In this episode, Professor Seth C. Oranburg reads aloud Chapter 1 of his casebook, Contract Law: Rules, Cases, and Problems. This chapter introduces the nature, purpose, history, and evolution of contract law—from ancient civilizations and the Magna Carta to the modern Restatement and Uniform Commercial Code. Listeners will learn how contract law differs from public law, why promises matter, the historical interplay between law and equity, and the leading theories that justify enforcing contracts. Designed for law students and anyone curious about the foundations of private law, this reading blends doctrinal clarity with historical insight, setting the stage for deeper study throughout the course