The Bill of Rights Primer
A Citizen's Guidebook to the American Bill of Rights
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Tim Lundeen
About this listen
A valuable reference to understanding your freedoms.
Many Americans reference the Bill of Rights, a document that represents many of the freedoms that define the United States. Who doesn’t know about the First Amendment’s freedom of religion or Second Amendment’s right to bear arms? In this succinct volume, Akhil Reed Amar and Les Adams offer a wealth of knowledge about the Bill of Rights that goes beyond a basic understanding.The Bill of Rights Primer is an authoritative guide to all American freedoms. Uncluttered and well-organized, this audiobook is perfect for those who want to study up on the Bill of Rights without needing a law degree to do so.
This elementary guidebook presents a short historical survey of the people, events, decrees, legislation, writings, and cultural milestones, in England and the American colonies, that influenced the Founding Fathers as they drafted the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. With helpful comments and fun facts, the book will provide a deeper understanding of the Bill of Rights, exhibiting that it is not a stagnant document but one with an evolving meaning shaped by historical events, such as the American Civil War and Reconstruction.
©2013 Skyhorse Publishing (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Know Your Bill of Rights Book
- Don't Lose Your Constitutional Rights - Learn Them!
- By: Sean Patrick
- Narrated by: Jeff Justus
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you really want the crooked baby-kissers and fake news to tell you what your rights are? Wouldn’t you rather discover them for yourself? The founders fought tirelessly to guarantee these God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But let’s face it - the Bill of Rights is hard to understand. Its text is flowery and puzzling. It’s full of legal and political jargon.
-
-
Better than the lessons taught in school!
- By Tony Brenda on 01-27-17
By: Sean Patrick
-
The Words That Made Us
- America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840
- By: Akhil Reed Amar
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 27 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Words That Made Us, Akhil Reed Amar unites history and law in a vivid narrative of the biggest constitutional questions early Americans confronted, and he expertly assesses the answers they offered. His account of the document's origins and consolidation is a guide for anyone seeking to properly understand America's Constitution today.
-
-
And the words that made Us
- By Anonymous User on 10-17-22
By: Akhil Reed Amar
-
The Constitution Today
- Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era
- By: Akhil Reed Amar
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the stories that lead our daily news involve momentous constitutional questions, present-minded journalists and busy citizens cannot always see the stakes clearly. In The Constitution Today, Akhil Reed Amar, America's preeminent constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades. He shows how the Constitution's text, history, and structure are a crucial repository of collective wisdom, providing specific rules and grand themes relevant to every organ of the American body politic.
-
-
Amar is a Brilliant Arguer
- By MJ Schirmer on 11-16-16
By: Akhil Reed Amar
-
Romney
- A Reckoning
- By: McKay Coppins
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, McKay Coppins
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few figures in American politics have seen more and said less than Mitt Romney. An outspoken dissident in Donald Trump’s GOP, he has made headlines in recent years for standing alone against the forces he believes are poisoning the party he once led. Romney was the first senator in history to vote to remove from office a president of his own party. When that president’s supporters went on to storm the US Capitol, Romney delivered a thundering speech from the Senate floor accusing his fellow Republicans of stoking insurrection.
-
-
Political and intellectual biography at its best!
- By Amazon Customer on 10-25-23
By: McKay Coppins
-
The Second Amendment Primer
- A Citizen's Guidebook to the History, Sources, and Authorities for the Constitutional Guarantee of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
- By: Les Adams
- Narrated by: Kevin Henderson
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
So much of the debate about the Second Amendment is in scholarly journals and academic papers written by scholars and judges, or directed towards other scholars, law professors, attorneys, and judges. Trying to wade through the extensive footnotes and references to legal cases and historical precedents known only to the academic elite is more than enough to make anyone feel hopeless.
-
-
Absolutley fantastic
- By Brandon Pruitt on 08-05-15
By: Les Adams
-
New Democracy
- The Creation of the Modern American State
- By: William J. Novak
- Narrated by: A.W. Miller
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the period between the Civil War and the New Deal, American governance was transformed, with momentous implications for social and economic life. Legal reforms gradually brought an end to traditions of local self-government and associative citizenship, replacing them with positive statecraft: governmental activism intended to change how Americans lived and worked. William J. Novak shows how Americans translated new conceptions of citizenship, social welfare, and economic democracy into demands for law and policy that delivered public services and vindicated people's rights.
By: William J. Novak
-
The Know Your Bill of Rights Book
- Don't Lose Your Constitutional Rights - Learn Them!
- By: Sean Patrick
- Narrated by: Jeff Justus
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you really want the crooked baby-kissers and fake news to tell you what your rights are? Wouldn’t you rather discover them for yourself? The founders fought tirelessly to guarantee these God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But let’s face it - the Bill of Rights is hard to understand. Its text is flowery and puzzling. It’s full of legal and political jargon.
-
-
Better than the lessons taught in school!
- By Tony Brenda on 01-27-17
By: Sean Patrick
-
The Words That Made Us
- America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840
- By: Akhil Reed Amar
- Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi
- Length: 27 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Words That Made Us, Akhil Reed Amar unites history and law in a vivid narrative of the biggest constitutional questions early Americans confronted, and he expertly assesses the answers they offered. His account of the document's origins and consolidation is a guide for anyone seeking to properly understand America's Constitution today.
