Such an inspiring and interesting collection! I loved recounting the ACLU stories and appreciated the authors’ insights.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.

It took me 11 months to read this book. Why? This book is full of essays regarding Supreme Court cases fought by the ACLU that, for the most part, defend freedoms under the U.S. Constitution. It's heavy reading. It's thick reading.

Some essays are so well written, the pages turned themselves. Others did not flow as well or reveal as well and made the book harder to get through. In the year 2020, January was quite a bit different than nearly-December. Quite a bit different. This book was published in February of this year, just before the decade that is 2020 started. This entire time, every essay feels so pertinent. I thought maybe after the results of the 2020 US Presidential Election, the essays would feel less important. They still feel just as relevant.

The essay on Brandenburg V Ohio (1969) inspired me to recommend this book to a few different groups I'm in.

So even though it took me 11 months to read my ARC, I recommend it for others to read as well.

Thanks to Avid Reader Press and Netgalley for sharing these powerful essays. I learned so much about past ACLU cases that I didn’t know about. And the contemporary authors’ takes on things was very interesting. Highly recommend this title.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union, a large cross section of the finest writers alive have written essays, each about one landmark case. Chabon and his co-editor, Ayelet Waldman, contributed their advance to the organization, and all of the contributing authors did so free of charge. As for this reviewer, I’d have been interested in an ACLU publication, even if I hadn’t heard of the writers involved; and I’d have been interested in anything written by Chabon, even if the story or topic wasn’t in my lane. As it is, I count myself beyond lucky to have scored a review copy courtesy of Net Galley and Simon and Schuster. It’s for sale now.

This is the sort of book that invites skipping around, either according to subject, or according to the authors you love best. Because of this, I recommend buying it in paper rather than digitally, because flipping around out of order in digital format is a pain in the butt. Also, this is the sort of classical reference material that you’d want on your shelf. In fact, I want a physical copy for myself.

I haven’t read all of the entries, but I’ve read enough of them to recommend it to you. The cases discussed are meaty and interesting, and they aren’t the standard fodder that shows up in every undergraduate course on Constitutional law. Each entry is succinct, and the writers refrain from self-promotion. The entries I appreciate most so far are by Jesmyn Ward, who discusses the use of anti-loitering laws to transform free Black boys and men into slave laborers; Timothy Egan, who details a 1962 decision regarding the right to receive Communist literature in the U.S. mail; and Louse Erdrich, who discusses digital snooping and surveillance used against the Dakota Pipeline protesters in 2016. I know there are many more I want to read, but I am posting this now so that you can get a copy while it’s in the stores.

Here’s your chance. You can get an outstanding addition to your home library while contributing to a worthwhile organization whose work is more crucial now than ever. Highly recommended.

This book is a very interesting concept, following the ACLU through landmark court cases that they have been a part of, but it is a romanticized version. It would be nice to have dissenting opinions of each case to provide balance. There are a couple of critical essays, but I would have liked to see and ,know more of the background.

This book was enlightening. Looking at 100 years of ACLU cases, the essays within this collaboration bring history to life. The fight of individual and groups to pave the way for civil liberties for all. A beautiful portrayal of why continuing to fight for equal rights is necessary for continued progress in our society.

I don't even know where to start with this book. So powerful & uplifting. Just wow! If you aren't reading this you are a fool. The knowledge you will take away from this book is priceless.

Thank you Avid Reader press/Simon & Schuster for gifting me this DARC via Netgalley in exchnage for an honest review.

What a great idea! These are essays by modern writers about the landmark legal cases the ACLU was involved in during their first 100 years. Like all such collections, some individual parts stand out. For me, those were Tony Doerr's piece on the creationist school board and poet Morgan Parker on the Bob Jones university case. Also, I appreciate that they included Scott Turow's intelligent anger toward the ACLU for their stance on campaign finance law.

An interesting read and a great reminder of some of the legal highlights of the last century. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an incredible, and timely, book with essays by an impressive selection of authors reflecting on 100 landmark ACLU cases. Read it for the historical value. Read it for the authors. Read it as an opportunity to reflect on have far we have come and how much work is yet to be done, and how we live in a historical moment that may be threatening the progress we have made. I will looking for the hard copy of this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A landmark book covering the landmark cases the aclu fights daily.The essays written by a variety of people actors authors.A book to share with friends to discuss at bookclub s and most important to be taught in classrooms.#netgalley#fightiofthecentury

Exploring the landmark ACLU cases of the last 100 years told by a slew of incredible writers you know and love - this unique collaboration will have you coming back again and again. This book is the battle cry of the underdog, told through personal anecdotes, narrative histories, and pieces in between. Anyone fighting for justice in the world will hold this book near and dear to their heart. Can't wait to get a physical copy on my shelf. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC!

Fight of the Century is an excellent book covering 100 years of landmark cases that the ACLU has been involved in. The book was compiled with a brief summary of each case that was followed by an essay from a well-known writer discussing the impact of the case on our lives today. Some of the writers even explained h0w the cases had personally affected them. Fight of the Century is such a great collaboration that is sure to keep one's interest while educating them about the history of the ACLU and the landmark cases that have made American lives what they are today

This is a book I'll be coming back to again and again, both for my own reading and for use in courses I teach. It covers a huge range of civil rights cases, presenting them clearly and offering succinct, engaging reflections on them. This is the kind of writing, involving both research and personal reflection, that I encourage my students to do. If things go as I plan, I will use this as a class text for the first time next winter.

One of the best books I have read this year. I read it while I was reporting for jury duty, so the civil rights cases reported in this book couldn't be more relevant to this day in time. This book should be mandatory reading in any government class.

Fight of the Century explores landmark cases throughout the past 100 years that were fought with the help of the ACLU. Each essay is written by an author with a personal connection and perspective on each case, all of which are well done. I think this book would be a great addition to anyone's personal library and a good reference point for the work that has been done when it comes to civil rights, as well as what we can continue to do to promote social justice.

It was even better than I expected. I will be including it in an upcoming Book Riot piece on most anticipated upcoming titles.