COMPLETE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRACT TEXT/CASEBOOK
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I scored 72 on my contract finals paper at Oxford and I owe a large debt to McKendrick. McKendrick writes so simply and takes time to explain so it's easy to understand. I found the text clearer than Treitel and Cheshire, and more detailled than O'Sullivan; the case/comment extracts were better than both Smith and Bishop et al, and the analysis was much, much better. E.g. in Bishop you're left to your own devices in understanding some random, quite complex stuff, when you only have a short extract. McKendrick is much more careful and, in terms of contract exam papers, he is really good at rounding up interesting academic arguments. An outstanding and remarkable resource for anyone who wants to do well in contract.
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This book has an undeserved reputation....
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This book has an undeserved reputation. I'd defer those making charges of waffling to his popular, shorter book (Palgrave Macmillan), which many agree condenses much in clear and little space. Though this shorter book does suffice for most practical undergraduate uses if paired with a good casebook (Jill Poole), the larger cousin exists for greater detail.
Though extensive and dense, it is not excessive or circuitous. Writing is deceptively well-organised, clean and stripped of flabby words. Chapters begin with summary outlines. Arguments are in hierarchy and points are listed. Its expansiveness has been a joy to savour and preferable to gaps in understanding left by shorter and less astute works. A McKendrick argument is akin to the Rubik's cube, turning through the possibilities before returning whole. In study, the book is best supplemented by a good guide book (Chris Turner - Unlocking Contract Law) and your veritable LNB/Westlaw access.
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Gathering Dust.........
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McKendrick was recommended as the core textbook for contract. However, after only a couple of months of what can only be described as 'laboured' reading I decided to write this review. The book itself is thorough and analyses each subject area in great depth. Coupled with this is a useful case analysis within each topic area. However, the depth and scope comes at a price. This is at times unreadable and extremely unhelpful to anyone wishing to further their understanding of Contract Law, particularly LLB students like myself. Approach with caution!
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It makes a great door stop...
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This book is NOT reader friendly. I am a third year law undergrad and have to use this book for the second time this year; the other was as a fresher. It was bad enough the first time. Over 1000 pages of boredom awaits the buyer of this book. Often a required reading book for contract law, it is heavy-going to a point that rivals War and Peace. It actually has a sentence that is 23 lines long! I am a good student, with firsts in many of my modules, but I would still recommend, if you HAVE to have this book, buy an easier contract book to explain things first. Nutshells comes to mind. On the up side, it does have every single piece of information you will ever need to know for your module!
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The Best Guide to an Understanding of English Law
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This book came out shortly before my examination Contract Law at Oxford, and it is nothing short of brilliant. McKendrick's excerpts from cases are comprehensive, and his discussion reflects not only his own opinion, but also that of writers with opposing views. Contrary to other case books, he not only asks questions, but adds a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed solution to a problem. While there still is a need to resort to more extensive works (such as Treitel's Law of Contract, or Chitty on Contracts), and obviously cases, for the detailed rules on various sub-questions, this may well be the best introductory guide on the market to a comprehensive understanding of English contract law and its underlying policies. I would regard it a must for any serious student of the subject.
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