New Books At The Zief Law Library

Publisher: Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2023.
"Bellwether Histories" examines the ecological crises and extinctions that have influenced US history through a multispecies lens. It highlights how animals have been impacted by colonialism, capitalism, and environmental degradation due to human actions, leading to imbalanced interspecies relationships. The collection discusses themes such as the connections between antislavery and anti-animal cruelty movements, the influence of livestock behavior on human technology, and the politics surrounding wild animal care and trafficking. It also critiques the idea of human exceptionalism, which dismisses the consequences of harming animals. With today’s mass extinctions and ecological challenges, the work reflects on animals as indicators of our shared future and questions why their warnings have often gone unheard.

Publisher: Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the traditional role of turkey in Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, highlighting that many people know little about the commercially bred turkeys. Author Peter Singer shares the story of turkeys, their history, and critiques the annual presidential turkey pardon. He introduces an intelligent turkey named Cornelius and argues for rethinking holiday meals by choosing vegetarian alternatives or focusing on popular side dishes instead of turkey. The book includes recipes for turkey-free feasts, encouraging readers to reconsider their holiday meal choices for the benefit of turkeys, people, and the environment.

Publisher: Durham, North Carolina: Carolina Academic Press, 2024.
"Mastering Appellate Advocacy and Process" provides a comprehensive overview of appellate practice, covering: Appellate procedures in federal and state court systems; Key topics such as preserving errors, initiating appeals, compiling the record, and understanding appellate jurisdiction; Techniques for legal analysis, drafting, and oral advocacy relevant for both novice and experienced attorneys; A chapter on law school moot court competitions, highlighting similarities and differences with real-world appellate practice; and An accessible approach, catering to practicing lawyers and students, with updates in the second edition reflecting the latest developments in appellate law and technology.

Publisher: New York: Peter Lang, 2023.
The book discusses how the rule of law protects corporate structures that enable global fraud and abuse, leading to diminished accountability for high-level executives and harm to small-to-medium-sized companies. It applies theories to a real case of mega-fraud in Argentina involving VICENTIN SAIC, a major player in the grain manufacturing and exporting sector. The text aims to educate students on the predatory nature of globalized financial capitalism, the origins and abuses of corporate law in a transnational context, and the factors affecting emerging economies in Latin America, alongside the protective role of law. The study of the VICENTIN case, including Glencore Ltd.'s involvement, serves as a practical learning tool for higher education and post-degree students.

Publisher: New York: New York University Press, 2024.
The text discusses how corporate greed has contributed to scandal, corruption, and the January 6th insurrection, highlighting the threats to American democracy. Donald Trump's false claims of election fraud and the violence at the Capitol show that democracy is in danger, with dark money and anti-democratic rhetoric influencing elections. In "Corporatocracy," Ciara Torres-Spelliscy examines the detrimental role of corporations in undermining democratic norms and practices. She illustrates how they support regressive politicians and fund ghost candidates with dark money, making it difficult for courts to hold them and corrupt politicians accountable.The book argues that if voters, consumers, and investors do not act, corporations may outlast democracy. "Corporatocracy" reveals these tactics and suggests legal reforms to strengthen and protect democracy.

Publisher: New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2024.
Teachers College Press is publishing a complete edition of the Kerner Commission report, originally issued in 1967, with new introductions by Senator Cory Booker and historian Elizabeth Hinton. The report challenges the notion that young Black men were primarily responsible for the 1967 riots, instead highlighting issues like economic opportunity, inadequate social services, white racism, police violence, and biased media. It aims to address race relations in America. This reissued report accompanies the book "Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy," edited by Alan Curtis, which discusses progress made since the report's release and offers policy recommendations.

Publisher: Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2024.
The text discusses how a new elite, referred to as "symbolic capitalists," use the language of social justice to enhance their own power and status, despite claiming to support marginalized groups. While society appears more egalitarian and values diversity, social and economic inequalities have surged. The author, Musa al-Gharbi, argues that this elite, operating in sectors like education and media, genuinely believes in equality but inadvertently perpetuates the inequalities they oppose. Their focus on social justice narratives often leads to a lack of awareness regarding their role in social problems and can even create backlash against the causes they champion. The text emphasizes the need to challenge the narratives of this elite to effectively tackle social and economic inequality.

Publisher: The Hague, the Netherlands: Eleven, 2023.
Discrimination remains inadequately addressed in liberal democracies, with protections often limited to certain groups and situations, leaving many without recourse. Legal scholar Erwin Dijkstra explores these issues in his book, "Discrimination and the Foundation of Justice," offering a thorough analysis of discrimination law and the human rights context. He discusses controversial topics such as hate speech and affirmative action, aiming to provide a resource for both legal professionals and the general public in understanding and improving discrimination protections.

Publisher: Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press, 2024.
The book discusses how the origins of twenty-first-century interracial violence can be traced back to the unequal criminal protection principles established during slavery in the southern United States. Andrew T. Fede highlights that antebellum laws and court opinions confined free Black individuals to a "degraded caste of society," lacking equality with white people. The legal system, through the criminalization of Black resistance or the protection of white violence, perpetuated this inequality, undermining the Constitution's equal protection mandate. The U.S. Supreme Court and Congress contributed to this issue, with comprehensive laws against racially motivated violence only enacted with the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009. Fede argues that this law aligns with the Thirteenth Amendment and explains why equal protection in criminal law was historically unfulfilled, reinforcing the persistent problem of interracial violence as a legacy of slavery.

