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

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 *

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).