My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir

My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir
by Clarence Thomas

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Book Summary Information

Author: Clarence Thomas
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-14
ISBN: 006056556X
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Harper Perennial

Book Reviews of My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir

Book Review: Interesting read, I suppose...
Summary: 3 Stars

I picked up this book after reading the scores of positive reviews on Amazon and was looking for something to give me a little more depth into Clarence Thomas' character. I admit that I was drawn to look for more only after reading Randall Kennedy's book, "Sellout" and having my interest piqued by an entire chapter devoted to the popular notion of Clarence Thomas being the quintessential "Sellout." (Please note this is NOT the position of the author, Kennedy, merely an observation that he dedicates roughly a chapter to in his book.)

I have to say that the book was an engrossing read, but almost in the way that McDonald's is an engrossing meal - that is to say, I worked my way through it engaged and interested, but left with a little bit of discomfort after finishing it. I acknowledge that the book gives the reader a very clear lens through which to understand Clarence Thomas the man and his own construction of race relations, having grown up in difficult circumstances in a de facto "Segregated South." I was, however, perhaps a little more disappointed that all of his life experiences amount to little more than a bitterness that the advent of affirmative actions led to the questioning of all of his own achievements by his white, liberal peers despite his own hard work. He comes across as a fiercely intelligent and hard working, but a mean, petty jerk and what is clear is that this meanness pervades his own perceptions of white reactions to his accomplishments. By the end of the book, it becomes difficult to parse out how much of his narrative is a deliberate personal ideology and how much of it is simply the musings of a man with the world's biggest chip on his shoulder. This of course, is not the fault of the writing, which was well executed and a pleasure to read.

For what it's worth, I have read quite a few of Thomas' opinions and find them to be weak to average (compared to other justices') at best, and I do not consider him to be one of the great legal minds of the court. I would have to say that my opinion of him remains generally unchanged through the reading of this memoir, but I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for insight into this cryptic, quiet justice.

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Summary of My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir

Provocative, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest, My Grandfather's Son is the story of one of America's most remarkable and controversial leaders, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, told in his own words. Thomas speaks out, revealing the pieces of his life he holds dear, detailing the suffering and injustices he has overcome, including the acrimonious and polarizing Senate hearing involving a former aide, Anita Hill, and the depression and despair it created in his own life and the lives of those closest to him. In this candid and deeply moving memoir, a quintessential American tale of hardship and grit, Clarence Thomas recounts his astonishing journey for the first time.

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