Publisher: Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2024.
In "The Anti-Civil Rights Movement," Mike Steve Collins exposes the networks of power that undermine progress toward a just society. He critiques the recent Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action as a culmination of decades of efforts by right-wing activists to create division. Collins argues that society is trapped in a "prisoner's dilemma," leading to harmful policy choices that pit marginalized groups against one another. He highlights the role of figures like Edward Blum in targeting affirmative action and other civil rights advancements. This work serves as a guide to understanding the ongoing conflict between the civil rights movement and anti-civil rights forces, illustrating past battles and potential future challenges.

Publisher: Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2024.
In "See Justice Done: The Problem of Law in the African American Literary Tradition," Christopher Brown argues that African American literature has deep legal roots essential to understanding Black writing. He examines petitions by free and enslaved Blacks to early legislatures, highlighting their attempts to assert autonomy and competence. Brown also analyzes early slave autobiographies to critique the law's violence and predict its failures, evidenced by cases like Plessy v. Ferguson. The later chapters discuss contemporary writers such as Sutton E. Griggs, George Schuyler, Toni Morrison, and Edward P. Jones, addressing themes like American exceptionalism and "colorblindness." Overall, the work reveals the tensions between U.S. law and Black experiences, illustrating both the potential and dangers of legal engagement.

Publisher: New York: New York University Press, 2024.
The book discusses restorative justice as a moral and spiritual practice capable of transforming injustice, particularly in the United States, where it often involves diverting offenders from the standard criminal justice system to alternative programs that focus on healing rather than punishment. While restorative justice initiatives aim to address harm and repair community relationships, they typically fail to challenge the underlying racist structures of mass incarceration. The book argues for a deeper understanding and implementation of restorative justice that emphasizes moral and spiritual connections between individuals. It highlights the potential of these practices to transform structural violence, using Chicago's restorative justice network as a model for sustainable social change and providing real-life examples needed to address the issues within the prison-industrial complex.

Publisher: Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2024.
Thomas Jefferson viewed the establishment of religious freedom in the United States as a significant achievement, largely accomplished through his partnership with James Madison, known as the "father of the Constitution." Their collaboration, detailed in "The Grand Collaboration," spans fifty years and includes key milestones such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the founding of the University of Virginia as a secular institution. This study highlights their dedication to free inquiry, freedom of conscience, and the separation of church and state, addressing issues relevant to contemporary society regarding the founding generation's intentions.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, specifically its religion clauses, which state that Congress cannot establish a religion or prohibit its free exercise. This provision has led to diverse interpretations and practices in modern America, including prayer in schools and religious displays in public spaces. Chris Beneke provides a historical account of the development of these clauses, highlighting key figures like George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Paine. He explores the broader social context of America during this time, including issues like slavery and family life. Additionally, Beneke examines how various groups, including women, African Americans, Roman Catholics, Jews, and nonbelievers, have contributed to and shaped the understanding of religious liberty, making significant contributions to constitutional history and American pluralism.

Publisher: Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2024. An essential primer on impeachment for today's divided public square We are witnessing an unprecedented moment in American politics in which impeachments are increasingly common. In today's partisan environment, it is more vital than ever that government officials, scholars, and ordinary citizens understand what an impeachment can reasonably be expected to accomplish. In this incisive and accessible book, Keith Whittington provides needed clarity on the constitutional power of impeachment, explaining why it exists and how it should be used to preserve American democracy. Drawing insights from American and British history, congressional practice, and the language of the Constitution itself, Whittington shows how impeachment is a tool for checking abuses of elective office and defending constitutional norms. While we have come to associate impeachment with the presidency, it can be used to remedy gross misconduct by an array of officers of the federal government. Whittington cautions against abusing this immense and consequential power to settle political scores, demonstrating how it undermines the independence of the branches and makes Congress the seat of political power. Required reading for the informed citizen, The Impeachment Power argues that impeachment is ultimately a political instrument and gives us the perspective we need to recognize when an impeachment might be useful and when we are better served by looking for alternative ways to solve our political problems.

Publisher: Cambridge, United Kingdom; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the historical use of presidential directives by US Presidents to influence federal agency programs in alignment with their priorities, both under congressional statutes and independently. It examines federal judicial review of these directives, noting that while courts have established their authority to review them, they have not consistently limited executive power. The analysis focuses on the evolution of judicial treatment regarding these directives, highlighting a recent trend towards more restrictive judicial principles. The text concludes with a discussion on the implications of these judicial decisions for presidential, congressional, and federal agency policymaking.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024. The Dark Past provides a historical overview and interpretive guide to all of the US Supreme Court’s major cases that affected the freedom and rights of Black Americans since 1800. It offers coherence to a chronicle of cases and connects the events of the past to the current era of racial inequality. The US Supreme Court sustained slavery, racial discrimination, segregation, racial inequality, and white preference through constitutional interpretation and legal doctrine. Moreover, The Dark Past incorporates structural racism as a principal definition of inequality in the contemporary Black legal experience. It elaborates on several significant cases affecting the rights of Black people, such as the Dred Scott decision and the Plessy v. Ferguson decision.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the power and role of the Supreme Court in the United States, established in the late 1700s as the most powerful court in the world. It explores how the Court gained and maintained its influence, addressing high-profile cases of significant public interest as well as less notable technical cases. The text notes that critics have historically accused the justices of making politically motivated decisions, a critique that has persisted for over two centuries.

Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the aging of federal judges in the United States, highlighting that in 2023, the median age reached 70, with a significant portion over 75 and some over 85. It notes that cognitive aging affects processing speed, reasoning, and memory, which can impact judges' performance. A study titled "Cognitive Aging and the Federal Circuit Courts" reveals that older judges take longer to write opinions, use cognitive shortcuts more, produce less complex decisions, rely on assistance more, and experience a decline in their influence on panels while becoming more susceptible to persuasion. These findings may prompt discussions about institutional reform in the judiciary.

Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press, 2024.
Rachel Bayefsky's book "Dignity and Judicial Authority," presents a theory of dignity focused on respect, non-domination, and self-presentation. It argues that US courts can recognize the loss of dignity as a legally actionable harm and outlines corresponding legal topics such as constitutional standing, dignitary torts, and court-mandated apologies. The book examines the judiciary's role in protecting dignity within a constitutional democracy, addressing concerns about judges' involvement in social disputes and the potential for increased litigation. Bayefsky advocates for a thoughtful integration of dignity into legal determinations.

Publisher: Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, 2024.
Told through the eyes of a former federal prosecutor who ran the busiest trial unit in any United States Attorney's Office, this book arms criminal defense attorneys with the tools needed to fight back against prosecutors who abuse their immense power. The authors explain how to uncover and attack prosecutorial misconduct in every aspect of a criminal prosecution. Each chapter includes favorable case law from the federal circuits to provide criminal defense attorneys with an immediate launching point for motions that will help them win their cases.

Publisher: Oakland, California: University of California Press, 2024.
The repeal of US Prohibition in 1933 marked a significant moment in the cultural acceptance of alcohol, but this shift was not immediate or guaranteed. Lisa Jacobson highlights that it involved a complex process influenced by a world war and the efforts of public relations experts, including various stakeholders like scientists, restaurateurs, and New Deal planners. These groups worked to promote alcohol as part of the American lifestyle, connecting it to wartime food initiatives and evolving ideas about pleasure in society. Jacobson's research examines how consumers' and military personnel's desires helped reshape alcohol's cultural perception and placed it at the forefront of discussions about civic rights and responsibilities.

Publisher: Lanham: Lexington Books, 2024.
"A Potent Moment" examines the current state of cannabis laws in the U.S., highlighting the historical context of cannabis criminalization and its racist origins, particularly in the War on Drugs. It provides case studies on the state-level legalization movement, evaluating its successes and failures in addressing social inequality. The book discusses the challenges of creating effective policies due to ongoing federal cannabis criminalization and analyzes the pros and cons of national legalization proposals. It concludes with a strong argument for shifting U.S. drug policy towards compassionate, evidence-based approaches instead of fear and punishment.

Publisher: Chicago: ALA Neal-Schuman, 2025.
This books discusses the principles of "slow librarianship," which emphasize reflection, collaboration, and valuing diverse contributions. It highlights the importance of attention and focus in developing visual literacy, aligning with ACRL's Visual Literacy Competency Standards. The book provides flexible lesson plans for teaching visual literacy at various competency levels (novice, intermediate, advanced) and explores methods for integrating slow looking in the classroom. It emphasizes intentional image selection and the significance of slow creating in understanding visual literacy today. Additionally, it addresses the impact of increased internet access, generative AI, and new ethical considerations on the future of visual literacy.

Publisher: Ann Arbor Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 2024.
The U.S. campaign finance system has developed due to various factors, including democracy, capitalism, constitutional interpretation, governmental structure, power competition, and the behavior of finance actors. "The Fundamentals of Campaign Finance in the U.S." by Dwyre and Kolodny contextualizes this system within the broader political and economic landscape. They review the evolution of campaign finance regulations, emphasizing the Supreme Court's prioritization of free speech over political equality, starting from Buckley v. Valeo (1976) to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002). The authors analyze corruption as a driving force behind reform efforts, highlighting issues with disclosure and enforcement by multiple federal agencies. Ultimately, they illustrate the challenges in changing a system heavily reliant on private campaign funding while balancing free speech and corruption concerns.

Publisher: Oxford, United Kingdom; New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024.
Zero Poverty Society discusses the importance of ensuring that every individual in affluent societies has access to a minimum income that allows for social participation, emphasizing it as a matter of social justice. The book explores challenges in implementing effective minimum income support, including cost-effectiveness, promoting work effort, and gaining political support. The assessment provided by Zero Poverty Society highlights the current state of minimum income protection and engages with various debates surrounding the topic. Authors Marchal and Marx advocate for improved poverty prevention without prohibitive costs but express skepticism about straightforward solutions like basic income. They argue that effective minimum income protection requires a combination of policy measures tailored to specific contexts, advocating for incremental, thoughtful expansion to support the most vulnerable.

Publisher: Ithaca: Comstock Publishing Associates, an imprint of Cornell University Press, 2024.
"Flourishing in the Age of Climate Change" highlights the essential skills needed to tackle the unique challenges of the twenty-first century, such as resource constraints, social conflict, and ecological decline. Author William M. Throop emphasizes the importance of cultivating skills in collaboration, humility, frugality, and systems thinking to foster a flourishing future. The book draws on various fields, including environmental science and sociology, to show how these skills can be developed both individually and through education, ultimately promoting sustainability and a thriving world.

