An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

It wasn't what I was expecting, 11 Sep 2008
I was kind of hoping for a series of funny, interesting or weird story's from people's school days, not necessarily celebritey's.

I was quite suprised that it wasn't anything like the TV show. Although the TV show is fantastic, this book isn't so good.

The book is written with the games, insults or whatever written in an alphabetical order, which is fair enough, but it could have been done better.

If you are hoping for a written version of the TV show, this is not it. As a book in its own right it's not bad, but it is aimed at the 30+ group, I'd say.

Law of the playground, 19 Jul 2008
I laughed until I cried, mentally ticking off all the pranks/jokes/violence inflicted on my classmates & myself. I have had to hide my copy somewhere very safe out of fear that my 11 year old would find out just what the comments of 'lively' on my school reports really alluded to. This is a must for anyone who has ever been to school & a waste of time for those that haven't because you wouldn't understand what the words meant...

A thumpin' good read, 02 Mar 2006
This book is simply chuffing great. It's funnier than a broken pit pony and will give you more laughs than you're ever likely to find at a comedy night down at the Huddersfield Emporium. Buy it now.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Jimmy Carr is NOT in it. Not ONCE. That, for me, is the mark of true perfection.

Awfully amusing, 28 Jul 2005
I read this and split my britches. My braces snapped. I laughed, I cried, I belmed furiously. I beabled at least three times.

Buy it for friends, for family, give it to strangers. It's that good.

Authoritative and definitive, 20 Apr 2005
A compendious tome, epic in scope but intimate in detail, exploring the intricacies of its delicate subject matter with the methodical precision of a spade-fisted belmer torturing a kitten, this book has affected me more than any other literary work. Except perhaps Asterix and the Big Fight. But whereas Goscinny and Uderzo's magnum opus relied on slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes, Blyth employs the more subtle tools of slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes.

At times the parables within this book are so self-revelatory that they make you weep, but Blyth always shows that even most horrifying episodes of puerile, venal cruelty have an uplifting, even hilarious aspect. Namely that they happened to someone else.

Buy this book, or bleakly beable forever against the dying of the light.

An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

It wasn't what I was expecting, 11 Sep 2008
I was kind of hoping for a series of funny, interesting or weird story's from people's school days, not necessarily celebritey's.

I was quite suprised that it wasn't anything like the TV show. Although the TV show is fantastic, this book isn't so good.

The book is written with the games, insults or whatever written in an alphabetical order, which is fair enough, but it could have been done better.

If you are hoping for a written version of the TV show, this is not it. As a book in its own right it's not bad, but it is aimed at the 30+ group, I'd say.

Law of the playground, 19 Jul 2008
I laughed until I cried, mentally ticking off all the pranks/jokes/violence inflicted on my classmates & myself. I have had to hide my copy somewhere very safe out of fear that my 11 year old would find out just what the comments of 'lively' on my school reports really alluded to. This is a must for anyone who has ever been to school & a waste of time for those that haven't because you wouldn't understand what the words meant...

A thumpin' good read, 02 Mar 2006
This book is simply chuffing great. It's funnier than a broken pit pony and will give you more laughs than you're ever likely to find at a comedy night down at the Huddersfield Emporium. Buy it now.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Jimmy Carr is NOT in it. Not ONCE. That, for me, is the mark of true perfection.

Awfully amusing, 28 Jul 2005
I read this and split my britches. My braces snapped. I laughed, I cried, I belmed furiously. I beabled at least three times.

Buy it for friends, for family, give it to strangers. It's that good.

Authoritative and definitive, 20 Apr 2005
A compendious tome, epic in scope but intimate in detail, exploring the intricacies of its delicate subject matter with the methodical precision of a spade-fisted belmer torturing a kitten, this book has affected me more than any other literary work. Except perhaps Asterix and the Big Fight. But whereas Goscinny and Uderzo's magnum opus relied on slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes, Blyth employs the more subtle tools of slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes.

At times the parables within this book are so self-revelatory that they make you weep, but Blyth always shows that even most horrifying episodes of puerile, venal cruelty have an uplifting, even hilarious aspect. Namely that they happened to someone else.

Buy this book, or bleakly beable forever against the dying of the light.

Drawing Crime Noir Review, 26 Aug 2008
This is a very good book and makes a good introduction to drawing in the noir style. It clearly shows the drawing and ink up techniques needed to produce top quality artwork in this style. Team this book with the book "How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling" and you have a good start with a little talent at being able to produce artwork in this style. I recommend the second book because I feel that "Drawing Crime Noir for Comics and Graphic Novels" is weak on the mechanics of producing the final comic artwork. It's very good at showing how to draw is this style if that's what you need.

