Perspectives on Law Books - Page 3

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia

Ahmed Rashid

List Price: $42.00 By: Yale University Press Amazon Marketplace: 21 new & used starting at $13.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Asia -> Afghanistan
Subjects -> History -> World -> Islamic
Subjects -> History -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 145 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Shrouding themselves and their aims in deepest secrecy, the leaders of the Taliban movement control Afghanistan with an inflexible, crushing fundamentalism. The most extreme and radical of all Islamic organizations, the Taliban inspires fascination, controversy, and especially fear in both the Muslim world and the West. Correspondent Ahmed Rashid brings the shadowy world of the Taliban into sharp focus in this enormously interesting and revealing book. It is the only authoritative account of the Taliban and modern day Afghanistan available to English language readers.

Based on his experiences as a journalist covering the civil war in Afghanistan for twenty years, traveling and living with the Taliban, and interviewing most of the Taliban leaders since their emergence to power in 1994, Rashid offers unparalleled firsthand information. He explains how the growth of Taliban power has already created severe instability in Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and five Central Asian republics. He describes the Taliban’s role as a major player in a new “Great Game”—a competition among Western countries and companies to build oil and gas pipelines from Central Asia to Western and Asian markets. The author also discusses the controversial changes in American attitudes toward the Taliban—from early support to recent bombings of Osama Bin Laden’s hideaway and other Taliban-protected terrorist bases—and how they have influenced the stability of the region.

Criminal Law: Examples and Explanations (Examples & Explanations Series)

Richard G. Singer, John Q. LA Fond

List Price: $35.95 By: Aspen Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 53 new & used starting at $1.30

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Law -> Criminal Law -> General
Subjects -> Law -> Criminal Law -> General AAS
Subjects -> Law -> Perspectives on Law -> Jurisprudence

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Almost Worthless 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book is not in the same league as other E&E books. It is not very clear, the charts are confusing and some parts of the book give downright wrong information. If you have a teacher who emphasizes the MPC, this book is a total waste. Otherwise, it's a total mess. Do NOT use this book to teach yourself the course because some of the information is wrong and unless you already know the material well enough to pick out the bad information, you will be screwing yourself. I would not recommend this to anyone.

Save your money! 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book provides a cursory overview of criminal law at best. If you're a fan of Glannon, don't get this book. You'll be disappointed. For example, while courts and scholars debate the effectiveness of distinguishing between general and specific intent crimes, it is probably something you're going to have to learn. This book gives it one page. Worse than that is that the authors literally spend more time saying that the distinction is worthless than they do on helping you understand the difference. In fact, they don't actually try to define either; they provides a couple of mere examples of each.

This is just an example of the problems with this book. Trust me, you'd be better off skimming a treatise.

Editorial Review:

A favorite among law students and professors alike, the Examples & Explanations series is ideal for studying, reviewing and testing your understanding through application of hypothetical examples. Authored by leading professors with extensive classroom experience, Examples & Explanations titles offer hypothetical questions in the subject area, complemented by detailed explanations that allow you to test your knowledge of the topic, and compare your own analysis.

Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants

Stephen Fishman

Amazon Price: $26.39 List Price: $39.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: NOLO Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $22.29

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Accounting -> Taxes -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Consulting
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Reference -> Business Law

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Be your own boss -- easily, efficiently and successfully -- with this bestseller!

Whether you're an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: You need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person.

Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to:

meet business start-up requirements

pick a business structure

set up home or outside offices

obtain permits and licenses

price your services or products

comply with strict IRS rules

establish sound business relationships

avoid unfair contracts

draft good agreements

keep good records

get paid in full and on time

and much, much more

The 7th edition is completely revised to provide the up-to-date information you need, including the most current tax rates and changes in the law.

Whether you already work for yourself or are thinking about making the move, Working for Yourself will help make sure you do it right.

