Best books to read before law school Forum

[O.J.]

Maybe OP isn't looking for "mastery," but he's not asking for beach reading - he's looking for "must read books" containing "tips" that will presumably give him an advantage during law school. Some people have recommended books that are arguably in that vein (e.g. Getting to Maybe), but there really aren't many books like that, and people disagree about whether any of them are very helpful.

Agreed, and apologize for steering this into an argument.

[Smc1994]

Everybody Poops--changed my life. Not necessarily for the better.

[connordalto]

OP update: thanks for the suggestions. As I emphasized originally, I wasn't interested in books about course materials. General consensus is that "Getting to Maybe" is the go to, perhaps I will read it. Although I assume practice exams, office hours, and conversations with 2Ls would serve as an adequate substitute for info about exams.

I just finished "The Alchemist" by Paolo Coelho and it was spectacular. Also "The Stand" by Steven King is at the top of my list for those interested.

Thanks!!

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

Read the entire Harry Potter series from beginning to end, because I heard law school is very similar to Harry's experiences at Hogwarts

[mjb447]

Read the entire Harry Potter series from beginning to end, because I heard law school is very similar to Harry's experiences at Hogwarts

Harry, Cedric Diggory, whichever.

[connordalto]

Read the entire Harry Potter series from beginning to end, because I heard law school is very similar to Harry's experiences at Hogwarts

I actually just listened to the entire series at work while doing doc review haha

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

Read the entire Harry Potter series from beginning to end, because I heard law school is very similar to Harry's experiences at Hogwarts

I actually just listened to the entire series at work while doing doc review haha

hahah omg doc review...I've listen to like every John Oliver episode like 4 times during those dark hours

[dietcoke1]

I don't know if its a must read, but The Bramble Bush was a read that I thought could be helpful

[addie1412]

So for those of us who ARE looking for some entertaining, LS-related beach reading, any recommendations? Along the lines of One L, which I really enjoyed.

[HonestAdvice]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

[Rubbishdump]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

Makes me feel good about my last relationship falling apart

[A. Nony Mouse]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

This is ridiculous bullshit.

[brinicolec]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

Wait, so is the implication here that having a significant other -> poor performance in law school? If so, LOL.

[thewhalefish]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

Wait, so is the implication here that having a significant other -> poor performance in law school? If so, LOL.

Sounds like a juicy new example for Powerscore to put in next year's LR Bible...

"In this example, having a significant other is the sufficient condition, and poor performance in law school is the necessary condition. We diagram this conditional relationship as such:

SO --> PPS

It may be tempting to say, "What if my significant other is actually proven to improve my performance in school?" Be careful! This is known as the Mistaken Reversal: clearly you just aren't thinking right here. Skip these kinds of questions and rethink your life."

[brinicolec]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

Wait, so is the implication here that having a significant other -> poor performance in law school? If so, LOL.

Sounds like a juicy new example for Powerscore to put in next year's LR Bible...

"In this example, having a significant other is the sufficient condition, and poor performance in law school is the necessary condition. We diagram this conditional relationship as such:

SO --> PPS

It may be tempting to say, "What if my significant other is actually proven to improve my performance in school?" Be careful! This is known as the Mistaken Reversal: clearly you just aren't thinking right here. Skip these kinds of questions and rethink your life."

I love how we're a kind of nerdy that only other LSAT-takers truly understand.

Edit: I said something redundant.

[thewhalefish]

Anecdotally, everyone who came into law school in a relationship got married or underperformed on exams. Reading a book now or later isn't going to change your grades. Removing potential distractions will.

Wait, so is the implication here that having a significant other -> poor performance in law school? If so, LOL.

Sounds like a juicy new example for Powerscore to put in next year's LR Bible...

"In this example, having a significant other is the sufficient condition, and poor performance in law school is the necessary condition. We diagram this conditional relationship as such:

SO --> PPS

It may be tempting to say, "What if my significant other is actually proven to improve my performance in school?" Be careful! This is known as the Mistaken Reversal: clearly you just aren't thinking right here. Skip these kinds of questions and rethink your life."

I love how we're a kind of nerdy that only other LSAT-takers truly understand.

Edit: I said something redundant.

Dammit, well, evidently I'm in too far to back out now. Lol.

[34iplaw]

Black's law dictionary. See https://www.reddit.com/r/lawschooladmis ... _used_the/

Sorry to bring you back into the fold, but the following comment was pure gold.

[–]spektralmia 30 points 1 month ago
It's not polarizing if all of us hate you.

[cyclawps]

How about something more general on cognitive biases rather than on law or law school specifically? "You are Not So Smart" by Dave McRaney is a good cataloguing of cognitive biases. It's useful, but even more enjoyable (and similarly useful) is "Unpersuadables" by Will Storr. "Unpersuadables" narrates Storr's exploration into the wild and woolly world of human beliefs, how beliefs are formed, maintained, and defended. Both books are humbling.