Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Something for the Whole Family August 6, 2003
Paul (Washington, DC United States)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
Most of the reviews are by law students, and I agree that this is an excellent study aid that (for any student with the potential to become a decent lawyer) is far more valuable than the usual commercial outlines. However, as someone who graduated law school in 1991, I can add that it also provides rare pleasure that is not to be missed by any member of that exceedingly small group composed of lawyers who actually are interested in the law. (For lack of a better analogy -- and I trust I won't be misunderstood -- the effect is a little like Rocky and Bullwinkle, something that manages to keep both the kids and the adults entertained, although on different levels.) It is hard to imagine a better opportunity to follow along as a truly great lawyer shows by example how one distinguishes cases, assesses what the court saw in the facts, and elaborates doctrine. This, in somewhat informal garb, is traditional legal analysis at its very best and accessible enough to make it painfully clear to everyone what we stand to lose through the invasion of our law schools by a bunch of PhDs peddling the latest academic fads. Any law student who wants to get some sense of what it means to be a real lawyer (you won't meet that many) should read this book.I remember Chirelstein from my time at Columbia Law School as a somewhat distant figure, but when he appears in these pages it is hard to describe the sensation produced by such direct and complete access to a superior mind. Combine this with flowing, limpid prose, and the result is profound sadness that such books are so rare.
Great for Contracts, first year of law school February 2, 1999
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The book gives an incredibly clear explanation of all the basics of contract law. Professor Chirelstien taught me Contracts at Columbia Law School in 1997, and his book amazingly explains the law of contracts in a basic form that is as useful for first-year law students as it would be informative for anyone wanting to learn about contracts.
The best book on contracts ever January 9, 2001
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This book is pure genius. The dense and mysterious subject of contracts is rendered both intelligible and sensible by the author's witty prose. Written in the friendly, almost conversational style familiar to his students, Chirelstein provides in just a few pages a thorough overview of the material.The book is short enough to read in a weekend, and should be mandatory reading for all first year law students. I read it twice; once at the beginning of the semester and once for finals (its that short) and found in invaluable.
A charming introduction to legal thinking May 10, 2005
Bart Motes (Miami, Florida)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is one of the few books that someone should consider reading before law school. Written in a fluid style, the book provides an adequate overview of what could be called "Contracts' Greatest Hits." While it is probably not sufficient to rely on for exams, it is a great introduction to legal thinking generally.
A must read for business, pre-law, or 1L students May 7, 2001
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in contracts and contractual obligations. The concepts of contract law are often presented by law school professors as mysterious and lofty. Professor Chirelstein makes them easy to understand. As my first year contracts professor put it when speaking of the author of this book: "Oh. . . you mean the Great Chirelstein." And indeed he is!
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