Reviews

Highly Useful LSAT Prep Book, November 27, 2005
This book has some of the most cogent/coherent explanations and general overview of question types that LSAC has ever produced. The explanations are top quality and the overview is good.

The overview reviews some previous LSAT questions and discusses each of the three question types. It totals 40-50 pages of information.

The PrepTests are all February tests, which are not disclosed to test takers and seem to feel different than other LSATs. The explanations are thorough and have some good, general tips on questions.

The book is a little pricey for getting 3 preptests but is worthwhile, especially early on when you're having trouble understanding why you got a question wrong.

Be aware that the book doesn't yield much in the way of really deep strategy work. You'll need to go to one of the prep companies' books for that kind of insight into the LSAT.

The book contains:
SuperPrep A; February 1996
SuperPrep C; February 1999
SuperPrep B; February 2000

only moderately helpful, September 8, 2007
The explanations in this book are not as clear or accessible as the Powerscore LGB or LRB, and the explanations will not help you form any kind of coherent strategy or methodology for attacking the test...they will just show you what you should have recognized in each individual case.

There are only 2 real reasons to buy this:
(1) You are looking for Reading Comprehension tips
(2) You have already worked through all other released LSATs and need these February ones for additional practice.

Good practice - but also some good advice, September 2, 2006
I'm sure everyone knows that there are three preptests in this book. They are from three February exams which are usually undisclosed.

I did find something else in this book that was actually kind of helpful. There really isn't all that much good prescriptive advice on how to do reading comprehension. There are loads of logic games books and every serious LSAT student clearly must have the Logical Reasoning Bible from Powerscore.

However, reading comprehension remains an underserved part of the LSAT and accounts for more of the exam than logic games.

With that said, I found the 15 pages of How to take the Reading Comprehension section to be quite helpful. It was useful to see how the LSAT writers view the section and the proper way to attack it.

Good book for what it is, wel worth buying, September 24, 2005
This book is put out by the LSAC, so it doesn't give you all the tips and tricks you would find in another publication, say Poerscore's LR Bible or AR Bible, but it's still helpful b/c it contains real LSAT questions, answers, and an explanation for each answer. It also provides a good overview of the LSAT and gernal info. concerning the test. Good purchase for LSAT prep, though don't let it be the only book you buy. Get those Powerscore "Bibles" and lots of LSAT prep-tests too.

GET THIS BOOK, August 16, 2006
At first, I wasted my time with prep materials not written by the LSAC. Many of the questions seemed too easy or too hard. Additionally, many of these materials are plagued with typos, misreads and incorrect arguments. I suppose this is due to them being written by one, or maybe just a few, author(s). In contrast, the LSAT superprep is great. The questions are real LSAT tests from the past and the explanations help greatly. There are no typos I have found yet and the level of questions are much more realistic (actually, they're REAL so they must be realistic :). True, the material might be a bit dull at times but, Hey, that's how the test is anyway. You're not getting this book for entertainment, you're getting it to ace the LSAT. Good luck!

Outstanding official prep materials from LSAT, August 19, 2007
The LSAT is sufficiently idiosyncratic in both the form and substance of its content that studying with anything other than the official, exams released by the LSAT board (LSAC) runs the risk of doing more harm than good. The problem with such advice until recently is that before the release of this book a couple of years ago, none of the official materials provided anything more than an answer key, which could leave you scratching your head about why you got something wrong or how you were supposed to get to the correct answer to begin with. By supplying complete and generally pretty decent explanations for all the questions in the three exams included in this book, as well as providing a useful prefatory section giving specific test taking tips for each section, this book is extremely valuable and I might add long overdue. To be fully prepared, you will probably want to use this book and perhaps one or more of the LSAC's "10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests." If you need extra help on the "games" section (and most people do), you may also wish to purchase the Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible, which alone among the non-official LSAT prep books uses actual LSAT questions obtained under license from the LSAC. It should be noted, however, that the LSAT Superprep book also includes strategy tips as well is very good explanations for the LSAT games section, making the once mandatory purchase of the Powerscore Bible optional for some test takers.

not super, but quite adequate, May 12, 2007
...for reviewing mistakes. the explanations of the correct answers are not written in the most accessible english, but i've found them good enough for explaining the inevitable (for me) bonehead mistakes. my prep work, with a month to go, has consisted of the two powerscore bibles (very good), plenty of official prep tests, and this superprep. since there are only three tests in here, plus a small "how to" section, i took one when i started studying to gauge my weak spots; a second one when i felt my brain was swimming in too much powerscore bible tactical info; and the third is waiting for a week before the test.

all in all, worth the money, but supplement with the 10-test books.

The Definitive LSAT Prep Manual, October 25, 2006
After being disappointed by many other manuals, I purchased this, official LSAC distributed, manual. I was surprised at the vast difference in the quality of instruction and accuracy of examples in this manual. In my honest opinion, the other prep manuals that I purchased were jokes; simply ridiculous content and little to no help whatsoever (being that I'm not severely mentally deficient). I would highly recommend this book, especially after having been just as highly disappointed by so many other books.

Very Helpful, October 6, 2007
I tried the Princeton Review books first and they were very difficult - by working in this prep book I realized that the Princeton materials were way harder than the test. This book helped build my confidence until I could tackle the more difficult questions in the PR materials, knowing that the actual tests published in the Official LSAT Superprep book were closer to actual test difficulty. I still used the PR materials too, knowing that if I could answer those tough questions then I could answer anything on the test, but I found the Official LSAT Superprep to be closer to the difficulty of the test, and more realistic by far.

Not the best LSAT book, August 4, 2010
The Good: This book offers a great deal of information on the LSAT and being created by the same people who write the LSAT makes it useful. It contains a lot of actual LSAT questions which is great for when it comes time to do the practice tests.

The Bad: The book uses the same, often confusing, language when describing the questions you will be tackling as the questions themselves. They do not do a great job connecting the dots between the review portion of the book and answering of the question. The review sections offer an overview of the four sections of the LSAT but do not give strategy as to solving them.

I highly recommend the Powerscore books, the Logic Games Bible in particular. I am using this book in conjunction with that one because the LSAT SuperPrep offers so many actual, past used, test questions. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An essential resource for anyone interested in our nation's religious heritage and the Founders' intended role for the American judicial system. Original Intent combines hundreds of quotes from primary sources with the author's exposition on hot topics such as revisionism, judicial activism, and separation of church and state. A substantial appendix encompasses full texts of the founding documents, biographical sketches of numerous Founders, and extensive reference notes. ... Read more

Reviews

Original Intent by David Barton, A must read, June 11, 2008
Original Intent By David Barton

This book has meticulous foot notes and references to it's sources. Barton uses the words of the founding fathers themselves to make his points. He uses actual court cases, and even puts the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence in the back of the book for your reference. The author presents the material in a clear and precise manner, and the reader can easily look up, reference, and test his conclusions themselves (his footnotes and index make it that easy) ..... Better yet, Barton actually invites the reader to read the federalist and anti-federalist (the words of the founding fathers themselves) papers after reading this book . If Barton's conclusions are false as some have concluded he's definitely a horrible revisionist since he gives the reader all the ammunition in the world to check his sources and refute him.

This book has done more for my understanding our founding fathers than the many secular based history texts I've pawned through. The author is thorough, complete, and as I said earlier he gives the reader all the power by giving him/her the power to reference the original documents. The truth is many of our founding fathers were Christians, did read the bible, and most wouldn't approve of the course of action taken against religious expression in our country today. This is a worthy read for the Christian and secular skeptic alike. Truly, this is a must read!!!!

Postscript: There have been many attacks on this book and those who give favorable reviews to it (as of this date the reviews are 44 five star reviews and 30 some one star reviews). Instead of believing what any man says I urge the reader to do what I'm doing.... Look up the material yourself... Read the book, check it's sources, and make your own conclusion... Don't let the many individuals who leave nasty comments under these reviews steal from you your right to make your own conclusion....

A good summary of the founding fathers' views, May 5, 2008
I guess it is not surprising to find so many one-star reviews about a book that dispels so many myths about the original intent of the founding fathers' who wrote the Constitution. Of course there can be some fault found with some of the citations used by Barton in this wonderful book, but those who find fault with the citations cannot really overcome the overwhelming evidence in this book that the current courts have far overstepped anything that the founders intended in not recognizing and establishing a single church vs. their views that religion is a fundamental foundation for the Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution.
If you read this book, you should also read the Federalist Papers, the words and works of the founders, including Washington's first inaugural address to understand that the current courts have radically departed from the intentions of the founders when it came to the role of religion, vs. established churches in the USA. For many generations, the original intent of the founders was well understood, but it was only until the 20th century that judges decided to re-write the Constitution and take on the role of "a national theology board" that makes earlier debates about how many angels fit on the head of a pin look enlightened.
A must-read for anyone wondering where our nation has gone wrong.

