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Lovely One: A Memoir
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In her “vulnerable, tender, and infinitely inspirational” (Oprah Daily) memoir, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States chronicles her extraordinary life story.
“A billowingly triumphant American tale.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
With this unflinching account, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites readers into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation.
Named “Ketanji Onyika,” meaning “Lovely One,” based on a suggestion from her aunt, a Peace Corps worker stationed in West Africa, Justice Jackson learned from her educator parents to take pride in her heritage since birth. She describes her resolve as a young girl to honor this legacy and realize her from hearing stories of her grandparents and parents breaking barriers in the segregated South, to honing her voice in high school as an oratory champion and student body president, to graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, where she performed in musical theater and improv and participated in pivotal student organizations.
Here, Justice Jackson pulls back the curtain, marrying the public record of her life with what is less known. She reveals what it takes to advance in the legal profession when most people in power don’t look like you, and to reconcile a demanding career with the joys and sacrifices of marriage and motherhood.
Through trials and triumphs, Justice Jackson’s journey will resonate with dreamers everywhere, especially those who nourish outsized ambitions and refuse to be turned aside. This moving, openhearted tale will spread hope for a more just world, for generations to come.
“A billowingly triumphant American tale.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
With this unflinching account, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites readers into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation.
Named “Ketanji Onyika,” meaning “Lovely One,” based on a suggestion from her aunt, a Peace Corps worker stationed in West Africa, Justice Jackson learned from her educator parents to take pride in her heritage since birth. She describes her resolve as a young girl to honor this legacy and realize her from hearing stories of her grandparents and parents breaking barriers in the segregated South, to honing her voice in high school as an oratory champion and student body president, to graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, where she performed in musical theater and improv and participated in pivotal student organizations.
Here, Justice Jackson pulls back the curtain, marrying the public record of her life with what is less known. She reveals what it takes to advance in the legal profession when most people in power don’t look like you, and to reconcile a demanding career with the joys and sacrifices of marriage and motherhood.
Through trials and triumphs, Justice Jackson’s journey will resonate with dreamers everywhere, especially those who nourish outsized ambitions and refuse to be turned aside. This moving, openhearted tale will spread hope for a more just world, for generations to come.
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First published September 3, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,530 reviews
September 15, 2024
She was supposed to be in Houston last month to promote and read from this book. My friend and I were set to go, but it was cancelled at the last minute. Now that I’ve read the book, I’m doubly disappointed. I hope she makes it out here after all.
This book makes me wonder what the founding fathers would say or how they’d feel if they could travel through time to see where the country is today. Would they be proud of what they’ve achieved through the centuries? Would they be appalled that a failed and seemingly mentally impaired billionaire is the front runner for one party and the other is a daughter of biracial immigrants, neither of whom is white? Would they be stunned that the Supreme Court includes women who are also not white? I’d really love to know these answers!!!!
I appreciate the look into her home, her marriage, her family, her struggles. I appreciate the candor regarding the challenges she’s had to face, including racial discrimination, imposter syndrome, academic excellence, and the discovery of what it means to be neurodiverse. Her daughters sound really incredible. Her husband makes me want to reconsider maybe opening myself back up to meeting people with romance in mind. Her parents and in-laws make me remember that we can exist in love and peace across racial colors, and it can be beautiful.
I did not know she was related to Paul Ryan by marriage. I’d love to sit at their dinner table at a Thanksgiving or other family reunion. What those conversations must be like!
This book makes me wonder what the founding fathers would say or how they’d feel if they could travel through time to see where the country is today. Would they be proud of what they’ve achieved through the centuries? Would they be appalled that a failed and seemingly mentally impaired billionaire is the front runner for one party and the other is a daughter of biracial immigrants, neither of whom is white? Would they be stunned that the Supreme Court includes women who are also not white? I’d really love to know these answers!!!!
I appreciate the look into her home, her marriage, her family, her struggles. I appreciate the candor regarding the challenges she’s had to face, including racial discrimination, imposter syndrome, academic excellence, and the discovery of what it means to be neurodiverse. Her daughters sound really incredible. Her husband makes me want to reconsider maybe opening myself back up to meeting people with romance in mind. Her parents and in-laws make me remember that we can exist in love and peace across racial colors, and it can be beautiful.
I did not know she was related to Paul Ryan by marriage. I’d love to sit at their dinner table at a Thanksgiving or other family reunion. What those conversations must be like!
October 30, 2024
Ketanji Brown Jackson really is special. During the reading of this book I cried numerous times, and my admiration grew even as I read of her accomplishments. Yes, Brown had opportunities, but what struck me is how she managed to wrangle those opportunities so they worked toward her ultimate goal, something set young and tender. Let’s face it, talent is nothing unless nurtured, and she worked hers every day.
Despite her drive and talent, Brown still amazes us—that she managed it, and manages it still. But we are so grateful she is there, for this is a woman who knows…what it is like to be Black in the south, what it is like to be a woman in the last half-century in America, what it is like to work collegially with a court at least half of which fundamentally disagrees with one’s view.
She shares a moment similar to one I also experienced, when she realized her grandmother, despite accomplishments that allowed her granddaughter to excel in school, did not have a deep education. In my case my mother, I realized only well into adulthood, did not have the vocabulary to enjoy some literature. These moments stayed with both of us, deepening our respect for what these two women were able to accomplish without our opportunities.
A favorite story she tells is when she was accepted to college. Her grandmother was overjoyed she was accepted to Howard University, one of our nation’s Historically Black College & Universities. But Brown hadn’t said Howard, she’d said Harvard, causing only a moment’s pause in her grandmother’s joy. “Well, I’m sure Harvard is a perfectly good school, too.”
Brown’s mother took her shopping in Florida before she left for Harvard, trying to buy woolens in a southern summer before her first term in the north. The parental concern exhibited makes me want to cry as I laughed, so concerned were they about making life easy for their daughter and such an impossible task it was.
When Brown describes the necessity of working for a large corporate law firm after law school while her husband finished medical school residency in Boston, we hear her especially clearly…for what she says about the white, male culture and lack of concern or accommodation for women who might be breastfeeding a new infant. She says, “Instead [of sharing time with my new infant], I would be spending the day with anxious partners, crusty statues, and the ambiguous work product of long-dead constitutional framers.” Oh yes, we hear that.
The honesty of her relationship with the one man in her life, a blue blood Boston Brahmin if ever there was one, and her lovely girls, Talia and Leila, make us feel part of her huge and gracious family composed of all the close friends she has made over the years. Brown has an especially large and loving circle of people who care about her. And by the end of the book, we understand why. We are among them.
Brown shares her experience going to see American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words as a theatre performance. She later brought her law clerks to see it as well, so that they might see what she saw in the performance: that if history must be relied upon in interpreting the law, a question this performance brought into relief was whose history?