An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

It wasn't what I was expecting, 11 Sep 2008
I was kind of hoping for a series of funny, interesting or weird story's from people's school days, not necessarily celebritey's.

I was quite suprised that it wasn't anything like the TV show. Although the TV show is fantastic, this book isn't so good.

The book is written with the games, insults or whatever written in an alphabetical order, which is fair enough, but it could have been done better.

If you are hoping for a written version of the TV show, this is not it. As a book in its own right it's not bad, but it is aimed at the 30+ group, I'd say.

Law of the playground, 19 Jul 2008
I laughed until I cried, mentally ticking off all the pranks/jokes/violence inflicted on my classmates & myself. I have had to hide my copy somewhere very safe out of fear that my 11 year old would find out just what the comments of 'lively' on my school reports really alluded to. This is a must for anyone who has ever been to school & a waste of time for those that haven't because you wouldn't understand what the words meant...

A thumpin' good read, 02 Mar 2006
This book is simply chuffing great. It's funnier than a broken pit pony and will give you more laughs than you're ever likely to find at a comedy night down at the Huddersfield Emporium. Buy it now.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Jimmy Carr is NOT in it. Not ONCE. That, for me, is the mark of true perfection.

Awfully amusing, 28 Jul 2005
I read this and split my britches. My braces snapped. I laughed, I cried, I belmed furiously. I beabled at least three times.

Buy it for friends, for family, give it to strangers. It's that good.

Authoritative and definitive, 20 Apr 2005
A compendious tome, epic in scope but intimate in detail, exploring the intricacies of its delicate subject matter with the methodical precision of a spade-fisted belmer torturing a kitten, this book has affected me more than any other literary work. Except perhaps Asterix and the Big Fight. But whereas Goscinny and Uderzo's magnum opus relied on slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes, Blyth employs the more subtle tools of slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes.

At times the parables within this book are so self-revelatory that they make you weep, but Blyth always shows that even most horrifying episodes of puerile, venal cruelty have an uplifting, even hilarious aspect. Namely that they happened to someone else.

Buy this book, or bleakly beable forever against the dying of the light.

Drawing Crime Noir Review, 26 Aug 2008
This is a very good book and makes a good introduction to drawing in the noir style. It clearly shows the drawing and ink up techniques needed to produce top quality artwork in this style. Team this book with the book "How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling" and you have a good start with a little talent at being able to produce artwork in this style. I recommend the second book because I feel that "Drawing Crime Noir for Comics and Graphic Novels" is weak on the mechanics of producing the final comic artwork. It's very good at showing how to draw is this style if that's what you need.

Distance between genius and stupidity is measured by success, 17 Oct 2003
Stupidity and the law may be words frequently juxtaposed together, particularly for those of you who object to buying television licences or have been clocked travelling at thirty one miles per hour in a thirty limit. Nevertheless, there will be some who actually see the necessity for such laws (namely white, middle-aged men working in Whitehall). However, this book illustrates the foolishness of those who deliberately flaunt with the law, and such stupidity in this sense will no doubt be inconceivable to all.

One such example is by one man in America filing an insurance claim for instances of ‘small fires’. Although this may appear to be reasonable behaviour, the twist arrives when you read that such ‘small fires’ were on cigars. Even more bizarrely was that his claim was successful! But before the smokers among you quickly dash down to your insurance office to collect those claim forms, bear in mind that like this man you may later face charges of arson!

Interestingly this book illustrates very few instances of dim-witted criminals from the UK, which either suggests our criminals are very intelligent or there is a problem somewhere else along the line; I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Although it is a simple read providing even the most solemn person with twitches of amusement, it could also be used as a physiological guide into the minds of criminal activity. Whether it be analysing the intentions of the overweight individual who decided to expose himself in order to gain entry to a building via the skylight (but then getting stuck), or the person who thought a good getaway would be to join a group of trainee police officers out for a run – this book displays areas of human behaviour that will amaze and confuse normal, rational people.

Whether you are a budding lawyer or just want to be able to have a good laugh at those whose intelligence lies between a goldfish and Homer Simpson, this short collection of cases will lead you either thirsty for more or depressed at the levels to which human stupidity can sink.

