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Reginald Rose's Twelve Angry Men: A Play in Three Acts
Courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a boy accused of killing his father, where one man stands between him and capital punishment.
63 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 24, 2024
They ruined the ending! This is one of the true great American stories, and they ruined it! Henry Fonda would be so sad!
October 10, 2022
Phenomenal piece. Even my sweet, stupid little sophomores loved it.
February 7, 2017
This was surprisingly.. good. I actually enjoyed the story, the characters, and their development as Juror Eight influenced them.
February 3, 2020
Definitely not my favorite book I’ve read for school but far from the worst.
November 20, 2025
I read this fully through probably 40 times plus individual passages a ton more as I memorized my lines for Juror #3 so my cast mates and I could act out the play in our local theater. Each time we ran through it, and I saw how my fellow actors chose to play their unnamed characters, I feel like I understood one more nugget of what makes them who they are to vote the way they do.
As for my character, I chose to play her as a mother with an estranged adult son who is married to an emotionally-unavailable man who works too much. She’s a middle management customer service representative who deals with unhappy clients all day and is relieved that she can use jury duty as an outlet to let out all those feelings. She holds out until the bitter end - literally the last words of the play - and caves not because of what the others say, necessarily, but because she realizes she can’t bully others into agreeing with her and her emotions bubble up and she has to admit to herself and the group that she was wrong, which is very hard for her.
This would have been very hard to just read and not see on the stage.
As for my character, I chose to play her as a mother with an estranged adult son who is married to an emotionally-unavailable man who works too much. She’s a middle management customer service representative who deals with unhappy clients all day and is relieved that she can use jury duty as an outlet to let out all those feelings. She holds out until the bitter end - literally the last words of the play - and caves not because of what the others say, necessarily, but because she realizes she can’t bully others into agreeing with her and her emotions bubble up and she has to admit to herself and the group that she was wrong, which is very hard for her.
This would have been very hard to just read and not see on the stage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
I read this play in the late 1960s, in my teens; I’ve enjoyed the 1957 movie production a couple of times in my life. Prior to the 2024 Presidential election, the clip from that movie wherein Juror 10 goes on a rant about “these people” was promoted as a suggestion of comparison to one of the candidates in November 2024. (It is, in my opinion, a fair comparison to the person who won that election.) 12 Angry Men is one of those books/novels/stage-plays that everyone should read and absorb at least once in their lives.
November 5, 2025
For such a short play, there is a great deal to unpack here. Lots of interesting characterization throughout and great exploration of rhetorical strategies to explore. Could be really interesting to use to teach rhetorical strategy and then stage a classroom trial based on the evidence presented.
Very interesting and quick read.
Very interesting and quick read.
November 28, 2025
I’ve assigned 5 different classes to read this play over the last 5 years. Every single class enjoys it, and is hungry to learn more about our judicial system, the 1950’s, and playwriting in general. This is truly a timeless piece of literature!!! It is amazing how relevant it still is today!
June 3, 2024
Just like the movie if the movie was a neat little free library find!
February 3, 2025
would i have read this if i was not in it ? 100% no. will it be counting towards my yearly reading goal ? 100% yes.
March 24, 2025
I love this classic.
August 30, 2025
This was umm wow
September 17, 2025
read for my high school play!!!
October 13, 2025
Read with the love of my life and I was fond of his accent of Juror #11
November 19, 2025
Overall loved it! However, I felt the ending was rushed and I didn’t like the intimidation element towards the end.
May 11, 2024
This was a fun read. Interesting to read all their opinions.
March 21, 2022
I decide to read Twelve Angry Men because my school had performed the play a few years ago. My teacher had it in her library so I thought I’d give it a try. I really like plays, so I thought it would be really interesting to read it as a book.
Twelve Angry Men is a three-act play about a jury who must determine if a man is guilty of murdering his father. The jury begins as 11-1 and only one man thinks he is not guilty, so they must discuss. He convinces the jury and people slowly start to turn to his side, and after lots of fighting it eventually becomes 6-6. The foreman decides that they should take a vote to decide if they are a hung jury or not, and it is also a 6-6 vote. One man decides to change his vote and they continue their discussion. Some characters are much timider and rarely engage in the conversation, while jurors three and eight are the most talkative and have been arguing throughout the duration of the play. By the end, it is 11-1 and juror three is the only one left. Everyone has made their case as to why the man is not guilty but three won’t go over until everyone is on the opposite side of the room from him and yells the facts at him until he finally cracks and walks to the other side of the room, admitting that there is reasonable doubt of the man's guilt.