Publisher: Eagan, MN: Foundation Press, 2024.
Private environmental governance has significantly increased in the last decade due to public demand for corporate environmental action and dissatisfaction with government inaction. It includes various initiatives such as corporate sustainability, ESG goals, certification systems, and efforts toward net zero emissions. This book offers a comprehensive, user-friendly guide to these innovative approaches, highlighting their importance in shaping 21st-century environmental policy by examining the key actors, strategies, and challenges involved.

Publisher: Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 2024.
On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which aimed to provide guaranteed health care coverage for every American. The act is closely tied to Obama's legacy and reflects his pragmatic approach to politics. The book "Pragmatic Vision" by Meena Bose examines eight key decisions made by Obama that facilitated the passage of this landmark legislation, highlighting his commitment to health care reform since his 2008 campaign. Despite losing a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, Obama's direct engagement and support from his staff and Democratic leaders helped navigate the bill through Congress. The Affordable Care Act remains a symbol of partisan division but has gained popularity despite numerous repeal efforts by Republicans.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024.
"Your Money or Your Life" is an exposé on medical debt collection in America, highlighting the serious financial and physical repercussions for patients who fall ill without wealth. It discusses the harsh realities faced by Americans, such as lawsuits, wage garnishments, and foreclosures due to medical debt. The book examines how medical debt collection has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry and the negative impact this has on the trust between patients and healthcare providers. Written by emergency physician and historian Luke Messac, it combines patient stories with a historical perspective on law, finance, and medicine. The text calls for a reevaluation of the healthcare system's purpose and advocates for protecting vulnerable patients from aggressive collection tactics by fostering a bipartisan movement.

Publisher: New York: New York University Press, 2023.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of migrants navigate the U.S. immigration court system, which faces a backlog of over one million cases. Many will ultimately face deportation. "The Slow Violence of Immigration Court" focuses on the experiences of migrants from the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador) as they deal with lengthy legal processes and the constant threat of deportation. The work highlights the stories of those at risk, their families, and their attorneys, urging readers to consider issues of fairness and justice within this system. It argues that the violence of deportation and family separation is a routine, often overlooked aspect of U.S. immigration policy, rather than an anomaly, making a compelling call for action.

Publisher: Durham: Duke University Press, 2024.
Monisha Das Gupta's "All of Us or None" explores contemporary antideportation organizing in the U.S. by migrants and refugees labeled as criminal aliens. The author introduces the concept of "settler carcerality," which refers to the use of deportation for territorial control against Indigenous self-determination. Through fieldwork in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Honolulu, Das Gupta highlights innovative resistance methods employed by these activists. Their struggle transcends mainstream demands for citizenship and civil rights, focusing instead on an abolitionist vision of migration justice that rejects the settler state. The work underscores the potential for transformative change through dissident, migrant-led politics aiming to dismantle settler colonial structures.

Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.
This book critically examines the politics of immigration detention and deportation, emphasizing the distinctions between representational and post-representational political sensibilities. Representational politics aims to advocate for disenfranchised individuals within the immigration law framework, while post-representational politics focuses on collaborating with those in detention to challenge the deportation system. The author argues that post-representational politics is vital for radical opposition to state racism and fosters better engagement with institutions that may co-opt resistance. The book highlights the importance of everyday practices of resistance and uses innovative methodologies to explore concepts like solidarity, hospitality, witnessing, and accountability. It is relevant for scholars and activists involved in various fields such as immigration law, social movement studies, and critical theory.

Publisher: Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the historical context of wall-building in the United States, particularly focusing on the US-Mexico border wall as a significant symbol of division. It highlights the long history of American walling projects, tracing them back nearly a century and emphasizing two crucial legislative periods: the Act of August 19, 1935, and the Secure Fence Act of 2006. The author, Marie-Eve Loiselle, argues that these walls reflect a grammar of racial inequality influenced by settler colonialism. She advocates for an understanding of the law that examines its physical presence in space and the ways in which the law and walls interact to convey legal knowledge regarding territory and identity.

Publisher: New York: New York University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the shortcomings of the U.S. asylum process in protecting victims of gender-based violence, particularly Latin American women facing severe assaults and threats from intimate partners or gangs. It highlights how immigration laws, influenced by outdated assumptions, fail to recognize "private violence" as valid grounds for asylum. Authors Carol Cleaveland and Michele Waslin share testimonies and strategies used by women to convince Immigration Judges of their situations. The text also emphasizes the negative impact of fluctuating policies across different Presidential administrations on survivors' ability to obtain asylum. Overall, it critiques America's broken asylum system while showcasing the resilience of affected women and the efforts of immigration attorneys to advocate for reform.

Publisher: Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the long history of immigrant incarceration in the United States, highlighting that U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) currently detains around 37,000 migrants each night, often using local jails. Brianna Nofil’s book, "The Migrant's Jail," explores how over a century of collaboration between U.S. immigration authorities and the criminal justice system has led to a vast migrant detention system. This practice began with the incarceration of Chinese migrants in the early 20th century and continued with Caribbean refugees in later decades. Federal immigration authorities incentivized local communities financially to incarcerate migrants, thereby fostering a trend of "administrative imprisonment." Nofil uses various historical documents to reveal the political, financial, and legal frameworks that enable this system, which operates with minimal accountability and serious repercussions for detainees.

