Basic Concepts of Legal Thought -- George P. Fletcher

This book is basically a philosophy of law book. It is written for non-lawyers as an introduction to legal thinking and the law, but also for lawyers who want a deeper understanding of the philosophical background of their work. It is very broad in scope, very well written and provides quite a bit of insight into issues related to legal systems. I personally learned a lot about the law from the first page through to the end.

It is a quick read, being a relatively short book. The book is broken into three parts. Part I: The Legal System. Part II: Ultimate Values. Part III: Morality In The Law. These are further broken down into more refined elements. I think what is most interesting is the comparison of the Anglo-American legal system to other legal systems around the world. It is enlightening to someone who only has passing knowledge of our own system.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the law, philosophical foundations of the law, and interesting questions raised in the realm of the legal thought.

Watchmen -- Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Only one of a handful of graphic novels that I have read, however it is probably the best. I say probably because "Batman: The Long Halloween" was very good. Watchmen is dramatic and rich with a real, complex story. There is even a twist that I felt was quite unexpected and made the story very engaging and memorable. The story itself is good, but the art is engaging in it's own right. I felt that everything about this graphic novel represents what is good about the genre. I recommend it to anyone, especially someone who has never read a graphic novel or who thinks of them as just big comic books. It is really on the same level as any other form of literature.

I am also looking forward to the upcoming movie that looks as though it will also be quite good.