Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Educational Value; Below Average Excitement
Review: This is a wonderful book for an overall "highlights reel" of the history of the United States Supreme Court. Rehnquist does write in a style that I personally find a little dry, but that's only my opinion. I didn't detect any "bias" at all. In fact, the complete and utter lack of bias is perhaps why the book seems sort of "flat" and uninspiring at times. Don't get me wrong, at other times the book is great and one really gets the impression of how highly Rehnquist respects, honors, and values the history of, and his tenure on, the Court. A good overall read, but I wasn't crazy about it by any means.
Rating:
Summary: Depends on what you're looking for
Review: Whether you'll enjoy this book depends on what you're after. If you want an interesting read and a basic introduction to the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, this is the book for you. But if you're like me, and (1) you know that the Chief Justice is also a professor at the University of Arizona teaching a course in Supreme Court history and expect this book to reflect that, (2) you're a lawyer or otherwise have a deep interest in the study of law, and (3) you're somewhat of a history buff, you'll probably be disappointed. While Rehnquist provides some basic historical context for certain cases he discusses, "basic" is the key word. As for the discussion of the cases themselves, don't expect anything you wouldn't find in any commercial outline that any 1st year law student would have. Rehnquist does provide some insight into his personal views on a few issues, but not in depth. This is a good, relatively light read about Supreme Court jurisprudence. It's not a journey into the inner thoughts and feelings of the Chief Justice.
Rating: 
Summary: First-rate
Review: William H. Rehnquist was a twenty-seven-year-old law clerk to Associate Justice Robert H. Jackson when he attended his first session of the Supreme Court in 1952. Sitting in a cubicle off the main part of the courtroom, he saw the nine justices enter the room, take their places beside the nine chairs arrayed behind the bench, and listen as the marshal intoned the traditional words: "Oyez, oyez, oyez. The Honorable, the Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. All persons having business before this honorable Court are admonished to draw nigh and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this honorable Court." In his book about the Supreme Court, first published in 1987, then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist pronounced the Court's opening ceremony "first- rate." Fifteen years later, this new edition of Rehnquist's volume strikes me much as the Court's opening ceremony struck him in 1952. It is, all things considered, "first-rate."
Prospective readers should not look to this book for a probing examination of constitutional doctrine, or a "tell-all" look behind the scenes of the present Court and its personnel. It is an introduction to the Court, its history, and its procedures. It begins with a description of Rehnquist's experiences as a law clerk for Jackson, then chronicles the history of the Court in the early years of the Republic. It traces important issues the Court confronted before and after the Civil War, and continues with chapters about landmark cases decided in the twentieth century. The historical portion of the book ends with general comments about the Burger Court, but it avoids any discussion that might violate the confidences of justices still sitting. The final chapters are devoted to general discussions of the Court's decision-making processes and the important (but carefully prescribed) role the Court plays in our constitutional democracy. Rehnquist's writing is clear and logical, and his history is often engrossing. This is a book that can be profitably read by readers from all walks of life. Lawyers, too, will find it valuable for its clear explanations of the Court's certiorari, argument, conference, and opinion- writing processes--and, not the least, for its insights into the Chief justice and his thinking.
Rating:
Summary: An informative and interesting read for all
Review: With the lucid and accessible writing style found in his other two excellent books, All the Laws but One and Grand Inquests, the Chief Justice presents an informative account of the Supreme Court. According to the Chief Justice, the primary intended audience of the book is the "interested citizen trying to find out more about how the government works." (p. ix) In this endeavor, he is quite successful. The first half of the text presents a mid-level review of the history of Supreme Court filled with interesting anecdotes and useful background information for the beginner. He achieves a well-considered balance: excising unnecessary detail to ensure accessibility (and a reasonable page count) while still maintaining a rich account of the Court's growth during the past two centuries. The citizen reader is sure to come away with a greater understanding of the Court's work and a greater appreciation for its role under the Constitution. At the same time, the Chief Justice's history offers something for those more acquainted with the Supreme Court and the law more generally. An introductory section detailing his first day as a judicial clerk to Justice Robert Jackson and the later chapters dealing with the certiorari and deliberative processes of the Court address topics often unfamiliar to the average practicing attorney. In addition, the Chief Justice offers an analysis and a comprehensive account of the Steel Seizure Case, which was decided by the Court while he was a clerk for Justice Jackson. On a final note, for the Supreme Court trivia buff, throughout the book the Chief Justice debunks a number of "myths" -- for example, the change in title from "Mr. Justice" to simply "Justice" occurred before Justice O'Connor's appointment to the Court, not after. All told, the Chief Justice's account offers something for every reader -- young and old, lawyer and layman. One is certain to find it a worthwhile read.
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