WIB@L July Book of the Month Reviews: My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

Author: Ingrid Guo '21

From the ins and outs of her childhood in the 1960s to her eventual nomination to the United States Supreme Court in 2009, Sonia Sotomayor chronicles her beginnings and career in great detail in her autobiography, My Beloved World. Throughout the book, Sotomayor’s references many times to her adolescent events. From her plea on behalf of Kitty Genovese in her Forensics competition to her father’s death when she was nine years old, the repetitions show that life’s major events, no matter how old, can influence a person’s life and trajectory. Her unwavering commitment to the people of her community, whether on the district, state, or national level, is what I personally admire about her. Even amidst her physical complications as a Type I Diabetic, the constant racism and sexism she faced in the courtroom, Sotomayor never let those aspects deter her from fighting for what is right in the eyes of the law.

Personally, one particular part that stood out to me was when Sotomayor realized that winning a case “came down to the appeal by emotion rather than fact alone.” I found this ironic because, in life, people showing strong emotions to others are often seen as vulnerable. However, in the courtroom, emotions act as an attorney’s ace card - they can drive home your viewpoints and allow others to “see” your perspective. As someone who emphasizes my own and other’s emotions, it is fascinating to see how emotions can be beneficial instead of how society views them now as detrimental.

Sotomayor emphasizes that to leverage that emotional intelligence in the courtroom, one needs to be attentive: the key is always to watch and listen the people around you. If you are “palpably present in the moment” and “continuously mindful of and responsive to your listeners,” they will look to you and follow where you lead. She notes that her will to serve first stirred by the wish to help her community. I learned that everyone, no matter stranger, acquaintance, or friend, is part of humanity. There are no bystanders in this life. This humanity makes us all of us each a part of something greater than ourselves.

In general, I particularly enjoyed My Beloved World because the book gave me first-hand insight on how grueling the work, which increased when Sotomayor attained higher positions, of an attorney, and a judge really is. Twelve-hour workdays seven days a week is no easy feat for anyone, and clearly, personal sacrifices will be made, as outlined in her novel.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in law or wants to learn more about an amazing woman’s unconditional dedication to the United States people.

Author: Malin Phelan ' 23

My Beloved World, an autobiography written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor herself, describes her life up until becoming a judge on the Federal District Court. From the projects of the Bronx, attending a strict Catholic school, to Princeton, then Yale, then full circle back to New York City - an honest depiction of Sotomayor’s life is given, including family struggles, remarks both racist and sexist from others, and self-doubt. Ultimately, I found myself inspired by Sotomayor’s journey to the Federal District Court (the book did not go beyond this point in her life - she would be elected to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama in 2009).

There was a lot to be learned about Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice. I did not know that she was a type I diabetic, or that her mother came to the United States in the Puerto Rican military during World War II. Beyond all of this, however, I saw a woman who has worked tirelessly and with such dedication in order to achieve her goals. Sotomayor showed that it is possible to be intelligent and driven, but still make time for family and friends. Although work certainly has a large place in her life, she never lost her sense of humor or willingness to do the right thing, whether it was working in the DA office after Yale Law School (certainly not making the kinds of money she could have been at a larger firm), or deciding not to take on the prosecution of a man who was clearly innocent.

What I truly found remarkable about Sotomayor’s writing was her candor. This was not the story of some unattainable life, of nothing but success both in the Ivy League and in career. It was honest and showed all the difficulties that come along with such a demanding line of work, whether that was a strained marriage, financial concerns, or even worries about a moral code. I would highly recommend My Beloved World, an important reflection of a highly successful woman on what made her who she is and the impact of doing the right thing in our current world.

Author: Yee Xin Cher '22

When we think of American Supreme Court justices, we often envision stern men in black robes and rarely get a glimpse of their backgrounds or their lives outside the court. The first Hispanic justice Sonia Sotomayor’s memoir, My Beloved World, reads as a deeply personal account of her tough upbringing, and how those experiences shaped her to become who she is today. Even with all that life threw at her, including losing her father at nine, she still managed to gain admission to top colleges and obtain such a high position in the Supreme Court. Personally, her open and truthful storytelling has inspired me to reflect on my own life events and how they have impacted the person I am today. No matter how seemingly insignificant an event or interaction is, sometimes it is surprising to realize how much the lesson learned sticks with you for the rest of your life. Especially being the first Hispanic on the court, she becomes a role model figure that other Hispanic students never had. Her book brings the reader hope and encouragement that even with economic disadvantages she was still able to work her way up. Definitely worth a read!