Law Books

I use this when I'm running short on time to prepare for class. It is not a complete substitute for reading the casebook because there are a lot of cases, summaries of cases, and explanations in the notes in the text that are not in the High Court. Also, there was one principle case that was not in the High Court but was in my case book. However, this is very useful all around. I especially like the analysis that comes with each case that tells me how the new rule from the case I just read about fits in with the old rules. Reading this helps me pull the material together. I find I get nearly as much from this 1 to 2 page summary as reading the 20 pages in the text.

High Court Cases is a fantastic guide in helping 1L's get through Civil Procedure. This book provides summaries of the cases in the book which help in understanding key concepts. A must!!!!!

This book makes an otherwise extremely complicated and difficult subject, and a rather poorly written text book, clear, concise, and accessible. Honestly, this book should be mandatory for anyone purchasing Friedenthal's 9th edition Civ Pro book. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

In class, we call it "the cheater."

Civil Procedure is an insanely complicated course and the cases often don't make a lot of sense, which is why this book is a life-saver. It includes the black letter law (holding) of each case in Friedenthal's textbook as well as the court's rationale and an analysis. It's definitely made my 1L year a lot easier!

This really helps me out when I don't understand the cases, but you still have to read the cases. Don't just rely on this book.

i havent taken a law school test yet so i dont exactly know how applicable delaneys points are. What i can say is that the book is pretty comprehensive though. It tells you what skills you will need to develop for law school and describes ways in which to hone in on them. all in all i would have to say it's one of the most important books anyone could read before/during law school and is definitely worth its modest cost

In this day in age, where law school prep has become an industry of its own, you find yourself wondering which ones are worth paying attention to, and which ones are worth ignoring. Delaney's book definitely belongs in the prior category. It's helpful, but it's also not overly complex. I love how he explains ideas with concision and gets right to the point. As a law professor, his words have instant credibility.

I highly recommend this book to any 1L, whether you're looking to survive first year or make law review.

well worth your time and money.... also make sure you read Planet Law School II by Atticus Falcon (especially before law school)

The book was excellent, and service second to none. I recommend this to friends all the time.

First, I should begin by saying what has turned out to be true. Law school is tough. It is extremely challenging, the amount of information is overwhelming, and the in-class atmosphere is unnerving. It is, I believe, more different and difficult than most undergrad and grad students realize.


Second, your time constraints will be intense. If you undertake an earnest effort to read your cases, properly brief, use resources such as hornbooks and outline, you will probably not have enough time to develop the skills necessary to write an effective exam-answer during law school.


Last, it is why this book is so important to read and prior to entering law school: difficulty of exams, complexity of material, vast amounts of information and reading, intense time constraints, and most importantly, your grade will be determined by your final exam performance.


SOME COMMENTARY ON LAW EXAMS & SOCRATIC METHOD (*WARNING*)
I would be disingenuous and perhaps remiss if I did not seize a good opportunity to complain about law school to those considering attending law school. Do not fret, I will try to be brief. I think after the first or second semester of law school, you acquire the analytical skills, discipline, and ability to read and understand complex material at a maximum level. I am skeptical that a second year of law school is necessary, let alone a third year. The second-year should consist of skills development, job-training, and some classroom work. The third-year should be eliminated or optional for those that want more education or specialization (such as an LLM). Most (all?) countries do not have law schools in the way the United States does; instead, students study law as undergrads or earn a master's in law.

LAW SCHOOL EXAMS
Your law school grade is, exclusive of everything else (class participation, research papers, group projects, etc.) based on the final exam. You will not obtain credit for research papers, drafting memorandum, participating in class, or for group projects. Your entire grade is based on the final. It is a bizarre if not backward way of measuring a person's ability to think like a lawyer.

It behooves you to develop exam-taking skills now if you are a serious student and hope to succeed in law school.

SOCRATIC METHOD
In some respects, I think my speaking ability has slightly diminished as a result of the socratic method. I find it especially jarring when a law student is called-on to recite a fact-pattern or passage. I think it is completely unnecessary for students to have to read paragraphs and mostly a waste of time. If some of you were like me, you probably participated in class actively as an undegrad or grad students, were always well prepared, and most-likely shined in class discussions. Law school is more challenging to shine in class because the amount of material is considerable and complex, and the professor will ask you questions that will probably tongue-tie you. And this will occur in class, surrounded by nearly 100 of your classmates, depending on your school. You are, however, expected to be well-prepared for class and you will be called upon at random.