Based on fact, whether you like it or not, June 1, 2008
After seeing Rick Green present at our church in Cedar Park, TX, I had to get this book. I am very glad I did. David Barton did a fantastic job of including references for everything. I don't believe there is anyone who can claim that the statements or conclusions made in this book are false or opinion. Only those who don't read the book can be told that it contains false claims and believe that.

Read the negative comments posted here. The people posting them have clearly either (a) not read the book, or (b) are so left-wing that they will say anything to try to keep you from purchasing and reading this book. Don't listen to their opinions, read the facts presented in this book for yourself.

Will the real revisionist please stand up?, December 26, 2007
This book has 55 pages of footnotes that reference original documents referred to in this book. The book only has 533 pages which means over ten percent of it is footnotes.

The people who accuse this book of revisionist history have clearly never checked out any of the original documents. And do not supply more than one or two footnotes.
I haven't checked them all out myself but I have checked out many, and I trust the man who refers to the original material more than I trust people who think name calling is a valid argument. This book is for real, the negative reviewers are just blowing bias a smokescreen in your faces.

An excellent resource!, March 17, 2007
Barton shows how the Supreme Court reinterpreted the US Constitution, diluting the Biblical foundations upon which it was based. He includes quotes from the Founding Fathers showing their beliefs on the role of religion in the public square, the limited role of the courts, and the intended limits on federal powers. An excellent and well documented reference! This should be part of the curriculum for every college and high school history course!

I have read and research everything Barton has written. He is incredibly accurate., June 25, 2008
The first clue that Mr. Barton is telling the truth is the torrent of scathing reviews from the Secularists. I have personally reviewed the facts presented in Barton's books, and have found them to be not just factually accurate, but intellectually honest.

The first thing to remember about secular historicism, is that the facts don't matter, just the political agenda.

We Americans write our own history. And the chapters of which we're proudest are the ones where we had the courage to change. - Al Gore, Speech at the Democratic National Convention (28 August 1996)

This is some great stuff, January 15, 2008
David Barton has assembled a very impressive amount of original source material here. He makes a very compelling case that the Founding Fathers were largely orthodox Christians (not deists, as revisionist historians are so fond of claiming) and that the current Supreme Court dogma on the role of religion in government is a far cry from what the Founding Fathers actually intended.

With regards to the negative reviews, I rather suspect that their issue was more that they didn't like Barton's conclusions than that his original source material is bad. They know they can't back up their nonsense about the Founding Fathers being deists and atheists. David Barton has really shown that the emperor has no clothes. He also shows that the revisionists tend to cite very little primary source material themselves, and when they do they frequently take quotes out of context.

In an age of falsehoods, I'm glad that someone has the courage to stand up to the revisionists and tell the truth about the Founding Fathers. Barton has done some very good work here, and quotes primary source material extensively. Although not everyone will agree with every word (those who went to public school may find it particularly troubling, since the public schools generally teach history in a highly inaccurate way), this book is thought-provoking, well-researched, and well-written. I recommend it without reservation.

A Great Source of the Founding Fathers, January 11, 2008
This is an excellent work, just for the biographical information it contains. There may be some minor errors and heterodox opinions in the book, but it's claim that the Christian Framers framed a Nation of Christian States has sufficient evidence.

Other reviewers attack Barton's work on secondary issues, with a fine tooth comb I might add, that some would think absurd, but the evidence is clear, religion was left to the states, with the states choosing Christianity as their religion. How far have we fallen:

In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general [federal] government.
Thomas Jefferson
Second Inaugural Address, 1805

Based on this quote, let's see what religion the people of the states established.

Constitution of the State of North Carolina (1776), (until 1876) stated: There shall be no establishment of any one religious church or denomination in this State in preference to any other. Article XXXII That no person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State.

Constitution of the State of Maryland (August 14, 1776), (until 1851) stated: Article XXXV That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this State and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention, or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion." That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God is such a manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all persons professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested... on account of his religious practice; unless, under the color [pretense] of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality... yet the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general and equal tax, for the support of the Christian religion. [pp.420-421]

Constitution of the State of New Hampshire (1784,1792),(in force until 1877) required senators and representatives to be of the: Protestant religion. The Constitution stipulated: Article I, Section VI. And every denomination of Christians demeaning themselves quietly, and as good citizens of the state, shall be equally under the protection of the laws. And no subordination of any one sect of denomination to another, shall ever be established by law. [p.469]

The Constitution of the State of Delaware (until 1792) stated: Article XXII Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust... shall... make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit:"I, ___, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore; I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration." [p.203]

Besides Georgia, the other states believed the same. That these constitutions are inherently Christian can easily be deduced from its words:

Virginia
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)
Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free...the plan of the Holy author of our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind...his Almighty power to do...That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever...

This makes sense because Jefferson believed he was a Christian.

Jefferson uses encompasses all religions but the right comes from the Lord. Madison uses the same words "Holy author of our religion" in 1812, showing our religion was a form of Christianity, not every religion. This also proves Madison's recommendation for the First Amendment(National Religion) is referring only to a form of Christianity.

Penn Const. of 1790
Sec. 3. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty god according to the dictates of their own consciences; that no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent;

The key word being "ministry" this word at that time only referring to Christianity, as Webster's 1828 shows:

MIN''ISTRY, n. [L. ministerium.] The office, duties or functions of a subordinate agent of any kind.
1. Agency; service; aid; interposition; instrumentality.
He directs the affairs of this world by the ordinary ministry of second causes.


2. Ecclesiastical function; agency or service of a minister of the gospel or clergyman in the modern church, or of priests, apostles and evangelists in the ancient. Acts 1. Rom.12. 2 Tim.4. Num.4.

3. Time of ministration; duration of the office of a minister, civil or ecclesiastical.

A light, October 6, 2007
This book brings to light what many wish to suppress. The name calling and ridicule of other reviews only shows that this book has truth. When people feel they have to slander instead of argue or let people discover the truth for themselves, you know a book must have something to offer. It doesn't take much time to see the faith of the founders. If those who dislike this book would read the second Federalist, any of John Wither-spoon's writings, George Washington's farewell address and on and on. When people disregard what is argued in this book, they show that they are not students of the Founders writings. Every Prof of American history I have had acknowledges their faith.

Captivating, enlightening, & completely true. Read for yourself., December 12, 2007
I am not a voracious reader, but I devoured this book. I found it to be almost hypnotic while at the same time enraging. As a casual observer of politics from right of center, I have long been aware of the abuses of the judiciary toward our religious freedoms, but I had no idea how far we had fallen. David Barton has not only opened my eyes to the true "Original Intent" of the founders of this great nation, he has equipped me with the truth so that I can beat down the lies that continually and relentlessly emerge from the left. (Just read a few of the 1-star reviews of this book for some examples.) This book should be the required textbook of every history class in the nation. Read it and judge for yourself. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Table of Contents
I. Constitution (text only)
Preamble and Articles | Bill of Rights | Subsequent Amendments
II. Constitution (with analysis)
Constitution: Preamble | Article 1 | Article 2 | Article 3 | Article 4 | Article 5 | Article 6 | Article 7
Amendments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

III. History, Clauses, and Interpretation

Founding Documents: Declaration of Independence (1776) | Articles of Confederation (1777) | Constitution (1787) | Bill of Rights (1789)

Formation: History of the Constitution | Articles of Confederation | Annapolis Convention | Philadelphia Convention | New Jersey Plan | Virginia Plan | Connecticut Compromise | Signatories

Adoption: Massachusetts Compromise | Federalist Papers

Amendments: Bill of Rights | Ratified | Unsuccessful | Conventions to propose | State ratifying conventions

Clauses: Appointments | Case or controversy | Citizenship | Commerce | Commerce (Dormant) | Confrontation | Contract | Copyright | Due Process | Equal Protection | Establishment | Exceptions | Free Exercise | Full Faith and Credit | Impeachment | Natural–born citizen | Necessary and Proper | No Religious Test | Presentment | Privileges and Immunities (Art. IV) | Privileges or Immunities (14th Amend.) | Speech or Debate | Supremacy | Suspension | Takings Clause | Taxing and Spending | Territorial | War Powers

Interpretation: Congressional power of enforcement | Double jeopardy | Enumerated powers | Incorporation of the Bill of Rights | Nondelegation | Preemption | Separation of church and state | Separation of powers | Constitutional theory | Executive privilege

III. Government

Before Constitution: Colonial Government in America | US under Articles of Confederation | Constitutional Convention | Ratification

Constitution: Three Branches of Government | Federal System | General Provisions | Bill of Rights | Later Amendments

Present Government Structure: Legislative Branch | Executive Branch | Judicial Branch

President: Vice President | Cabinet

Congress: Senate | House

Federal courts: Supreme Court | Chief Justice | Associate Justices

Elections: Presidential elections | Midterm elections

Political Parties: Democratic | Republican | Third parties

 

Features

• Clear and concise explanations.
• Search for words or phrases.
• Add Bookmarks
• Text annotation and mark-up
• Access the guide anytime, anywhere - at home, on the train, in the subway.
• Use your down time to prepare for an exam.
• Always have the guide available for a quick reference.

