Book Review: Cases on the Law of Public Service

Among the reviews, almost uniformly appreciative, of the first edition of this valuable casebook, was one which regretted the departure -of the inclusive and scholarly casebook of the Ames type and the substitution of course casebooks designed primarily as practical tools for use in a particular course. (29 Harv. L. Rev. 891.) It is hardly a complete characterization of this book to consider it as merely a trade tool. Yet it is true that it is designed primarily for teaching pur- poses and not as a text of the subject. The reviewer regards this as not a defect but an especial merit of the present casebook, which has proven eminently useful in course work. There are probably all sorts of tastes in casebooks but it is thought that the day of the treatise casebook is over. Such a work is not adequate as a treatise and it is not in accord with our thorough-going modern belief in the case system of education. In fact it represented a compromise and a transition from the textbook method of instruction. On this view the notes should be designed, not as complete delineations of topics, but as suggestive only, pointing out opposing views or additional lines of development of the subject. Professor Burdick\u27s notes well fulfill such a purpose and are particularly commendable for their adequate citation of recent law journal material