The decision to pick up this book and read it was 100% influenced by the fact that I'm currently sitting on the jury of a trial that's been going on for weeks, so all of a sudden I find myself more interested in the legal process and where some of the courtroom norms come from. That said, reading about Lincoln's days as a lawyer and how it was that career that launched his eventual Presidency, rather than an extensive career in politics, was really fascinating. I enjoyed reading about how Lincoln's personality as a lawyer so clearly influenced the President he would become, the respect he seems to have always commanded despite being largely self-taught, and how his work as a defense lawyer in this murder trial and other trials tied into to his anti-slavery beliefs and his pragmatic approach to that topic.

Beyond learning about Lincoln himself, the details given to the important and new concept of a courtroom stenographer in this trial, the evolution of the law, and comparing a trial of the mid-19th century with the trial I'm witnessing today were all aspects that made this book a terrific read. I definitely recommend for anyone who want some insight into the history of the U.S. legal system.