I really enjoyed this story. It was interesting to see how my opinion changed with the jurors. I originally thought it was clear the man was guilty, but as juror eight continued to explain the reasons for the man’s innocence, my opinions began to change. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that I read this as a play because I got to imagine it in my mind, but there was less left up to my imagination as there were cues for the actors and detailed descriptions of the scene throughout the book. One other thing I really enjoyed was how there is a description of each character at the beginning of the book, so I felt familiar with the characters when I began to read. Overall, this has been one of my favorite books that I’ve read lately.
One thing I didn’t like about this book is that the characters don’t have names. I think it can get confusing as they are only called their numbers (1-12) except for juror one who is called the foreman. I really liked this book and was hooked the whole time, but there were times when I was confused as to who was who. That was really my only critique of this book. It was usually very clear as to who the more major characters were and what their thoughts were, but when the smaller characters interjected sometimes I couldn’t really remember who it was. I think that this would not be an issue on the stage as you can associate each number with a physical person in front of you.
Twelve Angry Men is a three-act play about a jury who must determine if a man is guilty of murdering his father. The jury begins as 11-1 and only one man thinks he is not guilty, so they must discuss. He convinces the jury and people slowly start to turn to his side, and after lots of fighting it eventually becomes 6-6. The foreman decides that they should take a vote to decide if they are a hung jury or not, and it is also a 6-6 vote. One man decides to change his vote and they continue their discussion. Some characters are much timider and rarely engage in the conversation, while jurors three and eight are the most talkative and have been arguing throughout the duration of the play. By the end, it is 11-1 and juror three is the only one left. Everyone has made their case as to why the man is not guilty but three won’t go over until everyone is on the opposite side of the room from him and yells the facts at him until he finally cracks and walks to the other side of the room, admitting that there is reasonable doubt of the man's guilt.
I really enjoyed this story. It was interesting to see how my opinion changed with the jurors. I originally thought it was clear the man was guilty, but as juror eight continued to explain the reasons for the man’s innocence, my opinions began to change. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that I read this as a play because I got to imagine it in my mind, but there was less left up to my imagination as there were cues for the actors and detailed descriptions of the scene throughout the book. One other thing I really enjoyed was how there is a description of each character at the beginning of the book, so I felt familiar with the characters when I began to read. Overall, this has been one of my favorite books that I’ve read lately.
One thing I didn’t like about this book is that the characters don’t have names. I think it can get confusing as they are only called their numbers (1-12) except for juror one who is called the foreman. I really liked this book and was hooked the whole time, but there were times when I was confused as to who was who. That was really my only critique of this book. It was usually very clear as to who the more major characters were and what their thoughts were, but when the smaller characters interjected sometimes I couldn’t really remember who it was. I think that this would not be an issue on the stage as you can associate each number with a physical person in front of you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2025
this story is a master class in dialogue and subtle charactor writing.
the vast majority of the characters are very well developed, and each have distinct personalities. I have not seen the play, or the movie though, so this is my only view point of this particular story, which may be why I rated it so high, as I've glanced over other reviews that claim it to be worse than the original.
I wasn't quite expecting it to be as much of a play as it was, so if you don't want to read a play, then DO NOT GET THIS BOOK. I still enjoyed it though, even if I was surprised by this. it's much more of a play than most plays, if that makes sense. for example, when I'm reading Shakespeare, it seems as if it could somewhat be seen as a regular book, but 12 angry men is definitely a play.
semi-spoiler: I think the biggest thing I didn't like from it was that the woman in the el train didn't necessarily get foreshadowed as to what accessories she wore. (if you know, you know) and I think the book should have told us about that sooner, instead of randomly bringing it up. but I enjoy that the entire book acts as if we've already seen what happened previously. for example, it shows what the jurors are like, rather then telling us early on. we need to learn who they are.
the vast majority of the characters are very well developed, and each have distinct personalities. I have not seen the play, or the movie though, so this is my only view point of this particular story, which may be why I rated it so high, as I've glanced over other reviews that claim it to be worse than the original.
