American Law in the 20th Century (Hardcover)

by Professor Lawrence M. Friedman (Author) "In many ways, the American scheme of government has been a model of stability..." (more)
Key Phrases: internal legal culture, plural equality, liability explosion, Supreme Court, United States, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Friedman, a law professor, examines the American legal system as an integral part of the larger society, both reflecting and causing changes therein. By adopting such a focus, the author makes his book accessible to readers who are not legal scholars. His focus is on the more conventional institutions and concepts of law within our society. He explores three stages of development of American law in the last century. In part one, he focuses on the old order, reflecting on how the legal profession related to the society through the business community, the criminal justice system, and racial and civil liberties issues of the times. Part two focuses on the New Deal era, reflecting a major shift in the law, which mirrored economic realities in the larger society. The same shift in the law influenced race relations and civil rights, as well as family law and family life. The final section focuses on the Reagan and post-Reagan years, exploring reactions and adjustments to the changes wrought in prior years. Vernon Ford
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Review
...[S]tunning and definitive...jampacked with information and perspective. -- Edward Lazarus, Los Angeles Times Book Review

He has . . . a keen sense of the relationship between changes in our legal culture and . . . in society as a whole. -- Edward Lazarus, Los Angeles Times Book Review

[A]s relevant today as…a hundred years ago. [T]his book…will remain a useful guide to…social and political processes shaping American law. -- Washington Post Book World

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 736 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300091370
• ISBN-13: 978-0300091373
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #565,537 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Social history of America, April 29, 2002

By	mrliteral - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

When I first got this book, I expected a relatively dry read about the law; instead, this is a fun and informative social history of 20th Century America, with a focus on how the law influenced society and vice versa.

This is a vast subject, so even in 600 pages (plus notes), Friedman cannot be comprehensive, but he does cover a lot of different subjects. Although the biggest chapters involve crime or civil rights, he also looks into the evolution of the American family, transportation and communciations. He also deals with the development of the legal profession.

This is very well-written, with more than the occasional bits of humor. Although generally objective, he does come down hard on political conservatives at times (especially in the last part of the book). Even if disagree with his politics, however, there is still enough good material in this book to make it a really good read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic overview of modern American law, March 5, 2006

By	M. A. Krul (Utrecht, Kingdom of the Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read Friedman's book a few years ago, when as a foreigner I knew nothing about American law but became interested in the subject due to the political importance of US Supreme Court decisions. The decision to buy this particular book was rather random, but I couldn't have made a better choice.

In this book, Lawrence Friedman gives a thorough, balanced and above all engaged overview of the development of modern American law. The book is divided in chapters organized by law subject, not by historical period, which allows you to read up on the development of any field of American law you are interested in. But at the same time the reader is never left confused about the historical 'big picture', as Friedman chooses the order of narration very carefully and ensures the reader is with him all the way.

What makes the book better than just a good overview is the way Friedman manages to put the 'human element' into his narration without it becoming sentimental, dramatic or overly political. The impact of laws and decisions on the lives of various minorities or even just the average American gets ample attention, and one feels that Friedman is one of those rare legal scholars who manage to maintain a sincere and non-cynical interest in the effects of the law on common people. But by avoiding a preachy or bitter tone this engagement manages to hold the attention of the reader at a much higher level than the angry commentary of law histories on the left (Zinn) and right (Bork).

In short, anyone with even a passing interest in American law should definitely buy this book. Especially recommended for non-American audiences.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Easy Read on a complicated subject, July 26, 2002

By	Peter James (United States) - See all my reviews

While the subject is vast and extremely complicated, Lawrence Friedman digests it down into sizeable chucks that most people could understand. I am only a sophmore in college, with no formal legal training and I could easily follow and understand this book. Its a very interesting read, it charts the progression of various fields of law from the end of the 19th century and through the end of the 20th. I found it particularly good that the book was divided into chapters based on time and then subdivided by area of law. Its a great book, I recommend it to anyone who has the slighest interest how law in the 20th century evolved.