My Beloved World

I became enamored with this book before I ever opened it by way of hearing Justice Sotomayor’s televised reading on C-Span’s Book TV. With authoritative control over the English language, not to mention her native Spanish, she enthralled everyone with the elements of her life, what led her to write the book in the first place. Sotomayor jumps right in telling of her lifelong battle with diabetes that begins at age eight, one that frightens her a bit at first. “But the disease also inspired in me a kind of precocious self-reliance that is not uncommon in children who feel the adults around them to be unreliable” (11). She describes with great detail her upbringing, living with an alcoholic father who dies rather young, a mother who must work as a nurse outside the home to provide income, and a brother with whom she is close and who will eventually become a doctor. She introduces the reader to all her Puerto Rican family, both in the South Bronx and those back on the island. “Since those years, I have come to believe that in order to thrive, a child must have at least one adult in her life who shows her unconditional love, respect, and confidence. For me it was Abuelita” (16), Sotomayor’s grandmother, who lives close enough for Sonia to make overnight visits that help shape her character. In speaking of her upbringing amid the multicultural arena of the Bronx, Justice Sotomayor says, “The differences were plain enough, and yet I saw that they were as nothing compared with what we had in common” (103). This understanding, early on, may then lead Sotomayor to do something with her life that will bring humanity together rather than tear it apart. Justice Sotomayor then tells of her schooling, a Catholic high school, Princeton for undergraduate work, Yale law school. Far from boasting, she always relates candidly her struggle with the language, the struggle against class and racial prejudice. “I honestly felt no envy or resentment, only astonishment at how much of a world there was out there and how much of it others already knew. The agenda for self-cultivation that had been set for my classmates by their teachers and parents was something I’d have to develop for myself. And meanwhile, there could come at any moment the chagrin of discovering something else I was supposed to know. Once, I was trying to explain to my friend and later roommate Mary Cadette how out of place I sometimes felt at Princeton” (135). The friend said, understandingly, that she must have felt like Alice in Wonderland. Sotomayor continues by describing her career, how each step leads toward her eventual nomination for the Supreme Court. Of her work in the district attorney’s office, “It was in effect to see that mastery of the law’s cold abstractions, which had taken such effort, was actually incomplete without an understanding of how they affected individual lives. Laws in this country, after all, are not handed down from on high but created by society for its own good” (212). As I neared the end of the book, I found myself wanting the pages to stretch out; I wished for a delayed resolution to the narrative. Sotomayor—from work she does while at Princeton on behalf of others less fortunate than herself, to her work in the DA’s office, to her work in a private firm where she earns a great deal of money and is befriended by important and wealthy people such as the Fendis of the fashion arena—stores up a broad set of legal experiences. In braving so many different worlds and mastering the language and rules of each, she positions herself to become a judge—one who can actually bring the law into focus for the rest of us. How many of the other justices, I wonder, have the breadth and depth of experience that she brings to the bench? If they know only the law and have acquaintance with the full expanse of humanity, one wonders if their judgments aren’t a bit tainted with a certain provincialism. I finished the last page with great admiration for Sonia Sotomayor. She tells fully of her life, neither diminishing nor exploiting either the strong or weak elements of her character. When one writes with such candor, the reader feels a part of the story. Maybe, I, too, can be as honest as I tell my children and grandchildren of my life. I can’t wait to read her next book. As this one ends with her first judiciary assignment, I am positive there will be another.

I've read my fair share of memoirs. Some of them end up being giant thank you notes to all of the people they've ever met ( Barbara Bush ) and others end up being pages of television episode recaps ( The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House . Still, some others manage to surprise and delight, one of the best being Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated . And let me put Associate Justice Sotomayor's new memoir on this best list. Deftly written, full of poignant and touching memories, Sonia Sotomayor's magnificent journey from her roots in the projects in the Bronx to the world of jurisprudence is recounted in "My Beloved World". Starting off with a story of realizing how her life was going to change upon learning she had diabetes, the book grips you and won't let you go once you finish it. Moving from apartment to apartment in the projects, learning about the death of her father at such a young age, and navigating the racial world that she found herself in were elements that made her strong, and make for a strong story. Her reflections on the role education played in her developed were particularly poignant; learning how being invited to Phi Beta Kappa was quite the honor from a fellow classmate is one example. As Sotomayor is thrust into new world after new world, it's clear she must navigate these worlds, relying on her own sense of intuition and intelligence, as well as the kindness and understanding of others. At every turn, and in every situation, she recounts, without judgment or hint of anger, the blatant racism she experienced and how she refused to let it define who she was or what she believes in. Sotomayor is careful as to the details she selects to share, making the childhood portion of her memoir stronger than the second part of the book as she gets into college and the legal world. Still, she writes with such love and clarity, especially about her family, that you truly get a sense of why she feels like she comes from a beloved world. For those of you wanting to read the book to get insights on her judicial philosophy or how she might rule in a variety of cases, these isn't the book for you. She gracefully avoids such parts. This is a book that one you start reading it it simply won't let you go. Sonia Sotomayor has led a most interesting, intriguing life, and this book is an honest celebration of her journey and more importantly, how she navigated that journey. I can only hope that part 2 is coming soon.