List of Forms

Asset Log

Expense Journal

Income Journal

Invoice

General Independent Contractor Agreement

Contract Amendment

Nondisclosure Agreement

For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Chicago

Simon Baatz

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harper Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $14.97

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Specific Groups -> Criminals
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> 20th Century -> 1900s-1920s
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> 20th Century -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

It was a crime that shocked the nation, a brutal murder in Chicago in 1924 of a child, by two wealthy college students who killed solely for the thrill of the experience. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb had first met several years earlier, and their friendship had blossomed into a love affair. Both were intellectuals—too smart, they believed, for the police to catch them. However, the police had recovered an important clue at the scene of the crime—a pair of eyeglasses—and soon both Leopold and Loeb were in the custody of Cook County. They confessed, and Robert Crowe, the state's attorney, announced to newspaper reporters that he had a hanging case. No defense, he believed, would save the two ruthless killers from the gallows.

Set against the backdrop of the 1920s, a time of prosperity, self-indulgence, and hedonistic excess, For the Thrill of It draws the reader into a lost world, a world of speakeasies and flappers, of gangsters and gin parties, that existed when Chicago was a lawless city on the brink of anarchy. The rejection of morality, the worship of youth, and the obsession with sex had seemingly found their expression in this callous murder.

But the murder is only half the story. After Leopold and Loeb were arrested, their families hired Clarence Darrow to defend their sons. Darrow, the most famous lawyer in America, aimed to save Leopold and Loeb from the death penalty by showing that the crime was the inevitable consequence of sexual and psychological abuse that each defendant had suffered during childhood at the hands of adults. Both boys, Darrow claimed, had experienced a compulsion to kill, and therefore, he appealed to the judge, they should be spared capital punishment. However, Darrow faced a worthy adversary in his prosecuting attorney: Robert Crowe was clever, cunning, and charismatic, with ambitions of becoming Chicago's next mayor—and he was determined to send Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb to their deaths.

A masterful storyteller, Simon Baatz has written a gripping account of the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. Using court records and recently discovered transcripts, Baatz shows how the pathological relationship between Leopold and Loeb inexorably led to their crime.

This thrilling narrative of murder and mystery in the Jazz Age will keep the reader in a continual state of suspense as the story twists and turns its way to an unexpected conclusion.

Asset Protection : Concepts and Strategies for Protecting Your Wealth

Jay Adkisson, Chris Riser

Amazon Price: $34.65 List Price: $55.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $30.33

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> Budgeting & Money Management
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Reference -> Business Law
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It was OK... 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Being in the financial services I am always looking for new and exciting books in my field...sadly, this is not one of them. The book was dry and made for a long read.

The upside is that the authors seem to know what they are talking about and are able to explain the ideas behind a variety of different asset protection strategies.

The authors also explain the benefits and drawbacks of each asset protection strategy, though they do not go into very much detail on some of their ideas.

One of the reasons is probably because at the end of the book, they provide their website as a reference. I don't have a problem with that, but it would have been nice if they had been able to make the information more interesting so that you didn't feel like you had to go to their website to "get the good stuff".

Editorial Review:

Strategies that are effective and legal for putting one’s assets safely out of reach

In today’s increasingly litigious world, the shielding of assets has become a prominent issue for financial planners, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals. Asset Protection details methods that are both legally and morally legitimate for protecting one’s assets from creditors, lawsuits, and scams.

Bringing economic common sense and legitimacy to an area that is drowning in gimmickry, two of today’s top lawyers examine the fundamental issues in this growing area, avoiding dense legalese to make the book accessible to anyone. Asset Protection covers everything readers want to know about:

• Establishing an effective asset protection program
• Today’s most popular, established strategies
• Newer strategies that are still being resolved by the courts

The social contract

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

By: The Great Books Foundation Amazon Marketplace: 3 new & used starting at $12.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Law -> Perspectives on Law -> Natural Law
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Political Science -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Political Science -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Collectivism Against Individuality 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

The fallacy is in his assumption that individuals must forfeit all sovereignty to the state. The second specious argument is in the creation of a General Will. The third is that the general will will not do anything to harm any of the individuals within the collective.

The collectivist social contract was most assured well intentioned, but it's opposition to individualism has obviously anti-individualist consequences.

This is evident in his support of democratic censorship. If the general will is offended, then censorship is justified.

In his desire to create equality, he justifies both socialism and communism, and democracy in its purest form - majority rule.