Publisher: Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2024.
The book discusses the unconventional places where refugees have been housed over the past decade, such as abandoned airports and squatted hotels. It emphasizes the shift in focus from the dangerous journey of migration to the need for adequate shelter upon arrival. Various strategies have been implemented by governments and charities, including the use of large camps or renovated buildings. The book examines seven examples of emergency shelters post-2015 migration crisis, highlighting the political implications and challenges of providing humane shelter. Author Tom Scott-Smith critiques current approaches, arguing that they often lead to paternalism and advocates for the principle of autonomy as a more effective model for inclusive housing solutions.

Publisher: Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2024.
The text discusses the impact of the US government's World War II occupation of Alaska on Indigenous communities, particularly focusing on the Unangax' forced relocation and internment in 1942. It highlights how this era led to violence against Native women, Jim Crow segregation, and discrimination against Native servicemen, reflecting ongoing colonial expansion. However, Alaska Native peoples actively resisted this control, asserting their sovereignty and maintaining their cultural spaces. The work emphasizes the resilience and opposition of Indigenous peoples in Alaska against colonialism, offering important narratives often overlooked in conventional histories.

Publisher: Boston : Beacon Press, 2024.
"Ghosts of Crook County" discusses the story of greed and exploitation of Muscogee land during the early 1900s oil rush in Oklahoma. It focuses on Tulsa entrepreneur Charles Page's attempt to acquire land belonging to a young Muscogee boy named "Tommy Atkins," who may have never existed or had died years earlier. The narrative follows Page’s relentless pursuit of the land and involves women claiming to be Tommy's mother, alongside individuals impersonating him in court. Writer Russell Cobb highlights the broader implications of land-grabbing by white men and its lasting impact on Indigenous peoples, weaving together themes of greed, exploitation, and myth-making surrounding Tommy's life.

Publisher: Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2024.
The textbook on international humanitarian law is now in its third edition and offers an accessible and scholarly examination of the subject. It provides a comprehensive discussion that includes detailed examples, case extracts, discussion questions, and recommended readings for each chapter. The book explores developing trends in the theory and practice of international humanitarian law, helping readers understand the interaction between theory and practice while addressing significant challenges in the law of armed conflict in the twenty-first century.

Publisher: Wales: University of Wales Press, 2024.
The book "International Human Rights in Post-Colonial Africa: Universality in Perspective" argues for the significance of international human rights standards in post-colonial Africa. It presents three interconnected points that emphasize the need to reevaluate the socio-political and economic contexts affecting human rights in the region. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the study merges law with insights from various fields, defending the universality of human rights as essential imperatives and offering clear definitions to assist readers in understanding the concepts.

Publisher: Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2024.
"Indirect Rule" explores how states exercise authority over others indirectly and its implications for domestic and international politics. This approach has shaped interstate relations and US foreign policy, with allied groups in client states implementing policies favored by dominant states in return for support. Drawing on historical examples from the Caribbean, Central America, Western Europe, and the Arab Middle East, David A. Lake argues that indirect rule is most likely when assets at risk are substantial and governance costs are minimal. While this concept enhances understanding of US global dominance, it also highlights drawbacks, such as rising anti-American sentiment and questioning the effectiveness of US intervention and democracy promotion abroad.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024.
The book discusses the ongoing tension between government efforts to protect national security and the role of journalism in informing the public and holding authorities accountable. It highlights the challenges posed by misinformation, alternative news sources, and a decline in trust towards traditional media and government. The book "National Security, Journalism, and Law in an Age of Information Warfare" addresses the professional and ethical challenges faced by journalists and lawyers in the context of information disorder. It explores issues like deception, the balance of executive power, and evolving norms of privacy and transparency. The collection of essays aims to provide insights and solutions for improving policies and practices in both government and journalism.

Publisher: Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2024.
The text examines how teen pop culture from the late 1990s and early 2000s, exemplified by movies like "Clueless," TV shows such as "Dawson's Creek," and brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, propagated the idea that being popular and attractive was essential for a happy life. This cultural message fostered upwardly mobile aspirations among millennials. However, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, many millennials find themselves facing economic challenges and disparities in wealth that starkly contrast with the optimistic narratives of their youth, revealing a disconnect between the materialistic ideals of the era and the harsher realities of today.

Publisher: Oakland, California: University of California Press, 2025.
Black Lives Matter and #MeToo are two of the most prominent twenty-first-century social movements in the United States. On the ground and on social media, more people have taken an active stance in support of either or both movements than almost any others in the country's history. Social Movements and the Law brings together the voices of twelve scholars and public intellectuals to explore how Black Lives Matter and #MeToo unfolded--separately and together--and how they enrich, inform, and complicate each other. Structured in dialogues and punctuated with informative text boxes, illustrations, and discussion questions, this accessible guide to an increasingly influential area of the law centers rich intersectional analysis of both movements and prompts readers to undertake further reflection and conversation. At a time of heightened public attention to the broader scholarly study of human social behavior and interaction, this book shows how people with different perspectives can engage one another in open dialogue with regard to social justice topics.

publisher: Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the impact of industrialization on rural communities in America's Northern Forest during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly as lumbermen moved west and south. It highlights how these communities adapted to create value in marginal lands as resources became scarce. The book "Cutover Capitalism: The Industrialization of the Northern Forest" offers a new perspective on this process by examining the roles of workers and their environments. It explores how the bodies of workers and the cutover landscapes were utilized to enhance production efficiency, often through brutal means. The study combines insights from labor history, environmental history, and capitalism, presenting a character-driven and theoretically rich narrative on the experiences of those living through this period of industrialization.