Editorial Review

Mallor, Barnes, Bowers and Langvardt’s: Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, 14e is appropriate for the two-term business law course. The cases in the 14th edition are excerpted and edited by the authors.The syntax is not altered, therefore retaining the language of the courts.As in recent previous editions, the 14th edition includes a mix of actual AND hypothetical cases. ... Read more

Reviews

Not reader friendly, not study friendly, not friendly...., September 2, 2003
I understand Jane Mallor to be top in her field. But since this book is geared toward a non-law student - a business student, I give this book a 1, and a zero if I had the chance.

This book - textually speaking - is so poorly arranged. Key terms are imbedded in the text, there's no review at the end of the chapters, it's written in terrible legal-ease. "Down to earth" (non lawyer legal-ease) examples are difficult to come by, since most of the examples are actual cases that go on for pages (and they're "briefs"). To compound the matter, I spent $$$ on the study "guide" because the book is so unfriendly for studying. And guess what? The study guide has NO ANSWERS! What kind of a guide is that? How does that guide you? If you want it to be an "additional exercises" book, then call it that. But STUDY GUIDES ALWAYS have the answers. I hope your Prof. is better than the book they assign. "Business Law Today" is worlds better and easier to read and study, and better outlined and formatted for the "lay" person.

Business Law... the worst textbook I've ever seen, February 25, 2008
This has to be the worst textbook I've ever used in my college career. I guess it's only fitting that the worlds most unhelpful professor insist on the world's most unhelpful book.

The organization of each chapter is atrocious. There are no summaries, outlines, or list of terms at end of chapters (though there is an index and glossary, but I'm sure the authors only included this because they were required).

The only way to extract information out of this book is to read it page for page. And if you want to remember or review what you've just read you're left to outline it yourself or reread.

Had there been a study guide distributed with this book it might make more sense that the layout is so aweful... there is none.

Now I'm left to study for a test that covers five chapters (Approx. 200 pages) in two nights time. Thank YOU Mallor, Barnes, Bowers, and Langvardt. Thank YOU.

Poor introduction to business law and a perfect example of the abuse of the textbook industry, October 24, 2008
With my graduate studies winding down, this has to be the worst book I have been forced to buy. Mallor has written a book that has enough volume to last several classes, however, for me, this was for an MBA business law course. At 15+ pounds and 1300 pages, its weildy and gets into way to much detail as if the authors were paid by the pound and were desparately trying to fill the 1300 pages they produced. In all, there are 50+ chapters. The glossaries and indexes are incomplete and the example cases can go from a quarter page summary to 6 pages of dry detail. The defintions given were usually difficult to outline and highlight and the author's bizarre use of term highlighting with no definition confused me (Or worse, definined a term and did not highlight it. I found I had to use wikipedia very often to get a clear definition because the author either left out the defintition or went off on a tangent.
The professor insisted we needed this book because of the recent case law, multimedia and online ineteraction, however I found it hardly necessary. The book comes with an accompany DVD of very badly acted small claims like cases on some of the major topics (Most of which the professor disagreed with the outcome). None of the case examples seem to go beyond 2005 and the book seems to have fallen short of updating content from as far back as 2003 in the 13th edition, just released this year. The book also has the ability to gain access to online content via an OLC card, but it is just a ploy to keep students from buying an offshore or used book. About the only good thing was the problems at the end of chapters (provided you got the answer sheet from the professor). If you are taking a business law class and it is not your major or emphasis, this book offers little value. Buy it used or find a prof that is using a more efficient book. Looks for mine for sale when it is used because this hiunk a junk serves no value after the class is done, Wikipedia is a much better reference.

If you have to buy it you have to buy it, June 5, 2008
if you're looking at this book you probably need to buy it for a class you're taking. I'm taking for Business Law /Universal Commercial Code. The book isn't the easiest read but the chapters are set up well enough. There are a lot of topics covered and you get a few great examples of the topics discussed in the form of actual court cases. I'd give the book a higher rating if it were broken down a little better. The pages are densely packed and the definitions aren't bolded but typically italicized so they don't really stand out when you're reading through a second time. but if you have to buy it you have to buy it. never tried the DVDs but I'm sure they're helpful.

Great intro to law text, September 29, 2005
As an MBA student, this text was a great introduction to business law. The actual cases proved to be quite interesting and illustrative of the topics discussed throughout the text. You must go through the text before reading the cases or you may be confused, but the terms are so well laid out that once familiar with them, the cases are quite easy to understand and you are able to brief them yourself! Will serve as an excellent reference and I have decided to keep it in my library.

Worst text book I have encountered, August 29, 2010
This is by far the worst textbook I have ever purchased. Aside from its rediculous suggested retail price of $200, which I will not get into, the text is so confusing and not a very good fit for an Intro to Business Law class.

The text is loaded with so many densely written pages of unusually small print. Not only did I have to pull out a pair of reading glasses to read it but then I started to doubt my reading skills and ability to understand what I have been trying to process.
This text is not set up with a study guide, it doesnt point out any terms and concepts in a way that might guide and teach you and absolutely does not include any sort of end of the chapter recap or review. It just delves right into cases without providing a logical structure or guide. I have spent almost as much time on Wikipidea as i have trying to understand what i am reading. It is extremely confusing and I caution anyone who has an Intro to Bus class with an instructor who is not very clear, doesnt like to elaborate in their lectures, and expects you to be independent in general to forget about this purchase and find an instructor who knows how to select a textbook that will acutally provide an education instead of a nervous breakdown.

Good textbook, September 19, 2008
I bought this book for my Business Law class. The problem of this book is not that it's not good, instead, is that it's too good to read. With tons of terms and actual court cases covered in the book, trying to finish the assigned chapter before class becomes a really challenging and, sometimes, frustrating task. On the other hand, if you really like this course, this may be the best business law textbook out there. You can really understand the logic behind the law and how the business law has developed to promote fair, justice, and ethic in the US through the reading. I give it a 4 star because 1) as others have mentioned, there are not too many things designed to help you read, like bold terms or spaces to take notes; 2) this book may not be the right one for those who just want to get an idea of biz law and get back to work. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the fifth edition of Intellectual Property in the New Technological Age, luminary authors Merges, Menell and Lemley continue to offer broad, accessible coverage of the full range of legal protections for intellectual property. Including seminal and cutting-edge cases and materials, this landmark casebook incorporates practice problems that encourage students to think like practitioners.

Timely and forward thinking, the authors of Intellectual Property in the New Technological Age offer:
- Complete coverage of basic and cutting-edge Intellectual Property law issues;
- An excellent selection of cases and materials;
- Practice problems that develop students' skills in applying the law;
- A law and economics perspective;
- Detailed treatment of new media issues, such as computer software;
- An introduction to biotechnology and the latest legal developments in the Statutory and Case Supplement;
- An Author Website with new cases and developments in IP law.

Updated throughout, the Fifth Edition offers:
- Revised patent materials that include the Bilski decision;
- Changes in patentable subject matter, obviousness, and the law of willfulness;
- New developments in digital copyright law and fair use;
- Trademark chapter revised to include dilution, merchandising, Internet keywords, Rescuecom v. Google, and fair use Software cases newly integrated into main chapters. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This edition is an affordable, all-purpose resource designed to support any classroom text. It provides the new rules and amendments and comprehensive restyle that took effect December 1, 2007. In addition, this edition provides up-to-date versions of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rules of Procedure of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, habeas corpus rules, Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States, Federal Rules of Evidence, the U.S. Constitution, and proposed rule amendments. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Visually engaging, enticing and current examples with an overall focus on business.

Legal Environment of Business and E-Commerce; Torts, Crimes, and Intellectual Property; Contracts and E-Commerce; Domestic and International Sales and Lease Contracts; Negotiable Instruments and E-Money; Credit, Secured Transactions, and Bankruptcy; Agency and Employment; Business Organizations and Ethics; Government Regulation; Property; Special Topics;  Global Environment

MARKET: Business Law continues its dedication to being the most engaging text for readers by featuring a visually appealing format with enticing and current examples while maintaining its focus on business.

Reviews

Makes learning the essentials of business law clear and easy, December 14, 2004
I enjoyed this book! So much so that the one I'm selling here is an extra copy (I ordered one that didn't get to me in time so I had to buy another one). I learned a lot and will refer to it in the future. This is a great book for business majors as well as anyone that does not have a law background but will need the knowledge for Public Policy, International Relations, etc. Good information those who would like to start their own business, too.

