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Truth Be Told

My Journey Through Life and the Law

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Truth Be Told

Written by: Beverley McLachlin
Narrated by: Beverley McLachlin
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INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE WRITERS’ TRUST SHAUGHNESSY COHEN PRIZE
WINNER OF THE OTTAWA BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION

​Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverley McLachlin offers an intimate and revealing look at her life, from her childhood in the Alberta foothills to her career on the Supreme Court, where she helped to shape the social and moral fabric of the country.

As a young girl, Beverley McLachlin’s world was often full of wonder—at the expansive prairie vistas around her, at the stories she discovered in the books at her local library, and at the diverse people who passed through her parents’ door. While her family was poor, their lives were rich in the ways that mattered most. Even at a young age, she had an innate sense of justice, which was reinforced by the lessons her parents taught her: Everyone deserves dignity. All people are equal. Those who work hard reap the rewards. Willful, spirited, and unusually intelligent, she discovered in Pincher Creek an extraordinary tapestry of people and perspectives that informed her worldview going forward.

Still, life in the rural Prairies was lonely, and gaining access to education—especially for girls—wasn’t always easy. As a young woman, McLachlin moved to Edmonton to pursue a degree in philosophy. There, she discovered her passion lay not in academia, but in the real world, solving problems directly related to the lives of the people around her. And in the law, she found the tools to do exactly that.

She soon realized, though, that the world was not always willing to accept her. In her early years as an articling student and lawyer, she encountered sexism, exclusion, and old boys’ clubs at every turn. And outside the courtroom, personal loss and tragedies struck close to home. Nonetheless, McLachlin was determined to prove her worth, and her love of the law and the pursuit of justice pulled her through the darkest moments.

McLachlin’s meteoric rise through the courts soon found her serving on the highest court in the country, becoming the first woman to be named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. She rapidly distinguished herself as a judge of renown, one who was never afraid to take on morally complex or charged debates. Over the next eighteen years, McLachlin presided over the most prominent cases in the country—involving Charter challenges, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia. One judgment at a time, she laid down a legal legacy that proved that fairness and justice were not luxuries of the powerful but rather obligations owed to each and every one of us.

With warmth, honesty, and deep wisdom, McLachlin invites us into her legal and personal life—into the hopes and doubts, the triumphs and losses on and off the bench. Through it all, her constant faith in justice remained her true north. In an age of division and uncertainty, McLachlin’s memoir is a reminder that justice and the rule of law remain our best hope for a progressive and bright future. Law Professionals & Academics Women Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
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Thank you for this invaluable book, Justice McLachlin. When I was in law school, reading your name next to the title Chief Justice, I never even paused to consider your gender. This is how far we've come. I owe so much to women like you.

Thank you

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It is really the the integrity of the writer that attracted me to this book. Her intelligence, benevolence and her love of the Canadian judicial system is awe inspiring.

Interesting story

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This book was exceptional. As a young lawyer, I read the decisions of her Honour, Chief Justice McLachlin admiringly. Balanced, understanding, and progressive, the empathy in her judgments was and remains awe inspiring to me. This book contextualizes those decisions and helps the reader to understand the source of McLachlin, J.'s empathic perspective by understanding her history and, somewhat unconventional path to the ultimate Canadian Bench.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Canadian law, the history of women in the law, and/or anyone who struggles with understanding and/or accepting some of the most seminal legal and political decisions of our time in areas such as Medical Assistance in Dying (Assisted Suicide), LGBTQ+ rights, Indigenous rights and relations, and others.

Thank you, Justice McLachlin!

Exceptionally written and read....

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I enjoyed the story, but I did struggle at times with the narration. However, it is well worth a listen.

A great story

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I am a lawyer and normally hate reading books about judges or lawyers for fun. This one was excellent and I truly enjoyed it!! Definitely recommend. It provides an excellent behind-the-scenes look into the world of judges and her own thoughts and insecurities.

Loved it!

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