-
-
And the words that made Us
- By Anonymous User on 10-17-22
By: Akhil Reed Amar
-
The Constitution Today
- Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era
- By: Akhil Reed Amar
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the stories that lead our daily news involve momentous constitutional questions, present-minded journalists and busy citizens cannot always see the stakes clearly. In The Constitution Today, Akhil Reed Amar, America's preeminent constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades. He shows how the Constitution's text, history, and structure are a crucial repository of collective wisdom, providing specific rules and grand themes relevant to every organ of the American body politic.
-
-
Amar is a Brilliant Arguer
- By MJ Schirmer on 11-16-16
By: Akhil Reed Amar
-
Romney
- A Reckoning
- By: McKay Coppins
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, McKay Coppins
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few figures in American politics have seen more and said less than Mitt Romney. An outspoken dissident in Donald Trump’s GOP, he has made headlines in recent years for standing alone against the forces he believes are poisoning the party he once led. Romney was the first senator in history to vote to remove from office a president of his own party. When that president’s supporters went on to storm the US Capitol, Romney delivered a thundering speech from the Senate floor accusing his fellow Republicans of stoking insurrection.
-
-
Political and intellectual biography at its best!
- By Amazon Customer on 10-25-23
By: McKay Coppins
-
The Second Amendment Primer
- A Citizen's Guidebook to the History, Sources, and Authorities for the Constitutional Guarantee of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
- By: Les Adams
- Narrated by: Kevin Henderson
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
So much of the debate about the Second Amendment is in scholarly journals and academic papers written by scholars and judges, or directed towards other scholars, law professors, attorneys, and judges. Trying to wade through the extensive footnotes and references to legal cases and historical precedents known only to the academic elite is more than enough to make anyone feel hopeless.
-
-
Absolutley fantastic
- By Brandon Pruitt on 08-05-15
By: Les Adams
-
New Democracy
- The Creation of the Modern American State
- By: William J. Novak
- Narrated by: A.W. Miller
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the period between the Civil War and the New Deal, American governance was transformed, with momentous implications for social and economic life. Legal reforms gradually brought an end to traditions of local self-government and associative citizenship, replacing them with positive statecraft: governmental activism intended to change how Americans lived and worked. William J. Novak shows how Americans translated new conceptions of citizenship, social welfare, and economic democracy into demands for law and policy that delivered public services and vindicated people's rights.
By: William J. Novak
-
The Constitution
- An Introduction
- By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, Luke Paulsen
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From war powers to health care, freedom of speech to gun ownership, religious liberty to abortion, practically every aspect of American life is shaped by the Constitution. This vital document, along with its history of political and judicial interpretation, governs our individual lives and the life of our nation. Yet most of us know surprisingly little about the Constitution itself, and are woefully unprepared to think for ourselves about recent developments in its long and storied history.
-
-
The Constitution-A must reading for All Americans
- By Robert on 06-12-15
By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, and others
-
Oath Takers
- By: L Douglas Hogan
- Narrated by: Jack Chekijian
- Length: 4 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book is a call to return to our American roots; to remember our heritage and birthright. Most importantly, it is a reminder that our oaths are binding, and we have a responsibility to ourselves and our posterity to honor them. Douglas Hogan writes in a style that is both direct and candid. No words are minced; there is no "beating around the bush" or "tip-toeing through tulips". Douglas says what he means, and his incredible passion is ample evidence that he means what he says.
-
-
You have the right to Constitutional protection
- By MolllyT on 06-05-15
By: L Douglas Hogan
-
The Founders' Key
- The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It
- By: Dr. Larry Arnn
- Narrated by: Van Tracy
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, reveals this integral unity of the Declaration and the Constitution. Together, they form the pillars upon which the liberties and rights of the American people stand. United, they have guided history's first self-governing nation, forming our government under certain universal and eternal principles. Unfortunately, the effort to redefine government to reflect "the changing and growing social order" has gone very far toward success.
-
-
Linking Declaration and Constitution.
- By Ed Bethune on 04-26-24
By: Dr. Larry Arnn
-
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution
- By: Kevin R.C. Gutzman
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Instead of the system that the Constitution intended, judges have created a system in which bureaucrats and appointed officials make most of the important policies. While the government claims to be a representative republic, somehow hot-button topics from gay marriage to the allocation of Florida's presidential electors always seem to be decided by unelected judges. What gives them the right to decide such issues? The judges say it's the Constitution.
-
-
The best PIG to date
- By Matthew Groom on 05-16-08
-
Our Republican Constitution
- Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People
- By: Randy E. Barnett
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "we the people". But from the earliest days of the American republic, there have been two competing notions of "the people", which led to two very different visions of the Constitution. Those who view "we the people" collectively think popular sovereignty resides in the people as a group, which leads them to favor a democratic constitution that allows the will of the people to be expressed by majority rule
-
-
Read the book, don't listen
- By I Keep AMZN in Business on 06-23-16
By: Randy E. Barnett
-
Dissent and the Supreme Court
- Its Role in the Court's History and the Nation's Constitutional Dialogue
- By: Melvin I. Urofsky
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 19 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the admired judicial authority, author of Louis D. Brandeis (“Remarkable”—Anthony Lewis, The New York Review of Books; “Monumental”—Alan M. Dershowitz, The New York Times Book Review), Division and Discord, and Supreme Decisions—Melvin Urofsky’s major new book looks at the role of dissent in the Supreme Court and the meaning of the Constitution through the greatest and longest lasting public-policy debate in the country’s history, among members of the Supreme Court, between the Court and the other branches of government, and between the Court and the people of the United States.
