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America's Constitution: A Biography |  | Author: Akhil Reed Amar
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $18.00
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Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 64110
Media: Paperback
Pages: 672
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1.5
ISBN: 0812972724
Dewey Decimal Number: 342.73029
EAN: 9780812972726
ASIN: 0812972724
Publication Date: September 12, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9780812972726 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
In America’s Constitution, one of this era’s most accomplished constitutional law scholars, Akhil Reed Amar, gives the first comprehensive account of one of the world’s great political texts. Incisive, entertaining, and occasionally controversial, this “biography” of America’s framing document explains not only what the Constitution says but also why the Constitution says it.
We all know this much: the Constitution is neither immutable nor perfect. Amar shows us how the story of this one relatively compact document reflects the story of America more generally. (For example, much of the Constitution, including the glorious-sounding “We the People,” was lifted from existing American legal texts, including early state constitutions.) In short, the Constitution was as much a product of its environment as it was a product of its individual creators’ inspired genius.
Despite the Constitution’s flaws, its role in guiding our republic has been nothing short of amazing. Skillfully placing the document in the context of late-eighteenth-century American politics, America’s Constitution explains, for instance, whether there is anything in the Constitution that is unamendable; the reason America adopted an electoral college; why a president must be at least thirty-five years old; and why–for now, at least–only those citizens who were born under the American flag can become president.
From his unique perspective, Amar also gives us unconventional wisdom about the Constitution and its significance throughout the nation’s history. For one thing, we see that the Constitution has been far more democratic than is conventionally understood. Even though the document was drafted by white landholders, a remarkably large number of citizens (by the standards of 1787) were allowed to vote up or down on it, and the document’s later amendments eventually extended the vote to virtually all Americans.
We also learn that the Founders’ Constitution was far more slavocratic than many would acknowledge: the “three fifths” clause gave the South extra political clout for every slave it owned or acquired. As a result, slaveholding Virginians held the presidency all but four of the Republic’s first thirty-six years, and proslavery forces eventually came to dominate much of the federal government prior to Lincoln’s election.
Ambitious, even-handed, eminently accessible, and often surprising, America’s Constitution is an indispensable work, bound to become a standard reference for any student of history and all citizens of the United States.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 37
 Schlorly text for a classroom February 19, 2010
Daniel E. Cureton (Salt Lake City, Ut)
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1RBR0DXEYQ8A1 This is my review of the book
 Amar, Akhil Reed, America's Constitution A Biography. February 15, 2010
RLaird (Delaware)
For those looking for an in-depth reflection on the American Government's foundational document, Mr. Amar's text is that you seek. As the title offers, this is a tale of our Constitution from it's heritage, development and final ratification. The principle arguments engaged for each article and amendment is offered with a comprehensive discussion of those making the arguments. The heritage is tracked back to known government structures and philosophies of the time. The Articles of Confederation is briefly outlined as an experiment that failed to provide a viable representative government. It did establish a representative and political structure that allowed the Constitution to develop.
The reader will find the author's attempt to present not only the history, but he adds the political, economic and social dimension that has not been provided effectively elsewhere. The State's supporting that peculiar institution (slavery) is proffered as exercising significant control over the Constitution, from the compromises made to ratify, the character of selecting elected officials and the suffrage of the voters.
As the Nation matures, the Constitution evolves to meet the developing opinions of the Governed. That evolution is tracked by the Amendments offered, those that failed and passed, the arguments offered, pro and con, and the circumstances that prompted each. In many the driving force was an opinion by the Supreme Court that promoted public disapproval or sometimes outrage. The politics, economic and social circumstances involved in each of the Amendments are discussed.
This is a book for the knowledgeable reader. It relies upon a host of historical material, legal analysis and supporting material attributed to the principles. There is a clear distinction between documented fact and opinions offered. The text is amply footnoted, a strong bibliography and a comprehensive index to assist those interested in follow-up study. This text, I believe, is addressed to those who are interested in the not only what the Constitution says, but what the basis and intent for each component of this remarkable document. Your impression will change, you will be enlightened and you will find that many of your preconceived notions will be challenged.
Living and Breathing America's Beginnings November 11, 2009
J. W. Nystrom (Woodstock, GA USA)
These are times when the US Constitution is on the forefront of American political and social debate. How many Americans have read and understood the Constitution, originally flawed by the 3/5s proposition? How many have traveled the intellectual and political roads that led to the most powerful and influential political document since the Magna Carta and the Mayflower Compact? What better a guide and companion than Yale law professor Akhil Reed Amar's monumental work, "American's Constitution: A Biography"?
Amar takes the 4000+ words that are the signature of American life, admired the world over, and gives us a sturdy volume (657 pages), exhaustively researched, written with clarity and style. Anyone interested in American life and values should not fail to read (and re-read) this near classic.
Why a "biography"? Because the US Constitution is at once a rock solid declaration, and a celebration of a modern democracy and, unlike other antecedent models of government, has a built-in safeguard against abuse through its compelling amend-ability. It has a life; it was born; it was nourished; it matured and is subject to re-birth through the will of the people.
Amar has made an adventure story of the documentary founding of the nation and has parsed the enduring words and phrases whose meanings and interpretations and re-interpretations over the nation's history are forever marked by the glorious and majestic opening line, WE THE PEOPLE. . . .
Scholars and laymen alike will be enriched by this book.
A Great Perspective November 10, 2009
Todd W. Hemphill (St Petersburg, FL)
I've been a history buff for quite some time now and I'm amazed at what I'm learning while reading this book. I think we all form some quazi-idea of what the Constitution is all about from a sort of standard, accepted viewpoint. This book does a great job of re-defining those ideas.
For example; The accepted notion that the electoral college has something to do with protecting the smaller states and/or was a way to limit the people's power is delt with in a deft manner that illuminates the real intentions of the founding fathers. The complexity of this issue alone is staggering. (To top it off, the three longest amendments to the Constitution all try to straighten this mess out.) It really is quite a story.
Repeatedly many of our basic assumptions about the meaning and intentions of the Constitution are challenged. Another example; Early in our history it was the President who most often decided whether or not a new law was Constitutional, not the Supreme Court. I did not know that!
Over and over, With the support of the arguements made at the time it was written and presented, we learn new ways of viewing this vital document and the men who framed it. Good stuff for a history buff!
One caution - It is, at least for me, a very sloooow read. I can absorb two to three pages at most in one sitting. Any more than that and I start getting information overload. It's a great book to have as an ongoing 2nd read while you're reading lighter material. I should be through it completely in early 2011!
 A Slanted Work August 28, 2009
Eric F. Holly
3 out of 13 found this review helpful
This "scholar" claims that...."The Federalists would point out that Henry exaggerated the extent that a consolidated government was being created and acknowledged that states would continue to serve an important function. However on the issue of whether states retained a right of unilateral secession from the United States, the Federalists made it clear that no such right would exist under the Constitution." (pages 35-36)
NOTHING could be further from the truth. The States would NEVER had ratified the constitution if they thought they would not be allowed to leave if this contract was broken or violated. If he does not know that it was the common opinion of the day that secession was legal, then he is no scholar and should be flipping burgers. The Federalists NEVER made the claim that secession would be illegal.
NO WHERE in the text of the Constitution is secession declared to be illegal! The Tenth Amendment is clear...."The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Since there is no Constitutional power granted to the Federal Government on the issue of secession, then it is clearly left up to the STATES.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 37
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