An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

It wasn't what I was expecting, 11 Sep 2008
I was kind of hoping for a series of funny, interesting or weird story's from people's school days, not necessarily celebritey's.

I was quite suprised that it wasn't anything like the TV show. Although the TV show is fantastic, this book isn't so good.

The book is written with the games, insults or whatever written in an alphabetical order, which is fair enough, but it could have been done better.

If you are hoping for a written version of the TV show, this is not it. As a book in its own right it's not bad, but it is aimed at the 30+ group, I'd say.

Law of the playground, 19 Jul 2008
I laughed until I cried, mentally ticking off all the pranks/jokes/violence inflicted on my classmates & myself. I have had to hide my copy somewhere very safe out of fear that my 11 year old would find out just what the comments of 'lively' on my school reports really alluded to. This is a must for anyone who has ever been to school & a waste of time for those that haven't because you wouldn't understand what the words meant...

A thumpin' good read, 02 Mar 2006
This book is simply chuffing great. It's funnier than a broken pit pony and will give you more laughs than you're ever likely to find at a comedy night down at the Huddersfield Emporium. Buy it now.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Jimmy Carr is NOT in it. Not ONCE. That, for me, is the mark of true perfection.

Awfully amusing, 28 Jul 2005
I read this and split my britches. My braces snapped. I laughed, I cried, I belmed furiously. I beabled at least three times.

Buy it for friends, for family, give it to strangers. It's that good.

Authoritative and definitive, 20 Apr 2005
A compendious tome, epic in scope but intimate in detail, exploring the intricacies of its delicate subject matter with the methodical precision of a spade-fisted belmer torturing a kitten, this book has affected me more than any other literary work. Except perhaps Asterix and the Big Fight. But whereas Goscinny and Uderzo's magnum opus relied on slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes, Blyth employs the more subtle tools of slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes.

At times the parables within this book are so self-revelatory that they make you weep, but Blyth always shows that even most horrifying episodes of puerile, venal cruelty have an uplifting, even hilarious aspect. Namely that they happened to someone else.

Buy this book, or bleakly beable forever against the dying of the light.

Drawing Crime Noir Review, 26 Aug 2008
This is a very good book and makes a good introduction to drawing in the noir style. It clearly shows the drawing and ink up techniques needed to produce top quality artwork in this style. Team this book with the book "How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling" and you have a good start with a little talent at being able to produce artwork in this style. I recommend the second book because I feel that "Drawing Crime Noir for Comics and Graphic Novels" is weak on the mechanics of producing the final comic artwork. It's very good at showing how to draw is this style if that's what you need.

Distance between genius and stupidity is measured by success, 17 Oct 2003
Stupidity and the law may be words frequently juxtaposed together, particularly for those of you who object to buying television licences or have been clocked travelling at thirty one miles per hour in a thirty limit. Nevertheless, there will be some who actually see the necessity for such laws (namely white, middle-aged men working in Whitehall). However, this book illustrates the foolishness of those who deliberately flaunt with the law, and such stupidity in this sense will no doubt be inconceivable to all.

One such example is by one man in America filing an insurance claim for instances of ‘small fires’. Although this may appear to be reasonable behaviour, the twist arrives when you read that such ‘small fires’ were on cigars. Even more bizarrely was that his claim was successful! But before the smokers among you quickly dash down to your insurance office to collect those claim forms, bear in mind that like this man you may later face charges of arson!

Interestingly this book illustrates very few instances of dim-witted criminals from the UK, which either suggests our criminals are very intelligent or there is a problem somewhere else along the line; I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Although it is a simple read providing even the most solemn person with twitches of amusement, it could also be used as a physiological guide into the minds of criminal activity. Whether it be analysing the intentions of the overweight individual who decided to expose himself in order to gain entry to a building via the skylight (but then getting stuck), or the person who thought a good getaway would be to join a group of trainee police officers out for a run – this book displays areas of human behaviour that will amaze and confuse normal, rational people.

Whether you are a budding lawyer or just want to be able to have a good laugh at those whose intelligence lies between a goldfish and Homer Simpson, this short collection of cases will lead you either thirsty for more or depressed at the levels to which human stupidity can sink.

FANTASTIC!, 29 Sep 2008
Williams' drawings are fantastic. They manage to inject a large dose of humour into the world of law, which is no mean feat. A must buy for all lawyers - and for anyone who has ever had the misfortune of instructing one!

