Plain, Honest Men

“In sprightly, engaging prose and with a sure, steady scholarly hand, Rick Beeman has given us a vivid account of the most vital chapter of our early history: the making of the Constitution. This is a terrific book.”—Jon Meacham, author of American Lion

“Beeman eschews the heroic version of the story in favor of a hard-eyed narrative that in no way diminishes the Framers’ achievement. . . . In a motion-by-motion, day-by-day, debate-by-debate fashion, he re-creates the [delegates’] hard bargaining. . . . Masterfully told American history for the scholar and general reader alike.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“While some have boasted it as a work from Heaven, others have given it a less righteous origin. I have many reasons to believe that it is the work of plain, honest men.”—Gouverneur Morris

“Authoritative and readable . . . Beeman’s work is distiguished by a gently judicious tone that allows us to appreciate, and draw some lessons from, the delicate balances that emerged out of that passion-filled Philadelphia crucible.” —Walter Isaacson, The New York Times Book Review

“The fullest and most authoritative account of the Constitutional Convention ever written.” – Gordon S. Wood, author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution

“Engrossing . . . This minute-by-minute account introduces us to a world, and time, where everything was at stake.”—Chicago Tribune, editor’s choice


“A stunning achievement . . . easily the best and most comprehensive treatment of its subject ever written.”—Weekly Standard