Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
A Review By: SY
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.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2014
An installment in a Series? No
Narrator (s): Bryan Stevenson
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.
The author narrates the entirety of the book, and while his voice doesn't necessarily lend itself to a career in narration, the performance of his own words resonates as humble, authentic and passionate. Stevenson's story, and that of Walter McMillan, unfold in methodical and riveting fashion, and admittedly, it was hard to stop listening. It's little surprise that the book was adapted for film and has won a slew of awards.
But more important than the accolades, Stevenson’s accounts are heartbreaking and tender at once, and they tug on the listener's moral compass and heartstrings. He and Walter McMillan, while experiencing very different circumstances in life, develop a bond over a common higher purpose - challenging the system that is stacked against them both. And in the process, we witness Stevenson growing to love the people that he’s been called to defend, and his humanity shows throughout the book.
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: 5 (I need another one!)
Content Warnings? Physical abuse/violence
