The Loophole in LSAT Logical Reasoning: A Splendidly Comprehensive LSAT Study Guide to Master LSAT Self-Study

by Ellen Cassidy

The Loophole in LSAT Logical Reasoning is the single most effective LSAT Logical Reasoning book on the market. It's the much-needed, ice-cold libation in your LSAT life.  Five years of development, testing, and iteration went into this book. Within, you will find an actually new approach to LSAT Logical Reasoning that has already worked for many students. This is not just another book outlining the questions types and a couple conditional reasoning drills. We aim to build the skills that will allow you to predict the correct answer without even knowing the question type. These methodologies are not just comprehensive or new; they're frankly just better. To get questions right in LSAT Logical Reasoning, you must be able This is what The Loophole in LSAT Logical Reasoning prepares you to do. It results in not just a higher score, but an easier score.

Genres: Law, Nonfiction, School

462 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2018

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can tell that I am getting desperate to reach my 2022 reading goal when I start including prep books in my 'read' list.

This was a very helpful and intuitive approach to logical reasoning. I appreciated that it required less rote memorization and that is sought to create sort of an intuition for LR. I think that this approach is probably more useful for people looking to create long-lasting reading skills rather than just knowing how these questions function on the LSAT.

For a long time, I felt that prep books weren't really meant for me since I am already a strong reader. I realized that learning to get really fast at the easy questions means having more time to dedicate my reading skills to the hard ones.

The language in this book definitely isn't for everyone. I think that the tone is appropriate and also helps you to not completely check out.

[Doug Mart Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could do it over, I would undoubtedly read this first in my lsat studies. Cassidy is brilliant and provides the framework not just to succeed/improve your score, but to truly thrive. Read, practice, and internalize this!

[Kirthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The *best* prep book I've ever read, for any standardized exam ever. It doesn't hurt that it's so aesthetically pleasing, too.

Practicing intuitive reasoning is so much more valuable than memorizing question types. It's the most efficient way to take most exams, but the LSAT in particular.

[Alexa]

Sorry but it has to count. I read the whole thing in February and alas

[Madeline Wolfgram]

Not a beach read unless your beach is in hell

[Cooper Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t find the introductory content too helpful; I think there should be a heavier chunk devoted to formal logic or at least a pointer to where one should go for an intensive formal logic course.

Later in the book, though, the specific question type analyses were great. It was straightforward about which types cause the most trouble and why, providing strategies to understand things like parallel flaw and strengthen questions. Overall, I like that the book serves to help test takers game the LSAT because the test writers don’t pull their punches on you either.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

finally finished, and can confirm that i learned things.

[gabby mola · Rating 5 out of 5]

ellen saved my life in a way

[Natalia Barrero]

Had to put this on my Goodreads to feel better about having to read it.

[Quinn Kiernan]

I’d probably only recommend this book if you’re studying for the LSAT but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Many interesting passages though nothing is “tattoo it on your body” material. Loads of informative creative nonfiction pieces in here and you’re really forced to engage with the material.

I was especially compelled by the use of highly conceptual characters that typically were the nameless archetypes of different roles and occupations in society. We see for example arguments from “driver,” “philosopher,” “hospital executive,” or even “editorialist.” Surely a fascinating critique of the way western life sublimates the individual behind their role—their purpose. Why must we be defined by our work or the terms on a W-9 form?

Anyway, I enjoyed this thoroughly and here is just one of my favorite quotes from the book: “sociologist: romantics who claim people are not born evil but may be made evil by the imperfect institutions that they form cannot be right, for they misunderstand the causal relationship between people and their institutions. After all, institutions are merely collections of people.”

[Sarah Dadey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was def a more fun book than the last. test in t-minus one week!

[nidsbebooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

life changing. my lsat is this weekend & i owe any success I attain to this book.