I dislike the socratic method because it makes law students unnecessarily neurotic and undermines learning. In business school, for example, students' participation was often (but not always) grounded in real-life experiences that enhanced discussion and added flavor to debate.

Law school classroom discussions are an altogether different atmosphere, and I think a rather deficient method of teaching.

As an aside, I wish law schools would format classroom participation in a similar way such as at the London School of Economics. You attend a lecture by a professor for around an hour or so. You can ask questions during the prof's lecture but it is primarily the prof's perspective on the material. Then in the evening you attend a group discussion with a Ph.D. candidate, where participation is the focus. Everyone has an opportunity to speak, raise questions, engage in debate, and so forth. You attain a deeper, more sophisticated understanding of the subject material and acquire strong communication skills in the process.

The combination of your grade being based solely on the final exam and the socratic method make law school a much more challenging, stressful, and somewhat confusing experience than it has to be. Be prepared.


USEFULNESS OF THE BOOK
You are the individual responsible for your education and grades. I find classroom learning, in law school, to be inadequate. I have found learning from casebooks to be particularly inadequate. Law school is about YOU, the law student, and less about reading cases and fretting about the socratic method. It is about YOU in terms of your skills, abilities, and exam performance. It is a strange if not deficient way to exclusively measure law school performance, but it is the system.

Reading this book and preparing in earnest will provide you with an understanding on how to analyze complex legal material. You need to learn the material and work with it daily. Reading a case and briefing it is not sufficient to do well. Law school is not college; it is a challenging and complex job.

Your ability to issue-spot on law exams should improve, which is a critical exam-taking skill. The author explains how to anticipate issues, identify primary and secondary issues, and how to explain and illustrate the issues you spotted. Spotting issues, though critical, is not sufficient on law exams. You will be expected to supply a lawyerly analysis of each and every issue as it relates to the fact pattern on a law school exam. Serious preparation, a whole lot of practice, and a bit of luck are all necessary.

You will also learn to outline, and I would not rely on others' outlines in law school. The most important part of outlining is the process of studying, creating your own outline. It will be how you learn the material, and you should use a good hornbook in making your outline. Outlining is not sufficient in law school. The best outline in the world will not help you if you do not prepare and practice regularly.

The book will help you with understanding your own learning strategy, which is vital to know prior to entering law school. You need to know how to study, prepare, and practice law school exams prior to entering. The book also provides excellent practice essay exams with answers.


CONCLUSION
I confidently recommend HOW TO DO YOUR BEST ON LAW SCHOOL EXAMS for those interested in preparing for law school. I have read many and varied "law school prep" books and courses. Many are inadequate, some are useless, and others provide bad advice. Success in law school is determined by one and only one measure: the final exam. If you are considering or are about to attend law school, it is wise to pick-up this book to better understand and prepare for law school exams. Law school is an intellectual privilege, although I am somewhat skeptical of its value after the first-year.

You must get-through (survive) law school to practice law. I wish you the best of luck in the endeavor. Never forget to pursue Justice and defend the Constitution.

Goodness... long review!

I hope the above was helpful.

book arrived quickly and in the condition stated. i'd buy again.

I found the approach this book takes to teaching law doctrine to first-year law students completely wrong-headed. The author seems to think he's taking a more realistic or practical approach than most textbook authors, but ultimately the most obvious result is a lack of clarity. Easily the least helpful book I had to use my first year on any subject. If you are forced to purchase this book, or some other edition of this book, I recommend getting something to supplement it.

Even though this text was a required for the course I was taking at the time the book had insightful information for those of us who are considering a career change into paralegal profession. This book supported the practical classroom lecture. From my own perspective if you really want something to give an overview of what the paralegal profession involves this might be for those of you with no prior knowledge. But a bit redundant for those who are in the field.

The product is great. It came within just a few days and was in perfect condition.

Have no review. It was a required book for school. Amazon had the best price for book.

The book is very informative and easy to read although the authors describe old laws/rules in great detail, only to find out that the law has changed and everything that you read is void. Of course they describe the revisions but I found the old information a waste of my time and also annoying.