Publisher: Eagan, MN: West Academic Publishing, 2023.
"Mastering the Law School Exam" helps students understand law school exams. This book focuses on practical advice, giving detailed examples to show students exactly how to approach and write their answers. It helps students: Bridge the gap between learning to "think like a lawyer" and actually doing it; Create a clear path from note-taking to outlining to writing exams; Recognize the basic skills that exams test and how they are evaluated; Get to know different types of law school exams through examples and analyses of sample answers; Use legal language correctly when writing issues, rule statements, and fact analyses; Make reasonable inferences from the facts; Enhance their reading and writing skills; Take proactive steps by completing assessments in various subjects and formats; Simulate exam conditions by writing under timed pressure; Target their assessments based on specific learning goals; Self-assess using clear grading rubrics; Use feedback from assessments to improve their learning; Organize their thoughts to write clear analyses; and Adapt the "IRAC" structure of legal analysis for answering multiple-choice questions, writing essays, and tackling performance tests.

Publisher: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2024.
The book explores global efforts to decolonize legal education, emphasizing post/decolonial thought and anti-racist pedagogical methods. It features a collection of innovative teaching practices, covering both civil and common law systems and incorporating Indigenous legal cases. Key topics examined include decolonization, anti-racism in criminology, colonialism, and Indigenous justice. The volume aims to address injustices in legal education and serves as a resource for curriculum designers, law educators, and students at all levels.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2024.
"The Supreme Guide to Writing" by law professor Jill Barton uses the U.S. Supreme Court justices as a model to teach modern grammar and writing style. The book analyzes 10,000 pages of Court opinions, revealing contemporary grammar and style rules that the justices follow while discarding outdated ones. It highlights the Court's shift toward more approachable language, incorporating pop-culture references and contractions. The book features examples of the justices' effective writing, detailing how figures like Justice Elena Kagan and Chief Justice John Roberts use humor and clarity in their prose. Ultimately, it provides insights on emulating the justices' writing techniques while offering a nonpartisan view of their communication style.

Publisher: Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024.
The book discusses the urgent issue of suicide in the United States, where nearly 50,000 individuals die by suicide each year and over 1.2 million attempt it. John Bateson examines this crisis by addressing common myths, sharing demographic data, and identifying risk factors and warning signs. He highlights that the rise in suicide is a societal issue, not just a mental health concern. The discussion includes suicide in various contexts, such as parks, prisons, and the military, and covers methods like assisted suicide and murder-suicide. Bateson emphasizes the importance of restricting access to lethal means as a preventive measure and outlines practical steps that individuals, businesses, and the government can take to combat this public health problem.

Publisher: Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2024.
"Conscription, Conscientious Objection, and Draft Resistance in American History" is a comprehensive history of conscription in the United States, covering its evolution from the pre-Revolutionary War colonial militia drafts to the end of the Vietnam War. The book features detailed examinations of draft laws, the functioning of the conscription system, and key court decisions. It also highlights the various forms of popular opposition to conscription, including organized and unorganized movements, and provides insights into the depth of anti-conscription sentiment using previously untapped government documents.

Publisher: Portsmouth, NH: International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2023.
The text highlights key updates in the Fifth edition, including: A practical roadmap for compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA and CPRA) effective January 1, 2023; Interpretive guidance on new and existing federal and California laws, such as the Genetic Information Privacy Act and the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act; Insights from federal and California cases, regulatory actions, and settlements up to November 2022; and Updates on vendor contracting, privacy policy disclosures, and risk mitigation measures.

Publisher: Portsmouth, NH: an IAPP Publication, International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2023.
"European Data Protection: Law and Practice" provides an in-depth analysis of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), exploring its territorial and material scope. The text discusses the criteria for legitimate processing of personal data, the obligations related to information provision, and the rights afforded to data subjects. Furthermore, it addresses the essential elements of data security and the accountability requirements imposed on organizations. The publication also delves into the mechanisms for supervision and enforcement of compliance with the GDPR. The second edition incorporates updated information concerning GDPR enforcement actions and offers guidance from various regulatory bodies, including the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), thereby enhancing the understanding of GDPR regulations and their practical implications.

Publisher: Portsmouth, NH: International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), 2024.
The Second Edition of “Cybersecurity Law Fundamentals” is updated to reflect significant changes in U.S. cybersecurity law. It serves as both a primer and reference for cybersecurity practitioners seeking quick insights, as well as for generalists and newcomers, including general counsels, policymakers, attorneys transitioning to cybersecurity, and students preparing for careers in this field.

Publisher: Portsmouth, NH: International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2024.
The book provides an overview of U.S. privacy laws and regulations, highlighting significant technological and societal developments. This edition features new chapters on state comprehensive privacy laws and technological aspects. Key updates cover the pandemic's impact on workplace privacy, the privacy implications of the Dobbs case, emerging technology regulations, privacy risk management, and the finalization of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.

Publisher: Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2024.
Trans Philosophy is an emerging field focused on philosophical inquiries that elevate and illuminate global trans experiences and cultural productions. It critically emphasizes contributions from trans and gender-nonconforming philosophers worldwide, addressing issues like discrimination, embodiment, identity, and intersections with class, disability, race, nationality, and sexuality. The volume aims to counter growing trans-exclusionary views in politics and philosophy by centering wisdom from trans and gender-disruptive communities.

Publisher: Durham: Duke University Press, 2024.
In "Indie Porn," Zahra Stardust explores the motivations and challenges faced by independent porn producers dealing with criminal laws, risk-averse platforms, and piracy. As a porn performer herself, she provides insights into a sociopolitical movement that includes politicians watching porn, face-sitting protesters, and sex workers creating COVID-safe content. Stardust highlights the potential of indie porn to democratize content and challenge traditional structures, while also noting the stigma surrounding porn and its intersection with broader social oppressions. She identifies opportunities for coalition-building to reshape perceptions of sex, work, and capitalism amidst these challenges.

Publisher: Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2024.
In "The Sexual Economy of Capitalism," Noam Yuran explores the sexual economy within capitalism, arguing that exchanges involving sex and intimacy are central to economic functioning rather than peripheral. It challenges the notion that everything has a price in capitalism, highlighting that the concept of love represents a key component that cannot be monetized. The book examines how erotic and gendered meanings influence fundamental economic concepts like money and commodities. By engaging with psychoanalysis, feminist theory, and heterodox economic thought, Yuran provides insight into the relationship between love, sex, and money in shaping capitalist economic life.

Publisher: Hershey, PA: IGI Global Publisher of Timely Knowledge, 2024.
The book uses scientific methods to predict future crimes in the metaverse and examines the implications for police effectiveness in addressing these crimes.

Publisher: Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2024.
Facial recognition technology is increasingly used for identity verification in various sectors, including law enforcement and security. However, the rapid advancements in this technology have outpaced existing laws and regulations, leading to concerns about equity, privacy, and civil liberties. The report examines the current and future capabilities of facial recognition technology and addresses its legal, societal, and ethical implications. It provides recommendations for federal agencies and developers to mitigate potential harms and implement more comprehensive safeguards.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2024.
"Rethinking Cyber Warfare" assesses the understanding and implications of major cyberattacks on international relations, fifteen years into the cyber warfare era. The book examines the impact of digital disruption on global security, focusing on major cyberattacks against wired societies. It revisits key policies of global powers and explores factors that could limit the use of such attacks. The text provides essential technological and historical context, discussing how deterrence, international law, and social norms influence state behavior regarding cyber disruptions. Ultimately, it offers insights into managing the challenges posed by cyber threats in international security.

Publisher: Princeton New Jersey; Oxford England: Princeton University Press, 2024.
Beyond Banks discusses how new technologies are transforming the money and payment landscape, highlighting platforms like PayPal, Venmo, WeChat, Alipay, and stablecoins. It emphasizes the benefits of this disruption, such as faster, cheaper, and more secure payments, while also warning of the risks associated with bad money due to outdated regulations. Dan Awrey explores the origins of the current banking system and argues for significant reforms in laws and institutions to enhance the credibility of monetary commitments, unbundle banking from money and payments, and ensure stability. He advocates for a proactive role for policymakers to foster technological innovation and competition in the payments sector, ultimately aiming for a safer and more inclusive financial system.

Publisher: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024.
Lerong Lu analyzes the Fintech revolution, highlighting the interplay between financial services and information technologies like big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and AI. The study focuses on banking institutions, online lending marketplaces, and money and payment systems to evaluate the impact of financial innovations on traditional finance, alongside regulatory challenges and global policymaker responses. It includes international case studies on various Fintech aspects, such as app-based banking, mobile payments, P2P lending, and cryptocurrencies, while assessing global Fintech hubs. Lu discusses the dynamic Fintech ecosystem, key players, and the advantages for both financial institutions and consumers. He emphasizes Fintech's potential for promoting a more equitable and sustainable financial system, while also addressing the associated legal, ethical, and regulatory challenges.

Publisher: Cambridge, United Kingdom; New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2024.
This handbook explores the impact of blockchain and NFTs on various industries, addressing legal and ethical dilemmas. It covers topics such as finance, anti-money laundering, taxation, and campaign finance. Key areas of focus include intellectual property rights, data privacy, and ethical blockchain use. The book provides insights, case studies, and recommendations for creating balanced regulations that foster innovation while protecting stakeholders' interests, offering a roadmap for navigating the evolving landscape of these technologies.

Publisher: Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press; Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2023.
Tom Wheeler's book "Techlash" discusses the parallels between the late 19th-century industrial Gilded Age and today's 21st-century digital Gilded Age, focusing on the impact of technology and the resultant wealth. He argues that, like in the past, contemporary technological innovations have largely operated without oversight, leading to conflicts with public interest. Wheeler emphasizes the necessity for a new era of public interest oversight, advocating for agile and enforced regulations that protect consumers and foster competition while also encouraging innovation. His insights are drawn from extensive experience in both business and government, highlighting the importance of balancing entrepreneurial innovation with the public good.

Publisher: New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2023.
The book discusses the significant changes in the media environment, political party polarization, and wealth inequality over the last two decades, which necessitate a re-evaluation of political accountability in the U.S. "Accountability Reconsidered" analyzes how political accountability operates today, focusing on voter behavior, policymaking, and the relationships between voters, interest groups, legislators, and government bureaucracy. It features original research and contributions from experts that examine the impact of the information environment on government officials, aiming to enhance the understanding of accountability mechanisms in the current political landscape.