This is a book you may want to buy. I got it from the library but I know it is one I will want to reread for the lessons in passion, stamina, generosity, direction and steel. And I want to give copies to most everyone I know. It is not hard to read because it is so improbable—one reads on for the breathtaking ascent to the heights.
Despite her drive and talent, Brown still amazes us—that she managed it, and manages it still. But we are so grateful she is there, for this is a woman who knows…what it is like to be Black in the south, what it is like to be a woman in the last half-century in America, what it is like to work collegially with a court at least half of which fundamentally disagrees with one’s view.
She shares a moment similar to one I also experienced, when she realized her grandmother, despite accomplishments that allowed her granddaughter to excel in school, did not have a deep education. In my case my mother, I realized only well into adulthood, did not have the vocabulary to enjoy some literature. These moments stayed with both of us, deepening our respect for what these two women were able to accomplish without our opportunities.
A favorite story she tells is when she was accepted to college. Her grandmother was overjoyed she was accepted to Howard University, one of our nation’s Historically Black College & Universities. But Brown hadn’t said Howard, she’d said Harvard, causing only a moment’s pause in her grandmother’s joy. “Well, I’m sure Harvard is a perfectly good school, too.”
Brown’s mother took her shopping in Florida before she left for Harvard, trying to buy woolens in a southern summer before her first term in the north. The parental concern exhibited makes me want to cry as I laughed, so concerned were they about making life easy for their daughter and such an impossible task it was.
When Brown describes the necessity of working for a large corporate law firm after law school while her husband finished medical school residency in Boston, we hear her especially clearly…for what she says about the white, male culture and lack of concern or accommodation for women who might be breastfeeding a new infant. She says, “Instead [of sharing time with my new infant], I would be spending the day with anxious partners, crusty statues, and the ambiguous work product of long-dead constitutional framers.” Oh yes, we hear that.
The honesty of her relationship with the one man in her life, a blue blood Boston Brahmin if ever there was one, and her lovely girls, Talia and Leila, make us feel part of her huge and gracious family composed of all the close friends she has made over the years. Brown has an especially large and loving circle of people who care about her. And by the end of the book, we understand why. We are among them.
Brown shares her experience going to see American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words as a theatre performance. She later brought her law clerks to see it as well, so that they might see what she saw in the performance: that if history must be relied upon in interpreting the law, a question this performance brought into relief was whose history?
This is a book you may want to buy. I got it from the library but I know it is one I will want to reread for the lessons in passion, stamina, generosity, direction and steel. And I want to give copies to most everyone I know. It is not hard to read because it is so improbable—one reads on for the breathtaking ascent to the heights.
October 2, 2024
The key for me to a successful biography is if it fully captures its subject's personality Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's biography perfectly captures the her high intelligence and sense of modesty that she that came through in her recent interviews promoting her memoir. Justice Jackson's background served as a roadmap to her current position. Jackson was born in Washington, but raised in Miami, Florida. Her Mother and Father were both educators, then later, her Father became the chief attorney for the Miami-Dade County School Board. The first section of the book movingly detail the values that her parents instilled in her that were the keys to her success as a star debator in high school, Harvard graduate, and a law clerk to two highly lauded judges. "Lovely" biggest success is that it perfectly balances Jackson's moments of success with her moments of self doubt. Jackson opens up about her bouts of imposter syndrome and encounters with both racism and sexism that were painful, but didn't break her down. I was greatly moved by the chapters about her family and friend's doubts and questions about her marriage to an upper class white doctor as well as their difficulties raising their autustic daughter, Talia. Jackson could've done a quick run down on both, but instead takes a step by step approach as lessons in love and understanding. I didn't know if I could write a review of Lovely One, because I thought I would end up writing an opinion piece on my admiration for Supreme Court Justice Jackson. I gave it further thought and concluded that if I came away with more admiration for Justice Jackson then that makes her memoir a great success.
October 13, 2024
3.5 Stars. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Justice Jackson herself. She is a good narrator, and even includes some singing. This memoir covers Jackson’s life from her early childhood up until she is sworn into the US Supreme Court.
This is a very inspiring, uplifting, straightforward life story. Jackson had the dream to become a Supreme Court judge from early on, and through her hard work, determination and intelligence, her dream came through. She grew up in a loving family with supportive parents who demanded excellence from their kids. She was a gifted, focused, outgoing kid, always giving over 100% in all her endeavors, and it paid off. She also excelled in college and law school despite the fact that she was the first in her family to attend an Ivy League institution. Her love story with her now husband is sweet, and her struggles juggling career and family are relatable. Nonetheless, her life story lacks drama, tension which makes it a bit boring/unmemorable for a memoir.
Her two main struggles in the book were work-life balance, and raising a daughter that was different. But the reader knows these problems will be solved because Jackson and her husband live a privileged existence, with connections, access to resources, financial stability and strong family support. We know they’ll figure it out. I generally prefer memoirs where there are more obstacles, unknowns, difficulties that need to be surmounted. That was not the case here. I wish Justice Jackson acknowledged more the extent of her privilege, that she could just switch up private schools for her children, hire new nannies, and reach out to top health professionals with a phone call. Perhaps that is what she means by being “blessed.”
I do want to give her credit for presenting the life of a Black person from a middle class, stable home life perspective, who finds success in the highest echelons of American life. That life story is not presented often enough. There aren’t the typical tropes of a poor Black person, from a broken, abusive household, facing violence and criminality.
Being of the same generation, I was able to relate to her experiences of being the only Black person in one’s classes, not being considered a love interest in a lily white high school environment, feeling out of place at elite institutions, Black hair care struggles, and career/motherhood challenges. But it still wanted more edge, for her to dig deeper, more introspection. For example, I think Jackson could have delved further into the life of her in-laws. Why are her in-laws members of clubs that don’t have any Black members? Why do her in-laws have to explain to their friends that they can’t make disparaging remarks about Jackson’s race? Why are these ppl part of her in-laws’ inner circle?
Of course, to be more critical of her in-laws segregated lifestyle probably wouldn’t go over well, but the glossing over of their background did make my eyes roll. The book overall has a squeaky clean Pollyanna vibe to it; “I’m blessed and if I work hard I can conquer all!” Which makes it read more like a memoir geared towards middle-schoolers. Another major criticism is that the book is about 25% too long. The sections on case law were self-indulgent and dull.
In sum, I think this book can inspire many - young women, aspiring jurists, and Black students. And women struggling with work-life balance may also relate to Justice Jackson’s story, but I doubt I’ll remember many details of her story years from now.
This is a very inspiring, uplifting, straightforward life story. Jackson had the dream to become a Supreme Court judge from early on, and through her hard work, determination and intelligence, her dream came through. She grew up in a loving family with supportive parents who demanded excellence from their kids. She was a gifted, focused, outgoing kid, always giving over 100% in all her endeavors, and it paid off. She also excelled in college and law school despite the fact that she was the first in her family to attend an Ivy League institution. Her love story with her now husband is sweet, and her struggles juggling career and family are relatable. Nonetheless, her life story lacks drama, tension which makes it a bit boring/unmemorable for a memoir.
