The Autobiography of an ExecutionThe Autobiography of an Execution
Score Modern
What it's about
David Dow, a Texas lawyer who has defended more than a hundred death-row inmates, tells about his work, his clients, and one case in particular: a man he believes is innocent, whose execution he fights to stop, while balancing his job with his family life.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. It's a powerful, personal look at the death penalty.
You'll love it if you liked
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions
The Executioner's SongGood to know
It describes violent crimes and executions.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it doesn't have enough readers yet for us to rank it alongside the Must-Read 50 pool. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
If you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
When Breath Becomes Air
The Passage of Power
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert OppenheimerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Autobiography of an Execution worth reading?
It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 58.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Autobiography of an Execution about?
David Dow, a Texas lawyer who has defended more than a hundred death-row inmates, tells about his work, his clients, and one case in particular: a man he believes is innocent, whose execution he fights to stop, while balancing his job with his family life.
How long does it take to read The Autobiography of an Execution?
About 7 hours (288 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Autobiography of an Execution?
If you liked it, try Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey or The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer.