dedicated to legal history of the Supreme Court and key Justices, as well as a variety of landmark legal cases (although not a large variety, it gets repetitive). Descriptions of these legal cases contain far more details than any discussion of RBG's life. I don't feel that I learned anything about RBG from this book that isn't in her wikipedia article.
I have no doubt those interested in legal history, with RBG's life used as a loose framing mechanism, would enjoy this book.

(FWIW I did not find it to be self congratulatory at all as some other commenters have mentioned. Any accomplishments [of which she has had many] were included very matter-of-factly.)

193 people found this helpful

Not what I expected but it was a great

I was expecting a biography about RBG's life, but it was more of a glimpse into life through her eyes. I am glad I listened. My grandmother (84 yo) had this book in hard copy laying on her reading table and, since we like to read the same books, I got this audiobook version. I think this is the first time I have seen this format (audiobook) taken advantage of as a way to hear actual recordings rather than the narrator only reading the script. I think I will tell my grandmother about this because hearing Ruth's voice and cadence really made the story personal.

187 people found this helpful

Horribly recorded book

This book is horribly recorded. Some parts are actual speeches and the audio is so poor, you can't tell what Ruth is saying.

100 people found this helpful

RBG's Greatest Hits

"Our commission is to do what is right, what the law requires, and what is just." Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ultra-light yet immensely tough. 200 times stronger than steel, yet incredibly flexible. Changing the world. The University of Manchester may have discovered graphene in 2004, but Columbia Law School, Harvard, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found something much stronger and much more revolutionary years earlier: Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As an Associate US Supreme Court Justice, she's "The Notorious RBG" the Graphene Justice.

"My Own Words" (2016) is a collection of the best of RBG's speeches, writings, and dissents from the bench - so far. Justice Ginsburg is only 83 as I write this review, and she's physically active and mentally agile. She could stay for a very long time. I saw her on the bench years ago, and when she spoke, every other Justice got still and silent. What respect. What power. As Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court said - and Ginsburg quotes, "For both men and women, the first step in getting power is to become visible to others, and then to put on an impressive show."

I tried to pick out a few parts of the book that I liked best for this review, but I ended up with two dozen bookmarks. The story of how and why she and her husband ended up as co-counsel on a tax law case - appealing to the US Supreme Court based on a one page brief written by a taxpayer who represented himself on an initial appeal - is an exciting underdog triumph. It's a reassurance that sometimes the greatest of changes start small and mean thinking differently. Some parts of "My Own Words" just weren't as interesting to me. Try as I might, I just haven't developed an interest in comparative foreign law and legal procedure.

I suspect that. RBG intended to retire this year, so that President Barrack Obama could appoint a liberal to succeed her. The timing of "My Own Words," released a day after the start of the Supreme Court's 2016-2017 term, would have been perfect. The sudden death of her BFF, the very conservative Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13, 2016, must have put that on hold.

RBG's been outspoken on a couple of controversial issues recently. She called presidential candidate Donald Trump a "faker". She issued an apology through SCOTUS that, "Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office." RBG didn't limit her comments to to the Alt Right. She just made a more genuine apology for criticizing San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem, admitting she didn't know enough about his protest.

The book contains a lot of Ginsburg's actual speeches, and is interspersed with actress Linda Levin narrating some speeches and commentary. I've been an avid Audible listener for almost half a decade, and I've never heard anyone so clearly enjoy the story she was reading as much as Lavin does. You can hear the smile in her voice in some happy sections, hear her utter delight at telling the story. I convinced myself that Lavin was from a walk up, cold water, six story brick apartment building with pull down metal latticework fire escapes in Brooklyn. Well, maybe Queens but definitely not the Bronx. That's where Justice Sonia Sotomayor is from, and she didn't sound like her. Lavin is actually from Portland, Maine.

[If this book helped, please press YES. Thanks!]

98 people found this helpful

Supreme Justice

What did you love best about My Own Words?

I loved hearing the actual voices of her husband and Justice Ginsburg. The recordings that were provided in Audible would only be read in a hard copy. Hearing the cadence of these voices added much to the book.

What did you like best about this story?

The honesty of some of the decisions and the logic and careful thought that goes into Supreme Court decisions ere some of the best points covered..

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was the opera created and about Justice Ginsburg and Justice Scalia who shared a love of opera and often attended operas with their families. Knowing that they wee close friends even though their beliefs were different, gave me pause to hope that more of us might be able to do the same.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Justice Ginsburg painting a human picture of Justice Scalia and her own family. I loved that her daughter stated that dad was the cook and mom used her brain! Very funny!

Any additional comments?

This is a must read/hear though I support hearing it. Linda Lavin does an expert job in the narration.

80 people found this helpful

Dry

If I were a lawyer I would possibly have liked it more. All in all it was interesting because of my own curiosity, the delivery was boring and lacked color.

44 people found this helpful

Words you will want to make your own

If you are not clear on a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution versus a interpretation of a living document that needs to reflect the evolution of the country, this is a must read. If you are fascinated with true stories of extraordinary women, you will devour this read/listen. If you have a daughter, granddaughter, or niece you would like to inspire give them this biography.

40 people found this helpful

Thank you RBG

What an interesting look into a charming, intelligent, wise and committed woman. As well as a little more perspective into the court, procedures and structure. In this case, I’m certain the audio book is better than the paper version. It actually is largely, ‘in her own words’ and it’s wonderful!

21 people found this helpful

Disappointed

I was excited to read this biography but it instead read like a law text book. Way too much detail about court cases I knew nothing or cared nothing about. For those seeking a biography I would not recommend.

Also didn’t care for Linda Lavin’s voice as a reader. Readers should have no perceived regional accent.

20 people found this helpful

Engrossing

I heard an interview with Justice Ginsburg about her new book. Justice Ginsburg stated it was a collection of her writings and speeches since she was in the eighth grade. I have read a great deal by and about Justice Ginsburg over the years so was familiar with most of the material presented. Mary Hartnett and Wendy Williams of the Georgetown Law Center are writing Ginsburg’s official biography which will not be released until after she leaves the Court. They wrote the opening introduction and an introduction to each chapter which including some of the materials they acquired from interviews while preparing the biography. This provides a bit more informative insights to the book.

Ginsburg discussed her relationship with Sandra Day O’Connor. She says O’Connor told her to “waste no time on anger, regret or resentment, just get the job done”. She says that Antonin Scalia told her to “learn to attack ideas, not people.” In reviewing her papers Ginsburg was an appellate attorney who specialized in gender equality and was a law professor.

She also talks about being Jewish and her enjoyment of the opera. She discusses, of course, gender equality and various topics all the way to how the Supreme Court works. She says she was happy she has lived long enough to see that half the students today in law school are women and 1/3 of the Federal Judges are women. As a history buff, I found it most interesting that she devoted considerable time discussing the history of the women pioneers in law as well as the wives of some of the Supreme Court Justices. This is a worthwhile read. This book works great in audio format as we can listen to Justice Ginsburg give her speeches.

Linda Lavin does a good job narrating the book. Lavin is an award winning Broadway singer/actress and audiobook narrator.

19 people found this helpful