Introduction
The book I Fought the Law, and I Won, written by Johnny Cordero, is an autobiography that focuses on a specific period in the author’s life. While the book features a real story of Cordero’s life, the plot can remind an ordinary reader of a Hollywood movie script, as it is unfamiliar with Cordero’s journey from poverty to a successful career. Reading autobiographical stories can provide a significant source of inspiration to readers or motivate them to achieve life goals. In the case of Cordero’s autobiography, the book captures the emotional journey of a father who overcame the challenges imposed by the legal system to fight for his right to be with his son. This book report will explain why reading the story of Cordero’s fight with the law can interest a broad audience of readers of all ages.
Main body
Firstly, summarizing the story’s main plot, the author initially warns the reader in the introduction section about the immorality behind the action that marked the beginning of Cordero’s fight with the law. Thus, the author explains that the major complication in his legal fight for parenting rights lies in “fathering” a child out of wedlock (Cordero, 2017, p. 150). However, the author immediately addresses that his book is not intended for people looking for ways to escape parental responsibilities for children conceived out of wedlock.
Moreover, the author explains that his initial intention to write the book was sourced from the lack of literature on child custody lawsuits in language accessible to the general public without a legal education. Thus, the author provides several genuine recommendations for people preparing for child custody lawsuits based on his personal experience. Therefore, reading the book provides a significant source of helpful information for people filing child custody lawsuits and inspiration for parents undergoing long and complicated lawsuits who have already lost hope of winning.
Next, while the book primarily describes the lawsuit process and defines complications in European and U.S. legal systems, Cordero’s personal history is mentioned. Thus, the author explains that his decision to become a responsible and reliable parent for his son is based on his respect for his mother. Cordero was born and raised in conditions of extreme poverty in Puerto Rico in a family with seventeen children (Cordero, 2017). Cordero’s mother was the family’s primary caregiver since the father had chronic alcoholism.
The author’s painful memories from childhood motivated him to do everything in his power to be a better parent than his father. Throughout the book, many moments reflect this side of Cordero’s nature and show how emotionally difficult the lawsuit was for him. In these moments, the author describes his genuine confusion about different legal custody cases and emphasizes lawyers’ greed for financial compensation in conversational and straightforward language, which makes reading the book more accessible. Therefore, the book can be recommended to all members of the general public interested in deep and emotional stories based on real-life events.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this book report explains why reading Cordero’s book, I Fought the Law and I Won, can be recommended to a broad audience of readers of all ages. Firstly, the book features many themes that may interest any reader, such as discussing parents’ roles in a child’s life, the economics behind lawsuits, and society’s tendency to protect mothers’ rights to custody. Next, the book provides several important recommendations for parents preparing for custody lawsuits, showcasing the legal system’s work in the U.S. and Europe. Lastly, the book captures the dramatic life story of a father who makes every effort to be close to his son and wins, motivating readers to pursue their dreams.
Reference
Cordero, J. (2017). I fought the law and I won! [eBook edition]. My Dreams Academy.