The book surveys the history of eminent domain in the United States, up to 1975. An often contentious issue that has retained its topicality. Several key court cases are reviewed, along with the reasonings by the various levels of government regarding the taking of private land. Being the US, many of the arguments revolve around the applicability of various amendments to the federal constitution.Another issue gone into is how to value private land that is to be taken over. Here, the use of the marketplace in providing pricing information is crucial, by being hopefully independent of both the land owner and the government.The book also delves into the restrictions on land use, as opposed to outright taking. Reasons include for public safety and health. As you might expect, this can affect the land's value, causing more arguments to break out.