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Understanding Jurisprudence Paperback – 29 January 2015
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length400 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherOxford University Press BPS
- Publication date29 January 2015
- Dimensions24.13 x 1.78 x 16.76 cm
- ISBN-100198723865
- ISBN-13978-0198723868
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Product description
Review
Review from previous edition An admirably clear, extremely helpful, and accurate introduction to this formidable subject. The elegance of the writing and the breadth of knowledge - displayed here in such an easily accessible form - make it essential reading for every student of Jurisprudence. (Stephen Guest, Emeritus Professor of Legal Philosophy, University College London)
Understanding Jurisprudence is a juristic gem that sparkles with insight and shines with clarity, shedding light on numerous challenging topics in a lucidly accessible style. It is an indispensable resource for student and scholar alike, and is a rarity-an academic text that is actually a pleasure to read! (William MacNeil, Professor of Law, Griffith Law School, Brisbane, Australia)
Where and whenever I will exert any influence on the reading list for a course on jurisprudence, I will make sure that Professor Raymond Wacks' excellent book Understanding Jurisprudence will be included. (Carl-Fredrik Choler, University of Orebro, Sweden)
An excellent text which explains complex and difficult ideas in an accessible way. (Christopher Essert, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen's University, Ontario)
The plentiful discussion topics and Wacks' delightful style make this an impressive read. (William A. Edmundson, Regents' Professor of Law and of Philosophy, Georgia State University, Atlanta)
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Oxford University Press BPS; 4th edition (29 January 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0198723865
- ISBN-13 : 978-0198723868
- Dimensions : 24.13 x 1.78 x 16.76 cm
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Raymond Wacks is Emeritus Professor of Law and Legal Theory at the University of Hong Kong. He is the author of some twenty books which have been translated into a dozen languages. They include Personal Information: Privacy and the Law; Privacy and Media Freedom; Privacy: A Very Short Introduction; and Law: A Very Short Introduction, all published by Oxford University Press. His most recent publications are Protecting Personal Information: The Right to Privacy Reconsidered (Hart Publishing, 2020), and COVID-19 and Public Policy in the Digital Age (2021), both with Andrea Monti. The sixth edition of his Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory was published by OUP in 2021.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from Australia
Top reviews from other countries
- anonReviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 January 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars good for students
Verified PurchaseWell structured book that dives right into jurisprudence.
Although it did seem to jump back and forth a bit - this is somewhat typical of this subject.
it could have been doing with more breaking down of basic concepts and less rambling.
- Rajat BoseReviewed in India on 10 August 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best introductions to Jurisprudence.
Verified PurchaseIt's just too good, it offers so much of insights with great clarity. All law students taking up the subject of jurisprudence should study using this text along with Great Debates in Jurisprudence (Palgrave Great Debates in Law). Raymond Wacks' Understanding Jurisprudence is arguably one of the best texts to get initiated to the subject. I would also recommend his Philosophy of Law: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions).
- Prof. DragonReviewed in the United States on 4 July 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Guide to a Complex Discipline
Verified PurchaseI have used various editions of this book in Jurisprudence classes that I teach at the undergraduate level. The book is an excellent skeletal overview of one of the most complex fields at the intersection of law, philosophy, and politics. Trying to understand Jurisprudence from one book is not possible. As a guidepost to important authors and schools of thought, the book is superb.
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abdeljospinReviewed in France on 5 November 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ouvrage
Verified PurchaseTrès bon manuel, clair et précis; contient les principaux auteurs et débats. Raymond Wacks explique de manière très claire et simple toutes les grandes idées, avec parfois une touche d'humour. Ce manuel se révèle être une base incontournable pour tout cours de théorie ou de philosophie du droit. La perspective adoptée ici est principalement celle de la philosophie analytique du droit, ce qui a l'avantage de poser un cadre où l'on se repère assez rapidement. Moins volumineux et austère que "Lloyd's introduction to jurisprudence", c'est un bon manuel de base mais qui comme le dit l'auteur, ne dispense pas pour autant de la lecture des penseurs étudiés quand cela est possible. Ce manuel propose aussi des citations directes des auteurs quand leur explication est on ne peut plus claire; mais aussi en fin de chapitre, des pistes de réflexion pour aller plus loin.
- Justina L.Reviewed in the United States on 7 October 2016
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and makes you think
Verified PurchaseThis book has helped me a ton in class! Makes you really think. Not really my type of stuff to read about, but if you like to be shown many different ways to think about stuff you will love it!