Must be the best business law book out there!, October 2, 2004
Rich in content, comprehensive, and very user-friendly. Presentation is excellent. Use of color, diagrams and boxes sets it apart from the majority of law books which are nothing more than 1000 pages of black and white text. The auhor also has a very well-chosen set of cases for the reader to see the legal process in practice. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT, it is a MUST for any student of law or as a reference for a business owner.

I Actually Took the Author's Class!! Awesome Book. Easy Read., May 2, 2006
I actually took Professor Cheeseman's BUAD 403 Legal Environment class at the University of Southern California! He's the funniest and most interesting professor I've ever had. Read the Haiku at the beginning of the book. It's bizarre until you know his past; then it's hailarious. Cheeseman is a brilliant man. After serving in the Army during Vietnam, he's earned 6 degrees!

This book weighs a ton, but its not some heavy text on legal theory. This book is made for the student. He does all the work for you by breaking everything down. He even puts concept summaries in the margins for you procastinators that cram. The book is not only informative, its entertaining. He explains all concepts with real-life cases. The case studies in the book are the most interesting part. I learned so much from this book. Especially the part on contract law. I feel sorry for people who have no idea how contracts surround our lives. For example when I send out my credit card # on Amazon I'm electronically putting my signature on a click-wrap contract and now subject to the numerous integrated reference clauses I don't see under Amazon. I personally feel much safer with this knowledge and I can thank this book for that. I really wish you guys could sit in on his lectures. You'd spend 2 hours every week laughing. But if you can't, this book is a great substitute.

Great overview book of Business Law, February 2, 2007
This book is full of useful information regarding business law and takes into consideration the ever changing world of international business and e-commerce. I found the book to be easy to read and the use of cases to clarify the type of law or statute being discussed helped to tie everything together in a format that could be understood by the average student. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants a reference manual on business law to keep on their shelf and is a interesting reading for business law classes.

Bussiness Law (7th Edition) Cheeseman, December 23, 2010
I just completed a Business Law 1 class utilizing this book. Business Law (7th Edition) I was worried about taking this class when I saw it was a required class for my degree. The book is the best textbook I have ever read. I wish more textbooks were set up in this manner. It takes what I thought was a very hard subject and makes it understandable and dare I say, enjoyable. I'm considering taking Business Law 2 now even though it is not required. Thank you Mr. Cheeseman. Business people should have this book in their library.

Very helpful, informative, and down-to-earth, March 17, 2009
Excellent book, I have used it at the University of Delaware for 2 classes now. This is the type of book every business owner should read regardless of whether they intend to earn college credit. This information is a MUST KNOW! Every citizen of this country would benefit from knowing and understanding their legal rights. The cost of this book is invaluable for the legal advise one will receive. Glad I get to take this class and learn such important info.

It is well laid out and easy to follow and understand. The cases provide excellent demonstrations and memorable circumstances where law has been practiced and determined. I will hold onto this one. Thank you Henry Cheeseman for compiling such an intelligible resource.

Must Buy For All Business Students!, August 23, 2007
I took Henry Cheeseman's Business Law class at USC and he is an amazing professor! His book shows it all. Out of all my textbooks in my undergraduate and graduate studies, this is by far the most easy/fun to read textbook, while explaining everything in detail with many case examples!

If you want to get a general idea of what exactly law and business law is, then this is the book to buy. After reading this book, my interest in law sparked! I am actually planning on reading through it one more time to refresh my memory!

Packed with relevant information, page by page, May 5, 2007
This is the first college textbook that gets five stars from me. In his preface to the students, Dr. Cheeseman calls this book a labor of love. He did not exaggerate. It really shows that this book was written for students. The field of business law is vast, but Dr. Cheeseman manages to cover the essential in one book.

Page by page, he delivers relevant information. His explanations are short and to the point. He reinforces the concepts with carefully selected cases. One of the book's strong features is also its structure. The chapters are organized in a logical and easy to follow fashion. Finally, one gets a little intercultural perspective through Dr. Cheeseman's photography from places and people all over the world.

In short, this book's got it. I give it two thumbs up.

Good book that isn't overly dense with difficult wording, full with pertinent cases, November 14, 2006
I really enjoy readnig from this book, which can't be said for all the books I read for class. This books presents information in an easy reading manner and is full of many pertinent court cases. I think the inclusion of so many cases is important as it illistrates concepts while at the same time keeps the readers attention since they are real world settings that are more easily digested.

The only downside to this book, and thus one reason for only four stars, is its large size, which is probably common for most business law books. This book is very hefty! I like reading outdoors at a park or sitting on a bench and this book was mostly too large for me to do this. It would be beneficial to have this book either split to two books, or in an electronic version so that only the sections to be studied can easily be taken with the reader.

Overall great book! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Examples & Explanations: Contracts, Fourth Edition is an accessible, comprehensive treatment of first-year contracts topics. This popular and well-written study aid speaks clearly and directly to students and is designed to provide them with information, examples, and analysis in appropriate complexity and detail.

Important features of this highly regarded study aid include:

Editorial Review

Hannah Arendt’s authoritative report on the trial of Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann includes further factual material that came to light after the trial, as well as Arendt’s postscript directly addressing the controversy that arose over her account. ... Read more

Reviews

Emphasis on Banality, December 5, 2007
A previous reviewer claims that Arendt's book shows the ambivalence of human nature, proving that in effect anybody could have done what Eichmann did. In fact, this is exactly the cynical point of view that Arendt opposes in this, and her other writings. Her argument here is a revision of her earlier position on 'radical evil' advanced in The Origins of Totalitarianism, a position which Heidegger claimed to find 'incomprehensible.' She argues here that banality and "sheer thoughtlessness" (akin to Heidegger's reflections on boredom) are in fact the root of Evil. To put it better, evil continues precisely because of its inherent rootlessness, its constitutive disregard of the world. Thus, the detachment of claims such as "Anybody could have done what Eichmann did" distort her intention. Evil, she insists, is not an inevitable aspect of human nature, but instead arises from an unwillingness to understand.

Rethinking the Nature of Evil, November 19, 2007
"It was sheer thoughtlessness that predisposed him to become one of the greatest criminals of the period," political theorist Hannah Arendt observes of Adolf Eichmann, who was in charge of the logistics behind the mass deportations of Jews and other so-called asocials to ghettos and extermination camps during the 2nd World War. The face of evil, she suggests through her portrayal of the high-ranking SS bureaucrat at his trial in Jerusalem, is not necessarily that of a radically perverse pathological mastermind, but instead and more frightening still, can come in the form of a banal and unimpressive caricature of normalcy.

In his testimony, Eichmann characterizes himself as a blameless cog who was only following orders, and even goes on to cite instances where he tried to help certain Jews who were friends of his escape their inevitable fate. His tone is that of one regaling a run-of-the-mill human sympathy story of hard luck, and his telling is rife with contradiction, blanks in memory, and ridiculous clich�. According to Arendt, this "created considerable difficulty during the trial - less for Eichmann himself than for those who had come to prosecute him, to defend him, to judge him, and to report on him. For all this, it was essential that one take him seriously, and this was very hard to do, unless one sought the easiest way out of the dilemma between the unspeakable horror of the deeds and the undeniable ludicrousness of the man who perpetrated them, and declared him a clever, calculating liar - which he obviously was not."

Also relevant for its criticism of the shaky legal foundation upon which the trial was conducted (Eichmann was illegally abducted in Argentina, then was brought to Israel and prosecuted there using an outdated framework that was unable to properly address the problem of genocide as specifically carried out by the Nazis).

This book is very smart, very elegantly written. The questions it raises about ethics and preconceived notions of good and evil are universal and remain relevant to the times. If it were a person, I'd sleep with it on the first date.

A Classic that Elaborates on the Genocide of Jews and Others, September 19, 2007
I am delighted to see this classic back in print. Jewish author Hannah Arendt has provided a wealth of timeless information that goes far beyond the trial of the German war criminal Adolf Eichmann. This review is based on the original (1964) edition.

Arendt (p. 39) gives the readers a taste of the scale of the Kristallnacht (November 1938): 7,500 Jewish shop windows broken, all synagogues burned, and 20,000 Jewish men incarcerated in concentration camps. In common with many others who wrote during the first two decades after WWII, Arendt (p. 5, 11-12) addresses the issue of Jewish passivity in the face of death during the later roundups and transports to the death camps.

