The deservedly popular criminal-defense and general law blogger weighs in on my new book. It’s a great review and these are some of my favorite passages:
…In Schools For Misrule: Legal Academia and an Overlawyered America, Walter aims both barrels and pulls the trigger. The book is classic Olson, witty, caustic and facially challenging to the Academy. The poke in the ribs is unmistakable, and early signs are that it’s going to get a rise out of some of the more intellectually honest lawprofs….
While the use of law schools as an incubator of liberal politics may not cause you to break out in hives, you may find Walter to be awfully persuasive in challenging simplistic notions of right and wrong, good and evil, that characterize political correctness. If your interest extends beyond people applauding you for agreeing with them, and actually comes anywhere near achieving a better understanding of issues and interests at stake, then Walter’s challenge may give you pause to rethink your knee-jerk reactions. He may not turn you into a full-time libertarian, but he will add enormously to your understanding of what’s at stake and why the solutions aren’t nearly as clear and easy as you thought. …
…What Walter Olson offers in Schools for Misrule is a challenge to the Academy to clean up its act, stop teaching liberalism as the only good policy and keep their mitts off the minds of our future leaders. … it’s left to the rest of us, lawyers, pundits and those few lawprofs who have the guts to challenge their brethren, even in the typical tepid tones that characterize communications between intellectuals, to hold their feet to the fire.
I could raise a quibble here or there — “environment of overwhelming leftism” is a reviewer’s wording, not mine, and I don’t remember characterizing any recent American presidents as “extremist,” least of all Bill Clinton — but that would be churlish in the face of such a nice review. I’m going to send Scott the signed copy, too.
2 Comments
The great reviews just keep rolling in. Congrats on its success.
But caustic, not the WO that I know and have been reading for a very long time (as the Internet goes, ten years is a long time). A bit sardonic perhaps, but never caustic.
Clearly the right book at the right time.
I too liked the book very much. I thought its power came from Mr. Olson’s sober exposition. He lets the facts speak for themselves.