The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation [Spiral-bound]

Harvard Law Review (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1996 | ISBN-10: 0614199433 | ISBN-13: 978-0614199437 | Edition: 16th

Comb Binding

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 365 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Law Review Assn; 16th edition (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0614199433
• ISBN-13: 978-0614199437
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Law > One-L > Legal Writing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It could be better, but you can't do without it, August 2, 2000

By 

Timothy Hadley (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (Spiral-bound)

I wouldn't say that the Blue Book is deserving of undying praise, but if you are a law student, a practitioner, or are writing articles for legal publications, you need the latest edition of this book. It sets the standard for citation styles in practitioners' documents and legal publications.

There are reasons, though, that there are several "guides to the Bluebook" in publication. The official Bluebook is only helpful once one has gone through the struggle of becoming familiar with the organization of the book and the style elements that it addresses. Countless times my classmates and I received corrected first year legal writing assignments with "see Bluebook, rule x.xx" written all over. The Bluebook is not written for 1Ls, but every 1L must learn it.

Once you've learned the Bluebook, you find that it's got everything you need. But compared to, say, the American Psychological Association's publications guide, it's agonizing to read.

Some of the 17th edition's changes are, I think, a little odd, see, e.g., Gil Grantmore, The Death of Contra, 52 Stan. L. Rev. 889 (Farber and Chen writing pseudonymously), but that doesn't affect the fact that you need this book if you write in the legal field.

Even so, when I have my copy of the 17th edition, I'll be happy to burn my copy of the 16th edition. On the other hand, maybe I'll keep it as a historic artifact of the days when you could still cite an article as directly contrary to a proposition in the text.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required for Success, June 27, 2000

By 

Andrew T. Berkowitz - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (Spiral-bound)

Who dares to dispute the importance of the Bluebook? Whether you are a 1L just learning how to navigate its thicket of caselaw abbreviation or a 12th degree master of jurisprudence at ease citing a microformed Congressional hearing from 1964, it shall forever occupy a sacred place among your reference materials. Succinctly put, it is "the" source for all legal citation.

Having been sent on a business trip to a far-away state in the Midwest, I found myself writing case abstracts during the evening hours. Suddenly, I realized I had forgotten my Bluebook. I sat stunned, a cold shiver running down my spine. Although I was pretty sure I knew all the required forms of citation, pretty sure is not considered a viable method within the legal community. I contacted my wife who shipped me my treasured Bluebook by overnight carrier that evening. The wisdom of my investment in additional shipping soon became apparent . . . one of my cites was incorrect (and, believe it or not, I could have sworn it was right!)

Fighting the Bluebook is akin to fighting the aging process - you may win a small skirmish here and there, but you will undoubtedly be defeated in battle. And what a crushing defeat it will be (most likely with numerous witnesses to attest to your skillful tap-dancing all the way up to your demise). Humorous commentary aside, inaccurate citation is deemed by some in the profession as purposeful misrepresentation, outright lying, or worse. This, of course, can lead to disastrous consequences in the form of stinging rebukes, humble apologies, and formal court-imposed sanctions. Don't put yourself in such a position - learn to live and love this book. It will serve you well now and far into the future.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bluebook IS user-friendly, May 13, 2000

By 

Donald Smith (Denver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (Spiral-bound)

The Bluebook is THE definitive legal citation guide. You cannot be a law student--never mind a lawyer--without knowing it inside and out. As for those who complain about its accessibility--it is true that it doesn't have every single possible example; that's impossible. But on the whole, the Bluebook is very user-friendly and remarkably clear given its comprehensiveness. Note that the 17th Edition will be coming out in July 2000, and will contain NEW RULES!