Clarence Earl Gideon asked for a lawyer when he was tried and convicted of a minor offense, he was later refused, convicted and sentenced to five years in prison . The perspective is entirely focused on the legal issues surrounding the case and provides an overall overview of the societal and legal trends of the 1960s. The final chapter is used to make a general statement about the role of the Supreme Court in American society. Lewis concludes the book with an argument he makes at the beginning of the book, his belief that the Court reinforces and shapes society's values. As in this case, Gideon's Trumpet plays a defining role in American society. However, we can say that the work is perhaps too dense. At 250 pages, it includes several court cases, examples, Supreme Court cases, and decisions from around the world. There are aspects that humanize the story, such as Gideon's original handwritten petition to the Court (p. 4), Gideon's letter to his lawyer telling his life story (p. 47-58), the Gideon's life as described in chapter seven (pp. 100-106). This is an interesting read on the appeal process and very informative and