Guilty people /

The work of the criminal defense attorney has been chronicled in many films and books, with the attorney often elevated to superhero status. In Guilty People, Smith (Georgetown Univ.), herself a criminal defense attorney, provides the particulars of criminal defense in an innovative and creative way that will help readers understand the complexities that lawyers deal with each day. The story is truly about life in a free society, one in which decisions have consequences but notions of justice are paramount. Each of the five chapters outlines a specific case in Smith's career and juxtaposes the issues within each case against broader notions of the law. Each chapter begins with a cartoon drawn by the author. Whether discussing petty criminals or felons, Smith uses a philosophical approach to the law to connect to her practical approach as an attorney. The overlap of those two approaches is the most important aspect of the book. Inspiring and motivational, Guilty People is unique in poignantly capturing the frailties of the law and of humans, and doing so with hope and optimism. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals; general readers. --Aaron RS Lorenz, Ramapo College