Arendt briefly discusses the fate of Jews of some individual European nations. She mentions the conniving of the Bulgarians (with, of course, the implied freedom to do so) performed in order to avoid sending their Jews to the death camps, and the fact that Finland, Germany's ally, was never seriously pressured to turn over her 2,000 Jews to be murdered (p. 170). Clearly, the latter part of the oft-repeated statement, "Not all of the victims of the Nazis were Jews, but all Jews were victims of the Nazis" is incorrect.

Throughout this work, Arendt gives various biographical details of Adolf Eichmann. For example, she mentions that he was a Gottglaubiger (p. 27), a Nazi term for those who had broken with Christianity, and which Eichmann maintained right up to the very moment of his hanging, having refused the solace and Bible reading of a Protestant minister (p. 252).

Arendt briefly discusses Hitler's flouting of the Versailles treaty and his rise to power. While Jan T. Gross has asserted that there were Poles who praised Hitler in the 1930's, Arendt makes it clear that this was far from limited to Poland during that time: "...Hitler was admired everywhere as a great national statesman." (p. 37).

While most recent Holocaust materials focus on the real or imagined collaboration of locals in the sending of Jews to their deaths, Arendt is unsparing in her criticism of Jewish collaborators in this regard: "Without Jewish help in administrative and police work--the final roundup of Jews in Berlin was, as I have mentioned, done entirely by Jewish police--there would have been either complete chaos or an impossibly severe drain on German manpower. (p. 117). She adds that, because of this collaboration, only a few thousand Germans, most of whom furthermore only did office work, were able to send hundreds of thousands of Jews to their deaths (p. 117). Finally, Arendt concludes that: "Wherever Jews lived, there were recognized Jewish leaders, and this leadership, almost without exception, cooperated in one way or another, for one reason or another, with the Nazis. The whole truth was that if the Jewish people had been unorganized and leaderless, there would have been chaos and plenty of misery but the total number of victims would hardly have been between four and a half and six million. (According to Freudiger's calculations about half of them could have saved themselves if they had not followed the instructions of the Jewish councils..." (p. 125).

Arendt (p. 42, 118, etc.) elaborates on the actions of a Jew, Rudolf Kastner (Kasztner). He made a deal with Eichmann in which 1,684 Jews were allowed to go to Palestine in exchange for Kastner's silence before and during which 476,000 Hungarian Jews were sent to the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

Jan Tomasz Gross, who has gotten a great deal of publicity for his books (NEIGHBORS and FEAR), has stated that the 2-3 million Poles who died in the hands of the Germans were largely the collateral victims of military action. Arendt knows better: "...Eichmann knew that right behind the front lines all Russian functionaries ("Communists"), all Polish members of the professional classes, and all native Jews were being killed in mass shootings." (p. 95). "At no point, however, either in the proceedings or the judgment, did the Jerusalem trial mention even the possibility that extermination of whole ethnic groups--the Jews, or the Poles, or the Gypsies--might be more than a crime against the Jewish or the Polish or the Gypsy people, that the international order, and mankind in its entirety, might have been grievously hurt and endangered." (pp. 275-276). Arendt realizes the alternative future: "The measures against Eastern Jews were not only the result of anti-Semitism, they were part and parcel of an all-embracing demographic policy, in the course of which, had the Germans won the war, the Poles would have suffered the same fate as the Jews--genocide. This is no mere conjecture: the Poles in Germany were already being forced to wear a distinguishing badge in which the "P" replaced the Jewish star, and this, which we have seen, was always the first measure to be taken by the police in instituting the process of destruction)." (pp. 217-218).

Arendt praises the Danes for saving Jews during WWII and then, without mentioning the incomparably more difficult conditions under which Polish rescuers of Jews labored, nevertheless gives the Poles their due. After listing some individual examples of Polish assistance to Jews, Arendt adds the following: "One witness claimed that the Polish underground had supplied many Jews with weapons and had saved thousands of Jewish children by placing them with Polish families. The risks were prohibitive; there was the story of an entire Polish family who had been executed in the most brutal manner because they had adopted a six-year-old Jewish girl." (p. 231).

A plea for clear thinking and honest speaking, March 26, 2009
The story floating around in the zeitgeist about Eichmann in Jerusalem is that Hannah Arendt established how boring the Nazis were: that the men responsible for the destruction of millions were just paper pushers. This captures part of Arendt's book, but not nearly all of it. Overall, I think it's best to describe Eichmann in Jerusalem as a clear-eyed look at the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a study of guilt, and a dispassionate analysis of war-crimes trials. It's a tremendous book.

Many Jews may stop reading when Arendt seems to accuse them of collaborating with the Nazis. I know virtually nothing about how this book was received, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if it offended a lot of people. If the historical record is as clear as Arendt claims, however, then there's nothing to get upset about. Councils of Jewish Elders, says Arendt, were formed in every country that the Nazis took over; those Councils documented the assets of the Jews within their communities, dutifully went around collecting them, turned them over to the Nazis, and only later found themselves herded into cattle cars to Auschwitz. In the death camps, she says, Jews did much of the gruesome work, like removing gold teeth from gas-chamber victims.

This is obviously sensitive stuff. Arendt's style is to deliver it as honestly and forthrightly as possible. Her style, indeed, is tightly bound to her subject. She writes of Eichmann,

[H]e apologized, saying, "Officialese . . . is my only language." But the point here is that officialese became his language because he was genuinely incapable of uttering a single sentence that was not a clich� ... To be sure, the judges were right when they finally told the accused that all he had said was "empty talk" -- except that they thought the emptiness was feigned ...

She says elsewhere in Eichmann that the man's inability to speak was a symptom of his inability to think. It is her duty, then, to view Eichmann's trial with the clearest eye and sharpest mind possible.

Readers may recall the backstory here: the Israelis kidnapped Eichmann from Argentina in 1960, tried him in Israel, and hanged him in 1962. The trial sought to paint Eichmann as one of the masterminds behind the Holocaust and the vilest sort of monster. Arendt retorts that he was, at best, a high-level functionary, and indeed a paper pusher, and that everyone at the trial could see immediately that this was the case. He never killed anyone, and indeed it seems pretty clear that the merest sight of blood would make the man queasy.

None of this lets Eichmann off the hook, though, which is exactly the point: there's a world of difference between passers-by, who allowed the European Jews to be destroyed, and the Eichmanns who filed away the forms to send them to their destruction.

Granted, then, that Eichmann deserved to pay in a way that the silent millions did not, why was Israel the proper forum for his punishment? Arendt is skeptical that it was. Eichmann's crime was a crime against humanity, and he should have been punished the same way that other Nazis were punished at Nuremberg. At the same time, no other nation had stepped up to try Eichmann, and Argentina was refusing to turn over the Nazis within its borders, so Israel may have had no choice. Arendt, and the court's decision itself, approvingly quote Grotius's line: "punishment is necessary `to defend the honor or authority of him who was hurt by the offence so that the failure to punish may not cause his degradation.'"

Israel seemed to believe that it had the right to try Eichmann because of his crimes against the Jews, which makes me wonder: does Israel automatically grant itself the right to try crimes against Jews even today? Suppose some other country tried to kill all the Jews within its borders now; would Israel grant itself the right to try the leaders of that country?

Arendt says that Israel's trial of Eichmann was much less about Eichmann and much more about the history of anti-Semitism from the time of Pharaoh all the way up to the Germans. There is an element of farce in all of this, and I think it's fair to say that Arendt took offense: a crime as serious as Eichmann's deserves a serious trial, rather than a circus. Fortunately the legal decision that came down at the trial's conclusion was a model of seriousness.

Even with Eichmann swinging from the gallows, there's still the matter of Europe's guilt. Arendt, as ever, is only as brutal as she needs to be here: the nations of Europe stand guilty of allowing the slaughter to happen. The French, for instance, allowed foreign Jews within French borders to be shipped off to Germany, but put their foot down when the Nazis demanded French Jews. Their refusal to export their own Jews points out another matter: when nations said no to the Nazis, the Nazis often backed down. They were by no means an immovable wall of violence. The evil that European nations allowed to happen is all the more inexcusable when we know that there were exceptions.

At the heart of all of this is the basic principle, which Arendt summarizes so well:

There remains, however, one fundamental problem, which was implicitly present in all these postwar trials and which must be mentioned here because it touches upon one of the central moral questions of all time, namely upon the nature and function of human judgment. What we have demanded in these trials, where the defendants had committed "legal" crimes, is that human beings be capable of telling right from wrong even when all they have to guide them is their own judgment, which, moreover, happens to be completely at odds with what they must regard as the unanimous opinion of all those around them.

This moral question, and the denunciation that necessarily follows it, doesn't go away even if the Nazis mercilessly destroyed those who refused to follow their orders. We wish for a clear voice calling out from the maelstrom. Arendt's is that voice.

Incredible investigation of Adolf Eichmann, May 14, 2008
Arendt's analysis of the "banality of evil" characterized by Adolf Eichmann is a chilling look into how evil can be systematized, how it can be seemingly bureaucratic, and how normal people can be turned into monsters through law.

