"[Tamanaha]'s book presents a brief and clear introductory history and analysis that defends the coherence and value of the rule of law and that gives a sense of its global reach, limitations, and prospects...analyses are intelligent and fair-minded...Tamanaha is clearly a sophisticated institutionalist, and On the Rule of Law offers valuable insights." - Perspectives on Politics, Stephen G. Englemann, University of Illinois at Chicago
"Brian Z. Tamanaha has written a clear, concise, accurate, and convincing history of the triumph of the rule of law, beginning in Greece and Rome, continuing through the Middle Ages, developing through the liberal enlightenment, expanding after the Second World War and Cold War victories and resisting the retrograde challenges of communism, fascism, and other trendy authoritarian or relativist ideas." - Mortimer Sellers, University of Baltimore School of Law
"Concise but comprehensive...For anyone seeking to evaluate the multitude of public statements or academic works that promote, critique, or disparage the rule of law, this book is an excellent point of departure for that evaluation." Law and Politics Review
"Terrific. Brian Tamanaha has written a book that should educate not only every student and layperson who reads it, but also scholars who wrongly think there is nothing new to say about the rule of law... I hope it gets the wide readership it deserves." Sanford Levinson, Professor of Law, University of Texas Law school, author of Wrestling with Diversity