Legislation: Statutes and the Creation of Public Policy, 3rd Ed. (American Casebook Series and Other Coursebooks)

This book is universally reviled by nearly all the 1Ls at my school (where Legislation is taught to first years). It's extremely long, boring, HUGE, and very difficult to get through, especially when you have to read large chunks at a time for class each week. There's comparatively few cases. The authors say in twenty words what they could easily express in two, and unless you REALLY need to know that senator Clair Engle was suffering a brain tumor when he voted for cloture during the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the authors go into way more detail than you will ever need as a 1L.

The only good thing about this book is that it solved my insomnia problem - it puts me to sleep every time.

This book was an utter delight to read -- I keep it on my bedside table, and give myself the treat of a chapter each night. You wouldn't think that a book on legislation could have that impact, but Eskridge makes the topic fun and riveting, at once.