Publisher: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2023.
Civics textbooks emphasize the legislative process in Congress, but in reality, less than five percent of introduced bills become law due to challenges like bicameralism, partisan gridlock, and leadership control. In her book, Melinda N. Ritchie explores how members of Congress utilize the federal bureaucracy as an alternative method for policymaking. She argues that unelected bureaucrats create more law through agency regulations than through congressional statutes, allowing lawmakers to represent controversial interests discreetly. Ritchie provides evidence from a dataset obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, illustrating how congressional interactions with federal agencies are part of a strategic approach to policymaking. Her work highlights how Congress members navigate the separation of powers to bypass traditional lawmaking processes.

Publisher: Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024.
The book discusses the challenges facing America's current constitutional system, arguing that it is outdated for modern society. It highlights issues like gerrymandering and the inability of the current government to effectively address urgent problems. Maxwell L. Stearns proposes a parliamentary democracy as a solution, suggesting that three specific amendments—expanding the House of Representatives, having House party coalitions choose the president, and allowing the House to end a failing presidency—would lead to a more effective multiparty democracy. He emphasizes that these changes would preserve the status of incumbents, providing a less threatening approach to reform. The text also explores successful aspects of parliamentary systems in various countries and presents an optimistic vision for transforming the U.S. democracy into a thriving parliamentary model.

Publisher: Abingdon, Oxon, UK; New York, NY: Routledge, 2024.
The edited volume examines the relationship between video games and law, highlighting how law functions as a multiplayer role-playing game. It discusses the process of world-creation in legal contexts, where law sets the boundaries of acceptable behavior and requires individuals to act as legal subjects. The collection critiques how traditional laws (e.g., copyright, property) regulate the actions of game developers, publishers, and players. It explores how players interact with legal frameworks within video games, contributing to cultural legal studies, and appealing to legal theorists, socio-legal scholars, and game theorists.

Publisher: Oakland, California: University of California Press, 2024.
This explosive investigation reveals the profound failures of the Title IX system and identifies concrete, surprisingly simple steps we can take to protect students.   The debate over campus sexual violence is more heated than ever, but hardly anyone knows what actually happens inside Title IX offices. On the Wrong Side provides the first comprehensive account of the inner workings of the secretive Title IX system. Drawing on a yearlong study of survivors, perpetrators, and the administrators who oversaw their cases, sociologist Nicole Bedera exposes the structures that predictably punish survivors who come forward in the service of protecting--or even rewarding--their perpetrators. In doing so, she reveals that the system tasked with ending gender inequality on campus only intensifies it, upending survivors' lives and threatening the degrees that brought them to college in the first place.   Equally heartbreaking and optimistic, On the Wrong Side makes it easy to imagine life-changing interventions for the next generation of students by proposing specific solutions to the structural problems of Title IX. Bedera proves that ending campus sexual violence is within our grasp--and dares us to be courageous enough to take action.  

Publisher: Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2024.
The text discusses the need for greater acknowledgment of menopause within legal and social contexts, highlighting that it is a natural stage experienced by over half the population. Despite its significance, menopause remains a taboo topic, contributing to stigma and bias in reproductive health discussions. The book "Hot Flash," authored by Emily Gold Waldman, Bridget Crawford, and Naomi Cahn, aims to replace this silence with understanding, examining the stereotypes and legal treatment of menopause. It advocates for changes in legislation and workplace policies to support those experiencing menopause. The authors also address menopause discrimination among trans men and gender nonbinary individuals, promoting a new wave of intersectional feminism that considers gender, disability, age, and race.

Publisher: New York; London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2023.
This book examines the impact of 'gendering' constitutions on women's equality, utilizing a mixed-method approach. It analyzes how constitutional gender rights influence political processes, legislative and judicial outcomes, and ultimately women's equality. The authors conducted a cross-national study, creating a database of gender provisions in over 100 countries for the years 1995, 2005, and 2015. They present four case studies from Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and Botswana, focusing on family law, gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and employment rights. The authors argue that egalitarian constitutional provisions empower women's rights advocates to combat gender discrimination and drive policy changes. The book highlights the mechanisms connecting constitutional frameworks to process and outcome changes regarding gender equality over time.

Publisher: Tucson : University of Arizona Press, 2024
The collection of essays examines the multifaceted topic of mothers and mothering, particularly among Latinx, Black, and Indigenous communities across the U.S.-Mexico border. It challenges traditional notions of parenting and Latinx womanhood by addressing various forms of oppression, such as border militarization, feminicides, and barriers to healthcare. Thirty contributors share their lived experiences and research, focusing on themes like migration, detention, and the complexities of mothering in these contexts. The essays emphasize how geopolitical factors influence motherhood and redefine who can mother and what mothering signifies.

Publisher: Boston: Beacon Press, 2024.
In "Faux Feminism," political philosopher Serene Khader critiques the current state of feminism, which she argues is eroding and primarily serves white, affluent women. She identifies several "faux feminisms" that misrepresent true feminist ideals, including the concepts of personal freedom over collective equality, individualism versus social expectations, misinterpretations of cultural restrictions, and the celebration of women’s choices without considering their privileges. Khader emphasizes the importance of learning from women of color, particularly in the Global South, to build a more inclusive and resilient feminist movement. Her vision advocates for tackling societal inequality through a community-focused approach rather than emphasizing individual freedom.