As the highest judicial authority in the land, the Supreme Court holds immense power in shaping the nation’s legal landscape and safeguarding its constitutional principles. You may have seen some recent Supreme Court decisions that left you upset, pleased, generally confused, or maybe apathetic because let’s face it: it’s pretty hard to keep track of obscure court happenings.

In this post, you’ll find some remarkable books that unravel the complex dynamics, landmark cases, and influential personalities that have defined this esteemed institution. Whether you’re a law enthusiast, a history buff, or simply intrigued by the interplay of justice and politics, these gripping literary treasures offer profound insights into the Supreme Court’s enduring impact on American society.

Roe: The History of a National Obsession by Mary Ziegler

The Chief: The life and Turbulent Times of Chief Justice John Roberts by Joan Biskupic

First: Sandra Day O’Connor, An American Life by Evan Thomas

Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Life in War, Law, and Ideas by  Stephen Budiansky

What is the Supreme Court? by Jill Abramson; illustrated by Gregory Copeland.

Confirmation Bias: Inside Washington’s War Over the Supreme Court, from Scalia’s Death to Justice Kavanaugh by Carl Hulse

Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work  by Victoria Ortiz

John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court by  Richard Brookhiser

Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America by Wil Haygood

The Supreme Court: An Essential History by Peter Charles Hoffer, William James Hull Hoffer, and N.E.H. Hull