Book excerpt: Life has become an endless series of contracts—this is the manual. There’s no reason to risk your hard-earned money signing a contract you don’t understand. With Contracts: The Essential Business Desk Reference, you get easy-to-understand explanations for every common contract term. In no time, you’ll grasp mysterious concepts like “force majeur,” “indemnity,” and “time is of the essence." Contracts: The Essential Business Desk Reference is more than just an A–Z explanation of over 300 terms. It also includes: common negotiating strategies examples of contract provisions sample contract clauses and entire contracts examples of illegal and dangerous contract clauses what to expect if you or the other side breaks a contract up-to-date explanations of electronic contracts, and tips on amending and modifying agreements. Whether you’re starting a business, signing a lease, hiring a new employee or independent contractor, licensing a concept, selling a boat, or contracting for a new fireplace, Contracts: The Essential Business Desk Reference can help. A must-have for small business owners, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and law students—and anyone else whose success is built around understanding and negotiating agreements.