The fourth edition of this book is ideal for teachers of law who want a succinct but intellectually challenging overview of contract law for their students. Written by the same author team as the popular Understanding Law, it provides an accessible and stimulating analysis of contract law. This edition follows the book's established style of interpreting judicial decision-making in contract cases by examining the pressure on judges to follow a traditional approach yet also meeting the reasonable expectations of both commercial and consumer contractors in the modern market-place. Recent developments in the field are examined such as: * The implications of the Human Rights Act 1998 for contract law in particular Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry *The new contextual approach to the interpretation of contracts following the landmark decision in Investors' Compensation *Appeal court decisions including Great Peace Shipping and Shogun Avoiding unnecessary legal jargon, Understanding Contract Law offers a unique analysis of contract doctrine.