A sometimes heart-rending memoir, My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor, is also a "how to" book for minorities or anyone who wonders how one disadvantaged young person managed to rise so high above her circumstances. Growing up in the drug-filled projects of the South Bronx, where blacks and Puerto Ricans coexisted tensely within dark hallways and stairways, Sotomayor was a high-spirited child who was inspired and supported by each of her parents in a different way, also by her beloved paternal grandmother, by aunts, uncles, and many cousins, and by a prescient German-born pediatrician. Her abuelita, a special beacon, was the person everyone needs, "in order to thrive" as Sotomayor put it, "a child must have at least one adult in her life who shows her unconditional love, respect and confidence." Catholic schools, despite some objectionable personalities and where spanking was de rigeur, provided the rigorous foundation that Sotomayor took advantage of to propel herself forward academically. And she doesn't disappoint, emphasizing her resolve to become a lawyer, inspired by Perry Mason on TV, although her goal sometimes seemed murky to a Hispanic girl who had never even met a lawyer. Sotomayor's strength also came from having to contend with juvenile diabetes, a daily challenge that required discipline and courage. The other disease that she had to deal with was the alcoholism of her father until his death when Sotomayor was nine. Sotomayor describes everyday life affectionately and convincingly: shopping for a live chicken with her grandmother, and the day her father bought Encyclopedia Britannica. Her early years could be pretty typical of any working class youth growing up in a rough borough of New York in the 1960's. She had enough to eat, family support, a trip to the Canadian Rockies while in law school, and a wedding in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The linchpin? I would say it was her high school student forensics coach, Ken Moy, a Chinese-American friend who went to Princeton and encouraged her to apply there. Then affirmative action did its job, and so did Sotomayor. Her prime target reader is any young person finding her/his way, whom she hopes will use her experiences as a springboard to fulfillment of their aspirations. My Beloved World was written in collaboration with Zara Houshmand and its style sometimes can be wooden. I was a bit mystified as to the glorification of Puerto Rico. Sotomayer was born an American and only went to PR with family twice during the book. It does provide a romantic perspective in contrast to the grit of her early childhood surroundings. In the second half she strays from her memoirs to proselytize about the bum rap Puerto Ricans get and some of her political views. At times Sotomayer seems a bit full of herself, boasting about her good grades and other accomplishments, explaining that one reason for her divorce was that her husband couldn't deal with her success. Some of the people in the photos in My Beloved World are not identified or labeled in any way. There is a glossary of Spanish words in the back which seems unnecessary but maybe Sonia thought the gringos might need it. All in all, I believe anyone would enjoy this documentation of a Latina's ascent on the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Couldn't stop reading it!*****This is the fascinating story, of a heroic Puerto Rican woman, born under the most adverse circumstances, which transcended the limits of tolerance, endurance and deprivation; appointed to the United States Supreme Court, August 8, 2009. Becoming the first Hispanic and third woman to serve in the high court. Is the story of a woman, from an impoverished family from the Bronx, an impoverished borough of New York, afflicted with Diabetes; who at an early age, with great efforts and difficulties, learned how to sterilize the needles and inject herself, on a daily basis; to avoid the constant confrontations and bickering between an alcoholic father and a hard working mother. Easing the tension on them, taking turns injecting her. Her mother, fearful of her alcoholic husband's shaky hands. Is the story of a young girl, grown up to womanhood, who surmounted the barriers that deprived her and her fellowmen, from prospering and fulfilling their dreams and aspirations, of becoming a part of our mainland United States, melting pot; in a highly prejudiced and discriminatory society, "more so then"; apathetic to our needs. It's the story of two siblings, a girl and a boy, left fatherless at an early age, under the responsibility of a hard working mother, alone, raising them; persistently instilling in them, the importance of an education. Advice seriously taken. She in the law profession and he in the medical field. A career, that years later helped her, in combating the prejudice and indifference against the Puerto Ricans and the underprivileged; regardless of race, color or creed. A woman who trusting and empowering herself, step by step, with great perseverance, gradually erasing past hurt, didn't stopped pursuing her goals. She saw no need in increasing her anxiety by dwelling on the past. This relieved her worrying about the future This is the story, of a courageous woman, insatiable thirst for justice, equality and fairness. A woman who survived life darkest and painful paths, and irrespective of it, pursued a career, which enabled her, to make choices and provide the best services to mankind, without the fear of any loss. A woman, who with the support of her family, "especially her mother"; well intentioned friends, professors and members of the clergy, was able to succeed, in what was then, "supposedly", a man's world. With very few women in positions of power. Having accomplished her dreams of becoming a lawyer, she used her education and life experiences, "good and bad", to better understand and help others. Welcoming every chance, to address issues on economic development and education, beneficial to the people in the community she was raised; whose needs she deeply understood from firsthand experience. All throughout her long and painful ordeal, Ms. Sotomayor, was very careful, not to make waves nor rock the boat, to avoid jeopardizing the opportunity of successfully carrying out her plans; neither because of insecurity nor fear,(a woman, who as a young girl, conscientiously made a major decision,which gave her the strength and courage, of finding out a way of bravely injecting herself). Her aims, to her, were stronger, and more important than her wedding vows, and all the opulence, prestige, accolades and material comforts in the world. With traces of her painful past, still in her inner self, in her quest to fulfill her goals, years later, she joined several groups, among them, the PRLDEF (Puerto Rican Legal Defense Education Fund). A powerful organization, whose efforts shifted the boundaries of opportunity and civic engagement, for people across the nation; beyond the Puerto Ricans in New York. Developing amazing changes, which brought major progress and development to the Latino community, including the Bronx; the neighborhood where she grew up. Ms. Sotomayor worked for the New York DA's office and not only did she accomplished her dream of someday becoming a U.S. Federal District Court Judge, of the Southern District of New York; she was also a United States Court of Appeals Judge, for the Second Circuit. Finalizing her long journey, with a well deserved nomination: Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. This is the inspiring story of a woman whose dreams she relentlessly pursued, up to the very top.

