Reading Up About Lawyers May Help You Avoid Them
Everybody likes to pick on lawyers, even other lawyers. (Ever read a John Grisham book?)
And why not? Since the time of Solomon, those who profit from the misfortune of others haven’t exactly been welcome at the dinner table.
Still, as they say (or someone should have), if you don’t like lawyers, the next time somebody sues you, call a radio talk-show host.
Besides, if nothing else, lawyers do make good joke material. And they seem to draw the attention of writers - many of whom are lawyers themselves.
Two lawyerly books that recently crossed the office transom may be of interest to mainstream readers.
“Legal Briefs” (MacMillan, 202 pages, $9.95 paperback) by freelance writer Michael D. Shook and attorney Jeffrey D. Meyer, is subtitled “Hundreds of Entertaining Facts, Amusing Anecdotes, Odd Laws and Humorous Quotations About Lawyers and the Law.”
Some selected samples:
“If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter in Orlando, Fla., the parking fee must be paid exactly as if it were for a motor vehicle.”
“In Duluth, Minn., it is illegal to let animals sleep in a bakery.”
“It is against the law to blow your nose in public in Waterville, Maine.”
“Explaining the Inexplicable: The Rodent’s Guide to Lawyers” (Pocket Books, 198 pages, $16) by The Rodent is the first book by the unidentified author of “The Official underground Publication for Law Firm Associates.”
Its editors say it might have been subtitled “Everything you wanted to know about the legal profession but didn’t want to be charged $250 an hour to find out.” Cute.
Some of the questions that The Rodent attempts to answer are:
“Why do some states flunk two thirds of those taking the bar examination while a trained monkey could easily pass the exam in other states?”
“Why did my classmates, who entered law school in hopes of ending social injustice wherever it exists, just three years later choose among jobs at corporate law firms based solely on which one offered the highest starting salary?”
And one interesting “Rodent Tale” of the profession: A woman attorney named Nancy Ezold was denied promotion at a Philadelphia law firm. When she sued, alleging sexual discrimination, the firm claimed that Villanova, the law school Ezold had attended, was considered a “second-tier law school.”
One of the partners put it this way: “It’s like the ugly girl. Everybody says she’s got a great personality. It turns out, (Ezold) didn’t even have a great personality.”
Smart Sandpoint
In another of those books designed to market specific communities, “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America” (John Muir Publications, $12.95) has targeted Sandpoint.
In among towns from 42 states highlighted by author John Villani, Sandpoint is given high marks for having mountains, lakes, “cascading” rivers, “soaring” trees, log-home manufacturers, threebedroom houses for $90,000, nationally known craftspeople, painters and sculptors, and summer music and arts festivals.
Look for the book in stores, or order it by calling (800) 888-7504.
Westward, ho!
Former Spokane resident Terry C. Johnston has a new novel out. “Dream Catcher” (Bantam Books, 538 pages, $5.99) tells the story of a man in search of his kidnapped wife. Johnston, who now lives near Billings, Mont., has a new Titus Bass novel ready for August publication. It’s titled “Dance on the Wind.”
The reader board
Elizabeth Ballinger McDonald, author of “Am I the Only One Who’s Crazy?” will read from her novel at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.
David James Duncan, author of “River Teeth” (Doubleday, 259 pages, $20), will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. July 10 at Auntie’s Bookstore.
Sam Halpert, author of “Raymond Carver: An Oral Biography,” will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. July 12 at Auntie’s Bookstore.Philip Margolin, author of “After Dark,” will read from his suspense novel at 7:30 p.m. July 13 at Auntie’s Bookstore.
, DataTimes