The Unstoppable Ruth Bader Ginsburg: American Icon

by Antonia Felix, Mimi Leder (Foreword)

“This is an adoring photo history that wonderfully shows Ginsburg in her private life as well as public.” — Publishers Weekly This unofficial pictorial retrospective celebrates and honors the barrier-breaking achievements of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020), and is the first comprehensive, fully illustrated bio-pic book on her life and work. Not only did Ruth Bader Ginsburg—the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court—possess one of the greatest legal minds of our time, she was an admired cultural icon whose work on behalf of gender equality, and whose unprecedented career itself, indelibly changed American society. This gorgeously illustrated book, published in 2018 on her 25th anniversary as a justice of the Supreme Court, celebrates Ginsburg’s legacy with 130 photographs, inspiring quotes, highlights from notable speeches and judicial opinions, and insightful commentary.

Features a foreword by Mimi Leder, award-winning filmmaker and director of the 2018 major motion picture about RBG, On the Basis of Sex .

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, Feminism, History, Own, Biography Memoir

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 9, 2018

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful coffee table style book is filled with pictures of RBG with her family, colleagues, and friends. Not only do you learn about the lawyer and the justice.....you learn about the passionate human being who cannot help but follow her own beliefs while playing fair at court. Her opinions and speeches are beautifully written, and are perfect examples of creative and critical thinking written for a complex world. This is a quick read and an excellent way to get to know our rock star justice and to learn about how she has changed society. Throughout you observe her dedication to civility among friends and among opponents alike, and there is some description about how the court system works. A self indulgent comment: I was quite delighted to see that Justice Ginsberg's funkier clothes look a lot like mine and my favorite photo is of RBG holding up another picture of then First Lady Hillary Clinton reading to the justice's granddaughter's nursery school class some years ago.

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. My gosh, but RBG was such a badass.
This isn't what I'd call a "serious" or scholarly biography, and that's perfectly OK because it doesn't pretend to be. Rather, it is a quick, interesting, and, yep, fun, biographical sketch interspersed with excerpts from RBG's speeches, writing, judicial opinions, and interviews. There are also lots of terrific photos. Some are posed, such as portraits from her engagement, graduations, and various professional milestones. Many are candid photos with family & friends. It just so happens she had a LOT of famous friends. It really gives the reader a taste for her brilliant mind, but also her rapier-sharp wit.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the millions of admirers of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this coffee-table size book is an absolute treasure. Outstanding photos highlight her early life through her judicial career, family moments captured, social gatherings with political leaders, attending and participating in the opera she so dearly loved. In her own words, we read some of her remarks (she didn't give speeches) to law students and the many women's and legal organizations around the world who wanted to hear from this wise, witty, resilient woman. One of her remarks details the day-to-day life in the Supreme Court, how the year is allotted, where they lunch, how decisions are announced, how the court has become more divided, the importance of dissent rulings, the collegiality that is essential to the process. I learned so much about the Court and realize that these nine humans are given an extraordinary task to make sense of the cases and laws challenged before them. This book was published two years before Ginsburg's death in 2020. Highly recommend it.

[Chrissa Kuntz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I really liked about this book was that it included the full text of some of her speeches -- my favorites being a speech delivered to new citizens at their citizenship ceremony (imagine RBG administering the oath of citizenship to you!) and a speech given on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

[C.a. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I talks about her life and her quest to end discrimination towards women. Tons of photos on such a brilliant woman. Great read.

[Dorothy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful photo/text table-top book about the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice of the Supreme Court. I've known of her by name for many years, but this book and the movie ON THE BASIS OF SEX have made me a real fan. Well-known non-fiction writer Antonia Felix has done a great job of assembling significant historical data about RBG (as she is commonly known with great affection), along with the texts of some of her significant speeches and dissenting opinions as a justice, AND incredibly beautiful photographs that capture RBG in action. This volume is a great intro to this amazing woman and leads the reader (this one anyway) to want MORE. I LOVED this book!