Her two main struggles in the book were work-life balance, and raising a daughter that was different. But the reader knows these problems will be solved because Jackson and her husband live a privileged existence, with connections, access to resources, financial stability and strong family support. We know they’ll figure it out. I generally prefer memoirs where there are more obstacles, unknowns, difficulties that need to be surmounted. That was not the case here. I wish Justice Jackson acknowledged more the extent of her privilege, that she could just switch up private schools for her children, hire new nannies, and reach out to top health professionals with a phone call. Perhaps that is what she means by being “blessed.”
I do want to give her credit for presenting the life of a Black person from a middle class, stable home life perspective, who finds success in the highest echelons of American life. That life story is not presented often enough. There aren’t the typical tropes of a poor Black person, from a broken, abusive household, facing violence and criminality.
Being of the same generation, I was able to relate to her experiences of being the only Black person in one’s classes, not being considered a love interest in a lily white high school environment, feeling out of place at elite institutions, Black hair care struggles, and career/motherhood challenges. But it still wanted more edge, for her to dig deeper, more introspection. For example, I think Jackson could have delved further into the life of her in-laws. Why are her in-laws members of clubs that don’t have any Black members? Why do her in-laws have to explain to their friends that they can’t make disparaging remarks about Jackson’s race? Why are these ppl part of her in-laws’ inner circle?
Of course, to be more critical of her in-laws segregated lifestyle probably wouldn’t go over well, but the glossing over of their background did make my eyes roll. The book overall has a squeaky clean Pollyanna vibe to it; “I’m blessed and if I work hard I can conquer all!” Which makes it read more like a memoir geared towards middle-schoolers. Another major criticism is that the book is about 25% too long. The sections on case law were self-indulgent and dull.
In sum, I think this book can inspire many - young women, aspiring jurists, and Black students. And women struggling with work-life balance may also relate to Justice Jackson’s story, but I doubt I’ll remember many details of her story years from now.
April 21, 2025
This is an interesting well written memoir by a truly extraordinary woman. Her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation to the Supreme Court within the span of one generation is an inspirational reminder of social and political progress that has been made, though to me it seems things at present are going backward.
The memoir begins with her grandparent roots and moves on to her four-year-old self sitting across the table from her father studying to be lawyer. In high school she was an oratory champion on the debate team. A full chapter is devoted to describing her debate coach—“a force of nature”—and the life long friends she formed in debate and speech activities.
As a student at Harvard she was active in the theater department even playing and singing the part of Billie Holiday in a college revue. On her college application she prophetically wrote that her goal in life was to be the first Supreme Court Justice to perform on Broadway. (A detail not in the book: A walk-on part was made for her in one performance of a Broadway show, so it’s a dream that came true.)
The memoir is surprisingly personal by delving into such subjects as meeting her husband, struggling with work/life balance, and raising two daughters one of whom is neurodivergent. It is from this memoir that I learned about “sister locks.”
Readers looking for lengthly discussion of court cases will probably be disappointed reading this memoir. However there is a chapter discussing the subject of sentencing guidelines from her time as vice chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.
I listened to the audio edition of this book which is narrated by Ketanji herself. After completing this book I feel as if I’ve had a sixteen hour conversation with her, and she is now my personal friend.
From The NY Times:
How a High School Debate Team Shaped Ketanji Brown Jackson
The memoir begins with her grandparent roots and moves on to her four-year-old self sitting across the table from her father studying to be lawyer. In high school she was an oratory champion on the debate team. A full chapter is devoted to describing her debate coach—“a force of nature”—and the life long friends she formed in debate and speech activities.
As a student at Harvard she was active in the theater department even playing and singing the part of Billie Holiday in a college revue. On her college application she prophetically wrote that her goal in life was to be the first Supreme Court Justice to perform on Broadway. (A detail not in the book: A walk-on part was made for her in one performance of a Broadway show, so it’s a dream that came true.)
The memoir is surprisingly personal by delving into such subjects as meeting her husband, struggling with work/life balance, and raising two daughters one of whom is neurodivergent. It is from this memoir that I learned about “sister locks.”
Readers looking for lengthly discussion of court cases will probably be disappointed reading this memoir. However there is a chapter discussing the subject of sentencing guidelines from her time as vice chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.
I listened to the audio edition of this book which is narrated by Ketanji herself. After completing this book I feel as if I’ve had a sixteen hour conversation with her, and she is now my personal friend.
From The NY Times:
How a High School Debate Team Shaped Ketanji Brown Jackson
September 17, 2024
This is a long book to wade through. It’s well written and narrated but at times didn’t keep my attention.
September 5, 2024
highlights of this included: realizing our newest Supreme Court justice is a theater kid at heart, being reminded that she also loves the fiber arts, and appreciating all she has to say about the criminal legal system and plea bargains as a former public defender and someone who had a system-impacted family member
Read
May 5, 2025No rating because I don't give star ratings to memoirs.
It's not a memoir that's packed with actions and tragedies but it's one of woman who isn't afraid to be real and it's a memoir of confronting the difficulties that exist at the intersection of career and motherhood. There is a fair amount of this book that's about raising a neurodivergent kid, and I appreciated that Brown Jackson took the time to clarify that she obtained consent from her kids every step of the way. I'm often critical of the way people share their kids lives publicly without the kids' consent or awareness so I'm really happy to be able to give credit where credit is due here!
It's not a memoir that's packed with actions and tragedies but it's one of woman who isn't afraid to be real and it's a memoir of confronting the difficulties that exist at the intersection of career and motherhood. There is a fair amount of this book that's about raising a neurodivergent kid, and I appreciated that Brown Jackson took the time to clarify that she obtained consent from her kids every step of the way. I'm often critical of the way people share their kids lives publicly without the kids' consent or awareness so I'm really happy to be able to give credit where credit is due here!
May 7, 2025
One of the things I love about this platform, outside of all of the awesome goodreaders like yourself, are the lists that are published regularly. I had no idea that Ketanji had a memoir that was released late last year! And she narrates it herself! All 18 hours of it!
It's probably going to be a minute until I get to it as the list at my local library is long af, but I needed to add a memoir or three to this years reads and this is definitely one that I am excited to dig into.
Audiobook (18 hours) narrated by Ketanji Brown Jackson
Publisher: Books on Tape
EDIT: Review started February 2025, Book completed finally! 5/7/25
Ketanji Brown self narrates and does a fantastic job.
