#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING MICHAEL B. JORDAN AND JAMIE FOXX • A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. “[Bryan Stevenson’s] dedication to fighting for justice and equality has inspired me and many others and … me and many others and made a lasting impact on our country.”—John Legend
NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN • Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times • The Washington Post • The Boston Globe • The Seattle Times • Esquire • Time
Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.
Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.
Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction • Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction • Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award • Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize • Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize • An American Library Association Notable Book
“Every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so . . . a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields.”—David Cole, The New York Review of Books
“Searing, moving . . . Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America’s Mandela.”—Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times
“You don’t have to read too long to start cheering for this man. . . . The message of this book . . . is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful.”—Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review
“Inspiring . . . a work of style, substance and clarity . . . Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he’s also a gifted writer and storyteller.”—The Washington Post
“As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty.”—The Financial Times
“Brilliant.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
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A must read if you want to understand the challenges the poor and mentally disadvantaged face when it comes to a death penalty conviction. This book had me reevaluate some of my beliefs regarding the death penalty and the need for prison reform.
This important book gives clear histories and details of the abuses of justice leading to unjust and often fabricated death penalty sentences given to black, juvenile, and mentally ill men and women in the last half of the 20th century. While most were in Alabama, other cases occurred in other states as well. Brian’s work as a lawyer defending these victims is inspiring and exposes the extent of these issues.
this book was eye opening & life changing
I don’t understand how this is not mandatory reading for each and every American in high school. I read this book because of a review I read that says we do not have the luxury of being colorblind, that we must look at each other and see each other and understand the circumstances and the hardships that one has gone through to get to this point, and not ignore the fact that we are not all the same. I had no idea what the other underlying themes would be about in this book, because I picked it up blindly after that review but this book is too important not to read, and so important that it makes you squirmy and uncomfortable. Perfect for a book club read. Some of the most important discussions we’ve had in our book club in 10 years of meeting…Generated by this book. The Book club questions from university of Wisconsin, go big read, incomparably excellent and a great companion for this book.
This is a non-fiction story of Mr. Stevenson and his work to get people off of death row. He started a non profit in Alabama to help people who had been imprisoned for a variety of reasons, but some of them innocent of their crimes.
The majority of the story is about Walter McMillian who was put on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. There were mounds and mounds of evidence to prove he didn’t commit the crime, but Walter spent years in prison until Bryan came along to help. Mr. Stevenson gets tangled in conspiracies, and political underhandedness while trying to set Walter free.
The story always intertwines other cases that Mr. Stevenson tried, and also stories in general of even 12-13 year old children going to prison for life without parole and being placed in an adult system. It opens your eyes to a broken prison system and shows how far we still have to go.
This was a fantastic book. I didn’t want to put the book down. I was enthralled with reading all of the cases that Mr. Stevenson was involved in, but even more that he wasn’t. I had no idea that they sent young teenage children to adult prison and how scary that must be for a child. And what it would do for them long term if they were ever released.
The story of Walter is almost unbelievable – how a man who had dozens of witnesses and were with him at the time the crime was committed is sent to prison for years and years. If it wasn’t for the perseverance of Mr. Stevenson and his non-profit, Walter would have sure been put to death.
Definitely put this book on your list. It is well written, and a necessary story to read.
Everyone should read this book. Poverty should not be punished. Nor should mental illness.
Gripping. Things we all should know about to understand how easy it is for justice to be misplaced. Bryan Stevenson is a true hero.
Excellent writing of chronology of events – historical and in real time- that explains the nature of and the genesis of racial disparity in the United States.
Very worth the read for many age groups. Greatful to know that folks like the character in this book do exist and that sometimes Justice does prevail and the broken system confronted. This book should be on the mandatory reading for high school and college students.
A must read book for all. It was difficult to read but a must read. A real look into the American Justice system. I have so much respect for the author and the work he is doing.
Wow
The author made enormous strides in creating new law to protect minors who have committed crimes. Unfortunately, justice is not blind. Quite an insight into the justice system, particularly Southern justice.
I loved this book! Bryan is such an intelligent, kind, gifted and passionate attorney. He could be at the top of any law firm, and yet, he taken his “God-given” love of people, his infinite level of skills and abilities, and he tirelessly fights for those who are often the forgotten ones. Some because they didn’t understand the situation, or they are mentally impaired; a minority, or just because they didn’t have adequate representation because their wallet was on “E.” The “unjust” part of our legal system is that many of these people who are inprisoned are innocent, but yet, they were found guilty in a court of law. This book conveys all of this in great detail.
But God has annointed an angel on earth named Bryan to help. He’s the “Superhero” of the wrongly accused. This book will have tears flowing from your eyes at times, and then you’ll be routing for him to succeed at other times. Bryan is the storyteller so that people will know what’s still going on in the world.
You will never forget this phenomenal book. It’s well worth your time. It will surely help you to get in touch with your heart, and I wish that everyone who reads this book will feel the same way.
So, spread the word! Help by donating to Bryan’s cause, so that he can continue to do God’s work in saving people’s lives, while we await his next great book.
Please read this book. You won’t be sorry.
I loved this book. Having lived in the South all my life, and this book made me cry to see how scared of change people are. And I hate the “good ole boy” atmosphere that permeates a lot of the rural areas.
Thanks for making this available on Kindle. It is a book that my book club is reading and I am looking forward to our discussion of it.
Enjoy the book
Great book about a great effort to bring justice to people
A true story that makes you sad and mad, and grateful for people who devote
their lives to helping others.
Great book. Interesting, eye-opening, sad but true.
A book that should be read by everyone, in order to understand the way justice works/ or does not work, in this country.
It should be required reading…………