Helpful Score: 4
The scariest part about this book is that it is real, it is close to home, and it could be happening anywhere. Not only could be, but is happening all around the world today. A true wake-up call from our complacency, but written in a riveting story style that keeps you turning pages to see what happens next.
Helpful Score: 2
Awesome book, much better than the movie. A true story of an epic courtroom showdown. Two of the nation's largest corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children. Representing the bereaved parents, the unlikeliest of heroes emerges: a young, flamboyant Porsche-driving lawyer who hopes to win millions of dollars and ends up nearly losing everything-including his sanity.
Helpful Score: 1
A true story of the legal system gone awry-. Two corporations accused of causing the deaths of children are the cause take up by a young lawyer who hopes to win. He ends up nearly losing all worldly goods and wonders about his sanity
Helpful Score: 1
Non-fiction story of a Massachusetts lawyer who brought suit against two giants of industry to get compensation for his clients who suffered from cancer due to polluted drinking water. One of the first of such cases. Fascinating story of how he risked all he had to bring these people to justice - and the people he did it for. A very, very good read.
Serious inquiry into the Woburn toxic waste case and its origins. Fascinating esp for those people interested in how to make environmental change.
I enjoyed this legal thriller a great deal. Action just keeps moving.
Excellent book. Makes one wonder what else we have been exposed to without our knowledge.
true story of an epic courtroom showdown
Sorry Mr. Travolta, the book is better.
Excellent, excellent book about a trial similar to that in Erin Brockovich. Great for legal buffs and anyone that likes John Grisham or legal suspense.
This book is really excellent, but it is a very depressing look at the legal system.
I had to read this for a class and ended up really enjoying it. It was much more interesting than the movie, although that was good as well. Very good read and highly recommended for law students!
A single lawyer takes on a big corporation whose illegal chemical disposal allegedly caused widespread illness - based on a true story.
[from the back cover] This is the true story of an epic courtroom showdown. Two of the nation's largent corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children. Representing the bereaved parents, the unlikeliest of heroes emerges: a young, flamboyant Porsche-driving lawyer who hopes to win millions of dollars and ends up nearly losing everything-including his sanity. A Civil Action is the searing, compelling tale of a legal system gone awry-one in which greed and power fight an unending struggle against justice.
A true story, almost unbelievable.
True, but pedantic. The main character shows flaws but never rises to the occasion, simply stays a shallow, inconsiderate ambulance-chaser until the end. Might be interesting for tort lawyers, or complete non-lawyers. Well-researched, but ineffectual for me.
This book is everything people say about it - fascinating, engrossing, and a page turner! I did not want to put it down, and at 500+ pages, that's saying something. Lawyers and nonlawyers alike will enjoy this read!
Loved this book. It reads like a novel but you hold your breath for the outcome because everything in it is true.
This is the true story of an epic courtroom showdown. Two of the nation's largest corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children. Representing the bereaved parents, the unlikeliest of heroes emerges: a young, flamboyant Porsche-driving lawyer who hopes to win millions of dollars and ends up nearly losing everything - including his sanity.
A Civil Action is the searing, compelling tale of a legal system gone awry - one in which greed and power fight an unending struggle against justice. Yet it is also the story of how one man can ultimately make a difference.
A Civil Action is the searing, compelling tale of a legal system gone awry - one in which greed and power fight an unending struggle against justice. Yet it is also the story of how one man can ultimately make a difference.
Great book! From book cover: "...true story of an epic courtroom showdown. 2 of the nation's largest corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children. Representing the bereaved parents, the unlikeliest of heroes emerges: a young, flamboyant Porsche-driving lawyer who hopes to win millions of dollars and ends up nearly losing everything - including his sanity.
I didn't read this but it's supposed to be great, hard to put down!