In “My Beloved World,” Sonia Sotomayor provides a template for the kind of revelation that every Supreme Court Justice should provide. The book, which is as decent and inspirational a self-portrait as I have ever read, presents as close to a complete picture of the current Justice as I think she could have written. In it, she reveals how she got to be the person she is now, and from it one can gain an appreciation of the way she approaches the tough decisions she must make in her role on the bench. I will readily admit that I have always viewed memoirs askance. Why, first of all, would a person write one other than for self-serving reasons? And why, if that first concern is correct, should anyone assume that the author is reporting a true picture of him- or herself? I’m sure that many memoirists’ motivations are more honorable, like recording history from a personal perspective. (And, surely, some are far less noble: remuneration, to be blunt about it.) But those personal reports of historic events can’t help but be colored by the person telling the story, right? I mean, for example, what General is going to make himself sound incompetent in a battle that was lost (assuming he will even write about that particular battle at all)? That criticism cannot be leveled at “My Beloved World,” in which Justice Sotomayor provides insights into her childhood and adolescence that help the reader gain an understanding of the person she is now. It is the kind of revelation that every Supreme Court Justice should provide, since collectively those nine jurists shape so much of our nation’s social order and set the course for so much of its future. Consider how little is known about those who serve on the Supreme Court. Those who are nominated are usually obscure figures who have little by way of published biographies when they are nominated and who reveal so little about their background or beliefs even when they are being queried on their qualifications during their confirmation hearings. Any publicity that has attached to them will usually be limited to a law review article they may have written in their youth or a case they prosecuted in their days as a trial attorney. Some have writing trails in the form of judicial opinions they have written, but they rarely, if ever, tell us anything about the person who wrote them (or even of his or her personal views) if they are carefully composed, as most judicial opinions are. But as to the real person who is about to become one of the nine powerful arbiters of what the Constitution means and how laws enacted by Congress and administered by the President will affect us, we know precious little. And, as a result of that ignorance, we know even less about why any particular justice is a “strict constructionist” or a “living Constitution” proponent, let alone why any of them tend to view issues more generally from a conservative or liberal political perspective. Ms. Sotomayor’s memoir provides a clear picture of the woman she is, and it does so in spite of the unavoidable bias to present herself favorably, a bias even she would admit to, I believe. For what Ms. Sotomayor does in her book is trace her development from her earliest memories growing up as an older sister (to her brother) with an alcoholic father and a loving but demanding mother. Her memories of her youth are full of the love she got from her grandmother (Abuelita) and are enlivened by tales of her trips to Puerto Rico and her years living in and around the projects in the Bronx with her aunts and uncles and cousins. She admits to being an unwitting beneficiary of diversity programs that had just begun to open doors to minority students at the right time for her, and she acknowledges the happenstance of any number of opportunities that came her way as she made steady strides towards her childhood dream. Her memoir is as inspirational and uplifting as the story of her life should be, for, as she says, she has been truly blessed, notwithstanding the diabetes she has had since birth and the difficult childhood she had with her father’s alcohol dependency and early death. I read her memoir with the interest of an attorney. But I heartily recommend it to anyone who is interested not so much in the law and its internal machinations, but rather as a very personal and intimate portrait of one of the nine.

