Coursebook on Drafting and Editing Contracts

Garner’s Coursebook on Drafting and Editing Contracts sets an unsurpassed standard among contract drafting guides, distinguished by its rigor, authority, and pedagogical clarity. Drawing on more than three decades of teaching, research, and contract consulting, Bryan Garner distills 150 “blackletter principles” that systematically address common drafting pitfalls and guide readers toward contracts that are not merely correct, but lucid and enforceable. Unlike competitors, which often focus on forms or reproduce boilerplate, Garner’s work methodically explains why contract prose fails and how to fix it, consistently emphasizing clarity, precision, and legal sufficiency.

The prose is not just practical but engaging―Garner uses before-and-after examples, annotated sample provisions, and memorable “Not This/But This” illustrations to reinforce best practices. The book’s structure is logical, moving from general conventions and structure to specific syntax, word usage, and the nuances of legal drafting. Exercises and real-world scenarios challenge readers at every level, bridging the gap between classroom learning and transactional reality. Advance praise from leading academics and practitioners―such as David Sokolow of UT Austin and Luke Dauchot of Kirkland & Ellis―repe(more...)