The Law Book (DK Big Ideas)

Everyone loves DK books, theyre all great. That one was on sale and part of the "buy 2 get 1 free" promotion. I'm a law student, and some books are so boring and complicated. Still need to go through them but I also like light books. All of the teachers I had until now have been really funny which told me I really want to work in a legal environment. Anyway I expected this book to be more like a pocket book with fun facts. But it arrived and it's a hard cover big book! It's also centered around a timeline, so it is more a book about a broad history of the law which is great. I like it but it's definitely not a book I can read at the beach or on the bus, it's almost a coffee table book. Nice job I love it! DK did it again.

This is the fifth one I have purchased. it gives me a good working knowledge of things (in this case law) so that I am a better informed person. Well written, easy to read, very interesting. I suggest that you explore these books. watching Law and Order got me interested in purchasing this book.

Good read

From the beginnings of the legal code in the laws of Hammurabi in 2100 BCE to the laws of the modern era that affect the internet order, this book contains not just a history of the development of law across the world, but also vital snippets that will entertain the casual reader as well as educate the law student. The first law of the sea was the Rex Rhoda of 500 BCE see the uniting of three city states of Rhodes as one federal state, and conquered by the Romans in 146 BCE, the Rhodian Sea Law were enacted and remained influential up to the 13th century. The story and significance of the Magna Carta marks another landmark in this book. The rise of the rule of law is explained through several chapters including one on the Hague Conventions, and the well-known English case of Donoghue v Stevenson that propelled the law of negligence into the common law world. This case is well summarised and discussed that a first-year law student might find that it is all he needs for class. Like all books in this series by DK Penguin, every topic is supported by maps and photographs, as well as snippets of side stories. For example, in the chapter on the International Court of Justice, there is a side note on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. What may prove most fascinating is the role of law in the current age of seeming chaos. ‘Law in the Modern Age’ touches on subjects that affect all of us – laws concerning the environment, scientific research, and people under disability.

i'm not looking to be a lawyer but this book is perfect for those who simply want a short shot of information on law.

easy read, got for a gift for my highschool son

I suppose it can't be helped as law is written by and enforced by governments much older than the US, but I didn't enjoy or gain as much from this one one as other DK books. It was more about the history and developmental of international laws and standards than the US standards and principles I'd imagined it would be.

I think it gives a nice idea about the progression of law in general but because it tried to cover many countries, a (VERY) long period of time, and many different legal fields, it is more of a resource. I was also pleasantly surprised by many recent developments that were covered but I wish they had also covered some additional laws regarding some more emerging technologies.I took away one star because some of the descriptions for the US are not accurate or it doesn't fully reflect the legal system in place. For example, while it is true that the death penalty is still applicable for certain crimes under federal law, there are 22 states (plus DC) that abolished the death penalty and it wasn't mentioned in the book.

My granddaughter (aged 15 yrs) wants to go into law. I searched for ages for an appropriate book on law before alighting on this. It is so easy to read in bite sized chunks and she is delighted with it.

Good

There was a big scratch on the cover of the book

It came with damaged cover

Like many of the books in this Big Ideas Simply Explained series, The Book of Law is easy to read and highly informative. Filled with descriptions of different laws and how they came about it begins with the ancient thinkers from over 2500 years ago and concludes with reference to many present day laws, such as Equal Pay, Same-sex marriages and Megan’s Law. Throughout there are meaningful illustrations, photographs and ‘focus boxes’, all of which summarize the text, bringing everything into context so that the reader can get a quick understanding of the text that follows.So far, I’m about halfway through the book and I feel it is an excellent purchase, particularly for someone like myself who knows very little about the laws that govern us and how many of them came about in the first place. Highly recommended.I hope you find my review helpful.