The Best Defense: The Courtroom Confrontations of America's Most Outspoken Lawyer of Last Resort-- the Lawyer Who Won the Claus von Bulow Appeal

Dershowitz has become a highly controversial writer and personality for a number of reasons: he has taken on unpopular cases, he has an enormous ego, and he is an opinionated iconoclast unafraid to offer his views on Judaism, the Middle East and other political issues with the same sense of total certainty as he does when it comes to his true area of expertise: constituional law.All of that aside, he is a true legal scholar, and a great story teller (or at least he was when this book was written) and this is almost certainly his very best book. Compelling, almost riveting, Dershowitz makes the case for civil rights and constitutional defense as well ashe does anywhere else, but here he also tells a story leavened by a partial memoir of growing up orthodox in Boro Park Brooklyn in the 1960s.This is a great book, not to be missed.

Anyone interested in Law should read this book, what an honest account of the real Judicial system.

The author of this book is a law professor who does appellant work part time. Unlike the cut and thrust of jury work appeals have generally been seen as dry rarefied and uninteresting. The author however writes in an entertaining and self deprecating way which brings the process alive. It is one of the most enjoyable books written about the law that I have read for some time.The author also writes about the cases he loses. So many books by advocates focus on the success and are about self grandisment.Overall the impression given is how much of a dogged slog it is to achieve justice in the American System and how much calculation and thought has to go into every strategy and move. One of the amazing things in the book is how the author is so critical of a number of judges and how willing he is to make those criticisms.It is an excellent book which shows the many flaws and weakness of the American justice system.

This book is a pleasure to read. In spite of its almost casual narrative style, the book is full of highly valuable insights into the theory and functioning of criminal justice administration. It also reveals some of the corruption of the system which, even with the alleged best intentions, destroys the essence of democracy. The cases of judicial arrogance and arbitrariness revealed by Professor Dershowitz, are enough to give one the creeps. How many defendants, who did not have the benefit of a true defense of their interests, may be pining away in prison, victims of the connivance of police, prosecutors and judges. Be that as it may, it is fascinating to see a legal mind at work, and everything explained in a manner accesible to lay people. I certainly hope the good Professor keeps on writing. We, the People, need lawyers like him.

I am a criminal justice major in undergrad and I want to become a defense attorney. This book is PERFECT. I was hesitant about buying because I didn’t know if this was the book I was looking for. But it’s perfect. Happy I purchased.

Excellent Book

I originally read it in the 1980s, and it was even better as a 2014 re-read. Dershowitz is a gifted writer as well as a gifted trial lawyer and teacher.

I'm a new attorney and I really found this book to be an excellent look in to the field of criminal law. I highly recommend it.

If you like a court room drama, you will love this book. Also, to know that it is a true story makes it all the more dramatic. I have read many of Alan Dershowitz books and have more I want for Christmas and, although I don't always agree with his theories,it is a great read every time. What an amazing man, well worth reading. The book is in two parts, firstly the original case against Claus for attempting to murder his wife. The book goes through the story and outlines all the evidence against him. When you read it you are convinced he is as guilty as sin - enter Alan Dershowitz!! read the appeal lead by Alan Dershowitz and be amazed at his magic and what happens next.

A very interesting report on some of Dershowitz's most important law suits, mostly to do with constitutional law. This book definitely sets you thinking about some of the amendments to the constitution, and how they have been interpreted by attorneys and judges. Some of the situations Dershowitz describes seem to be downright absurd.Written in a colloquial style, easy to follow on the one hand, but food for thought on the other, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the law and how it might affect the individual at times.

Very enlightening, for law students