"The chapters track political debates over national values, but Ziegler grounds them in the intimate histories of people whose names are likely unknown or unfamiliar to most abortion scholars. They are people who made meaning of Roe in unexpected ways, and Ziegler tenderly narrates a national history of Roe from their lives, making the book uniquely brilliant and uniquely valuable for comparative study."--Joanna N. Erdman, Comparative Legal History "Ziegler sets a brisk pace but delivers substantial depth. A must-read for those seeking to understand what comes next."-- Publishers Weekly "An accessible account. As always, Ziegler is a clear explainer of a complex, gray-shaded body of law."-- Kirkus Reviews "Ziegler's succinct description about the nation's polarizing debate over abortion remains more relevant than ever.

Ziegler's greatest contribution to the legal history of abortion (besides her prodigious research and her ability to uncover information that no one else has discovered) is her even-handed analysis and attention to nuance and complexity."--Daniel K. Williams, Current "Lucid and cogent. The strength of the book is its descriptions of the multiple meanings of Roe in American society and how the decision became a microcosm of political polarization and debates in the US for the last half-century."--D. Schultz, Choice "An accessible and timely primer on the many meanings Roe has accrued in American politics, law, and culture across half a century, deepening our understanding of this polarizing constitutional landmark."--Ken I. Kersch, author of Conservatives and the Constitution "Mary Ziegler offers a brilliant and insightful analysis of the fascinating ways in which our nation's understanding of the abortion issue has evolved over the half-century since Roe was decided.

"--Geoffrey R. Stone, author of Sex and the Constitution "With the landmark Supreme Court abortion decision as its lens, Roe offers a vivid view of the half-century of political, legal, and social conflicts over judicial activism, women's rights, the place of religion in America, racial justice, sexuality, regional and class differences--while illuminating shifting political party positioning and pivotal individuals who resist the easy labels of polarized politics."--Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor, Harvard University.