My Grandfather's Son (English)

In this surprisingly candid memoir from the soft-spoken and controversial Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas provides a revealing look at his formative years, the shaping of his political views, and his rise from poverty in rural Jim Crow Georgia to becoming a member of the highest judicial body of the United States. Abandoned by his father at a young age, Thomas was raised by his grandfather, Myers Anderson, a stern and uncompromising man who beat Thomas, forced him into long hours of manual labor, kept him from playing sports or becoming a Cub Scout, and kicked him out of the house after he dropped out of seminary school. Despite this rough treatment, Thomas feels that his grandfather's tough love allowed him to become a resilient and strong individual in the mode of an Ayn Rand hero--an author he admires. His relationship with his grandfather also helps to explain Thomas's conservative bent, particularly his attacks against affirmative action. Even though an affirmative action program helped Thomas attend Yale Law School, he feels that the program robbed him of his chance to prove himself on his own. Much of the book deals with Thomas's confirmation to the court and his outrage at the "high-tech lynch mob" of the Anita Hill sexual harassment accusations. Thomas does not mince words with his attacks on liberals who attempted to discredit his reputation and dishonor his name. MY GRANDFATHER'S SON is a fascinating book that provides a vivid portrait of a man and shows how his remarkable experiences helped shape his psychology and values system. minimize