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Feb 26, 2011

Bob rated it:

Many years ago I read a couple of Scott Turow's legal mystery's and a couple of years ago I read "One L" about his experience in law school a wonderful perceptive and descriptive non-fiction piece. I picked up Ultimate Punishment to see what this smart guy has to say about Capital Punishment. Turns out he has a ton to say.

In 2001 or 2002 Turow was appointed by the governor of Illinois to a blue ribbon committee to examine capital punishment in the state. In this book More...

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Nov 29, 2010

David rated it:

This is a thoughtful, even-handed examination of the merits and demerits of the death penalty. The author concludes that because the justice system in our democracy is essentially incapable of adopting all of the specific reforms necessary to make the death penalty fair, equitable, appropriate, and less prone to error, it should be abolished. In other words, if you can't get it right, then you shouldn't get it. He gave little attention to the prospect that the death penalty sends a message th More...

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Nov 23, 2010

Paul rated it:

Scott Turow was part of a committee appointed by then-Illinois governor George Ryan to examine capital punishment and how it can be improved, or if should be abolished altogether. Ultimate Punishment is Turow’s experience on this panel, which spent 2 years investigating capital punishment, coupled with his other experiences as a lawyer.

Luckily, Turow is not just another extremist advocating only one side. He approaches the issue by carefully examining the consequences of having a de More...

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Mar 23, 2011

SueAnn rated it:

Really interesting stuff. I listened to the audio version. One point that Turow makes is that our founding fathers recognized slavery and capital punishment. While we no longer agree with slavery, has our opinion on capital punishment changed as well?

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Feb 18, 2009

James rated it:

It's OK. This is a lawyer's contemplation. It should not be confused with philosophical contemplation. As a lawyer, Turow is excellent. He spots issues. He sees different points of view. He even persuasively puts on arguments on both sides, and convincingly reaches his own conclusions using his political and prosecutorial experiences. But don't expect any profound insight and meditative breakthroughs. His use of examples is sparse and a little confusing.

The book raises more More...

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Aug 03, 2008

Sara rated it:

Turow was asked by the Governor of Illinois to participate in a commission to review and recommend reforms for capital punishment. I liked his self-label of being a death penalty agnostic and can probably apply it to myself. He addressed many facets of the capital punishment system including the investigation, eligibility, the prosecutions decision to seek the death penalty, the trial, and review of the sentencing.

At the end of the book I was no more certain about my stance on the More...

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May 26, 2010

M rated it:

Strong argument for monitoring of cases where the defendant has been remanded to death. Actual factual examples of cases before the Illinois Commission on the Death Penalty that were overturned due to several improper criminanl procedures, including suppression of evidence, trumped up charges, lies, deliberate with holding of information, filing of false reports and includes issues that the victims have to contend with. Recommended.

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Dec 18, 2011

Andrew rated it:

Solid book by an accomplished, seasoned writer. Turow has the gift of being able to see events from more than one perspective. His account of his days on the capital punishment commission during Illinois' moratorium on the death penalty in the early 2000's is well-paced, nuanced, and balanced. Would make a very good complement to Helen Prejean's Dead Man Walking.

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May 12, 2010

Christina rated it:

I've always enjoyed Turow's legal thrillers, so seeing him put his formidable intelligence to the question of the death penalty was enjoyable as well. I was already inclined to agree with his opinion (the death penalty is wrong) but I was appreciated the exploration of different concerns. But would this book change the mind of a death penalty supporter? I'm not so sure.

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Jun 26, 2009

Rob rated it:

Read this book if you haven't already made up your mind about the death penalty, or if you're pro-death penalty and willing to have your thoughts challenged. As an opponent of the death penalty, I wasn't particularly moved. Still, Turow's a great writer (if needlessly self-promoting) and I share many of his views. Plus, at 120 pages, it's a quick read.