Really enjoyed this true story.
from the book jacket: "A Civil Action takes the reader deep into the inner workings of the law, to a place where few other books have ventured. It brilliantly dramatizes the way the legal system is geared to resolving cases--between contenders of unequal power--rather than seeking truth or justice. It also shows the tragic absurdity of leaving it to the victims, the weakest group, to investigate the cause of a disaster affecting the whole community. The author was given unprecedented access to every meeting, strategy session, and financial record. Most important of all, the main characters gave the author access to their private lives, to their hopes and fears. From this comes a mesmerizing book that reads like a novel, a chronicle of a modern-day odyssey."
True story about a small New England town, versus big business pollution. This is not a hardcover book, but it is a softcover!
this is a MUST read. a classic. true novel set outside of boston. compelling, lot's of emotion in the book and some awesome twists!
Fantastic and heartbreaking, especially since I live ten minutes from where these events took place. An incredible story of the effects of toxic waste, and a lawyer who truly risked and lost almost all he had to hold WR Grace accountable for their actions. Recommend highly.
The movie based based on the book is pretty true to the novel. Interesting true story, very well writen.
This non-fiction book reads like a thriller that you can't put down. I never saw the movie, but the story is fascinating and keeps you reading even when you're trying to put it down.
I enjoyed the book better than the movie even if it did star John Travolta! The books and your imagination are always better!
Legal thriller of the decade. Large corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children.
Fast paced page turner.
Legal thriller of the decade. Large corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children.
Fast paced page turner.
Much better book than movie, and happened right here in massachusetts!
Truly amazing, exhaustively-researched account of a famous environmental trial.
"A page turner. So rich and vivid that it becomes a good deal more than a simple, interesting case study." -- The New York Times
Excellent nonfiction about two major corporations facing a legal battle over the deaths of children. The hero is a flamboyant lawyer who risks everything to find justice for the families that have been innocently affected.
This is a great book! It is also a real "feel good" book. Remember John Travolta? I think he does well as this character in the movie.
Fast paced book full of suspense. Great read.
A true story about a big environmental pollution case, the lawyer that almost went crazy prosecuting it, and the sad ending. A story of how sometimes a case can be a depressing dose of reality.
This is the true story of an epic courtroom showdown. Two of the nation's largest corporations stand accused of causing the deaths of children. Representing the bereaved parents, the unlikeliest of heroes emerges; a young, flamboyant Porsche-driving lawyer who hopes to win millions of dollars and ends up nearly losing everything-including his sanity.
Basis for the movie starring John Travolta.
If you like John Grisham, you will love this because this is similar. But the great thing about this is, that it is based on a true story.
As often is said, true life makes for a more compelling story than fiction. So is true of this true story. I was drawn into this compelling tale, and sickened things like this could happen in your own back yard in recent years. I admit I wanted to read an Erin Brokovitch (sp?) ending...and there was no fairytale. A truly compelling read.
This is a fantastic book. It is an actual case which pitted families whose children died or were dying from toxic chemicals in the drinking water, against big corporations accused of dumping the chemicals. It is a behind the scenes look at the hard work, money, politics, strategy and conniving that goes on in the "justice" system, and how judges can make decisions(sometimes frivolously) that can cripple one side or another. It is a look at personalities at their best and worst, and how sometimes, to quote the book, "The truth is at the bottom of a bottomless pit."
Interesting story of a lawsuit. I think it had to do with leukemia. I can't remember, it's been years since I read it.
The movie "A Civil Action" was based on this book and stars John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Tony Shalhoub, and William H. Macy.
"Whether in truth of fiction, I have never read a more compelling Chronicle of litigation." ~ John Grisham
"A page-turner. Rich and vivid ... eventful and gripping."
~ The New York Times
"Once you start A CIVIL ACTION, you probably will not be able to put it down." ~ Washington Post Book World
"Whether in truth of fiction, I have never read a more compelling Chronicle of litigation." ~ John Grisham
"A page-turner. Rich and vivid ... eventful and gripping."
~ The New York Times
"Once you start A CIVIL ACTION, you probably will not be able to put it down." ~ Washington Post Book World
