This is also stated in the Airplane Flying Handbook. This practice has many safety advantages. But, if you want to make a straight-in approach, you will not be in violation of any traffic pattern rules.

Yes, it is legal to make a straight-in approach at an uncontrolled (non-towered) airport under FAA regulations (FAR 91.126), but it is often discouraged in favor of the standard rectangular traffic pattern. The law requires that all turns in the vicinity of the airport be made to the left (unless otherwise indicated), but because a straight-in approach involves no turns, it does not technically violate the rule. However, in 2026, the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) strongly recommends that pilots enter the "45-degree to the downwind" leg to ensure maximum visibility of other traffic. The legal caveat is that a pilot making a straight-in approach must not interfere with the flow of traffic already established in the standard pattern. If an accident or near-miss occurs, the pilot on the straight-in approach is almost always found at fault for failing to yield. Therefore, while legal, it requires extreme vigilance and clear radio communication on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to ensure safety for all aircraft in the area.