-
-
Incisive
- By Jean on 08-30-16
-
The Words We Live By
- Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution
- By: Linda R. Monk
- Narrated by: Marianne Fraulo, Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Words We Live By takes an entertaining and informative look at America's most important historical document, now with discussions on new rulings on hot button issues such as immigration, gay marriage, gun control, and affirmative action. Through entertaining and informative annotations, The Words We Live By offers a new way of looking at the Constitution. It reflects a critical, respectful, and appreciative look at one of history's greatest documents.
By: Linda R. Monk
-
Nullification
- How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century
- By: Thomas E. Woods Jr.
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Citizens across the country are fed up with the politicians in Washington telling us how to live our lives and then sticking us with the bill. But what can we do? Actually, we can just say no. As New York Times best-selling author Thomas E. Woods, Jr., explains, "nullification" allows states to reject unconstitutional federal laws.
-
-
Explains Why, but not How To
- By Dale Hurtt on 08-28-10
-
U.S. Constitution for Dummies
- 2nd Edition
- By: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Narrated by: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Want to make sense of the US Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidents - and sparked ongoing debates along the way. You'll get the lowdown on all the big issues - from separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rights - that continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, you'll find out about the different approaches to interpretation and how the document has changed over the past 200+ years.
-
-
Much better than I anticipated.
- By JoEllen LeVitre on 08-30-20
-
Power Divided Is Power Checked
- The Argument for States' Rights
- By: Jason Lewis
- Narrated by: Jason Lewis
- Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jason Lewis reminds us that the concept of states' rights, as bequeathed by the Founding Fathers to a grateful nation, was about a constitutional framework intended to limit the missteps of government and provide the greatest amount of freedom by not allowing the consolidation of power in the nation's capitol. He defines the essence of our constitutional republic and highlights the legal history of the relationship between the states and the federal government.
-
-
Excellent
- By Kegster on 10-03-22
By: Jason Lewis
-
The Conscience of the Constitution
- The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty
- By: Timothy Sandefur
- Narrated by: James Foster
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Timothy Sandefur's insightful book provides a dramatic new challenge to the status quo of constitutional law and argues a vital truth: our Constitution was written not to empower democracy, but to secure liberty. Yet the overemphasis on democracy by today's legal community - rather than the primacy of liberty, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence - has helped expand the scope of government power at the expense of individual rights.
-
-
Liberty!
- By David W. Norman on 05-03-15
By: Timothy Sandefur
-
Scalia's Court
- A Legacy of Landmark Opinions and Dissents
- By: Antonin Scalia, Kevin A. Ring
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The sudden passing of Justice Antonin Scalia shook America. After almost 30 years on the Supreme Court, Scalia had become as integral to the institution as the hallowed room in which he sat. His wisecracking interruptions during oral arguments, his unmatched legal wisdom, his unwavering dedication to the Constitution, and his blistering dissents defined his leadership role on the court and inspired new generations of policymakers and legal minds.
-
-
Understand the conservative philosophy of original
- By Proof Tree on 11-14-17
By: Antonin Scalia, and others
Editorial reviews
In this divisive political climate, many are quick to reference the United States' founding documents without fully understanding them or taking into account the context in which they were written. Tim Lundeen's spirited, robust delivery of Akhil Reed Amar and Les Adams' book provides an illuminating and accessible guide to the Bill of Rights: one of the quintessential documents in the history of democracy.
The title may evoke images of a dull high school lecture, but this audiobook is anything but boring. Lundeen's casual, inviting tone captures the listener's attention from the beginning and holds it to the end.
Related to this topic
-
The Constitution
- An Introduction
- By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, Luke Paulsen
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From war powers to health care, freedom of speech to gun ownership, religious liberty to abortion, practically every aspect of American life is shaped by the Constitution. This vital document, along with its history of political and judicial interpretation, governs our individual lives and the life of our nation. Yet most of us know surprisingly little about the Constitution itself, and are woefully unprepared to think for ourselves about recent developments in its long and storied history.
-
-
The Constitution-A must reading for All Americans
- By Robert on 06-12-15
By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, and others
-
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution
- By: Kevin R.C. Gutzman
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Instead of the system that the Constitution intended, judges have created a system in which bureaucrats and appointed officials make most of the important policies. While the government claims to be a representative republic, somehow hot-button topics from gay marriage to the allocation of Florida's presidential electors always seem to be decided by unelected judges. What gives them the right to decide such issues? The judges say it's the Constitution.
-
-
The best PIG to date
- By Matthew Groom on 05-16-08
-
Our Republican Constitution
- Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People
- By: Randy E. Barnett
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "we the people". But from the earliest days of the American republic, there have been two competing notions of "the people", which led to two very different visions of the Constitution. Those who view "we the people" collectively think popular sovereignty resides in the people as a group, which leads them to favor a democratic constitution that allows the will of the people to be expressed by majority rule
-
-
Read the book, don't listen
- By I Keep AMZN in Business on 06-23-16
By: Randy E. Barnett
-
The Majesty of the Law
- Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice
- By: Sandra Day O'Connor
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this remarkable book, Sandra Day O’Connor explores the law, her life as a Supreme Court Justice, and how the Court has evolved and continues to function, grow, and change as an American institution. Tracing some of the origins of American law through history, people, ideas, and landmark cases, O’Connor sheds new light on the basics, exploring through personal observation the evolution of the Court and American democratic traditions.
