Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights

By Aryeh Neier

Book Overview

Since joining the staff of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1963 and becoming its youngest executive director, Aryeh Neier has been at the forefront of efforts to fight for civil liberties, human... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1891620827
• ISBN13: 9781891620829
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.5" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Bunch of books in one

A bunch of books in one as we see the turbulent litigation of the 60s and 70s from an insider's point of view, then the growth of Human Rights Watch and the important work done in Central America and elsewhere to George Soros' occasionally transformational efforts in former Soviet countries. Refreshingly honest, such as the part where Neier admits that the ACLU's mental health litigation asking for the mentally ill to be released from institutions unwittingly contributed to the homeless crises which continues to this day. I have never heard a liberal admit this, though it is probably true (it's important to admit mistakes to avoid them in the future). The book would have been better with more about Neier's personal life and his personal feelings about triumphs and defeats, but all in all a great insider view of civil liberties litigation, NGO politics, and human rights strategy.