I have heard numerous gripes from my classmates concerning the value of this text. I must agree with the objections based on the boring nature of most of the book's subject matter and the fact that a good portion of the book is written to be read by people more learned than myself. These two problems compounded only exacerbate the fact that to learn the lessons of the book (which are highly valuable) you have to be bored and lost for a good portion of the reading. I am not saying this to be insulting or contrary to the class or our brilliant professor but as a truth that might offer some constructive criticism. With that said, Order Without Law is undoubtedly an invaluable book for the legal and social sciences, but might be, as a whole, out of reach for undergrads. Maybe a reading of excerpts from the book followed by an in class discussion and interpretation of the material read would be more beneficial. The exercises that we did with the whaling chapter were enormously helpful for me in critically understanding the concepts put forth by Ellickson. With many of the other chapters that I read, of which were not engaged in other activities, were understood by me partially at best.
I felt that chapters 7: The System of Social Control, 9: The Puzzle of Cooperation, and 11: Substantive Norms: Of Bees, Cattle, and Whales were among the most helpful and directly applicable to the other class material.
Interesting and useful comments. Thanks.
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