-
-
Informative and well-written
- By James on 07-11-05
-
U.S. Constitution for Dummies
- 2nd Edition
- By: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Narrated by: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Want to make sense of the US Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidents - and sparked ongoing debates along the way. You'll get the lowdown on all the big issues - from separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rights - that continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, you'll find out about the different approaches to interpretation and how the document has changed over the past 200+ years.
-
-
Much better than I anticipated.
- By JoEllen LeVitre on 08-30-20
-
The Conscience of the Constitution
- The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty
- By: Timothy Sandefur
- Narrated by: James Foster
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Timothy Sandefur's insightful book provides a dramatic new challenge to the status quo of constitutional law and argues a vital truth: our Constitution was written not to empower democracy, but to secure liberty. Yet the overemphasis on democracy by today's legal community - rather than the primacy of liberty, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence - has helped expand the scope of government power at the expense of individual rights.
-
-
Liberty!
- By David W. Norman on 05-03-15
By: Timothy Sandefur
-
The Constitution
- An Introduction
- By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, Luke Paulsen
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From war powers to health care, freedom of speech to gun ownership, religious liberty to abortion, practically every aspect of American life is shaped by the Constitution. This vital document, along with its history of political and judicial interpretation, governs our individual lives and the life of our nation. Yet most of us know surprisingly little about the Constitution itself, and are woefully unprepared to think for ourselves about recent developments in its long and storied history.
-
-
The Constitution-A must reading for All Americans
- By Robert on 06-12-15
By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, and others
-
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution
- By: Kevin R.C. Gutzman
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Instead of the system that the Constitution intended, judges have created a system in which bureaucrats and appointed officials make most of the important policies. While the government claims to be a representative republic, somehow hot-button topics from gay marriage to the allocation of Florida's presidential electors always seem to be decided by unelected judges. What gives them the right to decide such issues? The judges say it's the Constitution.
-
-
The best PIG to date
- By Matthew Groom on 05-16-08
-
Our Republican Constitution
- Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People
- By: Randy E. Barnett
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "we the people". But from the earliest days of the American republic, there have been two competing notions of "the people", which led to two very different visions of the Constitution. Those who view "we the people" collectively think popular sovereignty resides in the people as a group, which leads them to favor a democratic constitution that allows the will of the people to be expressed by majority rule
-
-
Read the book, don't listen
- By I Keep AMZN in Business on 06-23-16
By: Randy E. Barnett
-
The Majesty of the Law
- Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice
- By: Sandra Day O'Connor
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this remarkable book, Sandra Day O’Connor explores the law, her life as a Supreme Court Justice, and how the Court has evolved and continues to function, grow, and change as an American institution. Tracing some of the origins of American law through history, people, ideas, and landmark cases, O’Connor sheds new light on the basics, exploring through personal observation the evolution of the Court and American democratic traditions.
-
-
Informative and well-written
- By James on 07-11-05
-
U.S. Constitution for Dummies
- 2nd Edition
- By: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Narrated by: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Want to make sense of the US Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidents - and sparked ongoing debates along the way. You'll get the lowdown on all the big issues - from separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rights - that continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, you'll find out about the different approaches to interpretation and how the document has changed over the past 200+ years.
-
-
Much better than I anticipated.
- By JoEllen LeVitre on 08-30-20
-
The Conscience of the Constitution
- The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty
- By: Timothy Sandefur
- Narrated by: James Foster
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Timothy Sandefur's insightful book provides a dramatic new challenge to the status quo of constitutional law and argues a vital truth: our Constitution was written not to empower democracy, but to secure liberty. Yet the overemphasis on democracy by today's legal community - rather than the primacy of liberty, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence - has helped expand the scope of government power at the expense of individual rights.
-
-
Liberty!
- By David W. Norman on 05-03-15
By: Timothy Sandefur
-
How Alexander Hamilton Screwed Up America
- By: Brion McClanahan
- Narrated by: Thomas Rosenfeld
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
He is the star of a hit Broadway musical, the face on the 10-dollar bill, and a central figure among the founding fathers. But do you really know Alexander Hamilton? Rather than lionize Hamilton, Americans should carefully consider his most significant and ultimately detrimental contribution to modern society: the shredding of the United States Constitution. Connecting the dots between Hamilton's invention of implied powers in 1791 to transgender bathrooms and same-sex marriage today, Brion McClanahan shows the origins of our modern federal leviathan.
-
-
Thank You Audible
- By No to Statism on 10-03-18
By: Brion McClanahan
-
Making Our Democracy Work
- A Judge’s View
- By: Justice Stephen Breyer
- Narrated by: Luis Moreno
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer delivers an impassioned argument for the proper role of America’s highest judicial body. Examining historic and contemporary decisions by the Court, Breyer highlights the rulings that have bolstered public confidence as well as the missteps that have triggered distrust. What emerges is a unique approach - certain to be admired for years to come - to interpreting the Constitution.
-
-
Timely
- By Don on 05-17-17
-
The Founding Fathers' Guide to the Constitution
- By: Brion McClanahan
- Narrated by: David Cochran Heath
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
How did the founding generation intend for us to interpret and apply the Constitution? Are liberals right when they cite its “elastic” clauses to justify big government, or are conservatives right when they cite its explicit limits on federal power? Professor Brion McClanahan, popular author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers, finds the answers by going directly to the source—the Founders themselves, who debated all the relevant issues in their state constitutional conventions.
-
-
Biased from the opening
- By David on 11-05-20
By: Brion McClanahan
-
Corruption in America
- From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizens United
- By: Zephyr Teachout
- Narrated by: Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For two centuries, the Framers' ideas about political corruption flourished in the courts, even in the absence of clear rules governing voters, civil officers, and elected officials. In the 1970s, the U.S. Supreme Court began to narrow the definition of corruption, and the meaning has since changed dramatically. No case makes that clearer than Citizens United.
-
-
Law Review+
- By Ben P. on 01-02-17
By: Zephyr Teachout
-
The Constitution Today
- Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era
- By: Akhil Reed Amar
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the stories that lead our daily news involve momentous constitutional questions, present-minded journalists and busy citizens cannot always see the stakes clearly. In The Constitution Today, Akhil Reed Amar, America's preeminent constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades. He shows how the Constitution's text, history, and structure are a crucial repository of collective wisdom, providing specific rules and grand themes relevant to every organ of the American body politic.
-
-
Amar is a Brilliant Arguer
- By MJ Schirmer on 11-16-16
By: Akhil Reed Amar
-
We the People
- A Progressive Reading of the Constitution for the Twenty-First Century
- By: Erwin Chemerinsky
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From gun control to reproductive health, a conservative Supreme Court will reshape the lives of all Americans for decades to come. The time to develop and defend a progressive vision of the US Constitution that protects the rights of all people is now.
-
-
Hypocritical evaluation of the constitution
- By surya on 03-23-19
-
The Supremes' Greatest Hits, 2nd Revised & Updated Edition
- The 44 Supreme Court Cases That Most Directly Affect Your Life
- By: Michael G. Trachtman
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Supreme Court's rulings have shaped American life and justice and allowed Americans to retain basic freedoms such as privacy, free speech, and the right to a fair trial. This revised and updated edition of Michael G. Trachtman's riveting work includes 10 important cases from 2010 to 2015.
-
-
Nice review overall.
- By "freeindeed4ever" on 02-10-20
-
A People's History of the Supreme Court
- The Men and Women Whose Cases and Decisions Have Shaped Our Constitution
- By: Peter Irons, Howard Zinn - foreword
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 28 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A comprehensive history of the people and cases that have changed history, this is the definitive account of the nation's highest court.
-
-
Really enjoyed this book
- By Paul on 02-19-20
By: Peter Irons, and others
-
The Founders' Key
- The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It
- By: Dr. Larry Arnn
- Narrated by: Van Tracy
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, reveals this integral unity of the Declaration and the Constitution. Together, they form the pillars upon which the liberties and rights of the American people stand. United, they have guided history's first self-governing nation, forming our government under certain universal and eternal principles. Unfortunately, the effort to redefine government to reflect "the changing and growing social order" has gone very far toward success.
-
-
Linking Declaration and Constitution.
- By Ed Bethune on 04-26-24
By: Dr. Larry Arnn
-
Supreme Power
- 7 Pivotal Supreme Court Decisions That Had a Major Impact on America
- By: Ted Stewart
- Narrated by: Art Allen
- Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling author Ted Stewart explains how the Supreme Court and its nine appointed members now stand at a crucial point in their power to hand down momentous and far-ranging decisions. Today's Court affects every major area of American life, from health care to civil rights, from abortion to marriage. This fascinating book reveals the complex history of the Court as told through seven pivotal decisions.
-
-
Polemical, downright ridiculous at times
- By Joe Igla on 11-04-17
By: Ted Stewart
-
How to Read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence
- By: Paul B. Skousen
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have you ever wanted to read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and really understand what they're saying? Millions of others have, too. But getting a real understanding of the legal language of 200 years ago can be challenging - and as a result, few Americans know these important documents as well as they should. Recognizing this, Paul Skousen has written exactly the book you've been looking for. It's an easy step-by-step guide that makes these documents come alive.
-
-
Simplicity
- By Mr. Mitt on 07-01-16
By: Paul B. Skousen
-
James Madison and the Making of America
- By: Kevin R. C. Gutzman
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 15 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In James Madison and the Making of America, historian Kevin Gutzman looks beyond the way James Madison is traditionally seen - as "The Father of the Constitution” - to find a more complex and sometimes contradictory portrait of this influential Founding Father and the ways in which he influenced the spirit of today's United States.
-
-
Not a traditional biography
- By David on 12-14-12
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Know Your Bill of Rights Book
- Don't Lose Your Constitutional Rights - Learn Them!
- By: Sean Patrick
- Narrated by: Jeff Justus
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you really want the crooked baby-kissers and fake news to tell you what your rights are? Wouldn’t you rather discover them for yourself? The founders fought tirelessly to guarantee these God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But let’s face it - the Bill of Rights is hard to understand. Its text is flowery and puzzling. It’s full of legal and political jargon.
-
-
Better than the lessons taught in school!
- By Tony Brenda on 01-27-17
By: Sean Patrick
-
The Original Meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment
- Its Letter & Spirit
- By: Randy E. Barnett, Evan D. Bernick, James Oakes - foreword
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adopted in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment profoundly changed the Constitution, giving the federal judiciary and Congress new powers to protect the fundamental rights of individuals from being violated by the states. Yet, according to Randy Barnett and Evan Bernick, the Supreme Court has long misunderstood or ignored the original meaning of the amendment's key clauses, covering the privileges and immunities of citizenship, due process of law, and the equal protection of the laws.