This book is simply delightful - my 8-year-old is constantly giggling - he is unable to read it to me for the laughter...He has a high reading level - but kids love it (almost as much as their parents!!) My son really is Calvin (I am a bit concerned he may be getting ideas from the little rascal!!)
LOVE IT!!!

. I like this book because it has funny parts.
. I also like the part when calvin pretends to be GodZilla and destoys Tokyo, which is the buildings that Calvin made in his sandbox.
. I dislike someparts of the book.
. I also dislike the part when Calvin pretends to be a zombie.

What can be said about Calvin & Hobbes that hasn't already been shouted to the heavens by legions of prematurely grown-up fans ?

Calvin is the eternal Child/Id within us all, and Hobbes is his stuffed tiger / best friend / faithful companion in arms come-to-life ... and together they swashbuckle their way through a childhood world populated with drooling monsters of the imagination, screaming ray-guns, carboard boxes turned magical transmogrifiers, and giant tut-tutting adults who are forever dragging us back from our revels by the ear, in order to make us wipe our feet, bathe, eat, do our homework, and go to bed on time.

By laughing at Calvin & Hobbes, we get to vicariously relive some of our own carefree childhoods exploits ... exploits which echo in our adult lives, because (looks both ways) we never actually grew up. Only our bodies did.

Highly recommended.

Calvin is in alliance with Hobbes to combat the monsters that lurk in his imagination. The victims of this battle? Usually, Calvin's hapless parents. This collection is among the funniest as it centers on the darker side of Calvin's runaway train of imagination: monsters, space creatures, icky girls, and nefarious snowmen. Pick it up, or the monsters in the closet will come out as well.

Well, I must admit I have had this book since I was in 8th grade when my best friend at the time gave it to me. I still crack up when I'm going through the pages upon pages of strange situations that Calvin and his stuffed friend find themselves in. Definately a must for any C&H fan and really funny. Buy it.

If you have ever been in law enforcement and have a curiosity of the system that you are apart of this is a good overview with interesting connections to the legal system.

Thom Hartmann has provided a synthesis of history, economics, politics and social issues in a way that is grounded, easy to read, and above all, provides a secure understanding of the path this country has taken to surrendering democracy.

I must emphasize how nicely this information and analysis sticks to your brain, and yet is a comprehensive work that does not dumb down to the reader.

Great Christmas gift for your conservative friends who don't even know why they are conservative!!!!

Thom starts with the East India Company of the 1500's and its "corporate" charter, and walks you through to today. Then he presents you with several sources and methods or starting a grass-roots movement to change the "Santa Clara" decision, which gave corporations personhood...excellent, excellent.

As is the case with all Thom Hartmann's books, a must read for all liberals.

Hartmann calls for a values based USA and less emphasis on big business in this book.He sets out to show how the way things are currently are inimical to economic growth of the ordinary folks of the USA. A must read.

Some other great books: "Fluctuating Life" by Jamaican-Canadian, author, teacher and poet, Joshua Spencer and "Quest for a Dream - A Life Committed to Progress" by Jamaican educator, author, social worker and entrepreneur, Joyce Buchanan.



Fluctuating Life

Quest for a Dream: A Life Committed to Progress

Let's Talk Africa and More

I was actually in the process of writing a book about the same subject matter when I became aware of Mr. Hartmann's book. After reading this book I conclude that Mr. Hartmann beat me to it and has done a more thorough job than would have satisfied me. It is a very important matter and threatens to change our nation in fundamental ways. A shortcoming in Mr. Hartmann's book is the weakness of his proposed solutions. I have proposed to Mr. Hartmann actions which I think would be more effective in the long haul. I am searching for an existing organization having the sole goal of putting back in their place those corporations which are usurping the power given We the People by the Constitution. I'm too old to form a new orgnization and those I have learned of are not sufficiently focused.

Brings up good points about various weaknesses and problems in preventing future attacks. Many of the included essays are redundant because the authors bring up parallel points making the book dry, especially after the first two or three chapters.

