Rating: 
Summary: Cruised through it in one day
Review: It's amazing where a small object of pulp, glue, and ink can take you. "A Civil Action" is truly one of the most educational, and thought provoking pieces of American non-fiction I have ever read. The author's smart and meticulous dissection of our legal system is, I'm certain, a precedent setter. I loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: Whose greed and whose justice?
Review: The jacket cover says: "greed and power fight an unending struggle against justice". I suppose that you are supposed to think that the defendants represent greed, and Schlictmann justice?? It seems to me that with no real evidence to support Schlictmann's case, and a verdict against him, the fact that he can eventually wring several million dollars out of the defendants anyway, just to make him go away, is not justice. I guess many readers of this book just feel that chemicals are bad, cancer is bad, someone should pay. It doesn't matter whether a causal connection can be demonstrated or not. We know that "cancer clusters" of this scale will arise often, just by chance. We know that, unfortunately, wherever you look you will often find polluters. I don't think that that means we should throw causation out the window, and find someone to hold responsible whenever a "cluster" occurs. The book is certainly worth reading to see how the system really works. I just can't understand why so many readers seem to come away with this moral certainty that the leukemia cases were caused by pollution, despite the almost total lack of evidence for that. Are these the same people that believe that silicone breast implants cause autoimmune diseases, regardless of any facts? Do people really think that emotion is a better way than science to answer such questions?
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Summary: This book gives us what dangers we have about environment.
Review: It is very impressive. When we realize where we are, it is not late. We should struggle in order to get what we think it is important. It is not easy but very difficult.
Rating:
Summary: A true thriller
Review: This was an increadible story it keeps you guessing and throws you up and down like a rollercoster. A true thriller in the sense of enjoyment
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Summary: A must read for anyone planning on attending law school!!!
Review: This book should be required reading for anyone who plans on attending law school. Forget about Contracts, Torts, Property. Forget about the Rule Against Perpetuities. A Civil Action reveals the reality of practicing law -- not every case is a winner. Not every case promises fame and fortune. Not every case should be litigated. It teaches the lesson that it doesn't pay to litigate over principles. Even though a community was harmed, the lawyer's ego, excessive life style, greed and failure to understand that a deep pocket does not always result in substantial gain all contributed to his downfall. Yes you can prevail against a deep pocket, but at what cost? Is it worth personal bankruptcy? Future lawyers should read this book to understand that the legal profession is not only about money. Not every case is a winner. Not every case results in million dollar settlements or verdicts. There are losers whco include victims and their attorneys
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: My room is littered with books half read. Enticed by the premise, but lost in the execution these books just couldn't keep me faithful to their pages. There is one book that sits royally upon the shelf, having been read in one week: "A Civil Action." Not since "And the Band Played on" have I been so riveted to a story. If you think like I do, you may also enjoy "Sleepwalking Through History, America in the Reagan Years." Currently I'm reading "Mastering Windows NT Server 4," "The Song of the Dodo," and "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."
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Summary: Superior Reading - Once you start, you won't put it down.
Review: Like or hate the details, you can't argue the excitement of the book. No book has brought me in and kept me like this one in years, maybe ever
Rating:
Summary: Don't start this if have anything to do this week
Review: I started this book at the same time I was trying
to finish my thesis and graduate. I thought I
could read about 30 minutes a day to give myself
a break from my thesis. No such luck -- I couldn't put this book down and finished it in 3 days. I highly recommend it to anyone, even though the ending left me depressed. I would love to write more, but now that I finished the book,
I have to get back to my thesis . . .
Rating:
Summary: Whoa!!
Review: I really can't add to what's already been said about this great book. I remember a few years back when Beatrice was always on the commercials on tv and when I look back on it it was about the same time all this came out in the news. Now I don't want to buy any of their products. I firmly believe they and Grace were truly at fault but it doesn't seem they paid for their misdeeds. They're both no doubt in some third world dumping their toxins on some one else who won't be able to fight back. I really felt for Jan and his clan. How could anyone put up such a fight for so long, and I'd take my hat off to Conway and the boys if I had one. I chuckled at the testomony of Pender. Not that I was laughing at him, but I enjoyed his "spirit" and wanted to smack Facher (sit down already) and his unrelenting objections. Jonathan Harr has written a very remarkable book and Grishman can't hold a candle to him since Grishman writes books now so that they'll be made into a movie. This book should be made into a movie just so people can be aware of #$%@& companies like Beatrice and W.R. Grace. Hey, with a good cast (please not Tom Cruise) and a great producer and director this could be a winner. But read this book and thank God if you're not a lawyer. Now, where's my bottle of water
Rating:
Summary: This book will stir your emotions
Review: A fine book and well worth the read, but the book left me angry and depressed. Angry at the insensitivity of large companies who wish only to avoid and deflect cricism, and walk away from their responsibilities, and depressed at the moral and character failings of the executives and lawyers who for dollar bills are willing to overlook right and wrong and plead the cause of their paymaster.
The tragedy of the suffering families seems irrelevant to too many of the protaganists, and the defense lawyers must squirm with embarassment when they read their actions in print and apply the benefit of hindsight.....or they should!
For me, its bottled water from now on, and my kids will not be going to law school!
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