By: Randy E. Barnett, and others
-
Our Republican Constitution
- Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People
- By: Randy E. Barnett
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "we the people". But from the earliest days of the American republic, there have been two competing notions of "the people", which led to two very different visions of the Constitution. Those who view "we the people" collectively think popular sovereignty resides in the people as a group, which leads them to favor a democratic constitution that allows the will of the people to be expressed by majority rule
-
-
Read the book, don't listen
- By I Keep AMZN in Business on 06-23-16
By: Randy E. Barnett
-
The Constitution
- An Introduction
- By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, Luke Paulsen
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From war powers to health care, freedom of speech to gun ownership, religious liberty to abortion, practically every aspect of American life is shaped by the Constitution. This vital document, along with its history of political and judicial interpretation, governs our individual lives and the life of our nation. Yet most of us know surprisingly little about the Constitution itself, and are woefully unprepared to think for ourselves about recent developments in its long and storied history.
-
-
The Constitution-A must reading for All Americans
- By Robert on 06-12-15
By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, and others
-
U.S. Constitution for Dummies
- 2nd Edition
- By: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Narrated by: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Want to make sense of the US Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidents - and sparked ongoing debates along the way. You'll get the lowdown on all the big issues - from separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rights - that continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, you'll find out about the different approaches to interpretation and how the document has changed over the past 200+ years.
-
-
Much better than I anticipated.
- By JoEllen LeVitre on 08-30-20
-
We the People
- A Progressive Reading of the Constitution for the Twenty-First Century
- By: Erwin Chemerinsky
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From gun control to reproductive health, a conservative Supreme Court will reshape the lives of all Americans for decades to come. The time to develop and defend a progressive vision of the US Constitution that protects the rights of all people is now.
-
-
Hypocritical evaluation of the constitution
- By surya on 03-23-19
-
The Know Your Bill of Rights Book
- Don't Lose Your Constitutional Rights - Learn Them!
- By: Sean Patrick
- Narrated by: Jeff Justus
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you really want the crooked baby-kissers and fake news to tell you what your rights are? Wouldn’t you rather discover them for yourself? The founders fought tirelessly to guarantee these God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But let’s face it - the Bill of Rights is hard to understand. Its text is flowery and puzzling. It’s full of legal and political jargon.
-
-
Better than the lessons taught in school!
- By Tony Brenda on 01-27-17
By: Sean Patrick
-
The Original Meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment
- Its Letter & Spirit
- By: Randy E. Barnett, Evan D. Bernick, James Oakes - foreword
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adopted in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment profoundly changed the Constitution, giving the federal judiciary and Congress new powers to protect the fundamental rights of individuals from being violated by the states. Yet, according to Randy Barnett and Evan Bernick, the Supreme Court has long misunderstood or ignored the original meaning of the amendment's key clauses, covering the privileges and immunities of citizenship, due process of law, and the equal protection of the laws.
By: Randy E. Barnett, and others
-
Our Republican Constitution
- Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People
- By: Randy E. Barnett
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "we the people". But from the earliest days of the American republic, there have been two competing notions of "the people", which led to two very different visions of the Constitution. Those who view "we the people" collectively think popular sovereignty resides in the people as a group, which leads them to favor a democratic constitution that allows the will of the people to be expressed by majority rule
-
-
Read the book, don't listen
- By I Keep AMZN in Business on 06-23-16
By: Randy E. Barnett
-
The Constitution
- An Introduction
- By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, Luke Paulsen
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From war powers to health care, freedom of speech to gun ownership, religious liberty to abortion, practically every aspect of American life is shaped by the Constitution. This vital document, along with its history of political and judicial interpretation, governs our individual lives and the life of our nation. Yet most of us know surprisingly little about the Constitution itself, and are woefully unprepared to think for ourselves about recent developments in its long and storied history.
-
-
The Constitution-A must reading for All Americans
- By Robert on 06-12-15
By: Michael Stokes Paulsen, and others
-
U.S. Constitution for Dummies
- 2nd Edition
- By: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Narrated by: Dr. Michael Arnheim
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Want to make sense of the US Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidents - and sparked ongoing debates along the way. You'll get the lowdown on all the big issues - from separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rights - that continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, you'll find out about the different approaches to interpretation and how the document has changed over the past 200+ years.
-
-
Much better than I anticipated.
- By JoEllen LeVitre on 08-30-20
-
We the People
- A Progressive Reading of the Constitution for the Twenty-First Century
- By: Erwin Chemerinsky
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From gun control to reproductive health, a conservative Supreme Court will reshape the lives of all Americans for decades to come. The time to develop and defend a progressive vision of the US Constitution that protects the rights of all people is now.
-
-
Hypocritical evaluation of the constitution
- By surya on 03-23-19
-
Power and Liberty
- Constitutionalism in the American Revolution
- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The half century extending from the imperial crisis between Britain and its colonies in the 1760s to the early decades of the new republic of the United States was the greatest and most creative era of constitutionalism in American history, and perhaps in the world. During these decades, Americans explored and debated all aspects of politics and constitutionalism - the nature of power, liberty, representation, rights, the division of authority between different spheres of government, sovereignty, judicial authority, and written constitutions.
