Michael Barkun

Well written, well researched, well conjectured, and above all, sane.

An interesting essay finding parallels between primitive and international laws, and appears to argue that law is a cultural universal (although he never states this so bluntly). He critiques the command and sanction theories of law (p. 157), instead viewing Law as a "system of manipulable symbols that functions as a representation, as a model, of social structure" (p. 92). He later restates this definition: "the function of law in the most general sense is to make human actions conform to show more predictable patterns so that contemplated actions can go forward with some hope of achieving a rational relationship between means and end" (p. 154).

Barkun speaks of the transition from patterned behavior to binding norm (p. 90); offers an interesting discussion of legal fictions as a means "to conceal the fact that a rule of law has undergone alteration, its letter remaining unchanged, its operation being modified" (p. 124), in such way what would otherwise be exceptions to the rule now fall under it, but as a result the rule's center of gravity shifts, thus eventually changing the rule itself while preserving the appearance of stability. show less

The burned-over district was central New York where the Mormons, Shakers, Quakers, Millerites (later Seventh Day Adventists) and other non-mainstream religions flourished prior to the Civil War. This book was a text for a class I took on the topic from the author. It was very well researched and written and I would recommend to anyone interested in the reform movements which all seemed to originate in central New York.

Organized and comprehensive review linking the many disparate groups who have melded together into a panoply of paranoia. If you believe that 'somebody's out to get you', you'll rate this book pretty poorly!