Brilliantly funny..., 20 May 2008
...beautifully drawn and painfully true... every lawyer should be given one (or at £500 an hour, buy their own...).

Rumpole for everybody, 14 Mar 2008
What a genius this man Williams is. To draw the humour out of the dry business of barristering puts him on a par with John Mortimer, creator of Rumpole, but this man is a zillion times more accessible. If you've ever cussed a lawyer (even silently) this is a must. A gem that makes a perfect gift.

An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

It wasn't what I was expecting, 11 Sep 2008
I was kind of hoping for a series of funny, interesting or weird story's from people's school days, not necessarily celebritey's.

I was quite suprised that it wasn't anything like the TV show. Although the TV show is fantastic, this book isn't so good.

The book is written with the games, insults or whatever written in an alphabetical order, which is fair enough, but it could have been done better.

If you are hoping for a written version of the TV show, this is not it. As a book in its own right it's not bad, but it is aimed at the 30+ group, I'd say.

Law of the playground, 19 Jul 2008
I laughed until I cried, mentally ticking off all the pranks/jokes/violence inflicted on my classmates & myself. I have had to hide my copy somewhere very safe out of fear that my 11 year old would find out just what the comments of 'lively' on my school reports really alluded to. This is a must for anyone who has ever been to school & a waste of time for those that haven't because you wouldn't understand what the words meant...

A thumpin' good read, 02 Mar 2006
This book is simply chuffing great. It's funnier than a broken pit pony and will give you more laughs than you're ever likely to find at a comedy night down at the Huddersfield Emporium. Buy it now.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Jimmy Carr is NOT in it. Not ONCE. That, for me, is the mark of true perfection.

Awfully amusing, 28 Jul 2005
I read this and split my britches. My braces snapped. I laughed, I cried, I belmed furiously. I beabled at least three times.

Buy it for friends, for family, give it to strangers. It's that good.

Authoritative and definitive, 20 Apr 2005
A compendious tome, epic in scope but intimate in detail, exploring the intricacies of its delicate subject matter with the methodical precision of a spade-fisted belmer torturing a kitten, this book has affected me more than any other literary work. Except perhaps Asterix and the Big Fight. But whereas Goscinny and Uderzo's magnum opus relied on slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes, Blyth employs the more subtle tools of slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes.

At times the parables within this book are so self-revelatory that they make you weep, but Blyth always shows that even most horrifying episodes of puerile, venal cruelty have an uplifting, even hilarious aspect. Namely that they happened to someone else.

Buy this book, or bleakly beable forever against the dying of the light.

Drawing Crime Noir Review, 26 Aug 2008
This is a very good book and makes a good introduction to drawing in the noir style. It clearly shows the drawing and ink up techniques needed to produce top quality artwork in this style. Team this book with the book "How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling" and you have a good start with a little talent at being able to produce artwork in this style. I recommend the second book because I feel that "Drawing Crime Noir for Comics and Graphic Novels" is weak on the mechanics of producing the final comic artwork. It's very good at showing how to draw is this style if that's what you need.

Distance between genius and stupidity is measured by success, 17 Oct 2003
Stupidity and the law may be words frequently juxtaposed together, particularly for those of you who object to buying television licences or have been clocked travelling at thirty one miles per hour in a thirty limit. Nevertheless, there will be some who actually see the necessity for such laws (namely white, middle-aged men working in Whitehall). However, this book illustrates the foolishness of those who deliberately flaunt with the law, and such stupidity in this sense will no doubt be inconceivable to all.

One such example is by one man in America filing an insurance claim for instances of ‘small fires’. Although this may appear to be reasonable behaviour, the twist arrives when you read that such ‘small fires’ were on cigars. Even more bizarrely was that his claim was successful! But before the smokers among you quickly dash down to your insurance office to collect those claim forms, bear in mind that like this man you may later face charges of arson!

Interestingly this book illustrates very few instances of dim-witted criminals from the UK, which either suggests our criminals are very intelligent or there is a problem somewhere else along the line; I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Although it is a simple read providing even the most solemn person with twitches of amusement, it could also be used as a physiological guide into the minds of criminal activity. Whether it be analysing the intentions of the overweight individual who decided to expose himself in order to gain entry to a building via the skylight (but then getting stuck), or the person who thought a good getaway would be to join a group of trainee police officers out for a run – this book displays areas of human behaviour that will amaze and confuse normal, rational people.