-
-
Provides Context for Todays Mess
- By Tad on 07-20-24
By: Gordon S. Wood
-
The Supreme Court
- By: William H. Rehnquist
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chief Justice Rehnquist's engaging writing illuminates both the high and low points in the Court's history, from Chief Justice Marshall's dominance of the Court during the early 19th century through the landmark decisions of the Warren Court. Citing cases such as the Dred Scott decision and Roosevelt's Court-packing plan, Rehnquist makes clear that the Court does not operate in a vacuum, that the justices are unavoidably influenced by their surroundings, and that their decisions have real and lasting impacts on our society.
-
-
Absorbing
- By Jean on 01-28-18
-
A Matter of Interpretation
- Federal Courts and the Law
- By: Antonin Scalia, Amy Gutmann - editor foreword
- Narrated by: Christopher Grove
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We are all familiar with the image of the immensely clever judge who discerns the best rule of common law for the case at hand. But is this common-law mindset, which is appropriate in its place, suitable also in statutory and constitutional interpretation? In a witty and trenchant essay, Justice Scalia answers this question with a resounding negative.
-
-
Deeper and denser but understandable
- By Danilo Josue Cardona on 07-13-24
By: Antonin Scalia, and others
-
The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence
- A Pocket Constitution
- By: The Founding Fathers, Paul B. Skousen, Izzard Ink Publishing
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the book you want to keep with you at all times: the full text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, the two documents that are the backbone of United States government. Hearing them as they were written is a must for every American. Regular listening is required for any historian or member of the legal profession, and a good idea for all Americans.
-
-
Not for fake Americans.
- By James C. Buckner on 06-29-20
By: The Founding Fathers, and others
-
The Constitution Today
- Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era
- By: Akhil Reed Amar
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the stories that lead our daily news involve momentous constitutional questions, present-minded journalists and busy citizens cannot always see the stakes clearly. In The Constitution Today, Akhil Reed Amar, America's preeminent constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades. He shows how the Constitution's text, history, and structure are a crucial repository of collective wisdom, providing specific rules and grand themes relevant to every organ of the American body politic.
-
-
Amar is a Brilliant Arguer
- By MJ Schirmer on 11-16-16
By: Akhil Reed Amar
-
The Second Amendment Primer
- A Citizen's Guidebook to the History, Sources, and Authorities for the Constitutional Guarantee of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
- By: Les Adams
- Narrated by: Kevin Henderson
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
So much of the debate about the Second Amendment is in scholarly journals and academic papers written by scholars and judges, or directed towards other scholars, law professors, attorneys, and judges. Trying to wade through the extensive footnotes and references to legal cases and historical precedents known only to the academic elite is more than enough to make anyone feel hopeless.
-
-
Absolutley fantastic
- By Brandon Pruitt on 08-05-15
By: Les Adams
-
The Second Founding
- How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution
- By: Eric Foner
- Narrated by: Donald Corren
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar, a timely history of the constitutional changes that built equality into the nation's foundation and how those guarantees have been shaken over time.
-
-
Excellent book - problematic narrator
- By Jennifer on 10-01-19
By: Eric Foner
-
The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787
- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 24 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This classic work explains the evolution of American political thought from the Declaration of Independence to the ratification of the Constitution. In so doing, it greatly illuminates the origins of the present American political system.
-
-
This Audible book is NOT for a popular audience!
- By BigWally on 11-22-18
By: Gordon S. Wood
-
The Rise of American Democracy
- Jefferson to Lincoln
- By: Sean Wilentz
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 39 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this magisterial work, Sean Wilentz traces a historical arc from the earliest days of the republic to the opening shots of the Civil War. One of our finest writers of history, Wilentz brings to life the era after the American Revolution, when the idea of democracy remained contentious, and Jeffersonians and Federalists clashed over the role of ordinary citizens in government of, by, and for the people. The triumph of Andrew Jackson soon defined this role on the national level, while city democrats, Anti-Masons, fugitive slaves, and a host of others hewed their own local definitions.
-
-
If you need to sleep...
- By HueDCypher39 on 08-04-20
By: Sean Wilentz
-
The Federalist Papers (AmazonClassics Edition)
- By: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
- Narrated by: James Anderson Foster
- Length: 20 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hailed by Thomas Jefferson as "the best commentary on the principles of government which was ever written," The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 essays published by Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay from 1787 to 1788, as a means to persuade the public to ratify the Constitution of the United States. With nearly two-thirds of the essays written by Hamilton, this enduring classic is perfect for modern audiences passionate about his work or seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most important documents in US history.
-
-
I must for everyone who slept through history class
- By Claire Bassett on 06-23-19
By: Alexander Hamilton, and others
-
Active Liberty
- Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution
- By: Stephen Breyer
- Narrated by: Stephen Breyer
- Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
First published in September 2005 and based on a series of lectures delivered at Harvard, Active Liberty is a tight, extremely readable, almost memoir-like guide to interpreting the Constitution. Written by a justice of the Supreme Court, it focuses on a pragmatic approach to this great document that may become crucial as the Supreme Court faces deeply divisive decisions.
-
-
Engaging, If Somewhat Dense
- By Maki on 09-04-07
By: Stephen Breyer
-
Corruption in America
- From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizens United
- By: Zephyr Teachout
- Narrated by: Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For two centuries, the Framers' ideas about political corruption flourished in the courts, even in the absence of clear rules governing voters, civil officers, and elected officials. In the 1970s, the U.S. Supreme Court began to narrow the definition of corruption, and the meaning has since changed dramatically. No case makes that clearer than Citizens United.
