Defending Jacob

by William Landay

Now, let us agree that we may pronounce whatever laws we like for this clever little creature, still it would be unwise to pet him.”

it. Laurie had a theory that the mess was a projection of Jacob’s inner life—that stepping into his bedroom was like stepping into his chaotic teenage mind—so

A good marriage drags a long tail of memory behind it. A single word or gesture, a tone of voice can conjure up so many remembrances.

no one worth knowing can be quite known, no one worth possessing can be quite possessed—but

actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea—“the act does not create guilt unless the mind is also guilty.”

innocent or guilty, the accusation is itself a devastating punishment. Every defendant pays a price.

Confirmation bias is the tendency to see things in your environment that confirm your preconceived ideas and not see things that conflict with what you already believe.

child. Sperm + egg = murderer—something like that.

Damage hardens us all. It will harden you too, when it finds you—and it will find you.