Reviews for Lion in the lobby

The average rating for Lion in the lobby based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-11-24 00:00:00 Nik Joshi interesting, but a slow read...a lot more historical than I expected. mostly about her experience with the clinton admin. and the history of the voting rights act and the civil rights movement. ***** This became a lot more interesting in Chapters 9 and 10 when Guinier elaborates on her controversial thoughts on cumulative voting. I hung on her every word because her wisdom and experience was obvious. Cumulative voting and her desire to democratically include majority and minority votes, particularly in prominent elections, was highly controversial when she was nominated. [minority not just referring to racial minorities, but all minorities across party, economic, geographical lines]. Her idea at the time, however, was seen as only favoring blacks. I'd never considered her ideas so I was left to think and re-think her ideas quite a bit. Don't know if I agree or disagree, but she certainly shook up what I thought I knew. Ms. Guinier has long been part of the civil rights movement (mid 70's and 80's) and mentions working with Deval Patrick (current gvnor of Mass.) and other prominent activists when they were all "in the trenches". pretty cool. She was a bit repetitive at times and kinda annoying at the amount of detail she provided in her storytelling. Nevertheless, it's a book of historical and intellectual significance.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-03-29 00:00:00 G C Harrison I only made it through the first 2 chapters of this book. After reading 100 pages of repeated complaining about how she was misunderstood and unfairly treated I had enough. Guiner explains over and over the elements of her cumulative voting ideas. One time was fine. She complains over and over about how people treated her unfairly (welcome to politics) She moves on to complain interaction by interaction how a dozen people including President Clinton suggested she withdraw from her Justice Department nomination and how she refuses. Then she complains about characterized as "not a team player!" Oh Please! Ms. Guiner is obviously a very bright, insightful, courageous individual with wonderful ideas. She sounds like she was an exceptional civil rights lawyer. And she clearly is not politically savvy. Her writing is slow repetitive and boring and her repeated "mea NO culpas" are tiring. I did not read on to find out how she presented her behavior in the not paying taxes for an employee part. If anyone wants this book let me know and I will mail it too you.