This is a great book for anyone interested in World War 2, the Holocaust, political philosophy, or getting really really depressed.

"Some of my best friends are anti-Semites", May 15, 2010
I apologise for the flippant tone of my title, but this phrase of Arendt's seems to sum up the entire, absurd and sickening conundrum presented by Eichmann. Arendt is not, by and large, a humorous or entertaining writer, but she is a clear and thoughtful one, and such flippancy is not the norm. What she seems to have established, and the paradox is so absurd as to defy belief, is that Eichmann, a senior figure in the realisation of the Final Solution, was not an anti-Semite at all but a "Mitl�ufer". He accepted his association with anti-Semites in the tone indicated, but seemed not to think much of them and to have some respect for Jews. The image that emerges appears to be not that of a pack of ringleaders but that of a herd of murderous but rather dim sheep, where even the shepherd bleats and runs off the cliff.

This starts as an absurdity when you first encounter it, and then as you proceed through the book the sheer terror of the possibility that it is true soaks into your bones. The possibility must occur to the sceptical reader that Eichmann was merely trying to present a positive face to the court that was sure to hang him. Eichmann, frankly, doesn't sound that bright. In fact, he sounds like a fool. Arendt asserts, and I think convinces, that Eichmann simply lacks the intellectual gifts to dissemble effectively. When he is not remembering something that impinges on his own career advancement - apparently his central obsession - his memory appears to be confused and his errors not consistently tending to his own exoneration.

I accept Arendt's account, partly because she is so convincing a thinker but partly because it tends to resolve a paradox that I have been dealing with for years - that the most advanced civilisation in Europe could have bent its hand to the Shoah and annihilated one of its own most advanced and civilised minorities. Eichmann was not a monster, so a nation of monsters is apparently not necessary. Eichmann was normal, "Or at least, more normal than I am after examining him," according to one psychologist. He seems to have been a good boss, and kind to his subordinates. He loved his family. He had enough self-knowledge to doubt his own role and accept his own arrest and execution, going to the gallows with dignity. His moral responses to the violence of the Holocaust started off normal - and remained that way for about six weeks.

After that - and here's the resolution - the normal became inverted. Proper organisation of death transports, the observance of orders and the tidy identification and packaging of Jews became the "good" thing to do, and in the atmosphere of a totalitarian state and the conformance of all around one I am not sure that many of us would do otherwise. Hence my terror. Being a good guy is no defense. The banal become evil when the law itself is morally "illegal"; even the good become evil. This could happen anywhere, at any time. Staggeringly, the urge to conform and be a "good German" even seems to have extended to prominent Jews, who played a role in the "Judenr�te" which facilitated the orderly deportation and murder of their fellows. This observation, however - and again I accept Arendt's case - seems to have got her into hot water with US Jews, who largely responded with a storm of vitriol and in effect excommunicated her. I hope that this generation sees her and this book more kindly, because I think she is correct and this book is important.

A few other oddities evaporate when one sees things Arendt's way, such as that the methodology of the Final Solution was designed to reduce distress for its perpetrators and that even the victims quietly cooperated.

Arendt deals with the character of Eichmann, the nature of evil, the paradox of the cooperation of Germans and (German) Jews alike, the possible irregularities of the trial - Eichmann broke no law that existed in his nation at the time, had been kidnapped and could legitimately have been demanded by German courts, which have according to Arendt been depressingly "understanding" when dealing with Holocaust figures - and the course of the Shoah in Germany and outside. Her account of the course of the Holocaust elsewhere throws a more positive light on parts of Europe than I have tended to see in the past. There is real hope in her accounts of Bulgaria, Italy, Holland and especially Denmark, where even German officers exposed to moral normality began to sabotage orders and most of the Jews made it to Sweden alive. On the other hand, there is that depressing banality of evil and a clear signature of European, Christian anti-Semitism which confirms my impression that Nazism merely extended and exploited a traditional Christian agenda, changing it from theological to racial. In Romania, spontaneous pogroms of such brutality took place that - further absurdity on the way - the SS intervened to save Jews from butchery. (Gassing being presumably more humane. How can one read this and remain normal?)

Another conundrum that arises is how to deal with a genocidaire who is only giving orders. Eichmann basically just transported people. His hand was on no trigger. In fact, quite often the disposal procedure was run by the very victims themselves, so the only hands on triggers were those of the dead. Who, in such a case, do you prosecute? (My answer to this is deplorably anti-intellectual - "Eichmann". The Israelis and more widely the the N�rnberg trials arrived at the correct and the only conceivable resolution.)

Another reason for controversy over this book may be that Arendt undermined Ben-Gurion's narrative of the Shoah as merely the culmination of millennia of anti-Semitism predating Christianity itself. If it did, I am not sure that I agree; anti-Semitism was quite definitely behind the Shoah. It could hardly be otherwise. What Arendt establishes is that it did not suffice, and that its absence was no defense.

A generation and more has passed since this book's publication. I hope that it will now be viewed more coolly and more positively, as it is a work of unique historical and philosophical value. Tens of thousands of pages of transcripts from the trial are held in Israeli national archives, providing a record of this rare captive specimen of a genocidaire, but Arendt's is a unique intellectual voice, speaking in the accent of a German Jew but not bending to the nationalist narrative of the Israel of her day. She speaks coolly, and I think correctly.

The evil are not remarkable. The evil are you and I in another place and time.

Worth Reading Twice, April 25, 2010
I am a bit surprised that this book was so controversial when it was first published. Most of her observations--unique in 1963--are common knowledge today. Arendt analyzes and discusses Eichmann from her perch in the audience during his Israeli trial which occurred after the Mossad's glorious black ops abduction. Eichmann proved to be much more a mailman personality wise than Fuehrer. As a mind he was a disappointment to those who believed that a malevolent virtuoso lurked behind his acts. While he was a true believer, he was not able to justify his crimes to even himself on the stand. My favorite quote from the text is "Despite all the efforts of the prosecution everybody could see that this man was not a `monster,' but it was difficult indeed not to suspect that he was a clown." As a native German speaker Arendt's perspective was invaluable as she recorded his daily wrestling with language which was both pitiable and humorous. Eichmann would have been a nothing had it not been for Nazism and he ended his life with the ignominy he deserved. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Wydick s Plain English for Lawyers--now in its fifth edition--has been a favorite of law students, legal writing teachers, lawyers, and judges for over 25 years.

In January 2005, the Legal Writing Institute gave Wydick its Golden Pen Award for having written Plain English for Lawyers. The Legal Writing Institute is a non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and scholarship about legal writing, analysis, and research. The Institute has over 1,300 members representing all of the ABA-accredited law schools in the United States. Its membership also includes law teachers from other nations, English teachers, and practicing lawyers.

The LWI award states: 'Plain English for Lawyers . . . has become a classic. Perhaps no single work has done more to improve the writing of lawyers and law students and to promote the modern trend toward a clear, plain style of legal writing.'

In 2003 Wydick retired after 32 years on the law faculty of the University of California, Davis. But he still teaches his favorite course -- a seminar in advanced legal writing for third-year law students. For the past eight summers he has also lectured at the International Legislative Drafting Institute presented in New Orleans by the Public Law Center, a joint venture of Tulane and Loyola law schools. There the audience consists of lawyers and non-lawyers from abroad who earn their living drafting legislation in many different languages. 'Teaching at the Institute,' Wydick says, 'is a precious opportunity to learn how much we English-users have in common with people who write laws in other languages.'

How does the fifth edition of Plain English for Lawyers differ from its predecessors? It remains (in size only!) a little book, small enough and palatable enough not to intimidate over-loaded law students. 'Most of the text remains the same,' Wydick says, 'but in the past seven years I ve learned some new things about writing in English, and I want to share that with the readers.' In addition, the exercises at the end of the chapters are different (a welcome change for long-time teachers who are tired of the old ones). Finally, the teacher's manual includes additional exercises that teachers can give to students who want or need extra practice. ... Read more

Reviews

A Legal-Writing Classic, September 10, 2002
This book provides great advice and practical, well-designed exercises. Once considered radical by most lawyers, the book has helped reform legal writing, teaching a generation of lawyers that their writing "should not differ, without good reason, from ordinary well-written English."

The book is also a model of effective prose. It's clear and understandable even to a first-year law student. Yet it's also valuable to seasoned lawyers, especially to those die-hard lawyers who insist that legal writing should remain dense, and often incomprehensible, just because it's always been that way.

Well-respected experts such as Wydick and Garner reject that notion. And clients, who often succeed or fail (and sometimes live or die) by their lawyers' words, should reject it too.

If only every Lawyer read this..., August 21, 2002
This book was required reading for my first year in law school. After having read through it, I am glad it was. I wish that more lawyers were required to read it.