Her edits however are poor. It sounds like she recorded her edited in content in a different location, as there is a mild room echo, and she is much too close to the mic. Some of the edits the mic is closer to her mouth than others but they all seem too close. It may be that it wasn't as good as a setup, but the edits are really unfortunate and I was surprised that she would be OK with putting that out there, especially given how awesome her overall narration is. Given that I doubt that she sat down and narrated the entire 18 hours in one go, the editing to put the pieces together are flawless, and then there's the drop in sentences. So bad.
Ketanji has done some things and lots of people want to know more about her. I know this as there is a long line at my library, still, to read this memoir that I waited months to get to read and this is over a year after publication! When you have the opportunity to tell your story, you get to share what you want, it is your book.
When I picked up the memoir, what I expected was the story of how she worked to get where she is, perhaps her childhood inspiration. I did not expect the memoir to start at her literal birth and go through her entire life. It was interesting and I read every minute, but we didn't get to the law stuff until the last 6 hours and then I thought, here we go... but we had a brief talk about the law and then back to the kids and then an hour or so later another law brief.
I hate to say that I was disappointed in the content as it is Ketanji's story to tell, and yet I feel like what I learned is that Ketanji loves her family, that her family loves her and either she doesn't want to ruffle feathers or she wants everyone to like her. I say this as she seemed to try and fit her self and circumstances to show how she understands everyone, sometimes annoyingly so.
I don't want to bash her but I feel like I liked her a whole lot more before I read her memoir.
I'm not going to get too personal, but there is one thing that I cannot overlook... Ketanji, you went to Harvard and lived in Boston for how many years and yet you said Massachusetts Ave?
Mass. Ave! It's Mass. Ave!
If you had never been to Boston or perhaps you visited from a non New England or non Tri-State Area
you would get a pass, but you lived here and you called it Massachusetts Ave? I just cannot let that slide. Plus your husband was born and grew up here and... Yeah, nuff said.
GG on your awesome life.
In another 20 years, after you've seen some stuff and no longer care what people think, I hope you write another memoir. I will read that one too, every word.
It's probably going to be a minute until I get to it as the list at my local library is long af, but I needed to add a memoir or three to this years reads and this is definitely one that I am excited to dig into.
Audiobook (18 hours) narrated by Ketanji Brown Jackson
Publisher: Books on Tape
EDIT: Review started February 2025, Book completed finally! 5/7/25
Ketanji Brown self narrates and does a fantastic job.
Her edits however are poor. It sounds like she recorded her edited in content in a different location, as there is a mild room echo, and she is much too close to the mic. Some of the edits the mic is closer to her mouth than others but they all seem too close. It may be that it wasn't as good as a setup, but the edits are really unfortunate and I was surprised that she would be OK with putting that out there, especially given how awesome her overall narration is. Given that I doubt that she sat down and narrated the entire 18 hours in one go, the editing to put the pieces together are flawless, and then there's the drop in sentences. So bad.
Ketanji has done some things and lots of people want to know more about her. I know this as there is a long line at my library, still, to read this memoir that I waited months to get to read and this is over a year after publication! When you have the opportunity to tell your story, you get to share what you want, it is your book.
When I picked up the memoir, what I expected was the story of how she worked to get where she is, perhaps her childhood inspiration. I did not expect the memoir to start at her literal birth and go through her entire life. It was interesting and I read every minute, but we didn't get to the law stuff until the last 6 hours and then I thought, here we go... but we had a brief talk about the law and then back to the kids and then an hour or so later another law brief.
I hate to say that I was disappointed in the content as it is Ketanji's story to tell, and yet I feel like what I learned is that Ketanji loves her family, that her family loves her and either she doesn't want to ruffle feathers or she wants everyone to like her. I say this as she seemed to try and fit her self and circumstances to show how she understands everyone, sometimes annoyingly so.
I don't want to bash her but I feel like I liked her a whole lot more before I read her memoir.
I'm not going to get too personal, but there is one thing that I cannot overlook... Ketanji, you went to Harvard and lived in Boston for how many years and yet you said Massachusetts Ave?
Mass. Ave! It's Mass. Ave!
If you had never been to Boston or perhaps you visited from a non New England or non Tri-State Area
you would get a pass, but you lived here and you called it Massachusetts Ave? I just cannot let that slide. Plus your husband was born and grew up here and... Yeah, nuff said.
GG on your awesome life.
In another 20 years, after you've seen some stuff and no longer care what people think, I hope you write another memoir. I will read that one too, every word.
November 11, 2024
A review on Goodreads significantly disturbed me concerning this book. The critique centered around perceived boasting by the author about her career achievements. It is essential to recognize that a Black woman attaining such a high level in her field, which is rare, is commendable and indeed worth mentioning. The detailed account of her upbringing, career progression, and inherent intelligence showcased the considerable effort required to achieve her status. As a Black woman myself, I find her humility and accomplishments both admirable and inspiring. The insights into her family life, including her origins and marital family, added depth to her narrative. Her experiences dealing with an autistic child and coping with significant personal losses resonated deeply. The choice of the author to narrate her story, supplemented by contributions from her daughter and a senator, enriched the listening experience. Motivated by her story, I purchased a physical copy of the book with the hope of having it signed by her in the future.
March 22, 2025
I knew very little about Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson prior to listening to Lovely One, her memoir, and enjoyed learning more about her.
While the U.S. is in decline, it was nice to read an inspiring story about a woman who pursued her long-held dream, a journey not without challenges or detours in favor of her family. In her 2022 SCOTUS confirmation speech, Justice Brown Jackson shared, “In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States."
It was clear listening to Lovely One that Justice Brown Jackson is a kind, smart, thoughtful person who cares about people and our country.
While the U.S. is in decline, it was nice to read an inspiring story about a woman who pursued her long-held dream, a journey not without challenges or detours in favor of her family. In her 2022 SCOTUS confirmation speech, Justice Brown Jackson shared, “In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States."
It was clear listening to Lovely One that Justice Brown Jackson is a kind, smart, thoughtful person who cares about people and our country.
October 14, 2024
Amazing woman and we are so honored to have her on the Supreme Court. Justice Jackson takes us through the bits and pieces that make our lives and shares with the readers her story. Not all of us will have our dreams and hopes come true but it is sure wonderful when it does happen to someone who has worked so hard. I hope she has a good long run on the Court and despite the naysayers, our country, the United States of America, is for all the people who make their home here.
September 22, 2024
“And so, with these matriarchs’ beloved voices forever in my ear, I rejected self-doubt and self-loathing. Instead, I chose possibility. I chose purpose. And I embraced all the places in my life where I could dwell in the light.”
What a powerful memoir and what a truly extraordinary woman! The memoir follows Ketanji Brown Jackson’s life and pursuit towards becoming a Supreme Court Justice (the court’s first Black female to ever be appointed). Not only does it dive into her own life, it also shares into her parent’s and grandparent’s upbringing as well. What a crazy perspective to think that in only one generation her family had gone from segregation to the Supreme Court!
