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The Best Defense: The Courtroom Confrontations of America's Most Outspoken Lawyer of Last Resort-- the Lawyer Who Won the Claus von Bulow Appeal
"Anyone interested in the true merits of criminal law and very fine writing must read Alan Dershowitz's book." --Truman Capote
In this tell-all legal memoir, Alan Dershowitz describes his most famous, and infamous, cases and clients. In the process, takes a critical, informed look at a legal system that he regards as deeply corrupt.
In this tell-all legal memoir, Alan Dershowitz describes his most famous, and infamous, cases and clients. In the process, takes a critical, informed look at a legal system that he regards as deeply corrupt.
456 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 1983
About the author
Alan M. Dershowitz
117 books285 followersAlan Morton Dershowitz is an American lawyer, jurist, and political commentator. He is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is known for his career as an attorney in several high-profile law cases and commentary on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
He has spent most of his career at Harvard, where, at the age of 28, he became the youngest full professor in its history, until Noam Elkies took the record. Dershowitz still holds the record as the youngest person to become a professor of law there.
As a criminal appellate lawyer, Dershowitz has won thirteen out of the fifteen murder and attempted murder cases he has handled. He successfully argued to overturn the conviction of Claus von Bülow for the attempted murder of Bülow's wife, Sunny. Dershowitz was the appellate advisor for the defense in the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
He has spent most of his career at Harvard, where, at the age of 28, he became the youngest full professor in its history, until Noam Elkies took the record. Dershowitz still holds the record as the youngest person to become a professor of law there.
As a criminal appellate lawyer, Dershowitz has won thirteen out of the fifteen murder and attempted murder cases he has handled. He successfully argued to overturn the conviction of Claus von Bülow for the attempted murder of Bülow's wife, Sunny. Dershowitz was the appellate advisor for the defense in the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 18, 2014
The Best Defense is young, brash, I-don't-give-a-$#!@ Dershowitz at his best. It's an in-your-face celebration (unapologetic is way too weak a word) of our adversarial system of justice, especially the defense lawyer's place in it. Each of its 11 chapters detail a different case or set of cases Dershowitz defended, usually successfully. The cases themselves are fascinating, covering everything from pornography (where Deep Throat meets the First Amendment) to murder (not OJ's case; that's a later book) to government informants.
But what makes the book unique is his commentary on our legal system, both his unbridled criticism of prosecutors--e.g., abusing plea bargaining (imposing a "trial tax" on defendants who won't make a deal), allowing police officers to lie on the stand (generally to avoid evidence being excluded)--and his boisterous defense of his role in the system. He explains the latter in the Introduction, because it informs his actions in all the cases in the book:
The book is a fun read, providing an almost-ground-level view of the criminal justice system: he's not quite an assistant district attorney or a public defender (he's a Harvard Law professor), but he actually does represent criminal defendants. This lends credence to his assertions and criticisms, although (of course) not assuring they'll persuade everyone. I'd say the one guarantee is that after reading this book, even the most anti-Dershowitz people in the world, upon being accused of a crime, would not hesitate in pleading with him to represent them.
But what makes the book unique is his commentary on our legal system, both his unbridled criticism of prosecutors--e.g., abusing plea bargaining (imposing a "trial tax" on defendants who won't make a deal), allowing police officers to lie on the stand (generally to avoid evidence being excluded)--and his boisterous defense of his role in the system. He explains the latter in the Introduction, because it informs his actions in all the cases in the book:
Once I decide to take a case, I have only one agenda: I want to win. I will try, by every fair and legal means, to get my client off--without regard to the consequences. I do not apologize for (or feel guilty about) helping a murderer go free . . . . any more than a surgeon should regret saving the life of a patient who recovers and later kills an innocent victim (xv-xvi)He views the fact that in America (per his assertion) most criminal defendants are guilty as a happy result of zealous defense advocacy: in another system (he uses the Soviet Union's as an example; the book is 26 years old) without guaranteed fiery representation for all criminal defendants, the government can try--and even convict--many innocent people.
The book is a fun read, providing an almost-ground-level view of the criminal justice system: he's not quite an assistant district attorney or a public defender (he's a Harvard Law professor), but he actually does represent criminal defendants. This lends credence to his assertions and criticisms, although (of course) not assuring they'll persuade everyone. I'd say the one guarantee is that after reading this book, even the most anti-Dershowitz people in the world, upon being accused of a crime, would not hesitate in pleading with him to represent them.
December 20, 2020
I've lost respect for the Author in the last few years but this book is well written and gives a great perspective on the challenges of being a defense lawyer. For Eg If you were a Jew how could you rationalize defending an American Nazi for example?
March 23, 2020
A collection of war stories from a different time.
August 9, 2009
Well, I'd actually give this book between a three and a four, but why quibble?
In the book, published in the early 80s, Dershowitz describes many of the civil rights cases that he was involved in. Many of the cases revolve around legal technicalities and governmental chicanery (as might be expected from a defense attorney).
The pictures that he presents of the higher-ups in our judicial system--prosecutors and judges, especially, but police also--are enough to make an agnostic out of anyone. That is, doubt is the most appropriate response to our legal system.
In the book, published in the early 80s, Dershowitz describes many of the civil rights cases that he was involved in. Many of the cases revolve around legal technicalities and governmental chicanery (as might be expected from a defense attorney).
The pictures that he presents of the higher-ups in our judicial system--prosecutors and judges, especially, but police also--are enough to make an agnostic out of anyone. That is, doubt is the most appropriate response to our legal system.
September 13, 2014
Early book by the famous lawyer and Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, most notable because it was published in 1982 just as Dershowitz was rocketing to fame. Reviews some of his most interesting cases, showing fascinating points of law and how Dershowitz oftentimes took a different view from the rest of the legal world. Three main sections: Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Disturbing the Peace, and Obstructing Injustice. If you like courtroom confrontations and a lawyer with an attitude, this is your book.
August 15, 2009
I read this book because my favorite professor in college recommended it.
I really admired this author at the time, but of course my disappointment regarding the OJ case years later eclipsed any feelings I had held about Mr. Dershowitz in the past.
I can still say though that the style of writing and the selection of cases in this book are very strong. Each one of these cases is worth reading and learning about.
I really admired this author at the time, but of course my disappointment regarding the OJ case years later eclipsed any feelings I had held about Mr. Dershowitz in the past.
I can still say though that the style of writing and the selection of cases in this book are very strong. Each one of these cases is worth reading and learning about.
April 30, 2007
Very good read on some interesting social and legal issues from a famed civil liberties lawyer. Not only does this capitalize on the already-interesting world of criminal law, but it does so in a compelling, readable way. Lots of Jewish issues implicated.
December 15, 2009
The first and best of maybe four books by Dershowitz that I've read. He briefly discusses his upbringing and then goes on to discuss in detail quite a few of his cases, many of which involve his defense of civil liberties.
February 10, 2010
I actually thought this book was interesting because there was a lot of stuff dealing with jews in the soviet union. i read this before i applied to law school (and of course, didn't get in), but thought it was pretty interesting. i wouldn't put it as the worst book ever written but i liked it.
November 21, 2013
A well written book for anyone to read and learn about interesting criminal and civil cases that involved the author. Although a Harvard law professor , Dershowitz presents a compelling story of the criminal justice system during the 70s and later.
November 22, 2023
This is a great book if you're looking to get insight into the courtroom, and how legal proceedings genuinely take form. Some very high profile cases from the United States are discussed, really enjoyed the book but I am Canadian so some aspects were irrelevant.
August 25, 2008
A core text I use in many of my presentations- really well done
November 3, 2019
「一个国家是否真正的自由，试金石之一是看它如何对待那些有罪之人、为世人不齿之徒辩护的律师」
人权斗士与国家机器的斗争看得人热血沸腾。
这本书的中文译本不算太好，涉及的人名太多弄得人头晕眼花，胜在情节入圣。这种了全书总分总的论述结构我太喜欢了。
November 16, 2020
When I read this book in 1999, I idolized Alan Dershowitz. I thought all attorneys should be fire-bombers who were leftist heroes. This does not sit well in 2020.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews