Reddit reviews A History of American Law: Third Edition

I have learned a lot from this one.

Both Amazon Smile links (I choose the EFF):

• Fundamentals of American Law
  
• A History of American Law

I really enjoyed reading A History of American Law followed by American Law in the Twentieth Century, both by Lawrence Friedman of Stanford Law School.

One thing I meant to recommend and forgot was to buy and read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/History-American-Law-Third-Edition/dp/0684869888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407940051&sr=8-1&keywords=history+of+american+law

Bryan A. Garner recommends Friedman as a very good legal writer. Also, the content will give you more than a leg up in law school. It presents the entire history of and an explanation of American law. You will go into your classes with a deeper understanding than anyone else. Would make law school a lot easier, I believe.

Also, take some writing courses in undergrad.

(Chuckling) ... I happen to be reading Lawrence Friednman's History of American Law at the moment. There were laws in Massachusetts during the 17th century that called for any Quakers who were found in the colony to be flogged.

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Philosophy-Law-Revised-Lectures/dp/0300001886

This is the book I was talking about by Roscoe Pound. It will be slightly outdated, because he published it in 1922, but it's a great starting point (written specifically for beginning law students)

https://www.amazon.com/History-American-Law-Third/dp/0684869888

This was the textbook we used in my 3L Legal Philosophy class, but I wouldn't be intimidated by that, it's very easy to understand.

Other than that, just googling "introduction to philosophy of law" will give you an array of options. Pick one, and go from there. Remember, it's going to take more than just one introductory text to get you comfortable with the subject.