Is there anything that this woman can’t do?! Not only is she a great storyteller, but she is also a phenomenal writer. I did think the memoir reads a bit slow and dense at times, but the writing is beautiful and it’s highly informative. I did not realize that getting to the Supreme Court was a lifelong dream of hers that she literally worked towards since she was a child. She is extremely driven- but let me just say also, what a power couple her and her husband are! A Supreme Court Justice and renowned surgeon! The love story in here is so touching. Her and her husband always had so much support for one another and worked together to each reach their goals, which clearly paid off. Her husband had been supporting her and rooting for her since the day they met. It’s truly magical.
Overall I learned a lot while reading this and it was very moving and inspiring; definitely brought tears to my eyes more than once.
“But I was nothing if not tenacious. The harder things got, the deeper I dug.“
Content warnings: racism, bullying, cancer, death of grandparent
What a powerful memoir and what a truly extraordinary woman! The memoir follows Ketanji Brown Jackson’s life and pursuit towards becoming a Supreme Court Justice (the court’s first Black female to ever be appointed). Not only does it dive into her own life, it also shares into her parent’s and grandparent’s upbringing as well. What a crazy perspective to think that in only one generation her family had gone from segregation to the Supreme Court!
Is there anything that this woman can’t do?! Not only is she a great storyteller, but she is also a phenomenal writer. I did think the memoir reads a bit slow and dense at times, but the writing is beautiful and it’s highly informative. I did not realize that getting to the Supreme Court was a lifelong dream of hers that she literally worked towards since she was a child. She is extremely driven- but let me just say also, what a power couple her and her husband are! A Supreme Court Justice and renowned surgeon! The love story in here is so touching. Her and her husband always had so much support for one another and worked together to each reach their goals, which clearly paid off. Her husband had been supporting her and rooting for her since the day they met. It’s truly magical.
Overall I learned a lot while reading this and it was very moving and inspiring; definitely brought tears to my eyes more than once.
“But I was nothing if not tenacious. The harder things got, the deeper I dug.“
Content warnings: racism, bullying, cancer, death of grandparent
November 10, 2024
I always feel strange rating someone’s memoir, because it’s such a vulnerable thing to let strangers into your life and judge your life’s decisions and trajectory. With that in mind, I’m reviewing the length, structure and delivery of this memoir along with content I wanted more of.
I also listened to this book as I’d heard that Ketanji was an excellent orator. While I found her tone and delivery very engaging, much of the dialogue as remembered felt contrived and used to deliver rather pointed/on the nose messages. The length of the book was almost 19 hours, which I initially thought was much too long for someone as young as the author is, by the end it was obvious the much of the narrative could have greatly benefited from a stronger editor (I think it could have realistically been closer to 8 hours.) Despite the books length I don’t actually feel like I knew the author well. There is also a lot of the book that read unrelatable a la “Sheryl Sandburg/lean in” adjacent with an elite education and access to social circles and networks far outside the reach of the average American. Especially the delivery of the difficulty in juggling multiple private schools for early education and a stay at home nanny and moving from their dream house etc… Lastly as I have always found the legal profession fascinating I found commentary on the sentencing committee to be new and interesting and wished to hear more about her time practicing as a judge.
I thought it was very special to have audio from her children on the college essay and singing performance, both were talented young individuals.
If the book were shorter and there was more professional anecdotes I would have gone closer to 4 stars (even if I found a lot her professional life a bit unrelatable)
I also listened to this book as I’d heard that Ketanji was an excellent orator. While I found her tone and delivery very engaging, much of the dialogue as remembered felt contrived and used to deliver rather pointed/on the nose messages. The length of the book was almost 19 hours, which I initially thought was much too long for someone as young as the author is, by the end it was obvious the much of the narrative could have greatly benefited from a stronger editor (I think it could have realistically been closer to 8 hours.) Despite the books length I don’t actually feel like I knew the author well. There is also a lot of the book that read unrelatable a la “Sheryl Sandburg/lean in” adjacent with an elite education and access to social circles and networks far outside the reach of the average American. Especially the delivery of the difficulty in juggling multiple private schools for early education and a stay at home nanny and moving from their dream house etc… Lastly as I have always found the legal profession fascinating I found commentary on the sentencing committee to be new and interesting and wished to hear more about her time practicing as a judge.
I thought it was very special to have audio from her children on the college essay and singing performance, both were talented young individuals.
If the book were shorter and there was more professional anecdotes I would have gone closer to 4 stars (even if I found a lot her professional life a bit unrelatable)
September 11, 2024
This was one of the most inspiring reads I've encountered in a long time. I fell in love with Ketanji and her whole family. Her marriage is a beautiful picture of what an egalitarian partnership can look like. She spells out the realities of systemic racism and so much warmth of humanity too. It's a both/and that left me more hopeful. Audible was a great choice, as the author herself reads it and includes clips of her daughter singing, important points from the process of her becoming a Supreme Court Justice, and more.
April 18, 2025
I really wanted to like this book more but I mostly found it pretty flat. Ketanji seems like an amazing person and is incredibly inspiring, but this book didn’t make me feel like I got to know much about who she is or what she believes in. I will say the last third of the book was much more interesting to me than the first portion; the short segment written by Ketanji’s daughter Leila was by far the best writing in the entire book.
November 5, 2024
A quite enjoyable read. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is an amazing woman. She was truly destined for the Supreme Court, and she went about preparing for that moment very early. Excelling in school from elementary right on through Harvard. She always had a great work ethic that her parents instilled in her, stressing that she had the ability to achieve anything if she put in the work. And, work she did. Always wanting her intellect and capability to shine no matter what role she was placed in. This memoir is inspiring in that it demonstrates that putting in the work produces extraordinary results.
Her personality really comes through in these pages, thanks to her superb engaging prose. Once you read that journalism was once her desired path in life, you can easily understand how this book turned out so well. Also on the inspirational front, is her grappling to understand her daughter’s struggles academically early on, only to eventually find out, she is autistic. That part of her story accounts for some heavy emotional moments but it’s never in a woe-is-me framing. It’s just presented as something she as a mother had to learn about and to adjust her parenting style to best serve her daughter. I think the passage that best sums up her journey is found on page 243;
“It’s impossible to tease apart how much this commitment to working hard was trained into me, how much was my own nature, and how much stemmed from my desire as a Black woman to be EXCELLENT in a professional world that tended to overlook, underestimate, or dismiss people like me. Whatever the reasons, in every new environment, I endeavored to be impeccable right out of the gate.” It is that attitude about working along with great fortune, which she also acknowledges, that has landed her on the bench of the Supreme Court! This is a great read, and one of the best memoirs published in recent history.
