57 pages 1 hour read

One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1977

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

Scott Turow

One L

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1977
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Genre
Education
Setting

Harvard Law School • 1970s

Theme
Education

The Past

Perseverance
Topic
Crime & Law
Publication Year

1977

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

One L by Scott Turow recounts his transformative first year at Harvard Law School, detailing the intense academic and emotional challenges he faced. Organized into six chapters, the book explores the competitive and isolating nature of law school, the pressure of class rankings, and the struggle to balance personal life with rigorous studies, ultimately highlighting the profound impact the experience has on one's character and ethics.

Informative

Challenging

Contemplative

Emotional

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.1

10,029 ratings

63%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Scott Turow's One L offers an intense, detailed account of Harvard Law School's first-year experience. Positive reviews praise its candid portrayal and engaging narrative. Criticism includes an overly dramatic tone and pacing issues. Overall, One L serves as a compelling read for aspiring lawyers but may feel exaggerated to some.

Who should read this

Who Should Read One L?

Readers who relish the rigors and realities of law school would enjoy Scott Turow's One L. Fans of personal narratives like What It's Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes or those captivated by the legal world in John Grisham's novels will find this memoir fascinating and insightful.

4.1

10,029 ratings

63%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Genre
Education
Setting

Harvard Law School • 1970s

Theme
Education

The Past

Perseverance
Topic
Crime & Law
Publication Year

1977

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 9,100+ additional titles.