Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer by Michael Mansfield Summary
Overview of Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer
Inside the courtroom battlegrounds, Michael Mansfield's memoir reveals how one radical lawyer challenged forensic evidence fallibility while defending iconic cases like Princess Diana's inquest. A.N. Wilson called it "a shaming, chilling list of injustices" - what legal truths await beyond conventional justice?
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Key takeaways
When the Courtroom Becomes a Battlefield
For over four decades, Michael Mansfield has been the lawyer prosecutors dread seeing across the courtroom. From the Birmingham Six to Princess Diana's inquest, from Stephen Lawrence's murder to Bloody Sunday, he's built a career on a simple premise: the powerful should be held accountable, and the system isn't always right. His story begins in the most unlikely place-a middle-class household during the London Blitz, where loyalty to Queen and Country was unquestioned. His father lost a leg in WWI; his mother drove ambulances through bombed-out streets. Young Michael joined the Combined Cadet Force, becoming one of the Army's first Junior Under Officers. Nothing suggested he'd become the establishment's worst nightmare. But two moments changed everything. First, his mother successfully fought a false parking ticket, then warned him: "Never trust a man in uniform." Second, Cambridge and Keele rejected him after his father's death. Rather than accept defeat, he showed up unannounced at the admissions tutor's home. When asked what he'd do with a million pounds, he said he'd give half to his widowed mother and travel the world with the rest. He got in. That boldness-that refusal to accept the official answer-would define his entire career.
The Science Delusion: When Expert Evidence Becomes Expert Opinion
When Grief Becomes Guilt: The Cruelty of Statistical "Proof"
The DNA Trap: When "Scientific Certainty" Becomes Dangerous Certainty
The Evidence They Hide: Fighting for What the Prosecution Doesn't Want You to See
Stephen Lawrence: When One Family Changed a Nation
The Long Arm of Justice: Why International Law Matters More Than Ever
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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