'Plain English for Lawyers' helps everyone write effectively from the Law Student, the practicing Lawyer, the Judge on the Bench, or just somebody that wants to write a persuasive or complicated report how to

Several frequent exercises are included to give the reader an opportunity to practice. Examples are plentiful, and illustrated well.

The last chapter covers punctuation. This chapter makes the book a reference worth keeping. I would recommend to anyone needing a reference for writing briefs, memorandum, or legal correspondence to keep this book on hand.

One of those style books that ranscebds its genre., January 9, 2006
I'm a lawyer who is considered a wordsmith by colleagues and judges. This is one of the most important books I've ever encountered. I was exposed to it in my first law school year's writing class, and its lessons have remained with me since. Banish the passive voice! (unless deliberately and thoughfully chosen and used). This is not merely a key to fluidity in writing, but in a sense a moral imperative. Actions are attributable to actors - they don't simply occur. If you're asserting an action took place, you and your reader should know who or what you claim set it in motion. This necessitates intellectual rigor and clarity. Also, I remember and have employed for twenty-five years Wydick's apt metaphor that good legal writing is like fine cabinetmaking: the skill of the craftsman is shown by the crafted joints not requiring glue, just as the quality of a piece of prose is shown by its lack of reliance on "glue words" (read the book). I've used the lessons of Wydick's brief book as a lawyer, writer and writing teacher. I've given it to colleagues, non-lawyers and young relatives. Their writing uniformly improved.

A ground-breaker that became a classic., June 4, 2002
I first read this book in 1989, and I loved it. It made so much sense, yet it seemed so radical to a young associate at a large law firm. But the advice in this book has been around since 1978. Back then, it was breaking new ground. Now, its advice, though common among plain-English advocates, is still needed by the practicing bar. How great it would be if every lawyer followed Wydick's advice in this book.

Wish I read it in law school, August 3, 2000
I bought this book during my first year of law school. It was recommended, but not required reading, so I tossed it aside. Big mistake.

Now that I am getting paid for my work product, I am more concerned about its quality. So, I finally opened the book. It is a quick and easy read, but oh so helpful. Every positive thing posted about the book is dead on.

Reading Plain English for Lawyers has been the best CLE of the year.

Not just for lawyers and law school students, April 2, 2002
This book was part of my first-year curricula in law school, but this book is valuable for anyone who paid attention in high school composition, and who is looking for a reader-friendly guide to improve their skills in edited English. The hook for the title comes from the fact that the legal profession is one of the more notorious for having cluttered syntax, archaic terminology, and unnecessary abstractions.

Clear writing begins with clear thinking, and the reader-friendly rules in this book will help sort out the writing quirks that sometimes pop up when a writer isn't as confident in what he/she is trying to say.

Simple and clear instructions for simple writing, June 12, 2005
This is a simple text reminding us simply how to write. Often we fail to communicate our message because we lack clarity in our writing. The mark of a genius is to take a complicated idea and communicate it to another in a simple manner: this text helps us act like geniuses. The target audience is the legal profession yet it is applicable to anyone who writes memos, briefs or such. It provides clear instruction, concise and illuminating examples and exercises. I found this useful when writing my thesis and continue to use it in practice. Please, buy this, read it and SHARE it: I hate reading legalise for the sake of legalise.

The exercises really do help., June 13, 2007
Most of the stuff just summarizes points from Strunk and White.
The practice exercises are really what's helpful.
Also a good reference when editing.

One phrase can sum it up, February 15, 2010
I bought this book because my Legal Writing and Research prof suggested it and said he used it all the time. One phrase can sum it up: Keep it simple and clear. Read that or buy the book and read a lot more to learn the same thing. I never use it.

Should be Plain English for Everyone, July 24, 2009
I've worked a professional writer and was on law review, but this remains my top choice for teaching people how to write. Everyone can take something from this book regardless of skill level. Learning to write is a constantly evolving process, and too many people (especially in the legal field) fail to understand both that being able to write does not necessarily mean that you know how to write well and that writing is about quality and not quantity.

Exceptional book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This guide is the first of its kind, and presents the U.S. Constitution as never before, including a clause-by-clause analysis of the document, each amendment and relevant court case, and the documents that serve as the foundation of the Constitution. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama in March 2010 is a landmark in U.S. social legislation.The new law extends health insurance to nearly all Americans, fulfilling a century-long quest and bringing the United States to parity with other industrial nations.Affordable Care aims to control rapidly rising health care costs and promises to make the United States more equal, reversing four decades of rising disparities between the very rich and everyone else. Millions of people of modest means will gain new benefits and protections from insurance company abuses - and the tab will be paid by privileged corporations and the very rich.

How did such a bold reform effort pass in a polity wracked by partisan divisions and intense lobbying by special interests?What does Affordable Care mean- and what comes next? In Health Care Reform and American Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know, Lawrence R. Jacobs and Theda Skocpol--two of the nation's leading experts on politics and health care policy--provide a concise and accessible overview.They explain the political battles of 2009 and 2010, highlighting White House strategies, the deals Democrats cut with interest groups, and the impact of agitation by Tea Partiers and progressives. Jacobs and Skocpol spell out what the new law can do for everyday Americans, what it will cost, and who will pay. Above all, they explain what comes next, as critical yet often behind-the-scenes battles rage over implementing reform nationally and in the fifty states. Affordable Care might end up being weakened. But, like Social Security and Medicare, it could also gain strength and popularity as the majority of Americans learn what it can do for them. ... Read more

Reviews

A Highly Readable, Brilliant Political Analysis of Health Reform, November 25, 2010
This highly readable book is a brilliant political analysis of health reform, beginning with a well-researched, detailed history of the Affordable Care Act and ending with a realistic assessment of the political forces amassed against it and a moderately optimistic view of the likelihood of its implementation. In between it offers an enlightening and objective description of the Affordable Care Act's impact on ordinary Americans. The wisdom and integrity of the two authors are reflected on virtually every page. The book's foray into health economics, arguably a stretch for political scientists, is nevertheless credible. Its legal analysis is generally on target, but not sufficiently detailed to satisfy experts in health law. Although highly factual, this book is more engaging than a good novel. My only problem with it is that I had difficulty putting it down.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Covers due process, retroactivity, the federal supervisory power, and state rights protection. Touches on the right to counsel, transcripts, and other aids such as poverty, equality, and the adversary system. Includes reflections on the police, courts, and the criminal process. Provides insight into arrest, search and seizure, wiretapping, electronic eavesdropping, the use of secret agents to obtain incriminating statements, and the Fourth Amendment. ... Read more

Reviews

Poorly Organized and Edited, November 16, 2006
I am a law student, so I have read several law-related textbooks. This textbook is, by far, the most poorly organized course book I have had to endure. This is the time of year when law students everywhere are taking part in the old tradition of condensing their course notes into outlines that can be used to study for upcoming final exams. Converting the major points from this book into a coherent outline is grueling, because the textbook is "organized" in such a schizophrenic manner. At one point in the book, it basically admits to its own incomprehensible structure when it offers instructors and students the option of either continuing the book as put forth or following an "alternate" route that involves skipping ahead a few chapters, reading them out of order, and then returning. It's a law book, not a Choose Your Own Adventure story!

To compound the problem, the book includes volumes of material that either should have been cut out or at least paraphrased. For example, the book devotes considerable space to explaining the "standing" doctrine of the Fourth Amendment, yet glosses over subsequent cases that have substantially done away with the standing doctrine.

Only buy it if you must, May 12, 2007
This was a required book for my criminal procedure course in law school. I hate to say it, b/c I usually only write a positive review but this book is awful. It is terribly organized, and at times it was actually difficult to decipher what case I was actually reading. Obviously buy it if it's required for a course you are taking, otherwise, don't bother unless you enjoy being frustrated and confused.

Worst criminal procedure text of all time!, March 16, 2007
This is, by far, the worst law text that I have ever had to endure. Not only are the major topics organized in a manner that defies all logical explanation, but the note cases are completely useless. I'm almost half-way through my criminal procedure course and have no idea what I need to know for the bar exam. I strongly suggest purchasing a supplement and/or alternative text in order to compensate for the many deficiencies of this book.

I would have given this book zero stars, if possible.

Worst law school textbook I have ever seen, May 13, 2008
I agree with all the other reviewers here and it makes me feel a little bit better about myself. This book is the worst organized, rambling mess I have ever seen. There are cases referred to for one sentence on one page early in the book, which refer to another spot later in the book with another 3 sentences. I have never seen so many note cases either. Why couldn't the author simply provide a seminal case with a few notes afterward like every other well written text? Awful, terrible waste of money and I feel dumber every time I pick this text up.

