Liberty's Blueprint: How Madison and Hamilton Wrote the Federalist, Defined the Constitution, and Made Democracy Safe for the World - Tapa dura

"Choice" "Meyerson has written a readable book that has three aims: to present the most important parts of the Federalist Papers to a modern audience, to offer an argument about when to include those papers in constitutional interpretation, and to explore the personal relationship between the principal authors of those papers, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton...Highly recommended." " Booklist" "Defending The Federalist against modern critics, Meyerson credits it with impressing its initial audience and with impact on the present Supreme Court. Analyzing the opinions of justices who have cited The Federalist, Meyerson wends through the concept of originalism, the extent to which the intent of the Constitution's framers can be discerned and applied . . . Meyerson delivers biography as ably as he does political ideas." "Publishers Weekly" "By combining the personal and the constitutional, law and history, Meyerson has produced a remarkably insightful volume on a crucial American document." "Kirkus" "Meyerson portrays the era's roiling debates over ratification, including the ultimately successful clamor for a Bill of Rights, and examines the essays' modern-day relevance, particularly in terms of current Supreme Court arguments between 'originalists' and 'non-originalists.' A useful study of the Founders's noble minds and fallible ideas." Riverdale Press "Michael Meyerson has written a lively and engaging book that tells the story of this unlikely collaboration." Erwin Chemerinsky, Alston & Bird Professor of Law and Political Science, Duke University "This beautifully written book vividly describes howthe Federalist Papers were written and why they are profoundly relevant for the constitutional issues of our times. Professor Meyerson describes how two very different individuals, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, collaborated to produce a brilliant work of political philosophy and elaboration of the Constitution's meaning. Meyerson has written a book that all students of the Constitution and American history will enjoy and learn from." Richard Brookhiser, author of "What Would the Founders Do?" and "George Washington on Leadership" "Liberty's Blueprint is a biography of a great book, the past, present and future of the Federalist Papers--how they were written, how they were read, and what we can use in the twenty-first century."

Aside from the Constitution itself, there is no more important document in American politics and law than The Federalist-the series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison to explain the proposed Constitution to the American people and persuade them to ratify it. Today, amid angry debate over what the Constitution means and what the framers original intent was, The Federalist is more important than ever, offering the best insight into how the framers thought about the most troubling issues of American government and how the various clauses of the Constitution were meant to be understood. Michael Meyersons Libertys Blueprint provides a fascinating window into the fleeting, and ultimately doomed, friendship between Hamilton and Madison, as well as a much-needed introduction to understanding how the lessons of The Federalist are relevant for resolving contemporary constitutional issues from medical marijuana to the war on terrorism. This book shows that, when properly read, The Federalist is not a conservative manifesto but a document that rightfully belongs to all Americans across the political spectrum.