07/08/2024

Roe v. Wade was brought down by “an elite strike force of Christian lawyers and power brokers” who, galvanized by the 2012 reelection of Barack Obama, enacted “a transformational decade” of behind-the-scenes change in American politics, according to this sweeping debut account. New York Times journalists Dias and Lerer recap how—in a departure from the “grassroots” tactics used to combat Roe since 1973, which mainly involved attempting to sway voters—this new, smaller coalition “methodically and secretly” worked to enact “a strategic, top-down takeover” that involved getting anti-abortion judges appointed, lobbying state legislatures to pass tighter abortion restrictions, and (in the wake of Missouri congressman Todd Akin’s use of the phrase “legitimate rape,” which lost him his seat in 2012) cleaning up how Republican candidates talk about their anti-abortion views. “They were far more organized than their opponents... ever knew,” Dias and Lerer assert, tracking the group’s tenacious leaders, including Susan B. Anthony List founder Marjorie Dannenfelser, and juxtaposing them with Planned Parenthood head Cecile Richards, whom the authors depict as caught playing defense. Dias and Lerer astutely highlight that, once Roe was overthrown, this same coalition moved on to other avenues for litigating the role of women in society, including promoting an anti-trans agenda. It’s a devastating postmortem of a resounding conservative political victory. (June)

"Searing and intimate... with masterly, white-hot reporting." – Mattie Kahn, The New York Times

“The most important book in the lead up to this election.” – Nicolle Wallace, MSNBC

“An insightful new book.” – Maureen Dowd, The New York Times

"Absolutely riveting... A page-turner and essential reading." – A.B. Stoddard, The Bulwark

"A rich narrative." – Rolling Stone

"A rollicking read, full of complicated but passionate advocates on both sides. It’s a tale of religion, power, politics and ultimately of the position of women in American society; an account of how a driven minority can triumph over a complacent majority. It’s riveting." – The Telegraph, five star review

“A deeply personal and narrative look at the decades-long campaign to restrict reproductive access in the U.S. [The Fall of Roe] takes us from inside secret meetings with Christian activists to abortion clinics to the White House.” – Katie Couric Media

“A tour de force. [The Fall of Roe] is a blueprint, so comprehensive in how it speaks to the right and the left. [Dias and Lerer] talk to the right about how they won the battle, or the war. It’s essential reading. However you read books, hardcover, ebook, audio… Just read it.” – Alex Wagner on Alex Wagner Tonight

“A deeply personal and narrative look at the intersection of religion and power. A fantastic story of the last decade that opened my eyes to how abortion rights fell apart in this country.” – Asma Khalid, NPR

"The Fall of Roe is more than an account of history. It’s a warning about the future." – Susan Rinkunas, HuffPost

“The Fall of Roe unfolds like a horror story. Danger lurked outside the cabin door, but the threat was never fully perceived by those who lived within… Dias and Lerer provide a great public service…. As [they] write, the fight against legal abortion is tied inextricably to the fight for America’s soul.” – Sarah Jones, New York Magazine

"Compelling.... brilliantly and meticulously reported." – Al Hunt, Politics War Room

“The book’s greatest strength is the authors’ comprehensive and incisive approach to explaining that ‘Roe did not just fall once, on June 24, 2022. Roe collapsed over a transformational decade.’ Devoid of rhetoric, this evenhanded work exemplifies outstanding reportage.” – Kirkus, starred review

"Great reporting by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer on how conservatives overturned Roe while everyone else slept." – Jane Mayer, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Money

“Want to read a great story with a terrible ending? Lisa Lerer and Elizabeth Dias have your back on how no one had ours.” – Taffy Brodesser-Akner, New York Times bestselling author of Fleishman is in Trouble

"Brilliant. A must read that will both chill and galvanize readers." – Michelle Bowdler, author of National Book Award longlist Is Rape a Crime?

“The subtitle of this new book by New York Times reporters Dias (religion) and Lerer (politics) underscores how the conservative religious faction’s far-reaching and secretive strategy of putting anti-abortion activists in the spotlight changed rights for Americans in June 2022. As the authors warn, if Democrats don’t change their own strategy, we might see an entirely different nation emerge because of a single issue.” – Los Angeles Times, “10 Books to Add to Your Reading List in June”

“Amid it all, reporters Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer were taking notes… The result is The Fall of Roe… A nonpartisan narrative chronicling the past decade’s political chess game.” – Bustle

“A definitive historical account of how Roe v. Wade came to be overturned. [Dias and Lerer] gained access to key players in the drama including former Planned Parenthood head Cecile Richards, longtime Federalist Society president Leonard Leo and Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.” – Kirsten Powers, New York Times bestselling author of The Silencing

"Amazing." – Slate, Political Gabfest

“Deeply reported, very needed.” – Elizabeth Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of HRH

“A definitive historical account of how Roe v. Wade came to be overturned. [Dias and Lerer] gained access to key players in the drama including former Planned Parenthood head Cecile Richards, longtime Federalist Society president Leonard Leo and Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.” – Kirsten Powers, New York Times bestselling author of The Silencing

“An essential read.” – Elizabeth L. Silver, author of The Majority

"This book is as if the blurry portrait of abortion and womanhood that we've seen over the last several decades has finally come into view and can be captured in screaming color." – Elysse Wagner