Worst law textbook, April 27, 2008
I agree with the other reviewers. Not only are the note cases useless, but it felt like the book was written by some senile old man who forgot to put in important information so rather than editing the material, he added rambling footnotes... to nearly every page. Reading for law school is exhausting enough without having to wade through this horribly organized, incoherent excuse for a book.

A horrendious book best left on the shelf., July 5, 2009
This book is unlike any law text I have ever read. It presents information in a confused and circuitous manner which is sure to perplex even the best student. The book, for some reason, assumes that the reader has read a number of not-so-common cases. A consequence is that it skips over the case and simply delves into comparisons about the case with other cases.

If the book is assigned for the class, there isn't much you can do. Just be sure to pick up an Examples and Explanations with your purchase....

Whats the big deal?, May 6, 2010
To be honest, I think the book was alright. I was grateful to have a teacher who properly guided us through the material, so I guess I was lucky. The order of the book shouldn't make any difference anyway. I just followed my syllabus and everything came together just fine.

Happy with the purchase, September 27, 2010
Hi All,

Needed this one for a law course over the summer. I learned a lot. The book came fast and did what I needed it to. YAY! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This second edition incorporates the restyled federal rules of civil procedure and the Supreme Court's modification of civil pleading standards in Bell Atlantic v. Twombly. The casebook features a novel visual display and layout that uses text boxes, diagrams, and color/border segregated feature sections for hypotheticals, references to scholarly debates, useful information for students, and thought-provoking questions. A major distinguishing feature of the book is its inclusion of an accompanying electronic version with extensive hyperlinks to Westlaw versions of legal materials, Black's Law Dictionary definitions, supplementary online resources, and more. ... Read more

Reviews

Not bad for a casebook, January 23, 2009
I'm a 1L currently in my second semester, and this has been the best casebook I've had so far. The hypos at the end of each case are actually helpful, and the explanations of latin and legal terms in the margins are helpful and save me time. I like how the print is fairly large and that there is at least some space between the lines of text. This casebook is well organized and it seems like the author actually wants you to learn CivPro rather than putting together a collection of poorly abridged cases and cryptic notes that suffices for most casebooks.

Civ Pro book, January 31, 2010
Book has expected writing and highlighting but is in good condition. I received it on time so kudos to you Seller. The only other comment I have is this seller likes to play tick tack toe. I guess you were bored in class on certain days huh? ;) Overall I'm fairly satisfied. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Political factors influence judicial decisions. Arguments and input from lawyers and interest groups, the ebb and flow of public opinion, and especially the ideological and behavioral inclinations of the justices all combine to influence the development of constitutional doctrine. Constitutional Law for a Changing America draws on political science as well as legal studies to analyze and excerpt cases.

With meticulous revising and updating throughout, Epstein and Walker streamline material while accounting for recent landmark cases and new scholarship. This seventh edition features two important improvements:

- a completely revamped interior layout and design that clearly delineates between commentary and opinion excerpts while more effectively showcasing photos, justice biographies, and the Aftermath and Global Perspective sidebars.
- the case commentary not only details the case Facts but now includes an Arguments section that details the attorneys arguments for each side, leading to more focused and effective reading of the case.

Cases new to this edition of Rights, Liberties, and Justice include Morse v. Frederick (2007), United States v. Williams (2008), Arizona v. Grant (2009), Safford Unified School District #1 v. Redding (2009), Herring v. United States (2009), Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (2007), Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (2007), and Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (2008).

Reviews

Terrific Book on Oral Advocacy, December 11, 2004
In order to prepare for oral argument in an important federal appeal, I ordered numerous books on oral advocacy. This book may be "little," but it was actually the best of the five books that I read. (Second best was "Winning on Appeal" by Judge Ruggero J. Aldisert). It was somewhat surprising that this book was best, because it was the smallest of the lot and, to some degree, is geared toward law students participating in moot court competitions, rather than to practicing lawyers. But this book had the most practical suggestions and I skipped over the parts applicable to moot court competitions (coordinating argument with a partner, etc.) I also liked the fact that this book had practical suggestions about dealing with "stage fright." Some of the other books I read suggested that if you don't feel totally comfortable with public speaking, perhaps you should find someone else to argue your appeal (gee, thanks). This is the book that I read over again the night before oral argument, and its upbeat tone and concrete suggestions really calmed my nerves. I highly recommend this book to any lawyer preparing for oral argument or for any law student participating in moot court.

Thank You Alan L. Dworsky, October 27, 2009
I have never written a review before, however, now feel compelled to do so. This was my first oral argument, and before a 3 judge panel of the Federal Court of Appeals. This book is quick, to the point and informative. I followed the suggestion on an introduction exactly. After my argument, a Justice for the Federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals shook my hand and said "A well organized argument...good job". Thank you Alan L. Dworsky

The Little Book on Oral Argument, March 17, 2007
A concise, effective book that provides all the basics for building a good oral argument. The advice is practical and presented in a succinct little book that can be read in one sitting. Although it lacks material on the academic aspects of oral argument, it is full of practical advice and great ideas for presenting effectively. Well worth the time and money!

I would be unlikely to purchase this again, January 19, 2009
The book is not without merit, however, many of the ideas and concepts are common sense and the rest are readily searchable. If you completely lack oral argument skills this book could assist you but was of little to no help to me.

Great purchase experience - no problems!, January 20, 2007
The text was as described with no issues. The delivery was prompt and handled in a professional manner. I recommend this seller.
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Editorial Review

Constitutional Law: National Power and Federalism, which is part of a two-volume set, is a problem-oriented guide to the principle doctrines of constitutional law that are covered in the typical course. This straightforward text walks the student through issues pertaining to the structure of our constitutional system, including judicial review, justiciability, national power, supremacy, the separation of powers and federalism, as well as some of the structural limitations that the Constitution imposes on state powers.

Designed to encourage students to think about the larger issues of constitutional law with both depth and perception, this straightforward and informal text:
- Utilizes the unique, time-tested E and E pedagogy that combines textual material with well-written and comprehensive examples, explanations, and questions to test students' comprehension of the materials and provide practice in applying legal principles to fact patterns. The questions (in which there are often a variety of issues presented in one fact situation) are similar to those on a law school or bar examination;
- Is organized to parallel the major casebooks and will complement any constitutional law casebook;
- Explains legal concepts and principles in digestible sections, followed by examples and analyses that illustrate how to apply these concepts and principles in hypothetical situations;
- Is part of a two-volume set that includes a corresponding treatment of Individual Rights. Together, these two volumes compose a strong and sophisticated foundation in the doctrines and methods of constitutional law and constitutional argument.

With thoroughly updated text and examples and explanations, the Fifth Edition also incorporates important Supreme Court cases decided during the three terms since the publication of the previous edition, including:
- Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, on adequate and independent state ground of decision;
- District of Columbia v. Heller, on original understanding;
- Horn v. Flores; Massachusetts v. EPA; and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No.1;
- Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc. and Lance v. Coffman, on citizen and taxpayer standing;
- FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. on mootness;
- Van de Kamp v. Goldstein; Pearson v. Callahan; and Safford Unified School District #1 v. Redding, on government officials' immunity from damages;
- Ashcroft v. Iqbal, on claims;
- Medellin v. Texas, on self-executing treaties and presidential power;
- Boumediene v. Bush, on separation of powers;
- United Haulers Ass'n, Inc. v. Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Management ... Read more

Editorial Review

An affordable companion reader to Essentials of Comparative Politics, including the classic ideas and contemporary debates that inform comparative politics today.
Essential Readings in Comparative Politics, Third Edition, is the most affordable reader that combines classic theoretical works, contemporary scholarship, and serious journalistic pieces for undergraduate comparative politics courses. Designed to complement the text, the reader’s chapters are organized thematically around major topics. The third edition includes 40% new readings.
... Read more

Editorial Review

The BEST-SELLING introduction to criminal justice text of all time, Criminal Justice Today 11/e, continues to lead the way as the standard of the most current and popular text in the market.  Now fully equipped with a new media option, Criminal Justice Interactive, your students have the opportunity to access the most engaging introduction to the criminal justice system ever created. ... Read more

Reviews

Greased Lightning, September 7, 2010
This book was the first one I received out of four books and it came within three days. Now that's fast and it is in great condition. It was what I needed and I received more than I expected, fantastic all the way around!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This popular casebook, with its unique approach focusing on real problems and real administrative practice, is now out in a new edition. The latest Supreme Court cases and the hottest issues, like the ethical issues involved in the torture memos, have been added. The new edition, however, retains its distinctive characteristics of using problems as the primary pedagogical tool, including problems that do not involve courts; raising the ethical issues peculiar to government lawyers; and orienting the course around administrative law practice, rather than theory. While theory is not ignored, it arises out of the crucible of reality-based problems, providing a basis for students to appreciate the theory. ... Read more