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Dec 20, 2007

Carin rated it:

Mr. Turow was on the committee in Illinois that looked into the way the death penalty has been applied, to see if there should be a moratorium on it, as the governor has suggested after a large number of capitol cases were found, upon appeal, to have been in error (DNA proven in 50% of the cases). This brief book is the result. It is fair look at the system, from people on many sides of the argument, investigating everything from the financial costs to the racial makeup of the convictions, and More...

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Apr 04, 2011

Lisa rated it:

Kind of interesting how it is decided who gets life in prison & who gets a death sentence. This was research done for a report & recommendation by over 20 lawyers & others for the state of Illinois when their death penalty was put on hold.

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Feb 04, 2012

Ryan rated it:

A good general discussion of the major issues surrounding the death penalty. The author weighs heavily on his personal experience, and most examples and specific policies are taken from Illinois (to the exclusion of other states with different issues).

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Jul 25, 2011

ReginaDM rated it:

Helped give me new reasons behind why I do not support the death penalty from the perspective of what our criminal justice system says of us as a culture, and what we expect of it as a system built by humans.

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Dec 05, 2008

Kecia rated it:

This book forced me to challenge all preconceptions I had about the death penalty and ask myself if I could pull the lever. I could not.

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Jul 26, 2009

Clifford rated it:

This book didn't change my mind because I was already firmly opposed to the death penalty, but I did appreciate the close examination of the issues by a lawyer who has examined them closely and thoughtfully.

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Aug 08, 2009

Marik rated it:

A compassionate and logical book of essays about the death penalty, one which examines the issue from many, perhaps all, sides.

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Oct 01, 2010

Dorothea rated it:

If you wanted someone to shed light on the complexities and debate on capital punishment, read this.

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Oct 25, 2009

Natasha rated it:

This book definitely opened my eyes to many issues surrounding the death penalty.

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 27, 2011

Ari rated it:

its greatest weakness is that it is too short

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Dec 10, 2010

Sandyboy rated it:

excellent balanced discussion

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Apr 28, 2009

Louis rated it:

A very thought-provoking book on the death penalty. Turow is best known for his legal novels, but he is also an accomplished and well-respected lawyer. This book recounts his time on a commission in Illinois reviewing the death penalty both philosophically and in practical application. While it did not change my mind as far as supporting the death penalty in theory, it did enlighten me to flaws in the system that need to be corrected as we go forward.

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Jul 27, 2011

Lindsay rated it:

I found this book a very enlightening, multifaceted review of issues surrounding capital punishment. It is also pretty graphic, and some of the descriptions made me physically ill. They were germane to the topic and it wouldn't have been as effective without explaining the crimes that, according to the judicial system, deserved ultimate punishment.

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Apr 25, 2008

Robin rated it:

I wasn't sure what to expect, but this turned out to be a very good, thought-provoking look at the death penalty. Turow did an excellent job of depicting his own struggles in coming to a personal conclusion on the death penaalty, and in doing so, it really felt like a fair and balanced view. It definitely made me take a look at my own values.

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Dec 17, 2009

Clare is currently reading it

This is a much better discussion of death-penalty issues than the last one I read, "Actual Innocence". Turow is perfectly even-handed and thoughtful, whereas Scheck et. al were frequently preachy and purple. So far, very good.

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Sep 10, 2009

Annalisa rated it:

I read this book because I received a free copy when I worked at the same firm as Mr. Turow. It's not as dry as I thought it would have been.

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Apr 18, 2008

Katrina rated it:

Even if you are not a lawyer this is a great book about the death penalty if you have ever been interested in the costs and effect and why it's so controversial.

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Aug 17, 2010

Jeff rated it:

Considerably better than I thought it would be. I didn't expect it to change my views on the subject but it did slightly.

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Jul 27, 2008

Lauren rated it:

Interesting, but I already knew a lot of what happened with the commission Gov. Ryan appointed from watching "Deadline."

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Sep 30, 2010

Kaethe rated it:

Whatever reasons one might have for supporting the death penalty in the US, Turow ably explains why it has to go.

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