A life story worth telling
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| Spencer Waller, J.D. |
While most people would switch gears and look for another book, Waller responded differently. He decided to write Arnold’s biography himself.
After months of archival research and interviews, Waller began writing the first full, traditional biography of Arnold, a unique attorney and public figure.
“It’s a challenging thing to put together,” says Waller, who has authored numerous scholarly articles. “You’re not just struggling to be technically accurate; you’re trying to tell a story that people are going to want to read.”
According to a book review in the Chicago Tribune, Waller succeeded. The book is receiving positive attention from both general readers and legal scholars.
“I just think this man’s life is a story worth telling,” Waller says. “He really believed that government and law should serve the needs of the people. There’s a point when you don’t let theory get in the way of feeding the hungry, housing the homeless and protecting the powerless.”
Waller’s book arrived in stores in December 2005. He hopes the book will present valuable information about a man who worked to use the U.S. government to help businesses and protect individuals during the McCarthy era, as well as provide a source of inspiration for today’s legal professionals.
“There’s a lot of unhappiness in people who practice law today. Arnold was someone who practiced it happily,” Waller says. “He gives you some sense of a lawyer who can make a big difference.”
APRIL SPECHT