Whether you are a budding lawyer or just want to be able to have a good laugh at those whose intelligence lies between a goldfish and Homer Simpson, this short collection of cases will lead you either thirsty for more or depressed at the levels to which human stupidity can sink.

FANTASTIC!, 29 Sep 2008
Williams' drawings are fantastic. They manage to inject a large dose of humour into the world of law, which is no mean feat. A must buy for all lawyers - and for anyone who has ever had the misfortune of instructing one!

Brilliantly funny..., 20 May 2008
...beautifully drawn and painfully true... every lawyer should be given one (or at £500 an hour, buy their own...).

Rumpole for everybody, 14 Mar 2008
What a genius this man Williams is. To draw the humour out of the dry business of barristering puts him on a par with John Mortimer, creator of Rumpole, but this man is a zillion times more accessible. If you've ever cussed a lawyer (even silently) this is a must. A gem that makes a perfect gift.



Villainous!, 07 Mar 2004
First of all this is not a serious book. It is more like something from the "Worst Case Scenario" series. It's still great fun to read and very informative for a future supervillain. It includes everything from selecting your evil lair, how to do an evil laugh and when to use it, your evil henchmen guide and of course what to wear as a villain. The book also contains an "evil plan generator". With it you can make your own plan of how to spread evil. Just remember, this is all in fun.

An excellent reference - when taking the mickey out of Yanks, 26 Sep 2002
A Funny little book, which highlights stupid laws from around the world that are still on the statute books, though presumably are not enforced any longer in most cases.

When you read this it will cause you to ponder, what exactly occured to cause the city fathers of Canton, Mississippi to decide that it was a crime to kill a squirrel with a gun in a courthouse?

Very,very funny., 06 Nov 2000
It is a mad mad world and this book proves it. Every country in the world seems to have stupid laws and the United Kingdom is no exception.A very good book and every page is a laugh.

It wasn't what I was expecting, 11 Sep 2008
I was kind of hoping for a series of funny, interesting or weird story's from people's school days, not necessarily celebritey's.

I was quite suprised that it wasn't anything like the TV show. Although the TV show is fantastic, this book isn't so good.

The book is written with the games, insults or whatever written in an alphabetical order, which is fair enough, but it could have been done better.

If you are hoping for a written version of the TV show, this is not it. As a book in its own right it's not bad, but it is aimed at the 30+ group, I'd say.

Law of the playground, 19 Jul 2008
I laughed until I cried, mentally ticking off all the pranks/jokes/violence inflicted on my classmates & myself. I have had to hide my copy somewhere very safe out of fear that my 11 year old would find out just what the comments of 'lively' on my school reports really alluded to. This is a must for anyone who has ever been to school & a waste of time for those that haven't because you wouldn't understand what the words meant...

A thumpin' good read, 02 Mar 2006
This book is simply chuffing great. It's funnier than a broken pit pony and will give you more laughs than you're ever likely to find at a comedy night down at the Huddersfield Emporium. Buy it now.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Jimmy Carr is NOT in it. Not ONCE. That, for me, is the mark of true perfection.

Awfully amusing, 28 Jul 2005
I read this and split my britches. My braces snapped. I laughed, I cried, I belmed furiously. I beabled at least three times.

Buy it for friends, for family, give it to strangers. It's that good.

Authoritative and definitive, 20 Apr 2005
A compendious tome, epic in scope but intimate in detail, exploring the intricacies of its delicate subject matter with the methodical precision of a spade-fisted belmer torturing a kitten, this book has affected me more than any other literary work. Except perhaps Asterix and the Big Fight. But whereas Goscinny and Uderzo's magnum opus relied on slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes, Blyth employs the more subtle tools of slapstick absurdist humour and fat jokes.

At times the parables within this book are so self-revelatory that they make you weep, but Blyth always shows that even most horrifying episodes of puerile, venal cruelty have an uplifting, even hilarious aspect. Namely that they happened to someone else.

Buy this book, or bleakly beable forever against the dying of the light.

Drawing Crime Noir Review, 26 Aug 2008
This is a very good book and makes a good introduction to drawing in the noir style. It clearly shows the drawing and ink up techniques needed to produce top quality artwork in this style. Team this book with the book "How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling" and you have a good start with a little talent at being able to produce artwork in this style. I recommend the second book because I feel that "Drawing Crime Noir for Comics and Graphic Novels" is weak on the mechanics of producing the final comic artwork. It's very good at showing how to draw is this style if that's what you need.