Her personality really comes through in these pages, thanks to her superb engaging prose. Once you read that journalism was once her desired path in life, you can easily understand how this book turned out so well. Also on the inspirational front, is her grappling to understand her daughter’s struggles academically early on, only to eventually find out, she is autistic. That part of her story accounts for some heavy emotional moments but it’s never in a woe-is-me framing. It’s just presented as something she as a mother had to learn about and to adjust her parenting style to best serve her daughter. I think the passage that best sums up her journey is found on page 243;
“It’s impossible to tease apart how much this commitment to working hard was trained into me, how much was my own nature, and how much stemmed from my desire as a Black woman to be EXCELLENT in a professional world that tended to overlook, underestimate, or dismiss people like me. Whatever the reasons, in every new environment, I endeavored to be impeccable right out of the gate.” It is that attitude about working along with great fortune, which she also acknowledges, that has landed her on the bench of the Supreme Court! This is a great read, and one of the best memoirs published in recent history.
December 17, 2024
Lovely One by Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson was absolutely lovely. It was wonderful learning her origin story and her ascent to becoming a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. I am aware of the critics who blasted President Biden’s choice. However, without a doubt this woman is qualified. I’m certain that if she didn’t have the experience and qualifications, her being a black woman would hold no weight. I’m happy to have read this and can now instruct the naysayers to read to see for themselves that our newest Justice has every right to be on the bench. Justice Brown-Jackson deserves her place in history.
September 24, 2024
3.5 This definitely made me think and reflect on my values and experiences.
Like (too) many books these days, this one needed a better editor. It was way too long and bogged down with too many extraneous details.
It is impressive that she fulfilled her dream of being the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, and she is not at all hesitant about tooting her own horn, which I suppose is not unusual for a memoir, but just turned me off a little. She went to Harvard, HLS, worked as a journalist, public defender, clerked DCt and appellate court as well as for Breyer, worked for firms (what is now) Baker Botts, Goodwin Procter, MoFo and Sentencing commission before becoming district court judge and appellate court judge.
No doubt about it — Justice Brown is indeed an amazing woman. I was surprised at how prominent a role identity politics played in her life which I guess is consistent with her persona, but I was exhausted just reading about it and can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to go through life through that lens. For instance, her parents told her a story of how they bought fish from a fishmonger for a dinner party. When they got home, they discovered that the fish was spoiled, and could not be served. K wonders if the incident had any racial undertones. Her parents don’t think so but wow! to constantly be judging every encounter through that perspective! And I would question whether it’s productive? Likewise, one day she is playing with her white friend, and they lose track of the time. Her mother is beside herself, and K comments, how these "rules of self protection of where they could go, and when they were allowed to go literally kept them alive.” The Black girls killed in ATL. The first time she goes to Patrick’s fancy cc and is the only person of color in the entire place. Is Talia’s intolerable behavior at school the volatility or also because she “doesn’t belong” because she is Black? Doesn’t this stuff happen to other races? Other socio-economic classes? Seems a little simple to attribute everything down to race.
Her parents are matter-of-fact and worked hard to ensure unfair stereotypes didn’t undercut her budding self conception. Instead, they intentionally shored up capacities they had identified and made clear K had to be willing to stretch herself to work as diligently as she knew how. “Can this be done? Have you seen other people do it? If it is possible for a person to do this thing, then you can do it too.”
She was nerdy in HS and very involved with debate. I was not aware that she was raised with professional, wealthy parents, I found her views on affirmative action interesting. While she had white friends throughout HS (only one other Black girl in her class which seemed to me to be a bit of a lifeline) but at Harvard found close friends who were all black.
K’s uncle who went to jail for drug distribution. She argues his sentence was too long (he served 28 yrs), But certain things don’t add up. After release, he relocates to Atlanta in 2018 and “ the siblings lost touch after that.” What? Different ideas of punishment. Focus on retribution or enforcement of a moral code versus survival, terminating the conflict and reintegrating everyone peacefully back into society. Likewise, Hammurabi & Kant: punishment should be based on the harm cost and is warranted simply and solely because the offender has done something wrong. In this view, it would be disrespectful if human beings as responsible, moral agents not to punish lawbreakers and proportion to their wrongdoing. In another philosophical camp, the utilitarians old perspectives, Plato, Hobbs: punishment is justified only by the end it achieves such as promoting good conduct by the punished individual or preventing evil in the future is only moral to punish someone if it doing so achieves the greater good deterrence
Recognizes importance of language (excoriating Ebonics as a fully fledged language); Confederate flag; Her trip to Africa “When did you leave us?” & “Welcome home”
Her skin prickled with chills and a flood of emotion welled in her. I am home v Asian experience of not feeling as if you quite fit in either place
One of the few things I knew about Jackson before picking up this memoir was that she married a white man whom she met at Harvard. Patrick was an nth generation Harvard grad, a Boston Brahmin and goes on to become a surgeon. I was very curious how she met and married him, especially after perusing the photos where it seemed everyone in her orbit was black, and everyone in his orbit was white. Obviously, their values were very much aligned, and Patrick dated at least one other black woman before K.
Her struggles with older daughter Talia, who winds up being diagnosed with autism. It challenged her belief that if you work hard enough, you can make things come out the way you want, but there was nothing they could do to make Talia conform to the vision they had for her life.
My favorite parts of the book initially were when she talked about balancing mom and career as much of her struggle resonated with me. But then she reverted to form when she once again brought in gender and race even though K&P were quite balanced with housework responsibilities. And I was surprised that my reaction to the ending when she spoke about her family was that it was not sincere but contrived and trite.
-you can get exasperated at the tone of some of the questions or you can be a Supreme Court Justice.
I also thought it was interesting that for being such a proud progressive, there were still so many sexist rituals she espoused ie her hubby approached her parents before her to get married (and nobody gave this antiquated practice a second thought), her dad gave her away at her wedding; she didn’t retain her name etc, even using phrases like “time waits for no man”
Like (too) many books these days, this one needed a better editor. It was way too long and bogged down with too many extraneous details.
It is impressive that she fulfilled her dream of being the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, and she is not at all hesitant about tooting her own horn, which I suppose is not unusual for a memoir, but just turned me off a little. She went to Harvard, HLS, worked as a journalist, public defender, clerked DCt and appellate court as well as for Breyer, worked for firms (what is now) Baker Botts, Goodwin Procter, MoFo and Sentencing commission before becoming district court judge and appellate court judge.
No doubt about it — Justice Brown is indeed an amazing woman. I was surprised at how prominent a role identity politics played in her life which I guess is consistent with her persona, but I was exhausted just reading about it and can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to go through life through that lens. For instance, her parents told her a story of how they bought fish from a fishmonger for a dinner party. When they got home, they discovered that the fish was spoiled, and could not be served. K wonders if the incident had any racial undertones. Her parents don’t think so but wow! to constantly be judging every encounter through that perspective! And I would question whether it’s productive? Likewise, one day she is playing with her white friend, and they lose track of the time. Her mother is beside herself, and K comments, how these "rules of self protection of where they could go, and when they were allowed to go literally kept them alive.” The Black girls killed in ATL. The first time she goes to Patrick’s fancy cc and is the only person of color in the entire place. Is Talia’s intolerable behavior at school the volatility or also because she “doesn’t belong” because she is Black? Doesn’t this stuff happen to other races? Other socio-economic classes? Seems a little simple to attribute everything down to race.