I wasn't quite expecting it to be as much of a play as it was, so if you don't want to read a play, then DO NOT GET THIS BOOK. I still enjoyed it though, even if I was surprised by this. it's much more of a play than most plays, if that makes sense. for example, when I'm reading Shakespeare, it seems as if it could somewhat be seen as a regular book, but 12 angry men is definitely a play.
semi-spoiler: I think the biggest thing I didn't like from it was that the woman in the el train didn't necessarily get foreshadowed as to what accessories she wore. (if you know, you know) and I think the book should have told us about that sooner, instead of randomly bringing it up. but I enjoy that the entire book acts as if we've already seen what happened previously. for example, it shows what the jurors are like, rather then telling us early on. we need to learn who they are.
January 25, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This is the 1983 play based upon the 1957 movie of the same name.
This remarkable play is not about the murder trial itself, but about the process of deliberation that comes after it. How do twelve men come to a unanimous decision on the guilt or innocence of a young male teenager?
The jurors are all from the same city but they reflect different socio-economic classes. Race is not assigned to any of the characters. However, "the kid" on trial is from the "slums" of the city. Juror #10 openly classifies this group of people as "them". They "...don't know what the truth is... they get drunk, and bang, someone's lying in the gutter... Oh sure, there are some good things about them, too..."
There is a benefit in not including race. Society has so many different groups of people that are stereotyped and picked on, that the lessons learned here can be applied across the board. (I'm thinking racial minorities, immigrants, LGBTQI, anyone "other" than who we are 😞).
As far as reading the play - it helped me to list two or three key words describing each juror, from what was included in the Notes on Characters and Costumes at the beginning. So it was easier to picture #7 - "loud, flashy, glad-handed salesman type" - when I read his lines. #6 is "honest but dull-witted". We get a lot of lines from #3, who is "very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated... with a streak of sadism".
January 2023 read with GR - Catching up on the Classics
This remarkable play is not about the murder trial itself, but about the process of deliberation that comes after it. How do twelve men come to a unanimous decision on the guilt or innocence of a young male teenager?
The jurors are all from the same city but they reflect different socio-economic classes. Race is not assigned to any of the characters. However, "the kid" on trial is from the "slums" of the city. Juror #10 openly classifies this group of people as "them". They "...don't know what the truth is... they get drunk, and bang, someone's lying in the gutter... Oh sure, there are some good things about them, too..."
There is a benefit in not including race. Society has so many different groups of people that are stereotyped and picked on, that the lessons learned here can be applied across the board. (I'm thinking racial minorities, immigrants, LGBTQI, anyone "other" than who we are 😞).
As far as reading the play - it helped me to list two or three key words describing each juror, from what was included in the Notes on Characters and Costumes at the beginning. So it was easier to picture #7 - "loud, flashy, glad-handed salesman type" - when I read his lines. #6 is "honest but dull-witted". We get a lot of lines from #3, who is "very strong, very forceful, extremely opinionated... with a streak of sadism".
January 2023 read with GR - Catching up on the Classics
October 31, 2023
Twelve Angry Men, a play written by Reginald Rose in 1954, highlights a passionate jury debate surrounding the trial of a sixteen-year-old boy being charged for the murder of his father. This captivating, action-packed, thriller is a great introduction to understanding the basics of the U.S. Criminal Justice System. The moral of the story is standing up for what you believe in and not letting other people’s opinions bring you down.
This read was enjoyable because it was suspenseful and also exhibited what it means to be a minority of one. Twelve Angry Men was an excellent way to introduce topics regarding our criminal justice system.
There were not many unenjoyable parts of Twelve Angry Men, but there were a few things that if excluded would have made for a more enjoyable story. For example, portions of the story were a bit long-winded and there was some graphic content. There were also moderate amounts of explicit language which might not be suitable for a younger audience.
This story has amazing examples of what it means to stand up for what you believe in and that every opinion is valuable. Young adults who enjoy criminal justice, debates, and stories featuring one person who isn’t afraid to speak their mind and be different from the rest of the group would enjoy reading Twelve Angry Men. However young children should not read this story because of the graphic content and explicit language.
This read was enjoyable because it was suspenseful and also exhibited what it means to be a minority of one. Twelve Angry Men was an excellent way to introduce topics regarding our criminal justice system.
There were not many unenjoyable parts of Twelve Angry Men, but there were a few things that if excluded would have made for a more enjoyable story. For example, portions of the story were a bit long-winded and there was some graphic content. There were also moderate amounts of explicit language which might not be suitable for a younger audience.
This story has amazing examples of what it means to stand up for what you believe in and that every opinion is valuable. Young adults who enjoy criminal justice, debates, and stories featuring one person who isn’t afraid to speak their mind and be different from the rest of the group would enjoy reading Twelve Angry Men. However young children should not read this story because of the graphic content and explicit language.
