Contracts: Cases and Doctrine

Aspen Casebook Series

by Randy E. Barnett

Contracts: Cases and Doctrines' back-to-basics, case-based approach gives students ample doctrinal material as they sift through and analyze facts for prevailing themes and theory. Cases are lightly edited, or presented whole, to give first-year students the opportunity to develop case-analysis skills. The popular flexible organization begins with Remedies, but chapters can be taught in any order. A mixture of classic and contemporary cases adds interest and affords teaching alternatives. Each chapter begins with a brief textual introduction, and Study Guide questions before each case help focus student attention on salient issues. Background information provides context for understanding cases, and abundant citations reference popular and respected sources. Relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Restatement (Second) of Contracts are thoughtfully presented. The revised Fifth Edition has been updated throughout with new cases added to build upon the strengths of the book.

Hallmark features of Contracts: Cases and Doctrines:

Case-based approach

o ample doctrinal materials to analyze for prevailing themes and theory

o cases lightly edited, or presented whole

o first-year students develop case-analysis skills

Flexible organization

o begins with Remedies

o chapters can be taught in any order

Mixture of classic and contemporary cases

o adds interest

o affords teaching alternatives

Powerful pedagogy

o Each chapter begins with textual introduction

o Study Guide questions before each case focus on salient issues

o Background information provides context for understanding cases

Abundant reference citations to popular and respected sources

Presents relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Restatement (Second) of Contracts

Genres: Law, Nonfiction, Politics, Legal

1164 pages, ebook

First published December 31, 1995

Reviews

[Amy]

Interesting for a textbook with lots of good background extras included. My only complaint is its heavy reliance on unintelligible old English case law.

[Edward]

I read significant portions of this case book for a two semester contracts class taught by Professor Chung at Albany Law School.

I think most students do not enter law school to study the law of contracts. I know I didn't. For whatever reason it was not what inspired me to become a lawyer. However, after reading this case book and being introduced to the topic the law of contracts is throughly interesting and something that I wouldn't mind studying more of or even practicing in the future.

Barnett's casebook presents the law of contracts in a very clear way mostly through case law buttressed by law review articles, treatise excerpts, sections of the restatement of contracts.

Overall, one of the better case books I have read

[Breanna McClarey]

I seriously gaslit myself into pretending I enjoy contracts, smaller textbook than other courses which was nice, please for the love of God edit the cases from the 16th and 1700s into normal English!

[Maddie Nixon]

Would not recommend 😔

[Sandra]

Hate the class, so that doesn't help with my opinion about this book, but the layout could have been much better in order to be more effective reading.

[Sam Andrus]

Cons, tracts, and everything in between -Jeffery e statement

[Dylan Kochan]

My professor wrote this book. I sincerely enjoyed his class. He also introduced me to a wonderful book called, "Law & Revolution: The History of Western Tradition," which analyzes how Catholic Papal reforms contributed to the Western legal tradition (this is one area of focus in the book that interests me).

[Tanner]

Contracts was not my favorite class, but I did like the supplemental essays and background in this book that helped you see law as more than just the text of the case.

[Claire]

Terrible. Do not recommend.

[Jackie Days]

My guiding light, my North Star <3 I love you, contracts

[Andrew Spratley]

As a law students- this book gives me pain and suffering especially when the professor cannot explain the topics presented.

[SK]

“What is a chicken?” is in fact a question this casebook attempts to answer.

[Ishani Patel]

Honestly the best casebook I had this semester. The cases were decently interesting and I was usually able to follow along with what was happening.

[MJ]

You cannot pay me any amount of money to go through this again

[Hana]

me when i lie and say i read this whole thing

[Jake]

A K-law casebook is not for everyone, but perhaps for your aspiring lawyer friend or significant other, or perhaps to shut up that precocious teenager who, having just read Nietzsche or Turgenov, thinks he knows everything. It that case, Barnett's choice to include short essays flushing out the historical background is a welcome departure from your typical casebook, which prizes a ongoing series of open-ended questions that are typically irrelevant to the course as taught.

[mz]

I found the prose and organization of this casebook easy to understand. Although I never had time to read them, I liked that Barnett included historical background on some of the major cases and that he included diverse perspectives on contract law.

[Patrick]

Hilarious and riveting ride through the development and current state of contract affairs in the USA (plus some riotous cases from 17th century England).

[sologdin]

by far the best course in lawyer school. this text is fine for it. works through ye olde English common law doctrines with proficiency.