Her parents are matter-of-fact and worked hard to ensure unfair stereotypes didn’t undercut her budding self conception. Instead, they intentionally shored up capacities they had identified and made clear K had to be willing to stretch herself to work as diligently as she knew how. “Can this be done? Have you seen other people do it? If it is possible for a person to do this thing, then you can do it too.”
She was nerdy in HS and very involved with debate. I was not aware that she was raised with professional, wealthy parents, I found her views on affirmative action interesting. While she had white friends throughout HS (only one other Black girl in her class which seemed to me to be a bit of a lifeline) but at Harvard found close friends who were all black.
K’s uncle who went to jail for drug distribution. She argues his sentence was too long (he served 28 yrs), But certain things don’t add up. After release, he relocates to Atlanta in 2018 and “ the siblings lost touch after that.” What? Different ideas of punishment. Focus on retribution or enforcement of a moral code versus survival, terminating the conflict and reintegrating everyone peacefully back into society. Likewise, Hammurabi & Kant: punishment should be based on the harm cost and is warranted simply and solely because the offender has done something wrong. In this view, it would be disrespectful if human beings as responsible, moral agents not to punish lawbreakers and proportion to their wrongdoing. In another philosophical camp, the utilitarians old perspectives, Plato, Hobbs: punishment is justified only by the end it achieves such as promoting good conduct by the punished individual or preventing evil in the future is only moral to punish someone if it doing so achieves the greater good deterrence
Recognizes importance of language (excoriating Ebonics as a fully fledged language); Confederate flag; Her trip to Africa “When did you leave us?” & “Welcome home”
Her skin prickled with chills and a flood of emotion welled in her. I am home v Asian experience of not feeling as if you quite fit in either place
One of the few things I knew about Jackson before picking up this memoir was that she married a white man whom she met at Harvard. Patrick was an nth generation Harvard grad, a Boston Brahmin and goes on to become a surgeon. I was very curious how she met and married him, especially after perusing the photos where it seemed everyone in her orbit was black, and everyone in his orbit was white. Obviously, their values were very much aligned, and Patrick dated at least one other black woman before K.
Her struggles with older daughter Talia, who winds up being diagnosed with autism. It challenged her belief that if you work hard enough, you can make things come out the way you want, but there was nothing they could do to make Talia conform to the vision they had for her life.
My favorite parts of the book initially were when she talked about balancing mom and career as much of her struggle resonated with me. But then she reverted to form when she once again brought in gender and race even though K&P were quite balanced with housework responsibilities. And I was surprised that my reaction to the ending when she spoke about her family was that it was not sincere but contrived and trite.
-you can get exasperated at the tone of some of the questions or you can be a Supreme Court Justice.
I also thought it was interesting that for being such a proud progressive, there were still so many sexist rituals she espoused ie her hubby approached her parents before her to get married (and nobody gave this antiquated practice a second thought), her dad gave her away at her wedding; she didn’t retain her name etc, even using phrases like “time waits for no man”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2024
told myself I wasn’t gonna cry and got GOT by chapter 25
February 14, 2025
I have both the book and audio 🎧 for this and got really interested in reading this late last night.
I really love the law. Justice Jackson is extremely intelligent and passionate about both interpreting the law and trying to find fairness for all. She goes into detail about cases that some might find tedious, but that is my favorite part. Glad she appears to always try to use integrity and honesty in her life and work.
The book is a little too long. I enjoyed the beginning and learning of her childhood and upbringing. She had supportive parents and was especially close to her grandmother. She was taught to always strive to do your absolute best. Then adjusting to life at Harvard. Joining with fellow black students helped her enormously and she made three lifelong women friends. All went on to Harvard Law School. Learning about her relationship and than marriage to a blue blood white man from seven generations of Harvard alumni, Patrick was sweet to read. All of this formed who Ketanji was. I have some mixed feelings about her need to always please at any cost, and both her husband and her barely have any down time. It makes me think a lot about what we expect of individuals and make it almost impossible to have work/family life balance. She did mention how important it is for women to have mentors to help them through the process at work, so adjustments could be made while having family and children concerns could be dealt with without Ruining their Careers. She was and is an ambitious woman who enjoyed being a law clerk and most especially the year clerking on the Supreme Court for Justice Breyer. It is obvious in these passages her real love for this work. She was also invigorated working for the poor and minority communities, understanding how the law often unfairly was not applied equally to them.
When Ketanji is selected to be the nominee for Supreme Court Justice is the best part of the book. She carefully considers the nomination with her daughters and especially her oldest, who has Autism. Both her daughters fully support her. The Senate Confirmation hearing is grueling and takes much tenacity to get through. She is truly an idealist and believes in the role of the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and Democracy. How nice to hear.
She says: “Rather, a judge’s charge is no more and no less than protecting our democracy and the rule of law by clarifying the duties and constraints imposed by our Constitution, and by interpreting federal statutes consistent with the will of the people as expressed in laws enacted by their duly elected representatives in Congress” On April 7, 2022 she was confirmed as the next Justice to the Supreme Court. I am certainly glad she is there and all her years of hard work entitle her to be the First African-American Supreme Court Justice. Now more than ever, we need honest judges working to interpret the law and follow precedence. Our democracy is not something to trade in lightly and we need to all consider this.
Whether you agree with Judge Jackson’s rulings, I think it is fair to say she is trying to be fair, decent, and true to this position. History is watching.
I really love the law. Justice Jackson is extremely intelligent and passionate about both interpreting the law and trying to find fairness for all. She goes into detail about cases that some might find tedious, but that is my favorite part. Glad she appears to always try to use integrity and honesty in her life and work.
The book is a little too long. I enjoyed the beginning and learning of her childhood and upbringing. She had supportive parents and was especially close to her grandmother. She was taught to always strive to do your absolute best. Then adjusting to life at Harvard. Joining with fellow black students helped her enormously and she made three lifelong women friends. All went on to Harvard Law School. Learning about her relationship and than marriage to a blue blood white man from seven generations of Harvard alumni, Patrick was sweet to read. All of this formed who Ketanji was. I have some mixed feelings about her need to always please at any cost, and both her husband and her barely have any down time. It makes me think a lot about what we expect of individuals and make it almost impossible to have work/family life balance. She did mention how important it is for women to have mentors to help them through the process at work, so adjustments could be made while having family and children concerns could be dealt with without Ruining their Careers. She was and is an ambitious woman who enjoyed being a law clerk and most especially the year clerking on the Supreme Court for Justice Breyer. It is obvious in these passages her real love for this work. She was also invigorated working for the poor and minority communities, understanding how the law often unfairly was not applied equally to them.