This book is most certainly an excellent guide to anyone who has the slightest interest in Militant groups. Terrorism may be a pejorative term, and this text attempts to take the reader beyond that and into an in depth analysis of trends, tactics and much more. Though I may be biased since it is required reading for my POLS376 class (Political Violence), it is most definitely not for everyone as it is not an easy read. Though the Cindy Combs book "Terrorism in the 21st century" may be the most definitive source on this subject next to Hoffman, I still must give credit where it is due. However, I did have one major gripe with this text. The coverage of terrorist tactics and training was lacking to say the least, so I recommend that you buy pick up the Combs book to complement this one. Wish me luck on my midterm! lol

This volume of essays was written and compiled as a college textbook for upper level undergraduate and graduate level seminars on terrorism and counterterrorism. These essays were written on both sides of the 9/11 divide, as such some of them predicted the occurrence of (large scale)acts of terror on American soil while others prescribe strategies for countering the terrorist threat in the future. Readers other than college students will find the book of interest too. After all, members of the general public, not simply college students, have asked such questions as "Why does America inspire such hatred?" or "What strategies should the US employ in the war against terror?" This book addresses these, and numerous other questions.

Although written by a variety of authors, the volume is well edited. Any work dealing with the US government and the bureaucratic responses to terrorism could easily be overwhelmed by a host of acronyms offputting to the general reader. The editors avoid this problem by consistent definition of acronyms and generous appendices covering foreign terrorist organizations, significant terrorist incidents, and weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to its coverage of specific incidents, the book addresses theoretical issues which will remain current in spite of the developments which will continue to unfold across the front pages of our daily newspapers. My favorite essays in the book were the ones which dealt with the intelligence failures prior to 9/11 as well as the ones which made specific recommendations to change or improve the intelligence community. I'll be curious to see which recommendations are incorporated into US policy in the future.

This is a very timely book which draws on the expertise of many first rate people. I especially liked the articles by Russ Howard and Richard Betts. Must reading for all citizens interested in the most important issue of our day.

My upper-division undergraduate Political Science class has been assigned this as one of our requisite books, and it has proven a great help as a supplement. Perhaps I use the wrong word in "supplement"; the documents contained in these books are often integral to understanding the broader concepts presented in class.

Given that there are easily hundreds of important, formative documents in the history of the Executive's evolution, the roughly 50 documents selected for this volume are an excellent representation of presidential evolution from George Washington to the incumbent Bush. Presidents of both schools of thought (the strict constructionists and the more Hamiltonian ones) are well represented, giving a fairly balanced view. Also, where the documents are too long to have been reproduced in whole, they are edited smartly, so that they are comprehensible.

Even if you are not taking a university course on the American Presidency, if you are interested in the evolution of the Presidency or American government in general, I highly suggest this book. It is the only book I actually look forward to reading before exams.

This thin volume provides an excellent introduction to many of the most important supreme court cases that shape this country, and could be used as a guide for further readings on them. Each chapter review a specific topic (separation of church and state, discrimination, etc.), with important cases looking at different aspects of it. Highly recommended!

After seeing a 60 MINUTES interview with Judge Scalia recently I wanted to know more about the Supreme Court. This was one of the most interesting books I have read in years. I read it in just a few days and would highly recommend it to anyone. It talks about the evolution of the Supreme court and their most important decisons, decisions that effect us everyday. Also it is written in plain english so you do not need to be a lawyer to understand and enjoy it. Great book!

From Marbury v. Madison to Gore v. Bush, this book covers the most important cases in Supreme Court history. It's very clear and concise, an absolute delight to read.

Sure, you've heard of many of the cases in this book. But do you know what the legal underpinnings of "Roe vs. Wade" actually are? Do you know how the court derives its power?

I've been talking to everyone I know about this little gem, because it is so darn readable, and so relevant. Yesterday my local paper ran a story about filtering software the local library may soon install. And this morning I finished the book after reading about the cases that are directly tied to this course of action. So I can speak more intelligently about this issue, and I can read the paper with a more informed perspective.

Many of the cases are introduced by discussing a logical framework that parallels the facts of the case. The case is then introduced, and the arguments and reasoning that drove the court are discussed. Wow, that makes it sound really boring. But on the contrary, its a fun read and each chapter is short and encapsulated. Highly recommended.

I bought this as a gift, decided I'd better preview it first, and now I don't want to give it up. I'm ordering another one. Believe what the other 5-star reviewers have written.