Tengo que decir que en un primer momento el libro no me gusto, pensando que iba a estar lleno de historias de superación personal sin un mayor contexto (en especial pensé que todo iba a girar en torno a sus orígenes sencillos y su condición de minoría), sin embargo después de avanzar un poco más me encontré con un libro lleno de consejos de vida importantes para todo tipo de personas. La Ministra Sotomayor muchas veces hace menos sus logros de vida que son impresionantes, y creo que lo hace para que lo que tenga énfasis sea el "como" logró esos logros. La constancia es una y otra vez una virtud resaltada en el libro, me encanta también como hace énfasis en los sentimientos que le causa cada uno de los retos que le ha puesto la vida, en cada uno reconoce que le causaba miedo, pero también habla de cómo ese miedo la empujaba a esforzarse más que los demás. El miedo muchas veces paraliza a la gente y hace que no busque lo que se merece, para la Ministra fue algo bueno que la llevo a hacer Ese esfuerzo adicional. También trae lecciones muy importantes acerca del balance entre vida personal y vida profesional, en eso la ministra es contundente y nos dice que aunque queramos no se puede tener todo así que hay que ser conscientes de las decisiones profesionales que tomamos y como pueden impactar la vida personal. La Ministra es una persona brillante, es uno de los libros que más he subrayado, si bien algunos capítulos pueden ser un poco aburridos, el libro está lleno de lecciones de vida importantísimas y para mí un claro mensaje, ten muy presente tus sueños y si trabajas lo suficiente los alcanzarás no importa cuál sea tu historia u contexto. / Have to say that my first impression wasn't good by the first chapters one could think that it was going to be almost a corny motivational book (focusing on her humble origins and its minority condition), but after further reading I realize that I was in front of a book full of wise life advice helpful for all type of persons. In my opinion, sometimes Justice Sotomayor simply underscores her outstanding achievements in order that the reader understands that the important thing is not the achievements but how she accomplished them. Perseverance is highlighted through the entire book, I also love the fact she emphasizes the feelings she had before every challenge in her life. She acknowledges that she had fear but fear was a good thing because she doubled her efforts to compensate. Fear is often an obstacle between people and their goals, for her it was a good thing because it made her do that extra effort. The book also includes a very important lesson about life/work balance; she bluntly states that you cannot have it all and that professional decisions will impact your personal life. Justice Sotomayor is an exceptional and brilliant person. This book has to be among the books that I have highlighted the most, even though some of the chapters may be a little bit boring, the book is full of great advice and a clear message, have always your dreams in mind and if you work hard enough you will reach them no matter your history or background.

For those used to reading biographies - as I am - it is a distinct change in mind set to switch to a memoir. When reading a memoir you are really getting into the mind and personality of the writer - almost like reading their diary - as opposed to reading a biography which is a third person's account of the individual. Sonia Sotomayor's MY BELOVED WORLD is a coming of age story that falls short of being a Puerto Rican "Angela's Ashes" but not far from it. While I initially identified with her, somewhere along the line I no longer held a strong attraction to her. By the end of the book, I was not really sure that I liked her as an individual. First, I felt that she spent too much time on her early life. Her point was made about her relationships with her family and extended family but she kept telling the story, especially the influence of her grandmother. Her story is a classic of a person who had overcome a great deal, including an alcoholic father, personal illness, the death of her father and her mother's difficulty in dealing with his death. But she also had great support from her family. While all in all I enjoyed the book there are a few things that bothered me that I would like to point out. For one, I felt that her transitions from one period of her life to another were often very hollow or missing. She finishes law school and is suddenly a Prosecutor. As a law school graduate, I know that taking and passing the bar exam is one of the high points of any lawyers life. She completely skipped over that experience. I realize that she came from a high school and background that had limited exposure to the world of academia, but I was somewhat taken back when after 4 years of college she did not know what "summa cum laude" meant and had never heard of Phi Beta Kappa. Perhaps she is trying to make herself look a little more underprivileged than she was. I also found it somewhat implausible that she could finish law school and not know the term voir dire for jury selection - and she grew up on Perry Mason? She may have been a rising star in the prosecutor's office but no prosecutor would have sent her into a jury trial in the first month on the job without somebody setting second chair with her. Nor could I believe her statement that after some mind altering event "I never lost a case" after that. There is an old adage among lawyers that says that people get to be federal judges because they sit next to someone in law school that gets to be a senator. That is hardly the case anymore but there is truth that to get to be a federal judge you have to have great credentials and connections. What I found interesting is Sonia's career ambition of being not just a judge -but a federal judge. Peole with that career track in mind usually start out on a state court bench, or work politically to be a US Attorney or other positions that establish strong political connectins. According to the book, she managed to stay above any political fray even stating that she did not declare herself a member of a political party - which even given her great credentials makes it hard to believe that she did not have a "god father" someplace pushing for her appointment to the federal bench - namely Ted Kennedy - who she never mentions. She does give credit to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. MY BELOVED WORLD exposes the reader to the heart and soul of Justice Sotomayor. I look forward to reading a critical biography of her to see if an independent researcher finds the same world.