[Mary Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book and learned so much from reading it and seeing the photos. The first thing that strikes you is how bravely "unstoppable" Ruth Bader Ginsburg is. She came from humble beginnings, worked very hard, valued education, overcame many personal and physical obstacles --and ultimately devoted her life to doing good for others. Several of her actual "speeches" are included in her exact words. She is a champion of equality for all, no matter the sex, race, religion or sexual preferences.
Secondly, I learned a great deal about the Supreme Court--how decisions are made, how dissension is handled, how voting is done, how the justices interact. Also, I learned about the judicial system.
The book is packed with wonderful photos, which meet its purpose of giving a "picture" of RBG, but I want to know more....I guess I will have to get another book to find more details.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Notorious RBG. I don't care what your politics are, this woman is badass. This is a book not so much written by Felix as it is compiled by her. I'm not complaining, just explaining. Felix does write a brief introduction to each of the parts but then allows RBGs own words, from various speeches she's given, to do the rest of the talking. Accompanying the text are wonderful photos of RBG throughout her life and career. The book was published in 2018 so RBGs passing isn't included.

I admire RBG for a lot of reasons but a couple of reasons are her ability to speak thoughtfully and with intention. The other I am choosing to highlight right now is her ability to see beyond political divides/differences and forge relationships with people she fundamentally disagreed with. Her longtime, close friendship with Judge Scalia is evidence of her ability to hold it together and see beyond such big gaps.

I miss her. The Court and our Nation are bereft without her presence and voice in these especially troubling times.

[Mary Pryor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about the life of Justice Ginsburg gave me a true respect for her determination paving the way for women during her time and into the future made me more determined to do my best in these areas. She was truly an advocate for women in and out of the court. Her early years show her commitment to making life more attainable for women of all races, ages to gain rights and privileges previously denied them. This is truly a good read.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Respect her even more!

The story was written with a broad brush across her life experiences. At every step she showed GRIT. ,The title unstoppable is prefect. She had many obstacles to overcome in order to get to her goals. She is an inspiration of what it means to have empathy and put others before self. We need more examples of her morals and values in our Democracy.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg's quotation, "If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself. Something to repair tears in your community. Something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you." (page 148)

I can see that she followed/follows this principle on her life's journey.

It would be such an honor to meet her in person!

[LaShana Claude]

Speaking truth to power. No sellout. She doesn't speak often but when she does people pay attention because she came with a sound mind to embody justice, not deliver it. Should the police or the president happen to enter her court, she will want to dismiss herself to care for her own things because America the beautiful isn't as pretty today as it will be tomorrow. American Icon.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read of this excellent coffee table pictorial biography of RBG aptly called unstoppable. There is much to learn about her,from her, and about the other Supremes I especially enjoyed her acceptance speech and photos of her family. She is also quite unforgettable!

[Sonia Gionet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life of RBG is fascinating and I wanted to learn more, but this book fell a little flat for me. I feel as though I have to read another book to learn more about the changes she made that made her WHO she was in American history

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great pictorial history of Ruth Bader Ginsburg! I learned some things that I didn’t know about this great woman!

[Mrs. Shirley J. Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read

The words of April 2018 swearing in ceremony should be read in classrooms in every high school in the United States of America.
Thank You Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

[Victoria B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at Supreme Court justice RBG's background and influence - specifically in the fight for gender equality.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coffee table style book but worth reading every word.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of speeches she gave or others comments about her. Interesting and a quick read. Nothing too new.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman is a saint! I pray everyday for her health and well being. Roll her up in bubble wrap and keep her safe!

[Karen Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolutely amazing woman!

[Dan Cotter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book, with some of RBG’s biography and some of her speeches and presentations. It is a nicely done book, with some amazing photos.

[Kelly Ann Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and educational short read full of pictures of and speeches from RBG

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an real fan of RBG. Nice book of photos, brief bio and some speeches. Hope she lasts a long time.

[Lindsay McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s perfect for a coffee table - inspirational and comprehensive with beautiful pictures to remind you of the life and legacy of the Notorious RBG

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can never go wrong with a book about RBG.

[Fallon Sarazin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful look into the workings of RBG.

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful biography of a truly stellar judge, featuring excepts of speeches, photos, quotes from those who knew RBG, and more. Highly recommended.

[Sandy Kosiek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting on how much she accomplished !

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I only knocked off a star because I wish it would have been more in-depth about her life, but for what it is it’s fantastic. Great coffee table book.