Nothing but the truth : stories of crime, guilt and the loss of innocence

The traditional image of the family as a life-long unit is fading fast. There are fewer marriages, more divorces, and ever more children born to unmarried or single parents. The forms of our private life are changing rapidly, and people are embarking on new lifestyles based on cohabitation, separation and same-sex partnerships. In this lively and accessible new book, Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim looks at the future of our lives after the family. Examining the breakdown of the conventional family unit, she explores the new choices that are open to individuals, and analyses our anxiety over the ensuing loss of stability. In Reinventing the Family , Beck-Gernsheim describes how men and women are being confronted with competing and often incompatible demands. Our areas of personal choice have been redrawn, but in a space that involves new social regulations and controls. The talk of ‘family values' sits uneasily with the reality of long working-hours, business trips, weekend seminars and career moves. At work, we are encouraged to pursue competition, speed and change; at home we are expected to find community and conciliation. Beck-Gernsheim examines the impact of these conflicting expectations on the relationships between men, women and children, and searches for possible solutions. Reinventing the Family is an important and timely contribution to the growing debate about the family and its future. It will be ideal reading for students of sociology and gender studies, but will also appeal to a wide general readership. Just how do you become a barrister? And why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysteriously opaque profession? If it's such a great occupation, how come you work 100-hour weeks for less than minimum wage? And why might a practising barrister come to feel the need to reveal the lies, secrets, failures and crises at the heart of this world of wigs and gowns?Nothing But The Truth charts an outsider's progress down the winding path towards practising at the Bar, taking in the sometimes absurd traditions of the Inns of Court, where every meal mandates a glass of port and a toast to the Queen, to the Hunger Games-type contest for pupillage, through the endlessly frustrating experience of being a junior barrister - as a creaking, ailing justice system begins to convince them that something has to change . . .Full of hilarious, shocking, and surprising stories from their working life, Nothing But The Truth tracks the Secret Barrister's transformation from hang 'em and flog 'em, austerity-supporting twenty-something to campaigning, bestselling, reforming author whose writing in defence of the law is celebrated around the globe. It asks questions about what we understand by justice, and what it takes to change our minds. It also reveals the darker side of working in criminal law, and how the things our justice system gets wrong are not the things most people expect Just how do you become a barrister? And why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysteriously opaque profession? If it's such a great occupation, how come you work 100-hour weeks for less than minimum wage? And why might a practising barrister come to feel the need to reveal the lies, secrets, failures and crises at the heart of this world of wigs and gowns? Nothing But The Truth charts an outsider's progress down the winding path towards practising at the Bar, taking in the sometimes absurd traditions of the Inns of Court, where every meal mandates a glass of port and a toast to the Queen, to the Hunger Games-type contest for pupillage, through the endlessly frustrating experience of being a junior barrister - as a creaking, ailing justice system begins to convince them that something has to change... Full of hilarious, shocking, and surprising stories from their working life, Nothing But The Truth tracks the Secret Barrister's transformation from hang 'em and flog 'em, austerity-supporting twenty-something to campaigning, bestselling, reforming author whose writing in defence of the law is celebrated around the globe. It asks questions about what we understand by justice, and what it takes to change our minds. It also reveals the darker side of working in criminal law, and how the things our justice system gets wrong are not the things most people expect Just how do you become a barrister? Why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysteriously opaque profession? And why might a practising barrister come to feel the need to reveal the lies, secrets, failures and crises at the heart of this world of wigs and gowns? Nothing But The Truth is the Secret Barrister's bestselling memoir. It charts an outsider’s progress down the winding path towards practising at the Bar, taking in the sometimes absurd traditions of the Inns of Court, where every meal mandates a glass of port and a toast to the Queen, to the Hunger Games-type contest for pupillage, through the endlessly frustrating experience of being a junior barrister – as a creaking, ailing justice system begins to convince them that something has to change... Full of hilarious, shocking and surprising stories, Nothing But The Truth tracks the Secret Barrister’s transformation from hang ‘em and flog ‘em, austerity-supporting twenty-something to campaigning, bestselling, reforming author whose writing in defence of the law is celebrated around the globe. Asking questions about what we understand by justice and what it takes to change our minds, it also reveals the darker side of working in criminal law and how the things our justice system gets wrong are not the things most people expect. The Sunday Times bestseller Full of hilarious and shocking stories, the Secret Barrister's memoir Nothing But The Truth tracks their transformation from hang 'em and flog 'em austerity-supporter to celebrated, campaigning, bestselling author. 'Masterful, compassionate and hilarious' – Adam Rutherford In a diary that takes us behind the scenes of their middling ambition, Nothing But The Truth charts an outsider's progress down the winding path towards practising at the Bar. By way of the painfully archaic traditions of the Inns of Court, where every meal mandates a glass of port and a toast to the monarch, and the Hunger Games-style contest for pupillage - which most don't survive - here is the brilliant reality of being a frustrated junior barrister. With a keen eye for the absurd and an obsessive fondness for Twitter, SB reveals the uncomfortable truths and darkest secrets about life in our criminal courts. _____ 'Words tumble out with extraordinary fluency . . . entertaining and instructive' – The Times 'Written with compassion, wit and intelligence' – TLS 'Excellent . . . a cringe-inducing account of one barrister's travails' – The Telegraph Nothing But The Truth was a Sunday Times besteller w/c 28.05.23 The Traditional Image Of The Family As A Life-long Unit Is Fading Fast. There Are Fewer Marriages, More Divorces, And Ever More Children Born To Unmarried Or Single Parents. The Forms Of Our Private Life Are Changing Rapidly, And People Are Embarking On New Lifestyles Based On Cohabitation, Separation And Same-sex Partnerships. In This Lively And Accessible New Book, Elisabeth Beck-gernsheim Looks At The Future Of Our Lives After The Family. Examining The Breakdown Of The Conventional Family Unit, She Explores The New Choices That Are Open To Individuals, And Analyses Our Anxiety Over The Ensuing Loss Of Stability.--jacket. The New Confusion About The Family -- When Divorce Becomes Normal -- Life As A Planning Project -- Generational Contact And Gender Relations -- We Want A Special Child -- Towards The Multicultural Family. Elisabeth Beck-gernsheim ; Translated By Patrick Camiller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A funny, powerful and revealing memoir charting The Secret Barrister's journey through a life in the law. Full of hilarious, shocking and surprising stories, asking questions about what we understand by justice and what it takes to change our minds, it also reveals the darker side of working in criminal law their own. (Sometimes, though, they may all end up in court before a judge arguing over who is the child's 'real' mother.) Or take the case of the older, post-menopausal woman who becomes pregnant by having an embryo implanted from a younger woman (so that the child she bears in not biologically her own). The Third Book From The #1 Bestselling, Award-winning Author. In This Tell-all Memoir, The Secret Barrister Describes Their Journey And Reveals How They Came To Be . . .