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Audiobook Review: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Saturday Nite Reader21 Comments

“capital punishment means them without the capital get the punishment.”
― Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: October 21, 2014 by Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Category: Nonfiction, Memoir, Social Justice, Law
Warwick Prize for Writing Nominee for Longlist (2015), Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Non-Fiction (2015), NAIBA Book of the Year for Nonfiction (2015), Andrew Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction (2015), Kirkus Prize Nominee for Nonfiction (Finalist) (2014), Alabama Author Award for Nonfiction (2016)

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This book will certainly be one of my Top 5 reads from 2019 there is NO doubt about it.

Download this audiobook now, you can thank me later. 

Upon graduating from Harvard Law School, Bryan Stevenson would find himself in Alabama – a state in which I became disgusted by their judicial system (what you did to Walter McMillian is unforgiveable) – where he would found a non-profit organization called the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). At the EJI, he would represent those wrongfully accused on death row, the poor and disadvantaged whose previous counsel did them absolutely no service, and the overlooked mentally ill.

“Proximity has taught me some basic and humbling truths, including this vital lesson: Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. Finally, I’ve come to believe that the true measure of our commitment to justice, the character of our society, our commitment to the rule of law, fairness, and equality cannot be measured by how we treat the rich, the powerful, the privileged, and the respected among us. The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.”
― Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

Upon hearing about these cases I found myself flabbergasted at the outcomes of the sentences. I kept thinking to myself “How is this rationally possible?!” I was rip-roaring mad and felt lost as to what any of us could do once a sentence was delivered. Bryan Stevenson never tired and never gave up.

Bryan narrated his own memoir – something I’ve always thought was extremely powerful – and kept your attention even during the truly difficult parts. His tone was even and his calmness almost soothed you when all you wanted to do was scream. He is an exceptional human being. This book is a MUST listen/read: MUST.

Look out for the movie Just Mercy starring Michael B. Jordan in January 2020.

Have you read Just Mercy? What non-fiction book has stuck with you? Do tell!

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Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble
Indigo
Amazon UK

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Please note: this post contains B&N, Indigo, and Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase this book through the links above I will earn a small fee; at no additional cost to you. This will help me purchase more books to read and recommend to you all!

 

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

21 thoughts on “Audiobook Review: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson”

  1. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. This book. OMG. I read it in 2017 and was utterly blown away by every word. Like you, I spent a good portion of the book trying not to scream, because HOW are we still doing this to people? What is WRONG with us??? This book is definitely one that will stick with me forever and it’s one on my permanent ‘recommend to everyone’ list. I’m glad you enjoyed it so very much!!!

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  3. I wonder if my cousin has read this. She is the director of Virginians for Justice Reform and is VERY passionate about such issues. I will pass this along to her and might read it myself. Thanks for the review.

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    • I’m hit or miss, it has to be a stellar narrator and I will admit that I’ve enjoyed a few audiobooks more than I would have it I read the book on my own. I especially love nonfiction memoirs narrated by the author, it adds something special.

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