This is a philosophical analysis of the very idea of a rule. Although focused somewhat on the role of rules in the legal system, it is also relevant to the place of rules in morality, religion, etiquette, games, language and family governance.

'Schauer has written a serious work in the philosophy of law and language, which can most fully be evaluated by specialists in those fields ... Schauer takes great care to be as precise as he can in his formulations.' Mark V. Tushnet, Georgetown University, Michigan Law Review

'Schauer has written a serious work in the philosophy of law and language, which can most fully be evaluated by specialists in those fields ... Schauer takes great care to be as precise as he can in his formulations.' Mark V. Tushnet, Georgetown University, Michigan Law Review 'With Frederik Schauer's Playing by the Rules, we have a clear and interesting account of one type of social rules ... This excellent book shows that a work can be both compact and important.' Leslie Green, York University, Toronto, American Political Science Review, Vol. 88, No. 1, March 1994 `a clear and interesting account of one type of social rules ... This excellent book shows that a work can be both compact and important' American Political Science Review