When Ketanji is selected to be the nominee for Supreme Court Justice is the best part of the book. She carefully considers the nomination with her daughters and especially her oldest, who has Autism. Both her daughters fully support her. The Senate Confirmation hearing is grueling and takes much tenacity to get through. She is truly an idealist and believes in the role of the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and Democracy. How nice to hear.
She says: “Rather, a judge’s charge is no more and no less than protecting our democracy and the rule of law by clarifying the duties and constraints imposed by our Constitution, and by interpreting federal statutes consistent with the will of the people as expressed in laws enacted by their duly elected representatives in Congress” On April 7, 2022 she was confirmed as the next Justice to the Supreme Court. I am certainly glad she is there and all her years of hard work entitle her to be the First African-American Supreme Court Justice. Now more than ever, we need honest judges working to interpret the law and follow precedence. Our democracy is not something to trade in lightly and we need to all consider this.
Whether you agree with Judge Jackson’s rulings, I think it is fair to say she is trying to be fair, decent, and true to this position. History is watching.
December 16, 2024
Justice Jackson’s audio narration of her book was really well done - though I recommend listening at 1.3-1.4 speed. I particularly liked the way she discussed her daughters autism diagnosis and how that impacted the whole family and made her rethink her parenting style. She is clearly a very driven person who worked very hard to meet her ambitious goals. It was wonderful to learn more about her upbringing, how she was seen as a Black woman at the different stages of her life, and to learn about her family and her husband.
April 22, 2025
I'd say 3.5. This read more like a biography than a memoir to me. While I feel like I learned so much about Ketanji from a factual standpoint, the delivery came off somewhat sterile. This could partially be because as a current supreme court justice, she wanted to avoid the perception of any inherent bias, but I didn't necessarily feel a connection to her, despite also being a black woman who was raised to aim high and succeed. I will say, she truly broke down so many barriers from her childhood to get to where she is today, and it didn't feel like the book truly made me feel that weight. As a black woman, I understood it, but I think for others, the impact of her ascent isn't as apparent without having some of Ketanji's true feelings added to the mix. I can see readers being like so what, she's smart, went to Harvard, became a top lawyer. So what? Plenty of people do that. What might not be apparent is the rejections she may have faced, the inherent bias of people who saw her and immediately judged they thought she was, the casual racism. These are major roadblocks that many of us face, but especially when we're running in circles where people who look like us aren't necessarily welcome. While Ketanji did give facts and stats on some of these things, I felt like it was missing the heart.
I think the parts I enjoyed the most were in the last chapter or so where there were snippets of her actual comments and responses during her confirmation hearing and after she was confirmed. Those were the sections where I truly got a sense of how she viewed her role as a federal judge in our overall society and her approach for the law from a human standpoint. She also talked about her understanding of how her appointment would impact women and POC all over the world. I was especially moved when she mentioned that her family literally went from segregation to the supreme Court in just one generation. I got more of a sense of her emotional connection to her rise during these portions of the book, which leads me to believe that the impression she gave off while narrating this book isn't indicative of who she would be if you ran into her on the street.
Overall, I'm glad I was able to get more insight on a truly exceptional woman who has continuously paved the way and inspired so many to come after her. I'm honored that she is the representation of women who look like me in this country at one of the highest levels, and I will continuously hope for her good health and success as she inspires us for generations to come.
I think the parts I enjoyed the most were in the last chapter or so where there were snippets of her actual comments and responses during her confirmation hearing and after she was confirmed. Those were the sections where I truly got a sense of how she viewed her role as a federal judge in our overall society and her approach for the law from a human standpoint. She also talked about her understanding of how her appointment would impact women and POC all over the world. I was especially moved when she mentioned that her family literally went from segregation to the supreme Court in just one generation. I got more of a sense of her emotional connection to her rise during these portions of the book, which leads me to believe that the impression she gave off while narrating this book isn't indicative of who she would be if you ran into her on the street.
Overall, I'm glad I was able to get more insight on a truly exceptional woman who has continuously paved the way and inspired so many to come after her. I'm honored that she is the representation of women who look like me in this country at one of the highest levels, and I will continuously hope for her good health and success as she inspires us for generations to come.
October 6, 2024
This is the most thorough memoir I've ever read. Ketanji Brown Jackson brought the same academic and legal rigor that elevated her to the highest court to describing the events and people who supported her journey. From explaining the origins of Sister Locks to the case that requires the court to provide representation to anyone who can't afford it, she leaves no detail out. I especially enjoyed hearing the love and support she shared with Patrick as they raised their daughters while holding prominent positions. She narrates the audiobook, and her theater background comes through!
January 27, 2025
I think Ketanji is brilliant, lovely, beautiful and great oratory. I would recommend the audiobook just because Justice Ketanji narrates it and it’s great! Listening to her story made me kinda wish i had stayed in the law path lol. I loved learning about her, her life, her family and how she got her start in law and made her way to the Supreme Court. I love that this title is Lovely One which is the meaning of her name!
November 23, 2024
Ugh! I’m getting a wee bit choked up in the airport 😿. Full review coming later.
March 20, 2025
I listened to the audio version read by Judge Jackson. I am so glad I chose to learn more about the immensely talented and brilliant woman who was I chosen as the first African American Supreme Court Justice. I especially enjoyed the stories of the blending of her family story with that of her husband- she as a descendant of enslaved people, he as a Mayflower descendant. I could relate also to her stories of juggling the needs of her daughters, one of whom is autistic, with her high powered legal career and that of her surgeon husband. What an accomplished, yet relatable, person!
November 30, 2024
Absolutely phenomenal!!!
September 7, 2024
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author. She has a lovely and soothing voice. Let me say that I have great admiration and respect for Judge Ketanji Brown. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of her is the memory of watching tv and hearing republicans verbally attacking her repeatedly with questions and comments showing their level of immaturity and how pathetic they were. And I will never forget how Ketanji Brown consistently showed her professionalism and class and rose above it all. Having said that - The audiobook was LONG. 18 hours. A bit much for me. Truthfully some of the content I fast forwarded though. I would have enjoyed it much more had it been shorter.
April 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Ketanji will always be an inspiration for paving the way to the highest court in the country, and allowing girls that look like her to see what’s possible. I’m grateful that she brings representation to a place where it is desperately needed. This book in particular felt like it needed a better editor as there were so many unnecessary details, and I felt as though I would’ve appreciated some more emotion or opinion throughout her life story. However, Ketanji depicted herself as someone calm, cool, collected in all things and honestly those are some of the utmost important qualities in a Supreme Court justice. I also understand why as a sitting justice she couldn’t present controversial points or strong opinions.
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