-
-
Law Review+
- By Ben P. on 01-02-17
By: Zephyr Teachout
What listeners say about The Bill of Rights Primer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- rockp2
- 08-17-19
Good book, Narrator not so much
If you have deep interest in US Governing documents, this is a must read. But if your interest is more or less casual, you may have a hard time enjoying the book. Narrator is monotone, at times sounding like a computer voice. While you of course don't want somone, on a work such as this, that is going to be more dramatic on portions they feel strongly about and gloss over others...a little more life would be recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Adam Shields
- 07-26-22
Interesting reading
I have previously read Akhil Amar’s America’s Constitution: A Biography. One of my complaints about that book was that I thought it did not have enough focus on the Bill of Rights. I didn’t realize when I read it that Akhil Amar had already written a long book on the Bill of Rights. This book, The Bill of Rights Primer, is designed to be a more popular level book covering the same rough content.
This oversimplifies, but the rough thesis of the book is to give a history of how the Bill of Rights was developed and understood by the original writers. And then a discussion of how the 14th Amendment and the Reconstruction Era changed how the Bill of Rights was understood and used. I decided to pick up this book after I listened to a podcast with Amar on Advisory Opinions. Primarily they discussed constitutional interpretation. Amar is a liberal originalist and one of the early members of the Federalist Society, which is generally a conservative legal group. That podcast helped me understand Amar’s approach to America’s Constitution and The Bill of Rights Primer. While I think that Amar raises legitimate points to critique constitutional interpretative theory, especially of liberals, I still found weaknesses of originalism’s approach to be under-discussed.
That being said, it is very helpful to understand how the Bill of Rights has changed because of the 14th Amendment. I think one of the weaknesses of the modern originalist framework is that it seems to prioritize the original writer’s understanding, not the Reconstruction Era revision. The original authors of the Constitution were primarily slaveholders, did not believe that women should vote, and mostly did not believe in direct democracy. I tend to think we should prioritize interpreting the earlier amendments through the later amendments.
Immediately after reading The Bill of Rights Primer, I started reading At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape and Resistance–A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power by Danielle McGuire. In the Bill of Rights Primer, Amar and Adams discuss how the grand jury was originally viewed as a check on governmental authority because grand juries could refuse to prosecute crimes that they viewed as unconstitutional or not crimes. But as At The Dark End of the Street detailed, the refusal of grand juries to call rape or murder or lynching a crime and releasing white perpetrators when the victims were black is acceptable in the originalist reading of the 7th Amendment, but it seems to violate the 14th Amendment by creating a system where crimes against black citizens were not prosecuted and where governmental officials (primarily police and officials that administrated voting) were able to use their authority to enforce segregation in violation of the spirit of the 14th Amendment.
Amar and Adams do discuss this problem, but I think without more history like what is discussed in At the Dark End of the Street, it is easy to think about originalism as an abstract theory of reading the constitution and not a theory that has historically been used to violate the rights of minority citizens within the US. Overall, I think that if you are interested in understanding the constitution, I would start with listening to the Advisory Opinion’s podcast (the sound is not great.) And then read America’s Consitution which has a good broad overview and history of the US. And then I would read Eric Foner’s history of the Reconstruction Amendments. And if you are still interested at this point, The Bill of Rights Primer does add to that conversation.
As a Christian who has read pretty widely in biblical hermeneutics, I think that the background there does have some relevance to other areas of literary or constitutional interpretation. It is interesting to me that generally, the courts do read the 1st Amendment through the lens of post-14th Amendment theory even if they do not always read other amendments that way. The early interpreters of the 1st Amendment did not believe that it really gave a free speech and religious rights to individuals. There are many examples of this, but one blatant one is that “In 1859 North Carolina sentenced the elderly Reverend Daniel Worth to a year in prison for circulating an anti-slavery tract. Then the state rewrote its laws to make “incendiary” antislavery expression punishable by death for the first offense.” The fact that there could be a death sentence for speech that was inspired by religious belief is a very different understanding of the 1st Amendment than what is generally understood today. Originalist readings of the 1st Amendment are not reading that history without another interpretive theory overlaying it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Philo
- 06-10-15
At this length, basic; but at that, great
I've been teaching this stuff for 30 years at the college level, so I suppose I could be easily bored or unimpressed. The task of these authors mirrors what I do teaching; putting complicated material in straightforward (as possible) forms, for regular non-expert people to understand. I WAS impressed here. There is good, careful, levelheaded scholarship behind this, and also, plenty fresh for my consideration. I think putting this material in plain (as possible) English is a great public service. I consider my own similar job to be vital and important, and I make great effort to link it for my students to everyday life. All this is done, and done well, here. This is a fine antidote too, to the predigested partisan rants we hear imbedded in a lot of today's "news." If we do not understand these documents and this history, we are at the mercy of whatever "expert" may purport to edit and cherry-pick this material. That weakens all of us, individually and collectively. I find this presentation does not try to shove me around toward conclusions, but supports my own critical thinking, whatever preexisting notions I may have brought with me. It helps me to recognize those parts of the Bill of Rights where my own background was weaker, and based on dubious sources or assumptions. This is a great bargain for what it brings within our reach.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Josh C. Markland
- 12-06-22
Good info, monotone presentation
Really enjoyed the subject matter and historucal tues and insight or theories of why ammendments sometimes changed and even went back to original intent. I beleieve it was the ro ot reading the actual book. Probably a dry subject already, but even more so with the presentation.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lee A
- 07-22-21
History should not be forgotten
This book will change assumptions made by many about the bill of rights and look at the evolution of the United States and its government.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful