4 comments about Law School Legends Contracts.

1. His voice has a kind of southern/Texas accent, but it is understandble. He speaks slowly--too slowly. His audio apparently followed an organizational style consistent with his books. His course organization is different than I am getting in a first year course taught using the Farnsworth casebook.
   
   However, I have taken 3/4 of a year course already and I am truly stunned about this audio for one reason--no content. I gave up on this audio after listening to 40% of it, because it said nothing. I might as well have spent my time just reading the section headers for my casebook for all the useful information being imparted.
   
   I know that someone is going to write this audio should be for review only, not learning the subject. I think the audio should be for review _and_ learning. This audio simply fails on both counts, for example the cases/hypos are infrequent and are so sparsely detailed that I could not follow what he was trying to say about them.
   
   The set of CDs was a real waste of money.



2. First thing. Let's set expectations. This is a five-hour lecture. First-year contracts is a six-semester-hour course. For every hour in class, if you spend two hours studying, then that means it is supposed to take 18 hours per week, times 15 weeks to learn contracts. That's 270 hours of preparation to sit for one or two exams. You are not going to "learn contracts" from this five-hour lecture. You should not expect that. What this lecture IS, however, is an excellent summary review of contracts. It is probably true that you might get the same information by reading the detailed table of contents from your casebook. (Except that the lecturer explains each heading and gives you a brief review of the rules). So if you are looking for an easy way to learn contracts without having to read your casebook, then I agree with the other rater, don't waste your money. Why did I buy this? I drive 7 hours every weekend. That's 3.5 hours of NPR every Friday evening, and 3.5 hours of law lectures every Sunday afternoon. What has this lecture done for me? Before starting my class, it gave me the lay of the land in contracts, so that when I began learning contracts, I had the perspective of how all the material fits together. That aided me with memory retention as I aquired the content. Second, during the middle of each semester, I gave it another listen, which helped me keep the perspective. Finally, I gave another listen before each final, which reinforced what I had learned. When you find yourself viewing your notes and outline in your head while the lecturer is speaking, it helps reinforce your memory recall, and it builds your confidence. I can tell you also that during my finals, as I was answering a few questions, I could hear Epstein's Texan accent blasting in my head, and yes, it did help me recall a few of the principles. No, this is not a 5-hour short-cut to learn a year-long contracts course. Nor will you become instantly rich or fluent in Spanish. But if you do read your book and attend your class, and you have dead time to listen to this lecture, it will help.



3. 
   I almost returned the cd after reading the reviews but decided against it after getting assigned an abstract theoretical professor in contracts in a gigantic class. Knowing full well she will ask us the basic contracts exam hypos I still have to learn the main stuff. This cd set is wonderful. Epstein may not tell the funny jokes that Freer does but he certainly makes the stuff easy to learn, easy to understand - especially the definitions and what to look for in exams mentioning which fact patterns professor love to trick students with.
   
   Easy to use cd's that tell you which topic is being discussed. One cd gives a full outline - just print away. I think I will go ahead and buy the rest of the series. As a student, I'm on a budget but these actually do a very good job supplementing you studies. I recommend them over all the Emmanuel books out there (which I also have) b/c as a 1L you will get tired of reading and this is when you just sit back and absorb the info.



4. If you're a law student who is studying contracts these lectures WILL NOT help you. Epstein is a brilliant and effective scholar who does everything in his power to hide that fact from you in these lectures. The information he provides is general and too vague to be useful to effective law students. He mentions all the right principles (Offer/Acceptance, Consideration, Adhesion, ect) but with no real discussion of the rules and exceptions behind the principles that you'll need on your exam. It feels like Epstein is teaching a mini-course for non-lawyers who only need a passing familiarity with a few contract principles.
   His advice on how to take the exam is essentially just a series of reminders like, "On an exam, for Offer and Acceptance, make sure that someone is offering something and that someone is clearly accepting the offer." -Brilliant! I stopped listening after the first CD, by then it was obvious that it wasn't going to be helpful.
   If you want a good Contract review, buy the "Sum & Substance Contracts" audio lectures by Douglas Whaley. Contracts (Sum & Substance Cd's "Outstanding Professor"Series)
   They cost more, but it is worth the money. Whaley will give you an in-depth understanding on the principles and give you straight-forward rules you can apply on your exam questions. I used his CD as I was constructing my outline and preparing for the exam. I received a 91 on my exam which was the 3rd highest grade in my class.
   Do yourself a favor and pass on Epstein's contracts.

3 comments about The Economics of Contracts: A Primer, 2nd Edition.

1. I loved that book because it explains the theory of contracts in an easy way buy with no lack of formality



2. Salanie's book covers the standard areas of contract theory; adverse selection, moral hazard, signalling etc, along with chapters on the dynamics of complete contracts, incomplete contracts and a final chapter on the empirical work on contracts. The material on dynamics and incomplete contracts is most welcome as many other books in this area do not cover it. Perhaps more space could have been given over to incomplete contracts given the increasing importance of them.

   The book manages to cover a large amount of material in a relatively small number of pages, it is just over 200 pages. Most of this material is presented in an accessible and readable manner and most graduate students in economics should be able to read the book.

   The most obvious problem with the book is the number of small errors it contains. Some of the figures have points that are in the wrong place; there are a number of what look like typos in the text, being told that an indifference curve goes through a point (q2,t2) when in fact it goes through (q1,t1) for example. While these are only minor problems they do distract from the otherwise good impression that the book makes.




3. ...so if that's what you want, then this book is for you. However, if you're using this for your first look at contract theory, you may well be disappointed (as I am). I don't credit Salanie for leaving out the technical details of the models, because he doesn't effectively convey the depth of the models in his largely intuitive treatment. I'm all for intuition and simplicity, but his book leaves me with more questions than answers after reading it.
   
   I'm browsing around on Amazon for a better book, so I thought I'd write a quick rating so that other lowly beginners like me don't make the same mistake I made in purchasing this as my only textbook.
   
   On the other hand, I suppose if you want a concise overview with the sketch of most of the important contract theory models, then this might be what you're looking for.

No comments about of Style for Contract Drafting, Second Edition.

1 comments about Cases and Problems on Contracts, 5th Edition (American Casebook Series).

1. The first year of law school was very difficult. It was refreshing to use this casebook that so clearly outlined the law of contracts.

   The best part about the book is the problems after every section of cases. These problems allowed me to realize whether I understood that type of contract.

   The worse part about the book is that the hornbook is a newer edition. So, although Calamari does an excellent job laying out the law, the labels (that tell you which sections in the hornbook to read) do not always correspond.

5 comments about Ultimate Guide to Workers' Compensation Insurance (Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Books).

1. This book describes in detail information I have never gotten from my insurance agent. It gives you a detailed insight into the world of workers' compensation and has been very useful in helping me to make sure that what we do as a company is under the right classification. It would have been difficult to argue our case without the knowledge I obtained from this book. Worth every penny!



2. If you are in business and have any significant worker's compensation premium. You need this book. I wish that I would have read it 10 years ago.



3. I was looking for a good introduction to worker's compensation and I'm glad that I settled on this book. It's very well written and organized and I've already recommended it to a few colleagues.



4. This book is aimed at businesses. For the injured worker, the best guide out there is How to Win a Worker's Compensation Claim in Illinois. Even if you don't live in Illinois, this layman's guide gives you a very good overview of the Workers' Compensation system.



5. Comprehensive and to the point, this is an excellent resource if you need to learn about NY Workers Compensation in a hurry.

4 comments about The Contract Negotiation Handbook: An Indispensable Guide for Contract Professionals.

1. [Disclaimer: I'm Stephen's friend and we talk frequently about these topics.]
   
   The simple truth is that there aren't that many good resources available for people who negotiate contracts, and virtually none of them are written for someone who is a contract professional and sees vendor ploys on a consistent basis. This would seem to not necessarily be a huge deal - you wouldn't think that a negotiation handbook would need to be written to that specific of an audience.
   
   Contract professionals, however, are in a really strange position. We tend to see these ploys so many times and in so many forms that it is sometimes hard to catch the nuances. In other words, we become SO immersed in the shades of gray that we can't tell which shade is lighter or darker.
   
   Stephen's book delineates each shade of gray. He takes each ploy, breaks it down to its component parts and explains the mechanisms by which it works (and how to counter it). Then he turns the tables to discuss buyer tactics and their operation.
   
   Additionally, the Contract Negotiation Handbook covers specific language negotiation on several key contractual terms - which very few other publications even attempt. Lastly, Stephen reviews methods by which you can measure negotiation performance, in essence giving the reader the ability to measure the results of putting the Contract Negotiation Handbook's advice into practice!
   
   Overall, this book more than makes good on its promise of being indispensable. I hope you don't have one the next time we meet across the negotiation table.



2. A quick look at the back cover tells you that the author struggles with the passing of the days of win-lose. In the book, he writes as though he is so fearful of being manipulated by a vendor, that he becomes a predator. Is that the way to build a relationship? Is the business world a jungle or do we make it a jungle by how we act? What would the game of business be like if we all played fair? We will never know if we follow the tactics in this book. The retail auto industry is learning the long term ill effects of manipulation and even they are changing their ways.
   
   I wonder what happens when the vendor discovers your ploys? Are they on your property when they discover you have lied to get a better deal? Are they protecting your employees by installing safety equipment when they learn that you are not trustworthy? The author advocates that the vendor ploys to take your money so you should ploy to get the most for your money. At what level of ethics does this make sense?
   
   When is it really okay to lie? What do you teach your children? Page 80, the endless BAFO recommends that you lie to vendors in order to get a better deal. What happens if that vendor is your neighbor or attends your church?
   
   We live where we work more today than ever before. Check your name on the internet and see who already knows what you do. We must sustain positive relationships at work and at home. Manipulation is not sustainable.
   
   I recommend Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey or Conscious Business by Fred Kofman.



3. This book give us very practical information related to negotiation and contract practices.
   On the side of negotiation, the subjects are mostly to beginners on Supply Chain Depts.
   The topics about contracts (templates, T&Cs) bring useful information, even to seniors executives.
   I recommend to take care about the author's advice to managers on how they may interact with Legal Departments, if you work in Brazil.



4. Wow! The negotiation techniques described in this book are really powerful. In one section, the book explains negotiation techniques used by suppliers (what the author calls ploys), describes how to spot them, why they work, and how to counter the ploys. I've seen a lot of the ploys described in the book in action and now I have the tools to be a more effective negotiator for my company. In another section, the book describes techniques used by buyers (called tactics), how to use the tactics, and why they work. The other great thing about this book is that it breaks down legal mumbo-jumbo, like the parole evidence rule and indemnification into understandable concepts. I especially recommend this book to people that are responsible for purchasing.

1 comments about Contract Law: Selected Source Materials, 2008 ed. (American Casebooks).

1. I received what I wanted, for cheap, in a short amount of time. Woo woo!!!

5 comments about Problems in Contract Law: Cases and Materials.

1. This book is extremely tedious. The authors use extensive language, commentary, and notes which further confuse and do not explain the already-difficult concepts presented in the cases.

   Not for pleasure reading. This book is used in Contracts Law classes; if your professor is not one who likes explaining things to any great extent I highly suggest purchasing a supplement or two to help you understand on your own.




2. This casebook was, by far, the best casebook I had as a 1L. It was well-organized, insightful, and clear. The author notes did much to clarify the complexities of contract law. As a student of Knapp's I'm probably a bit biased, but I did effectively learn my contracts.



3. This seller is great, the book is in great condition and I paid half of what everyone else paid, not to mention the fact that the bookstore sold out and I was one of the only people in my class that had a book. Great seller, great conditioned book, fast shipping. Thanks!!!



4. In comparison to the other casebooks I've been forced to read this year as a 1L, this casebook is probably the best written. Instead of just placing emphasis on the cases and the rules to glean from them, it also highlights key principles and strategies to use as a lawyer in the future(termed lawyering by the authors). I must admit that taking Nathan Crystal's contract class obviously helps in the understanding of the book, but it's a good regardless.



5. zanandjayna's review sums up much about how I feel about this casebook.
   
   Other complaints that I had is that the notes/comments sections are quite poor and are usually of little relevance to the case and/or concept you just studied. Also many of the cases have been poorly edited, leaving out key concepts that most prof's expect you to know.
   
   All in all, this is a poor casebook. If you use it i recommend a good supplement.
   
   Review pertains to 5th edition

2 comments about Land Trusts for Privacy & Profit: Using the "Illinois-Type" Land Trust in Other States.

1. This is an excellant text for any level. If you would like to create a trust or learn how to use them this is the book.
   
   Dr. S



2. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the use of Land Trusts in real estate investing. It is a great tool if you live in the right state. My only warning to people is that if you are investing in Pennsylvania, you don't want to deal in Land Trusts. Consult a local real estate attorney and understand that in PA an attempt to use a land trust will be viewed by the courts as a Business Trust, and any attempt to avoid paying transfer taxes through a transfer of beneficial interest will get you into serious trouble.
   
   Marc R. Kossmann
   Chief Executive Manager
   Blue Fire Properties, LLC
   www.BlueFireProperties.com

No comments about Kaplan PMBR Finals: Contracts (Kaplan Pmbr Finals).