[Anna Shikuma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will never think the same again

[Bella Sotlar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be reading this again! I loved this book, it was such easy study material, my advice is to do a practice section with every chapter to apply the chapter knowledge. I think it would have helped if I’d also done flash cards and drawn out diagrams through the whole process. Overall helped me a lot, I only missed 3 on my last practice section!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Almost every review I've read about this book has been positive but I sadly cannot share the same enthusiasm. I think Cassidy tries too hard to ingratiate herself with younger readers (i.e., Millennials). Don't get me wrong, I am all for colloquializing (I know this isn't a real word but bear with me) dense and boring concepts such as LSAT strategy, and I know this is what Cassidy intended with her book. However, she takes it to the point where "too much of a good thing is a bad thing," and her text begins to lose meaning. (On a side note, those ludicrous examples she uses about pretzels eating people or whatever were downright annoying as they were so. far. removed. from reality. I think she has the right idea in trying to make her examples more memorable due to their absurdity, but it definitely wasn't for me.) I largely felt that she tried far too hard to be casual to the point where key points were left out. Also, unsure if others felt this way but I felt that there were gaping holes in the connections of her thought processes (the irony is painfully frustrating). I found that I was wasting way too much time saying, "Wait, what?" and having to retrace my steps. (And yes, I was paying attention while reading.)

I read the Power Score Bibles after Cassidy's book and the former helped my score so much. This leads me to the conclusion that there are likely 2 camps of people: Power Score people and everyone else.

[Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

- better than Dune
- super cute color! #girlypop
- explains things very clearly
- really strengthened my LR muscles 💪💪💪💪💪
- as with any study tool, no one thing is going to fit 100%. i think some of the things in this book weren't really helpful to me at all. luckily i'm brave enough to give them the old college try and decide when something isn't for me
- i can't say i followed the book's instructions to the letter. all those translation drills? didn't do them. sorry. i find naturally translating to be something i already do, so it didnt seem like a good use of my time. the CLIR drills though, ive done those. those help a TON!
- its the only LSAT textbook ive read so i don't have anything to compare it against. however, i would definitely recommend for those starting out. i read it, so you know its dumbass-friendly

[Jonathan Ghysels · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Loophole method is an innovative approach to LSAT logical reasoning that I think fills a void that other prep books can't seem to recognize. The book teaches a framework, one that is heavy on common sense and understanding fundamentals and not overcomplicating the task at hand. Ellen's writing is personable, funny, and above all, easy to read. This is one of the few LSAT prep books that isn't an absolute chore to read, and most importantly, it helps the most, too.

[Dan Pan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Definitely an unconventional but effective way to approach LR. Ellen wrote the book is such a creative way, that it felt like I had sat down with her and received one-on-one tutoring as I read it.

Highly recommend for LR!

[lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely helped me understand the LR portion of the LSAT. it was pretty easy to fly through and i loved that it includes so many practice questions and explanations. its a great resource and i'm so glad i read this in the beginning of my LSAT journey :)

[Skye M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Cassidy is the only reason my logical reasoning scores are finally consistent! Worth a shot to improve those LSAT scores :) Plus, it's actually enjoyable for a study aide!

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

guess we’ll find out in september if this actually worked for me, but this book made LR and even LG make so much more sense! would definitely recommend

[maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i feel like i have a parasocial relationship with ellen cassidy after finishing this. THE QUEEN

[Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I better get a good score 😭🥸

[cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been fantastic!! This book is full of colloquial explanations and examples which just makes it so so helpful. I was sooooo inconsistent in LR before reading this and it was driving me crazy. Sometimes I would score as low as -13 and def plateaued around -10. But almost instantly with reading this I’ve started consistently scoring around -4 on my practice tests. And that’s even with time now too! Would def recommend this to everyone studying for the LSAT. Biggest takeaway is that the LSAT is so nooooot serious and to stop giving it more credit than it deserves when every stimulus is merely a fallacy. Mwah! Also ofc a Cassidy wrote this book like. so true <3

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how easy of a read it was mixed with well categorized sections. It’s nice as it starts you out from step one and builds skills from there to slowly get you to doing the lsat. The examples were nice but I wish there were a few more which is weird to say looking back as it’s such a chunky little book but the practices really help. Solid read to understand what is expected of you for the LR section

[Joseph Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a decent study guide, especially the analyses at the end.

i wish there was a chapter in the beginning where she lays out a gameplan or a roadmap, because there were several chapters in the middle where i just couldn’t see where she was going.

i have no comparison for this book, because i haven’t read any other textbooks. therefore i won’t criticize it too harshly. overall i do feel like it was helpful.

[Ivy Beaver]

Part of me is embarrassed to log my LSAT prep on Goodreads but more of me is saying hey, if I don’t get into law school at least there will be proof of something much more regrettable: I didn’t meet my reading goal for the year. Because of this one book. So there.

[Stella Schaefer-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real page turner.

[quinn engel]

yes i am counting this towards my goodreads goal. yes i did finish it. yet it was 500 pages.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slayed