Editorial Review:

"Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains." These are the famous opening words of a treatise which, from the French Revolutionary terror to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, has been interpreted as a blueprint for totalitarianism. But in "The Social Contract" Rousseau (1712-1778) was at pains to stress the connection between liberty and law, freedom and justice. Arguing that the ruler is the people's agent, not its master, he claimed that laws derived from the people's general will. Yet in preaching subservience to the impersonal state he came close to defining freedom as the recognition of necessity. Rousseau's powerful treatise expresses views on the rights, liberty and equality of all people. It remains a classic of political theory and one of the most influential works of abstract political thought in the Western tradition.

A Civil Action

Jonathan Harr

By: Arrow Books Ltd Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $6.44

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Law -> Perspectives on Law -> Non-US Legal Systems
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Current Events -> Poverty -> Social Services & Welfare
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> True Accounts -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 341 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Great Book about Human Nature and the Legal System 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is the best book written about a lawsuit and is a terrific teaching tool. The author had unparalleled access to the lawyers, mostly the plaintiffs' lawyer who, somewhat questionably from an ethics standpoint, allowed a journalist to witness client meetings and strategy sessions. While some of the reviewers criticize Harr for pro-plaintiff bias because of this, Harr simply played the hand he was dealt. The defense lawyers were not about to grant that level of access. In addition, Harr does, after the trial, become close to the lead defense lawyer, the curmudgeonly Facher. This allows him to relate a useful defense perspective.

The book takes the reader from the environmental contamination of the 1950s - 1970s, through pre-litigation investigation in the early 1980s, through extensive pretrial proceedings, and then all the way throught the 1986 jury trial. Thereafter, Harr tells the post-trial story, including settlement, appeal, and government initiated proceedings that ultimately resolve the environmental clean-up issue. In short, one can experience nearly every aspect of a civil action in a highly readable narrative.

Harr is a sensitive observer who can key on strengths of the civil justice system that includes the ability to bring the powerful to account before a jury of ordinary citizens (the apotheosis of democracy, as the plaintiffs' lawyers' consulting Harvard professor says -- the law is America's "civil religion"). And he is terrific at highlighting the essential weaknesses and failings of the system. This, Harr captures in two unforgettable quotes. The first is from Schlictmann, the plaintiff's lawyer, who rues how hard it is "to do good and do well" at the same time. That, in a nutshell, captures the skewing effect that the profit motive and money have on the civil litigation process. And then there is this priceless quote from Facher, the defense lawyer: "The truth? The truth is at the bottom of a bottomless pit." The liberal discovery rules and the right of cross examination are supposed to be tools uniquely well-suited for ferreting out the truth. But the ruinous expense and confusion of the process; the foibles of the attorneys, judges, and witnesses; and the profit motive of the attorneys all combine to wreak havoc and to leave one wondering if the truth really does emerge from this process.

In the end, I take a more optimistic point of view than a number of the other reviewers. The families get compensated for the toxic tort caused by the environmenal contamination (at a minimum the families suffered from solvent poisoning that caused provable damage even if it is a stretch to prove that leukemia was caused by TCE to a reasonable medical certainty); the government finally gets off its butt, helped by the work done by Schlictimann, and forces the defendants to clean up the mess; and other companies get the message from this case and from the CERCLA legislation passed in 1980 that environmental clean up and better environmental policies are now a cost of doing business. So the system works to a large degree, though it does a poor job, or no job at all, in alleviating the pain and alienation experienced by the harmed families and community.

Perhaps the best quality of the book is its compelling portrayal of Schlictmann and Facher -- both of whom are attractive and admirable in some ways while at the same time being quite flawed and tragic. The book is about human nature as much as it is about the civil justice system, and is the kind of nonfiction novel that would have made Truman Capote and Norman Mailer proud.

This is a truly great book.

