Roe, Mary Ziegler
Roe, Mary Ziegler
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Roe
The History of a National Obsession

Author: Mary Ziegler

Narrator: Chelsea Stephens

Unabridged: 6 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/24/2023

Synopsis

The leading US expert on abortion law charts the many meanings associated with Roe v. Wade during its fifty-year historyWhat explains the insistent pull of Roe v. Wade? Abortion law expert Mary Ziegler argues that the US Supreme Court decision, which decriminalized abortion in 1973 and was overturned in 2022, had a hold on us that was not simply the result of polarized abortion politics. Rather, Roe took on meanings far beyond its original purpose of protecting the privacy of the doctor-patient relationship. It forced us to confront questions about sexual violence, judicial activism and restraint, racial justice, religious liberty, the role of science in politics, and much more.In this history of what the Supreme Court’s best-known decision has meant, Ziegler identifies the inconsistencies and unsettled issues in our abortion politics. She urges us to rediscover the nuance that has long resided where we would least expect to find it—in the meaning of Roe itself.

About Mary Ziegler

Mary Ziegler is the Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis, School of Law, and the author of six books on the law, history, and politics of abortion and American conservatism.

About Chelsea Stephens

Chelsea Stephens is an experienced voice actor with a talent for mystery, sci-fi, and YA novels. She won an AudioFile Earphones Award for her narration of Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter. She has a longtime love and appreciation for the performing arts, with experience in onstage acting, singing, and voice-over. Her love for reading books and the pursuit of the story led her to narration. She enjoys unfolding characters and bringing listeners into new worlds.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alex on December 25, 2023

The fact that I made it through this entire book on Christmas Day should tell you how good it is. It's readable, accessible, and really important right now. Don't let the death of Roe v. Wade stop you from reading it: let it obligate you to. Having read Mary Ziegler's "Dollars for Life," I knew that......more

Goodreads review by Rick on December 26, 2024

It’s a reasonable history, and I greatly appreciate the relatively neutral tone. It’s abbreviated and clipped in a way that left me wanting more.......more

Goodreads review by Valerie on March 11, 2024

A very solid political and social history of the issues surrounding the Roe decision that is a must read no matter where you fall on this issue. It helps if you have a solid understanding of the process of US legislation, lobbying, and administrative law and how they work together.......more

Goodreads review by Anjali on March 03, 2023

Ziegler's first goal in 'Roe' is to convince you that America's enduring fascination with Roe v. Wade is completely perplexing. This was a difficult premise for me to accept, because... well why wouldn't it be? The judicial decision protected womens' reproductive autonomy for half a century until it......more

Goodreads review by Hunter on August 10, 2024

I really loved this books ability to compile a giant chunk of information into an organized and short book. I genuinely think I’ve expanded my knowledge on the abortion debate and the intricacies of the legal struggles with the issue. Recommend to anyone trying to get a good basis of info on an impo......more

Quotes

“An accessible and timely primer on the many meanings Roe has accrued in American politics, law, and culture across half a century, deepening our understanding of this polarizing constitutional landmark.” Ken Kersch, author of Conservatives and the Constitution

“Mary Ziegler offers a brilliant and insightful analysis of the fascinating ways in which our nation’s understanding of the abortion issue has evolved over the half-century since Roe was decided.” Geoffrey R. Stone, author of Sex and the Constitution

“With the landmark Supreme Court abortion decision as its lens, Roe offers a vivid view of the half-century of political, legal, and social conflicts over judicial activism, women’s rights, the place of religion in America, racial justice, sexuality, regional and class differences—while illuminating shifting political party positioning and pivotal individuals who resist the easy labels of polarized politics.” Martha Minow, 300th University Professor at Harvard University

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