Distance between genius and stupidity is measured by success, 17 Oct 2003
Stupidity and the law may be words frequently juxtaposed together, particularly for those of you who object to buying television licences or have been clocked travelling at thirty one miles per hour in a thirty limit. Nevertheless, there will be some who actually see the necessity for such laws (namely white, middle-aged men working in Whitehall). However, this book illustrates the foolishness of those who deliberately flaunt with the law, and such stupidity in this sense will no doubt be inconceivable to all.

One such example is by one man in America filing an insurance claim for instances of ‘small fires’. Although this may appear to be reasonable behaviour, the twist arrives when you read that such ‘small fires’ were on cigars. Even more bizarrely was that his claim was successful! But before the smokers among you quickly dash down to your insurance office to collect those claim forms, bear in mind that like this man you may later face charges of arson!

Interestingly this book illustrates very few instances of dim-witted criminals from the UK, which either suggests our criminals are very intelligent or there is a problem somewhere else along the line; I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Although it is a simple read providing even the most solemn person with twitches of amusement, it could also be used as a physiological guide into the minds of criminal activity. Whether it be analysing the intentions of the overweight individual who decided to expose himself in order to gain entry to a building via the skylight (but then getting stuck), or the person who thought a good getaway would be to join a group of trainee police officers out for a run – this book displays areas of human behaviour that will amaze and confuse normal, rational people.

Whether you are a budding lawyer or just want to be able to have a good laugh at those whose intelligence lies between a goldfish and Homer Simpson, this short collection of cases will lead you either thirsty for more or depressed at the levels to which human stupidity can sink.

FANTASTIC!, 29 Sep 2008
Williams' drawings are fantastic. They manage to inject a large dose of humour into the world of law, which is no mean feat. A must buy for all lawyers - and for anyone who has ever had the misfortune of instructing one!

Brilliantly funny..., 20 May 2008
...beautifully drawn and painfully true... every lawyer should be given one (or at £500 an hour, buy their own...).

Rumpole for everybody, 14 Mar 2008
What a genius this man Williams is. To draw the humour out of the dry business of barristering puts him on a par with John Mortimer, creator of Rumpole, but this man is a zillion times more accessible. If you've ever cussed a lawyer (even silently) this is a must. A gem that makes a perfect gift.



Villainous!, 07 Mar 2004
First of all this is not a serious book. It is more like something from the "Worst Case Scenario" series. It's still great fun to read and very informative for a future supervillain. It includes everything from selecting your evil lair, how to do an evil laugh and when to use it, your evil henchmen guide and of course what to wear as a villain. The book also contains an "evil plan generator". With it you can make your own plan of how to spread evil. Just remember, this is all in fun.

the correct book, 11 Apr 2008
I bought Bob Terrell and Marcellus Buchanan's Disorder in the court after reading the reviews about CM Sevilla's book above.

Bob and Marcellus's book is superb and obviously the one that quotes are taken from...


Don't be duped. , 29 Jun 2006
I bought this book because when I was surfing the net someone had posted excerpts on their website purportedly from this book, collectively they were hilarious (like the one cited by the first reviewer, Feb 2001). There were about 20 examples and I laughed so much they had me in tears, but not so this book! Indeed, I couldn't even find the same examples.

Like reviewer Aug 2004, I feel I've wasted my money, especially by comparison to what I expected. There are some funny incidences but mainly it's just mildly amusing at best and at worst head-scratching as to why they've been included at all.

This book will give you an insight into the US legal process, but that's not the reason you buy it, you buy it because you're looking to laugh... and with the exception of a few incidences you'll still be looking by the time you've finished.

Perhaps there's an alternative universe somewhere with a book with the same name and by the same author and perhaps there it's funny......... here, it's just a wad of paper wishing it was still a tree.


An utter waste of money ..., 14 Aug 2004
...naively, I bought this book after reading what I thought were the excerpts from it - and got it very badly wrong...

Everyone - buy Darwin Awards instead!

Fantastic book - buy it NOW, 09 Feb 2001
This is a hilarious book, which I first found out about on account of examples from it being passed around law students' emails at my university. Even my lecturers have found it so funny that they read it out sometimes to give us a break from work! A particular favourite of mine:

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? A: No. Q: Did you check for blood pressure? A: No. Q: Did you check for breathing? A: No. Q: So, then is it possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? A: No. Q: How can you be so sure doctor? A: Because his brain was sitting in a jar on my desk. Q: But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless? A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

Makes you wonder why we go through 8 years of legal education, doesn't it? :)