Out of Mao's Shadow

Philip P Pan

Amazon Price: $58.39 List Price: $79.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Tantor Media Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $46.15

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Asia -> China -> General
Subjects -> History -> Asia -> China -> General AAS
Subjects -> History -> Asia -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

casting light on a shadow. 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

A mix of history and political analysis from a region and period in which records are systematically destroyed, and authors like Pan are fighting to preserve the truth.
The book paints a picture of a modern Orwellian state, describing, in detail, the contortionist social policies of a communist party that managed to cling to power long after communism became internationally discredited.
For example: the distortion of language for propaganda, the exploitation of nationalism, the systematic partitioning of farmers and peasants away from the central power structures, and the kidnap and remorseless torture of dissidents; Pan lifts all of these elements from the pages of '1984' and moves them to the non-fiction section with this expose'.
The story is also predictive. Pan casts serious doubt on the hopeful -possibly naive- assumption that capitalism will inevitably democratize China. Pan describes modern life in China as more free than it has ever been, though the story he tells is still draconian by most western standards, and his work gives good reason for the rest of the world to be gravely concerned about the future of world's next superpower.
At the same time, however, a powerful human element is brought to the fore: Pan interviews ordinary and extraordinary citizens and shows how the pain and despair of the last 5 decades, on both the individual and social scale, have led to a culture of citizens disengaged from politics.
Pan provides a scathing indictment of the officials and opportunists who exploit the status quo, but also a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the few people willing to challenge the system; the painful decisions they make and the prices they pay are both inspiring and heartbreaking.
After reading, one is left cheering for the unsung heroes of a far away nation, hoping that eventually their stories will be revered at home, and that their images will be used to replace that of big brother over-looking the blood-soaked ground of Tienanmen square.

Editorial Review:

An intimate, groundbreaking account of a society in turmoil, Out of Mao's Shadow is the most important book about the Chinese people and their fight for greater freedom.

Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor: Examples and Explanations (Examples & Explanations Series)

Brian A. Blum

List Price: $35.95 By: Aspen Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $0.81

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Reference -> Business Law
Subjects -> Law -> Business -> Bankruptcy
Subjects -> Law -> Perspectives on Law -> Jurisprudence

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

To keep pace with the recent major changes in bankruptcy law, noted author Brian Blum presents a completely revised edition of his popular study guide, "Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor: Examples & Explanations". This comprehensive paperback is well known for its effectiveness in helping students understand the many rules, principles, and policies of the area. The book earns the loyalty of both students and instructors for its: distinguished authorship from Brian Blum, who has written other successful titles in the "Examples & Explanations Series" and is a recognized master of the method; time-tested examples and explanations that clarify potentially confusing material; exceptionally clear and engaging writing; organization and coverage that tracks the leading casebooks in Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor Law; and problems that allow students to test their understanding of the law. The Fourth Edition responds to the 2005 Bankruptcy Act. It will be updated to reflect changes in bankruptcy law since 2004, and will concentrate particularly on changes made by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. The entire text is revised to correspond to current practice. New and updated examples and explanations focus on areas of change; and new cases illustrate key points "Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor Law: Examples & Explanations, Fourth Edition", provides the extra help students need to master fundamental concepts in this dynamic area. Be sure to recommend this timely and dependable study guide to your next class.

The Employer's Legal Handbook (2nd ed)

Fred S. Steingold

List Price: $29.95 By: Nolo Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $0.25

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Human Resources & Personnel Management
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Reference -> Business Law
Subjects -> Law -> Business -> Franchising

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Completely helpful 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

For a small company, this book was just what we needed. It outlined different state requirements, some common pitfalls, and provided sample text for editing. Overall, just what we needed to be a professional little business.

For the newbies in HR 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book is enjoyable and easy to understand, especially for those new in the HR field or those wanting to understand the HR function. The book covers topics with general information and not for those who are looking for in-depth decription of "how-to" or "what-to-do" in each of the HR functions. Overall, I think it is informative.

Where is my item? 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 13 people found this review helpful.

It has been over one month since I have ordered this item and it is still not here. Contacting customer service.

Editorial Review:

New laws affect every aspect of being an employer--from conducting interviews to handling employee benefits to firing. The most complete guide to an employer's legal rights and responsibilities, The Employer's Legal Handbook shows how to comply with workplace laws and regulations, run a safe and fair workplace, and avoid lawsuits.