By Linda Greenhouse and Reva B. Siegel, Kaplan Publishing, 335 pages, $26

Justice Harry Blackmun, who authored the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), said the case was “a most sensitive, emotional and controversial one, perhaps one of the most emotional that has reached the court for some time.” Yet, meaningful democratic participation requires that people understand opposing views—regardless of how passionately people hold onto their beliefs.