The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law.

• Position: Brief article - Book review

The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law

By Albie Sachs

A memoir written by a prominent South African judge, The Strange Alchemy of Life and Law highlights Albie Sachs' struggle for justice in the country he loves.

Detained in solitary confinement, tortured by sleep deprivation, exiled, and eventually hit by a car bomb that cost him his right arm, Sachs' experiences have made an impact on how he views the role of law. In this book, Sachs advocates that the legal profession can--if practiced correctly--serve as a protector of human dignity. Sachs supports his claim by detailing his own dedication to establishing a sense of justice in South Africa.

During his 15-year term on South Africa's first Constitutional...