A History of American Law

Professor Friedman has written an excellent overview of American legal history. It's comprehensive, well-written, and perfectly suitable for any reader.There are two items about the book that I found particularly valuable. First, Professor Friedman provides a fine bibliographical essay at the end of the book.Second, the author has taken the time and effort to update the book. The first edition was published in 1973; the fourth edition (which I read) was published in 2019. I wish that more authors would follow Professor Friedman's example.

I read this book over the course of several days. It did a good job of holding my interest. I would recommend it to others.

Good, straightforward, review of the law's development. More of the author's opinion, politics, and social-issue perspectives seeps into in the later chapters on modern times.

A classic work of legal history that even the most uniformed layperson should be able to understand. Friedman's writing is always concise, succinct, and clear. I cannot recommend this book enough for those looking for a well organized introduction to American legal history. Same for Friedman's American Law in the 20th Century.