Reviews
"Here a legendary American scholar has brought us an irresistible gift-a brilliant, compelling and consistently surprising history of the Supreme Court's role in American life. Like all of Burns's work, Packing the Courtlooks backward and forward, drawing crucial lessons from the past that should guide every American leader and citizen today. This important volume is basic and essential and should be vigorously read and debated by all of us." -Michael Beschloss "Provocative and timely... Mr. Burns uses his intimate knowledge of America's past to situate judicial rulings within a political and social context, even as he dissects the practical consequences of particular decisions." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times "Packing the Courtis just what you would expect of Burns: a readable and accessible history, full of memorable details... I was engaged, entertained and provoked by this surprising and energetic history of the Court." -Jeffrey Rosen, The Washington Post "In graceful prose, Burns takes us on a quick historical tour of many famous and infamous decisions, demonstrating how the court, frequently imagined as the protector of the weak and powerless, has more often been the friend of the powerful and a 'a choke point for progressive reforms,' contemptuous of popular legislation." -Kirkus Reviews "The singular James MacGregor Burns never disappoints, not with any of his more than two dozen books. In Packing the Courthe continues his unbroken streak, with yet another volume on the American experience, this one focused on the trajectory of the Supreme Court. The book is past and present at its best-a rigorous and revealing recounting of this most elusive and even reclusive of the three branches of government. Burns concludes with a clear caution: that failure to reform the nation's highest court risks having it deviate still further from what the Founders originally intended." -Barbara Kellerman, author of Bad Leadershipand Followership "Provocative and well-written." -Clive Crook, TheAtlantic.com, "Here a legendary American scholar has brought us an irresistible gift-a brilliant, compelling and consistently surprising history of the Supreme Court's role in American life. Like all of Burns's work, Packing the Court looks backward and forward, drawing crucial lessons from the past that should guide every American leader and citizen today. This important volume is basic and essential and should be vigorously read and debated by all of us." -Michael Beschloss "Provocative and timely... Mr. Burns uses his intimate knowledge of America's past to situate judicial rulings within a political and social context, even as he dissects the practical consequences of particular decisions." -Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times " Packing the Court is just what you would expect of Burns: a readable and accessible history, full of memorable details... I was engaged, entertained and provoked by this surprising and energetic history of the Court." -Jeffrey Rosen, The Washington Post "In graceful prose, Burns takes us on a quick historical tour of many famous and infamous decisions, demonstrating how the court, frequently imagined as the protector of the weak and powerless, has more often been the friend of the powerful and a 'a choke point for progressive reforms,' contemptuous of popular legislation." - Kirkus Reviews "The singular James MacGregor Burns never disappoints, not with any of his more than two dozen books. In Packing the Court he continues his unbroken streak, with yet another volume on the American experience, this one focused on the trajectory of the Supreme Court. The book is past and present at its best-a rigorous and revealing recounting of this most elusive and even reclusive of the three branches of government. Burns concludes with a clear caution: that failure to reform the nation's highest court risks having it deviate still further from what the Founders originally intended." -Barbara Kellerman, author of Bad Leadership and Followership "Provocative and well-written." -Clive Crook, TheAtlantic.com, Here a legendary American scholar has brought us an irresistible gift—a brilliant, compelling and consistently surprising history of the Supreme Court’s role in American life. Like all of Burns’s work, Packing the Courtlooks backward and forward, drawing crucial lessons from the past that should guide every American leader and citizen today. This important volume is basic and essential and should be vigorously read and debated by all of us." —Michael Beschloss Provocative and timely… Mr. Burns uses his intimate knowledge of America’s past to situate judicial rulings within a political and social context, even as he dissects the practical consequences of particular decisions.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Packing the Courtis just what you would expect of Burns: a readable and accessible history, full of memorable details… I was engaged, entertained and provoked by this surprising and energetic history of the Court.” —Jeffrey Rosen, The Washington Post In graceful prose, Burns takes us on a quick historical tour of many famous and infamous decisions, demonstrating how the court, frequently imagined as the protector of the weak and powerless, has more often been the friend of the powerful and a ‘a choke point for progressive reforms,’ contemptuous of popular legislation.” —Kirkus Reviews The singular James MacGregor Burns never disappoints, not with any of his more than two dozen books. In Packing the Courthe continues his unbroken streak, with yet another volume on the American experience, this one focused on the trajectory of the Supreme Court. The book is past and present at its best—a rigorous and revealing recounting of this most elusive and even reclusive of the three branches of government. Burns concludes with a clear caution: that failure to reform the nation’s highest court risks having it deviate still further from what the Founders originally intended.” —Barbara Kellerman, author of Bad Leadershipand Followership Provocative and well-written.” —Clive Crook, TheAtlantic.com
