This is an interesting read that shows that there is an alternative to using solicitors when buying and selling your home. Joseph goes through the processes and searches that they do and how these can be done by a non-solicitor and the many reasons why you should do so. I'm not sure how accurate this version still is as it was published in the mid 80s but I doubt things have changed all that much. The only thing he doesn't address is the value of using others to do the work when you don't have the time or the energy (as was the case with me).
I think this book is really worth a read if you are not happy at the thought of paying large legal bills for buying and selling a house. After reading this book many years ago, I did communicate with Michael Joseph's widow, a nice lady.