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| Author: John Grisham ISBN-10: 0385517238 ISBN-13: 9780385517232 Format: Hardcover Publication Year: 2006 Category: SOCIAL SCIENCE, TRUE CRIME In John Grisham's first nonfiction book, he disinters the appalling details of a miscarriage of justice in Oklahoma. After a short disappointing career as a major league baseball player, Ron Williamson returned to his hometown of Ada, moved in with his mother, and began to lose his mind. When a young cocktail waitress was raped and murdered, the local police decided to target the mentally unstable Williamson. Using coercive methods and the flimsiest of evidence the District Attorney railroaded... | More | Average Ratings  from 96 reviewsPrice: $2.92 - $50.00 List Price: $28.95 |
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by: historydigger  ) | Review created: 11/07/06 |
| 53 out of 58 people found the following review helpful. I'd seen this book advertised on various websites. So when someone lent it to me I was interested to see what it was like. The author's previous output have been fiction, which is very popular and successful, even being adapted into screenplays. This is his first non-fiction book about two individuals who were very poorly served by the criminal justice system. One of them was an aspiring baseball player, the other a young bussiness man. The aspiring baseball player developed personal problems, which were worsend with alchohol and mental illness. He also had some brushes with the law. The other man had a fairly normal life. Both were roped into murder investigations in their little town, and wrongly convicted on rape and murder charges. One received life in prison, the other went to death row. Both had to make severe adjustments to survive in the brutal prison system. Reading about this can be very depressing, especially when you see how cruel, greedy and incompetant the prison staff and officials are. Also the prosecutor comes off as being a usless, arrogant buffoon, more interested in furthering his career than correcting an injustice. Through very hard work, and the love and support of the family and friends these two men were eventually freed. The first one was so damaged by his abuse and non-treatment of his physical and mental ailments, that he had prematurely aged, and died not long afterwards. The other man moved out of state, lest the police arrest him again for an imagined crime. The state and prosecutors were sued, and settled, but piously admitted no wrong doing. I think as myself as a conservative, but this book will make you think seriously about the criminal justice and prison systems in this country. It details the laziness and stupity of local law enforcement, who'd rather alter evidence and use a supsect confession, than do actual hard work to arrive at a conviction. Or a corrupt and brutal prison were most of the staff differ from in inmates only in they go home at night. The description of that prison was so harrowing as to make Dachau seem like Club Med! While it is REALLY depressing, it is an essential read, in that it shows that criminals are not the only ones that are a danger to society. | |
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by: kimc_at_the_lake  ) | Review created: 11/09/06 |
| 21 out of 23 people found the following review helpful. Grisham proves yet again that he is a master of prose. This is his first Non-Fiction undertaking. I found the book disturbing in its revelation of the bad side of our justice system. It asks the question: How many innocent people have been imprisoned before DNA evidence was available? How many times has this evedence not been available because of its expensive nature? How many victims have yet to find justice? Before I read this book I was a staunch believer in the death penalty. Now I believe that our system needs some adjustments before we go this route. I have read all of Grishams previous works and will wait in anticipation for his next. Bravo!! | |
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by: its_me_manon ) | Review created: 11/11/06 |
| 11 out of 12 people found the following review helpful. John Grisham is one of my favorite writers!. This book was hard to put down. The corruption, the injustice due to faulty judicial system, all were too compelling. I highly recommend this book, another GREAT one from John Grisham!! | |
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by: jennyfallaw  ) | Review created: 06/03/07 |
| 3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful. I HAVE ALL OF JOHN GRISHAM'S BOOKS AND LOVE THEM ALL, HOWEVER THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ! IT WILL MAKE YOU MAD, SAD AND WILL KEEP YOU READING ALL AT THE SAME TIME! I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN I HAD TO KEEP READING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. IT GAVE ME A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND HOW THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS FAIR LIKE ONE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE. IT ALSO MADE ME THINK TWICE WHEN I WATCH SOMETHING ON T.V WHERE THE PERSON SWEARS HE'S INNOCENT, BEFORE READING THIS BOOK I WOULD HAVE SAID YEAH RIGHT! BUT NOW I STEP BACK AND HAVE TO GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. WHAT AN AWESOME BOOK VERY WELL WORTH THE MONEY! | |
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by: bluelily72  ) | Review created: 01/06/07 |
| 3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful. I'm a mother of two under two and full time career woman who was once an avid reader. I actually made a life out of dissecting important works of literature! I professed to love James Joyce, Shakespeare, Lord Byron, but I read Grisham, Kellerman, and Patterson in the closet so that my friends and colleagues would never see what I was REALLY reading. But as I said...I am now a mother of two under two...and Dr. Suess and Baby Einstein have become my important works of literature, and I am lucky to go to the bathroom alone, let alone read in the closet any longer. All of that said, I delved into the new Grisham hardback simply assuming it was a luscious, self-indulgent novel that I so deserved in the moments between changing diapers, playing with dinosaurs, singing Itsy Bitsy Spider, and wondering how I got peanut butter in my hair...again. I was wrong...about the novel, the self-indulgence, and the moments. I was riveted from the first page and at once sickened and hopeful throughout the read. Grisham moves effortlessly from story teller to truth seeker. Good writing elicits thought...Great writing demands examination of thought. This book has caused me to re-examine questions that I thought long-since answered in my own mind. Grisham does this without suggestion or moral indignation. This is a book that must be read. But...do not read it if: *you are looking for a mindless story *you are not willing to forsake sleep, food, and the morning paper just to get through this book *you are not prepared to examine your own beliefs and ideas regarding the dealth penalty (I was not...) *you want to keep your image of John Grisham as the author who creates characters simply perfect for Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, and John Cusak I truly cannot tell you if it is Grisham's writing or the life of this true account itself that kept The Innocent Man my constant companion for 48 hours. But I do know this, I would be compelled to loan you my copy if it weren't for the jelly stains, the green crayon scribbles on pages 78-121, the unmentionable "goop" found just under the back cover, and the tear-stained last page. | |
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by: dancedj13 ) | Review created: 12/04/06 |
| 3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful. Ambivalence really sums up my feelings toward Mr. Grisham's latest book. Depressing is another. I applaud Mr. Grisham in his attempt to analyze the hows and whys of just what happened to Ron Williamson during his hectic, confusing, and sometimes just unlucky life. From outstanding major league baseball prospect, to drug and alcohol abuser, to mentally unstable convict, to exonerated felon, Ron Williamson never really knew any peace off the baseball diamond. His dream of a major league career shattered he simply withdrew into his own private hell of dope, booze, loose women, honky tonks, and insanity. Sometimes a difficult book to follow, the darkness that Mr. Grisham maintains throughout the book is at times oppressive. How many times must Ron Williamson have to exhibit mental instability before someone, anyone, gets him real help and not just temporary "band-aid" his CHRONIC mental problems. It is a wonder that he didn't harm someone during his drunken, drug induced haze. Finally convicted of a murder he never committed, the complex judicial process to free him was very well told by Mr. Grisham. Ron's years spent on "death row" were both illuminating, sad, and frightening all at the same time. His eventual release and exoneration was the ONLY happy point in an otherwise sad biography of a profoundly unhappy life. Again, I was ambivalent about this book. I can not say I enjoyed it but I did learn from it. This is not your typical light Grisham reading so be very careful. Be ready for a heavy, dark, oppressive book that while educating about the legal system, at the same time leaves one empty about the sad state of this nation's mental health programs. This up close and personal view of America's seamy underbelly will stay with you for quite awhile. | |
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by: torypm | Review created: 09/28/06 |
| 7 out of 12 people found the following review helpful. To the person who wrote the previous review, the publication date is not until October 10th. That is why you haven't gotten your book yet. I'm sure the seller will send it to you when it is available. You have essentially pre-ordered the book. | |
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by: chessieii ) | Review created: 05/08/07 |
| 2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful. This was so different from his other books. I really haven't decided if I liked it or not. It seemed to drag on quite a bit. It does open your eyes regarding innocent people sent to jail. Apparently it happens a lot more than we hear or read about. It is so sad that it actually happens -- what is wrong with our justice system??????????????? | |
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by: timandjeanneg ) | Review created: 02/10/07 |
| 2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful. I have read all of Grisham's books. I only rated it average because I'm comparing it to his fiction books. I haven't read many nonfiction books so it might be better, compared to other nonfiction, than I realize. It's an interesting story and Grisham seems to tell it well. I am just used to his tried and true formula of someone racing to save his own skin and doing it in an unpredictable manner. Read it and find out for yourself. | |
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by: sandy0429 ) | Review created: 02/07/07 |
| 2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful. I have read every Grisham book and am an avid fan. I knew going in this was a non-fiction book and wondered whether I would like it as much. What a wonderful storyteller John Grisham is, no matter what format. Once again, I was riveted to his every word. Once again, this was a book I could not put down! His portrayal of both of the main characters and especially of Ron and his struggle with mental illness and the love of his sisters was moving, to say the least. It's not often a book will make me cry, but this one certainly did. The injustices these people suffered were incredible. The incompetency of our judicial system is something I am very aware of so I was glad to see it written about so expertly. The memory of this book will stay with me for a very long time. It's one that, down the road, I will re-read. | |
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