America's Constitution

“Authoritative, important . . . a masterly showcase of scholarship . . . Amar has a knack for assembling surprising bits of historical context that freshen one’s outlook.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Elegantly written, thorough but concise, and consistently enlightening . . . an indispensable reference.”—Scott Turow, The Washington Post Book World (Best Books of the Year)

“Amar writes with fluidity and grace. . . . [America’s Constitution is] a book of large provocations, liberally peppered with surprising observations, small but fascinating insights, and unexpected connections.”—National Review

“As a reference book, it is superb. It is the fullest and most reliable explanation of the written Constitution that we have. [Amar’s] case for the fundamentally popular and democratic origins of the Constitution gives his book a special distinction as a work of history.”—Gordon S. Wood

“Scholarly, reflective and brimming with ideas . . . Rarely do you find a book that embodies scholarship at its most solid and invigorating; this is such a book.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The most fascinating character in American history—our enduring Constitution— finally has its great and deserving biographer. And what a biographer Akhil Reed Amar is! He writes like Jefferson, thinks like Madison, and speaks like Lincoln. Everyone who appreciates the Constitution must read this wonderful biography. It is indispensable to an understanding of the constitutional world in which we live.”—Alan Dershowitz, author of Preemption