Taking the Stand

My Life in the Law

By: Alan Dershowitz

Narrated by: Ella Dershowitz, Alan Dershowitz

#1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Dershowitz recounts his extraordinary coming of age in this legal autobiography, as well as the cases that have changed American jurisprudence over the past fifty years, most of which he has personally been involved in.

“Overflowing with fascinating and funny vignettes involving his cases and clients, and probing and provocative insights into contemporary legal controversies.”—The Boston Globe

Alan Dershowitz, the preeminent defense lawyer in America today, has been called the “winningest appellate criminal defense lawyer in history.” A professor at Harvard Law School since the age of twenty-five, he has led or been part of the defense team for such storied clients as Bill Clinton, Julian Assange, O. J. Simpson, Claus von Bülow, Mia Farrow, Jeffrey MacDonald, Patty Hearst, Mike Tyson, and countless others.

In Taking the Stand, Dershowitz describes his evolution as a lawyer—from a C-minus student in Yeshiva High School to the youngest full professor in the history of Harvard Law School. In his #1 New York Times bestselling book Chutzpah, Alan described his Jewish life. In Taking the Stand, he looks at the people and events that have helped to shape his ideas about the law. He describes his formative years as a clerk for the United States Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. In the course of his career, he confronts the challenges of First Amendment law, the ongoing tension between individual freedom and national security, the questionable science often employed to prosecute accused murderers, the evolution of civil rights—and why the abortion rights debate in society hasn’t moved forward since Roe v. Wade.

Filled with unforgettable cases and inside legal “baseball,” Taking the Stand is a deeply personal account of one of the legendary legal minds of our time.

©2013 Alan Dershowitz (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Riveting, compelling, touching, and tender.” (The Jewish Voice)

“Dershowitz commands the stage. . . . He fills his book to overflowing with fascinating and funny vignettes involving his cases and clients, and probing and provocative insights into contemporary legal controversies, ranging from censorship to civil rights, national security, sexual harassment, rape, abortion, the separation of church and state, and the use of scientific evidence in murder cases. Whether he is discussing people or policies, he leaves no doubt about where he stands.” (Glenn C. Altschuler, The Boston Globe)

“Alan Dershowitz’s autobiography is a page-turning story of a special life. It exposes and explains as only he can important events of the last fifty years of The American Experience. Dershowitz has been a player contributing to the national conversation for half a century. Everybody takes his calls.” (Stephen Trachtenberg, president, George Washington University)

could have been but...

This book was not worth reading. The subject is fascinating. I have great respect for the author.
The active choice he made to use his daughter to tell his story was a big mistake to me.
I could not even finish it. The only reason why I scored the story and the overall book 3 stars is my awe for his legal talent.
Not worth a credit.

Fabulous writing

Where does Taking the Stand rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best autobiographies I have read.

What did you like best about this story?

I felt I was 'there' throughout...totally engaged. The vignettes throughout were delightful and interesting.

Did Ella Dershowitz and Alan Dershowitz do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

It was quite disconcerting to have a female narrator for a male's story. And she has that somewhat typical vocal pattern so common to young females these days. Her expresssion and pronounciations were good. But having heard the author read his own intro...I would have much preferred he read the entire book..or at least have a male narrator. Knowing Ella was his daughter, I had to keep reminding myself she was reading it as Alan and not as herself.

Any additional comments?

Sure wish narrator was male. Quite disappointed.

Professor, you need to do the narrative! Please!

Would you consider the audio edition of Taking the Stand to be better than the print version?

No, it would be a lot better if Professor Derhowitz did the audio reading himself. He is so well know and admired for his talent as a lawyer and a teacher. I really like to listen to him not his daughter. He always teaches me something especially when he is on T.V. Why would Audible devalue this audio book by not having him read it. The daughter should have read the forward and he should have read the book. Big mistake. I can't take hours of a women's voice and trying to remind myself I am listening to Alan Dershowitz words.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

ALL OF IT! What a life!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Ella Dershowitz and Alan Dershowitz ?

Alan Dershowitz should be the only one doing the narrative.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Tremendous book! Thank you for writing it counselor!

Any additional comments?

Please re record with Alan for us! He is a brilliant lawyer. I want to hear him not his daughter.

Skip the audio--read the book

Would you try another book from Alan Dershowitz and/or Ella Dershowitz and Alan Dershowitz ?

I would read anything by Dershowitz, but the reading here is not appealing.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Firstly, the decision to have a female relative narrate the book is peculiar. You don't relate to a woman speaking in the first person as if she is Dershowitz. Secondly, her voice lacks mellowness and each sentence disappears into a rasp.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

yes

Any additional comments?

This is the first time I have not enjoyed an audio book. I think most books are enhanced by good audio performances.

great book but a kind of confusing narration

though narration was excellent, it's read by authors daughter which is actresses, it's kind of confusing that narrator is opposite sex as author which tells story of his life

The narrator does an injustice to this book.

This story was compelling. That is the only reason that I finished the book. Several times, I found myself annoyed wanting to put the book down and then I would remind myself that it wasn’t the story but rather the voice that bothered me. I appreciate Ella’s enthusiasm however she needs to save it for her own book. First off, it was very distracting to have a female voice for a male biography. Secondly she had such strong, enthusiastic voice that was clearly not yet he author’s as heard when he himself came on at the end of the book.I’m sorry, I really couldn’t get past that. I wish I had read the actual book first.

Maestro Dershowitz offers us more testimony!

Another marvelous look at society, government, family and the law. Unabashed discourse from his perspective.

The reader

Would you listen to Taking the Stand again? Why?

No. Having the a male author's daughter read his autobiography just doesn't make it.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

A female voice reading the autobiography of a male author is totally distracting.

A remarkable life, regardless of your politics

Amazing and well-written. I'm a conservative Mormon attorney who loves Dershowitz. I had no idea just how involved he was with such important historical events.

Excellent

If you are interested in the law then this book is it. Dershowitz writes well and his book is full of good ideas and is a joy to read.