About the Author

Sandra Day O'Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised on the Lazy B Ranch. She attended Stanford University, where she took Wallace Stegner's writing course. She began her public service in Phoenix, and was majority leader of the Arizona Senate before becoming a judge. She is the author of Lazy B, a memoir about growing up in the Southwest, and The Majesty of the Law, a reflection on American law and life. President Reagan nominated her as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and she served from 1981 to 2006. She serves as Chancellor of the College of William & Mary, and is on the board of trustees of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Reviews

“A brief and accessible history of the nation’s highest court, narrated by a true historical figure and a jurisprudential giant.”—The Boston Globe

“A vibrantly personal book [that] displays O’Connor’s uncommon common sense, her dry wit and her reverence for the nation’s institutions.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
 
“Full of riveting anecdotes . . . a compact history . . . albeit a more lighthearted, personality-filled one than you might find in a high school classroom.”—Associated Press
 
“Candid, opinionated and even entertaining throughout . . . a well-considered, lively survey of what the Supreme Court does, how it’s constituted and, bonus round, how to argue before it.”—Kirkus Reviews

“In this delightful collection of tales, Sandra Day O’Connor shows us the personal side of the Supreme Court while reminding us of the critical role the Court plays. It’s a lovely book—and a valuable treasure for all Americans.”—Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs
 
“A maker of history, Sandra Day O’Connor proves herself an engaging historian in this fine book, taking us inside perhaps the most important and least understood institution in American life: the Supreme Court. With her characteristic clear-eyed common sense and a natural talent for storytelling, Justice O’Connor has given us a valuable and entertaining gift.”—Jon Meacham, author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
 
“We have always known that Sandra Day O’Connor was a wise and thoughtful Justice of the Supreme Court. But we haven’t always appreciated what a talented storyteller and historian she is as well. This, her most recent book, contains succinct and readable stories from the history of the Supreme Court, and it nicely demonstrates that remarkable talent.”—Gordon S. Wood, author of The Idea of America
 
“Justice O’Connor has written an insightful and charming insider’s take on the workings of the Supreme Court of the United States throughout history. A historical figure herself—the first woman to sit on the Court—O’Connor is the perfect guide through the twists and turns that have made the Court such a powerful force in shaping American society from the Founding to present times.”—Annette Gordon-Reed, author of The Hemingses of Monticello
 
“Justice O’Connor has written a brief  history of the Supreme Court that is lively, informative, and often inspiring. Drawing on her own experience and wisdom, she is giving us a civics lesson, but it’s like nothing you remember from high school.”—Evan Thomas, author of Ike’s Bluff