Customer Reviews

A History of American Law: Third Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My first reaction after finishing the book, was to ask myself how anyone could have enough time to put so much information together. As the cover states, this "book touches every conceivable aspect of law...it is a stupendous achievement." The author takes an insurmountable task and first breaks it up into four sections, Part 1: American Law in the colonial Period, Part 2: Revolution to the Middle of the 19th century, Part 3: Close of the 19th century, Part 4: The 20th century. Within each part he segments chapters into readable legal topics. (i.e. Corporations, Crime and Punishment, etc). In that way, the reader gets an understanding of the period and how it effects all sorts of law, before going onto another time period and seeing how other areas of the law grew and affected other areas.

Although the republic split from England, the author reviews how attached the our legal system continued to be and all the reasons why this was so. (All the legal treatises and cases were only printed about English law for quite some time). He also discusses why certain areas of the law, nonetheless, quickly grew away. (i.e. the are lots of navigable seaways in America, not so many in England). This is just a small sampling of a tremendous source of information.

The study of law present a tremendous number of apparent inconsistencies, non-sequitors, and just beyond the reasonable conundrums. The author tremendous dedication to this work really sorts out these issues buy showing the development and goals through the history of the Union. (And why the Socratic method is everywhere, much to the consternations of L1s everywhere)

Of course such a treaties requires a good effort to read, assimilate, and remember. Should you decide to read it in a bar on say, a lunch break, you get lots of curious questions, puzzled looks, and few invitations to dates, so be warned. Nonetheless, highly recommended for the all the people in this country that are interested in US history and legal history; yes, I recommend it to both of us.

I am neither a lawyer nor a law student, but a researcher who occasionally ingests advice from lawyers about employment law. I have found this book useful as general background in legal issues so I can bring some perspective to these discussions. In particular, it has helped me follow some of my colleagues' references to legal precedents and how recent decisions fit into the historical mosaic of American law.

Four primary sections of the book organize the development of American law into the Colonial Period, the Revolution to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century, then to the Close of the Nineteenth Century, and through the end of the Twentieth Century. Individual chapters within these sections--27 of them--cover broad legal topics such as Administrative Law and Regulation of Business, Crime and Punishment, and the Law of Corporations. I'll recommend as most interesting the Growth of the Law chapter in the Twentieth Century section. It outlines evolution of the law in employment, civil liberties, discrimination and religion. Whether or not you agree with the development of the law in these areas, you will leave this chapter well informed. The author seems to have done his homework, and communicates his findings effectively.

I cannot vouch directly for the legal accuracy of Lawrence Friedman's book. I can say that whenever one of my attorney colleagues has pounced on a flaw in my grasp of American law, it has very clearly been my error rather than the book's. I plan to keep referring to it.

I am an attorney. I was fortunate enough to read this book well after law school. Although I signed up for a class on the History of American Law when I was in law school - the class was cancelled - presumably for lack of interest (i.e., lack of other students interested in taking the course). I recall a previous edition of this book was going to be assigned as the core textbook.

This is simply the best overall history of the American legal system. It is long and some readers may be discouraged by this. However its length is necessary due to the details it provides and the nature of the subject matter and the time span it covers - basically since inception of the U.S.

The length of the book should not discourage a potential reader. If you read this book, you will have an excellent understanding on how U.S. legal institutions (basically the state and federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court) have operated over time and the evolution of American law including core legal doctrines and their evolution over time.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in a thorough and comprehensive overview and history of the U.S. legal system.

I am reading a chapter a night-just delightful. The law of slavery was a real eye opener. Every chapter is amazing. The one on state constitutions puts things in perspective. It really shows one how things fit together in society-how legal doctrines got that way. It also deals with the issue and theme of how and why law changes.

I am a tax accountant with a Masters of Taxation. You'll laugh but you see the origin of many tax terms.

I can see rereading this chapter by chapter-it's that good.

It's a foundational book.

Ted Humphreville -Los Angeles

I read the book before I entered law school in order to get a general understanding of the history of American law. Professor Friedman's comprehensive work is of little use to law students (or anyone entering law school) looking for a practical guide to the study and practice of law. Frankly, you can get through law school just fine without ever picking up this book.

That said, you would be doing youself a great disservice. Friedman's work is so comprehensive (covering over 400 years of American law, from the importation of the English legal system during the colonial period to late 20th-century corporate law) that it would be impossible for anyone to read this book and not come out with a better understanding of *WHY* our legal system is the way it is today.

Besides, Friedman's engaging narrative style makes for fun reading. "A History of American Law" and Chemerisnky's "Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies" should be required reading for anyone who has the least bit of interest in the American legal system.

I have just finished my first year of law school, and this book was a wonderfully informative read. The premise of the book, that progression in law coincides with progression with social as well as economic factors, is extremely well-founded and confirmed throughout the book. It was fascinating to re-visit cases I had studied this past year through the lens of both historical and social contexts. The true genius of this book, however, is that you don't need to be a lawyer or a law student to appreciate it. To be sure, those with a greater understanding of American jurisprudence will likely get more out of this book, but I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in not just how the American legal system works but more importantly WHY it works the way it does. This book is truly a treasure, and I continue to be amazed with Professor Friedman's exhaustive and comprehensive research. I look forward to re-visiting this book throughout the rest of law school and through my legal career.

I'll keep this brief: The title says it all. If you are looking for an excellent, in-depth introduction to the history of law in the U.S., then look no further. Tremendously readable, wonderfully informative, and above all, engaging; this book warrants not just one reading, but several. Read this book, study it, and you'll have taken an important first step towards not only a good layperson's understanding of the legal history of the U.S., but also an important step towards becoming an expert.

Yes, it's that good. If a concise, yet richly detailed legal history is what you seek, this is it. Buy it and read it; you'll be glad you did.

Prior to reading this book, I had little understanding of the law. I saw it as a single, solid body of tradition, grounded in specific documents and interpreted through the operation of the legal system. My understanding was in some sense true, but this book opened my eyes to the vast complexity and richness of tradition woven into the system of law in the United States. I learned about the different legal systems, such as admiralty, chancery, equity, and common law, and how these systems operated historically in their respective regimes of power. I learned how common law largely came to subsume the other courts, how Napoleonic law relates to common law, and how Napoleonic systems developed in several states and changed to take on more common law characteristics. Above all Friedman impressed on me the basic premise of his book:

"Despite a strong dash of history and idiosyncrasy, the strongest ingredient in American law, at any given time, is the present -- current emotions, real economic interests, and concrete political groups."

Highly recommended. My understanding of law will never be the same.

It is really great book.

DON'T BUY IT HOWEVER, FROM "ADAM TOH" BOOK SELLERS. THEIR DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION OF THE BOOKS IS WAY OFF.

I am neither a lawyer nor a law student, but a researcher who occasionally ingests advice from lawyers about employment law. I have found this book useful as general background in legal issues so I can bring some perspective to these discussions. In particular, it has helped me follow some of my colleagues' references to legal precedents and how recent decisions fit into the historical mosaic of American law.

Four primary sections of the book organize the development of American law into the Colonial Period, the Revolution to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century, then to the Close of the Nineteenth Century, and through the end of the Twentieth Century. Individual chapters within these sections--27 of them--cover broad legal topics such as Administrative Law and Regulation of Business, Crime and Punishment, and the Law of Corporations. I'll recommend as most interesting the Growth of the Law chapter in the Twentieth Century section. It outlines evolution of the law in employment, civil liberties, discrimination and religion. Whether or not you agree with the development of the law in these areas, you will leave this chapter well informed. The author seems to have done his homework, and communicates his findings effectively.

I cannot vouch directly for the legal accuracy of Lawrence Friedman's book. I can say that whenever one of my attorney colleagues has pounced on a flaw in my grasp of American law, it has very clearly been my error rather than the book's. I plan to keep referring to it.