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Raymond Wacks
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Understanding Jurisprudence Paperback – 29 January 2015

by Raymond Wacks (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 17
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There is a newer edition of this item:

Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory
Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory
$66.37
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With a clear, engaging, and informal style, Understanding Jurisprudence is the perfect guide for students new to legal theory looking for a handy and stimulating starting point to this sometimes daunting subject. Key theories and theorists are introduced in a compact and practicable format, offering an accessible account of the central ideas without oversimplification. Further reading suggestions are included throughout, helping students to structure their research and navigate the jurisprudences extensive literature. Critical questions are also included in each chapter, to encourage students to think analytically about the law and legal theory, and the numerous debates that it generates. Professor Wacks is an experienced teacher of jurisprudence and excels in providing a concise, student-friendly introduction to the subject, without avoiding the subtleties of this fascinating discipline. An extensive Online Resource Centre also accompanies this text (www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/orc/wacks4e/) and includes the following resources to support your studies: - Author analysis of topical controversies such as political debates and current legal problems - Interactive self-test glossary of key terms - Additional chapters on approaching the study of jurisprudence, including revision and examination tips - Further reading suggestions, including links to relevant and recent journal articles - Self-test questions on the key ideas from each chapter, with instant feedback
Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Oxford University Press BPS
  4. Publication date
    29 January 2015
  5. Dimensions
    17.15 x 2.54 x 24.13 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0198723865
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0198723868
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

The engaging writing style certainly makes this an invigorating and effective study aid and, for a slim volume, valiantly succeeds in introducing the reader to a broad range of thinkers, thus offering a valuable resource for the study of legal theory and indeed law in general. (The Law Teacher)

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

Professor Raymond Wacks has taught jurisprudence around the world for over thirty years. He has published more than twenty books and numerous articles on legal philosophy, the right of privacy, and human and animal rights. He is also the author of Law: A Very Short Introduction and Privacy and Media Freedom (both published by Oxford University Press).

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 ‏ : ‎ 17.15 x 2.54 x 24.13 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 17

About the author

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Raymond Wacks

Raymond Wacks

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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.

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4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
17 global ratings

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anon
5.0 out of 5 stars good for students
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 January 2017
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Well 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.
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Rajat Bose
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best introductions to Jurisprudence.
Reviewed in India on 10 August 2016
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It'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) .
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Pierre BON
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ouvrage
Reviewed in France on 5 November 2015
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Très 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.
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Justina L.
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and makes you think
Reviewed in the United States on 7 October 2016
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This 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!
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Jj
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United States on 1 December 2016
Verified Purchase
This book is poorly written- it is confusing and features too much writer commentary
One person found this helpful
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