January 12, 2023
This is not the classic Reginald Rose play you thought you ordered. The Sergel version is essentially an early draft that would become the groundbreaking play. This makes sense as it was adapted from an early television movie that would eventually evolve into the play that is most known today. If you are looking for a version of Twelve Angry Men to bring to life, do the Rose version. The Sergel version is completely unrefined, lacking the symbolism that elevates the Rose version. Characters are far less defined and lack the distinctness and heart that the characters in the Rose play (and famous movie) have. To make it all worse, Juror 3’s monologue is not present in this early version, completely robbing the ending of its emotional climax. All in all, this is simply an early (not very good) draft of an excellent play. Some of the greatness is still in tact, and if this is the only way this important story can be told so be it; however, if the option to put on (or read) the Reginald Rose version is at all possible, invest in that one.
November 5, 2014
This play is simply powerful. The entire story takes place inside a jury room, as twelve jurors decide the fate of a teenage boy accused of stabbing his father. The individual characters represent a broad range of men, and the shifting relationships among them as various questions are raised keep the action moving swiftly throughout. I'm not certain that I understand exactly what happened at the very end of the written play, and the movie version gives it a slightly different twist on it so it's no help. Since the author was involved in both, it would be interesting to know why he made the change.
March 11, 2018
Obra indispensable per entendre com funcionem psicològicament (argumentació circular i biax de confirmació sense adonar-nos), quan ens donen poder, com els prejudicis i vivències afecten els judicis i les decisions que prenem. I com ens afecta i com actuem quan el judici que havíem pres en un inici és erroni (dissonància cognitiva). Aquesta obra és dels anys 50 i tot i que sembla arcaica, pels personatges que surten, com actuen i parlen i la societat on viuen, és tot plegat molt contemporani pels processos mentals que seguim, pels prejudicis socials i racials que encara tenim, i per allò que passa quan ens donen poder.
September 1, 2023
The 12 Angry Men is a very intense and profound play about 12 jurors who are deciding the fate of a boy accused of killing his father. If they decide guilty, the boy is put to death. At first their verdict is guilty, except for one juror. I think that the author, Reginald Rose, delivers the message of not being afraid to stand alone. This message is very useful to implement in the modern world since almost every new idea that is thought up, society will either immediately dismiss it or contort it to fit its norms and image.
I would recommend this read to YA who love criminal justice and reading about real world problems. I would give this book 4.2 stars.
I would recommend this read to YA who love criminal justice and reading about real world problems. I would give this book 4.2 stars.
April 17, 2016
This has been a favorite play of mine since I first read it back in the 7th grade. It's a powerful play that raises some very important questions about racism, justice, and innocence. It's gripping and engaging and translates perfectly into text, which I feel most plays struggle to do. This is entirely because of the characters. Though there are twelve of them, they all seem complex and original. None of them fade into the background, or seem hackneyed. Each feels as though they have lived long before the play begins, and will continue on long after.
May 27, 2025
“Courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a boy accused of killing his father, where one man stands between him and capital punishment.”
This book was really good! I had watched the movie beforehand, so I already knew what was going on, but it was still super enjoyable! The plot was great, and
I loved seeing all of the evidence and parts of the case. Seeing each person slowly switch their vote was pretty cool, and the ending was great. I definitely recommend it and the movie! They’re pretty similar. 😁
This book was really good! I had watched the movie beforehand, so I already knew what was going on, but it was still super enjoyable! The plot was great, and
I loved seeing all of the evidence and parts of the case. Seeing each person slowly switch their vote was pretty cool, and the ending was great. I definitely recommend it and the movie! They’re pretty similar. 😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2011
i didnt like this book to much. there is a court case that the 12 men have to decide if the boy is guilty or not. there is a lot of tention between them all and some of the men just want to say hes guilty and leave but others really dont think thats the way it should go and it takes a very long time to decide, guilty or not guilty.
January 29, 2022
This is the classic jury drama, and it reveals human nature in all its permutations. It also highlights how different jurors attempt to win support for their opinion. This was another play taught to death in school. I don't remember reading it at the time, only watching the movie. I'm sure the book is better!
August 17, 2023
No way I could’ve gone to bed before I finished this. Twelve jurors, in a hot room, tasked with coming to a verdict on a case of patricide. Enthralling through and through. The array of different characters and their conflicting ideas creates an astounding story which is executed amazingly with the succinct dialogue. Will definitely be watching the movie tomorrow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews