Bernie MADOFF

In the courtroom, witnesses and the accused are required to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. How do we really know if what people are saying is the truth? Frankly, we don’t. Sometimes the evidence is glaringly opposed to what someone says. Sometimes we might just have an odd feeling that something doesn’t add up. In the end, we base our entire judicial system on the basis that people are telling the truth. James B. Stewart gives an in-depth exploration of four very famous liars.

Martha Stewart, Scooter Libby, Barry Bonds, and Bernard Madoff are all high profile cases. Attached to each case was a string of lies that involved a cast of characters, all lying to protect themselves, their friends and families, and their money and/or reputations. In the concluding chapter, Stewart suggests that they may be sociopathic, but he also makes a broader statement about criminal justice. “A society that depends only on prosecutors and the judicial system to curb perjury will never succeed” (p.436).

This book was well-written, and I learned a great deal about each of these cases. Unfortunately, I learned so much that I was overwhelmed with facts and names. The depth was a bit much for me personally. When writing about legal cases, the need to include all of the details is integral, and I can imagine the difficulty sifting through the records to bring forth the gems from the minutiae. He did a remarkable job.… (altro)