Jay M. Feinman

This is probably the best general-interest summary of the US legal system that I've found so far. Does a broad overview of the major areas (tort, civil procedure, criminal law, etc.) while also presenting them in a structured way and introducing general concepts and ways of thinking applicable across domains. Does a great job of presenting examples and guiding to reader to see how they could be addressed in multiple ways, and inviting the reader to think about why the law is the way it is, show more rather than just memorizing existing rules. I wish there were other books in this series which went more in depth into the various domains (since I'm unlikely to go to law school myself.) show less

I of course read this for the aesthetic considerations post Luigi. A lot of it I knew because the Katrina lawsuits are still on going to this day, but it was extremely useful to read how McKinsey once again is responsible for everything terrible in this world. Some hilarious asides -- that a majority of Mississippians thought insurance ceos were worse than child molesters! But the suggestions are kind of what you expect. Read everything clearly, buy extra if you can, and get yourself a show more lawyer and a gun. show less

Part of it was subject matter part of it was writing style but I found this book pretty boring. I realize that there are only a couple areas of law that are of any interest to me. And the writing style felt very jumpy which meant it took me forever to get into and finish this book. I do think that he covered an amazing amount of a material and presented a lot of it in as understandable way as could be.

It pisses me off that there's a book containing everything I need to know about the American legal system when I'm dropping 30 grand a year for law school. This little jewel was on the summer reading list before my 1L year. Didn't read it; I don't read assigned books on my time.