I did not quite know what to expect regarding this memoir by Justice Sotomayor of her pre-judicial life. As a student of the Court for 40 years or so, a lawyer for 35 years, and a trained political scientist, I have found judicial biographies and the few judicial memoirs highly insightful into the character and actions of particular Justices. Justice Sotomayor is certainly the least known of the current Court, at least to me, and I was pleasantly surprised how absolutely candid her book is. It tells one a great deal about her, her background, and her character. The only other candid and insightful memoir that compares with this one is Justice Thomas' "My Grandfather's Son," distinctive for its remarkable honesty and perspective on his thinking and the factors that shaped it. A number of her topics stand out: First, she affords the reader a remarkable perspective on affirmative action, which she readily admits touched upon her own life in terms of Princeton, Yale Law, and her selection as a U.S. District Judge. Her attitude is much more supportive of the concept than Thomas was in his sometimes angry discussion of the issue in his book. Sotomayor places emphasis upon affirmative action as providing an opportunity to work very hard, unbelievably hard, and to demonstrate what your true capabilities are. She discusses this concept several times at different stages of her book, and I am very appreciative for helping to develop my thinking on this important issue. Second, I found her story most fascinating because it is, in microcosm, the story of Puerto Rican challenges in Hispanic New York. I knew very little about this culture before reading the book. But throughout, elements of Puerto Rican life pop up; and I was pleased that the author uses many Spanish names and expressions, which facilitates the reader's introduction to this rich culture. Sotomayor has included a glossary of Spanish terms and expressions which is quite helpful. The challenges that Sotomayor faced, and faced successfully, are immense. And it is important to understand this dimensions of the Puerto Rican experience. For those contemplating a legal career, the book affords important insights. As a retired law firm partner, I was particularly interested in the narrative of her progression from being an Assistant D.A. in New York, to becoming a law firm associate and later partner, and finally her initial judicial appointment. Since this was all new to Sotomayor, she shares her reactions to each step in a way that educates the reader as to the challenges in following such a course. Finally, I was delighted with how candidly she discusses her type I diabetes and how this has impacted (and continues to impact) her life. Since we currently have some manner of epidemic underway, with many victims unaware of their condition, such discussion is critically important. I speak from my own experience. There are many other "pluses" I could discuss, but these are the major points that struck me. I should add that she emerges as one tough character; a trait I am sure she relies upon frequently in interacting with some of her forceful Court brethren. For this, I am extremely thankful. Surely, Sotomayor has a healthy ego, but after reading this remarkable memoir, one can only conclude she has earned it.

This book was wonderful!

This is a really good book. Sonia is such an example, and the book is beautifully written. Fun fact: someone stole this books of mine on the train, and I bought it again. It makes the perfect present for a friend who needs to be inspired and who needs to be motivated to pursue his/her dreams despite the difficulties that life presents.

Very interesting book, that is also well written.

Sonia's memoirs of her life were truly inspirational to read. A very intelligent and focused person, she tries to find some of the keys to her successes in life and makes many of the difficulties that immigrants and their children face, very personal for the reader. A well written, honest and open-hearted presentation of her life. What an amazing woman!

This book is so inspiring and encouraging. It's definitely worth buying and reading. I have never met, seen, heard, or read such a beautiful soul. I recommend young people all over the world to read it, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or political philosophy. And Sonia-san, you are very charming! I hope your job at the US Supreme Court should be successful.