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75th out of 206 books
—
47 voters
The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution
by
David O. Stewart (Goodreads Author)
The successful creation of the Constitution is a suspense story. The Summer of 1787 takes us into the sweltering room in which delegates struggled for four months to produce the flawed but enduring document that would define the nation -- then and now.
George Washington presided, James Madison kept the notes, Benjamin Franklin offered wisdom and humor at crucial times. Th
...moreHardcover, 368 pages
Published
April 10th 2007
by Simon & Schuster
(first published January 1st 2007)
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The Constitutional Convention is a subject I know something about, and have been drawn to for years.
It really started while I was an undergraduate student. We had something called "interim" which was a mini-semester between fall and spring. You took one intense month long course. My senior year, I took a course on the US Constitutional Convention. We went day-by-day through Madison's notes (and all the other notes that exist). It was one of the best and most memorable educational experiences of...more
It really started while I was an undergraduate student. We had something called "interim" which was a mini-semester between fall and spring. You took one intense month long course. My senior year, I took a course on the US Constitutional Convention. We went day-by-day through Madison's notes (and all the other notes that exist). It was one of the best and most memorable educational experiences of...more
The Summer of 1787, by and large, is a very good introduction to some of the difficulties faced by the delegates of the Convention, but it lacks the overall details that make history such a juicy subject.
Much effort is devoted to setting up the historical background as to give the reader a thorough understanding of the problems faced under the Articles of Confederation and what interests each State was trying to protect in drafting a new Constitution. The delicate crafting of the legislative br...more
Much effort is devoted to setting up the historical background as to give the reader a thorough understanding of the problems faced under the Articles of Confederation and what interests each State was trying to protect in drafting a new Constitution. The delicate crafting of the legislative br...more
This work is an in-depth analysis of the making of the United States Constitution during the Summer of 1787. From the initial meeting of the Convention in Philadelphia on May 25 to the final meeting and signing of the Constitution on September 17, Stewart traces all the proceedings of the Convention and relates biographical sketches of the 55 delegates from 12 colonies (Rhode Island refused to send delegates).
Each chapter details the discussions and debates among the Framers of the Constitution...more
Each chapter details the discussions and debates among the Framers of the Constitution...more
The successful creation of the Constitution is a suspense story. The Summer of 1787 takes us into the sweltering room in which delegates struggled for four months to produce the flawed but enduring document that would define the nation -- then and now. George Washington presided, James Madison kept the notes, Benjamin Franklin offered wisdom and humor at crucial times.
The Summer of 1787 traces the struggles within the Philadelphia Convention as the delegates hammered out the charter for the wor...more
The Summer of 1787 traces the struggles within the Philadelphia Convention as the delegates hammered out the charter for the wor...more
Anything I read about our nation’s founding fathers I automatically compare to David McCullough’s brilliant biography on John Adams. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, as I found his bio so immensely rewarding – learning that Adams and Jefferson, although best of friends, were also bitter partisan rivals – I find a book like Stewart’s to be worthy of being uttered in the same breath as McCullough’s, that’s no faint praise. And in this case, Stewart’s well-researched and smoothly writt...more
One of the reviews I read of this book said that a well known story is made better by a good telling. The is partly true. We all have an image in our minds - probably from as far back as grade school of how the Constitution was written by a bunch of old guys in funny wigs two hundred years ago. Well, the truth is most people really don't know what a mish-mash of ideas produced maybe the greatest governmental outline ever written - and how it's been used to direct America's affairs longer than an...more
i didn't realize slavery was so front and center in the constitutional discussions. politics (unity was more important than morality, it seems) won the day, and not only was slavery not abolished, but slave states were allowed to count their slaves for representation purposes, though only as 3/5ths of a person. yes, really.
david o. stewart seems to have a bit of a slant towards the virginians, whom he sees as the movers/shakers, and whose "virginia plan" he identifies as the blueprint for the c...more
david o. stewart seems to have a bit of a slant towards the virginians, whom he sees as the movers/shakers, and whose "virginia plan" he identifies as the blueprint for the c...more
This book was wonderfully detailed in how the Constitution was written, in detailed steps (I'm sure are tedious to many.) What I loved best was the clear characterizations of the people involved, learning that people I'd never heard of made the most effect. I sensed the author was trying to show that the Constitution is flawed and haphazardly put together while my view of the data he listed is different. I saw that these men were as polarized as the US Congress is today only more so but they cam...more
(Original review http://hill-kleerup.org/blog/2010/05/...)
This retelling of the formation and course of the Philadelphia convention to reform the national government of the newly united States is gripping and well-told, a look at political battles that make our own current Congress look like a model of civility and straightforwardness.
The biggest questions that come up are an endless series of what-ifs — what if this person hadn’t been there to push for or against an issue, what if that particu...more
This retelling of the formation and course of the Philadelphia convention to reform the national government of the newly united States is gripping and well-told, a look at political battles that make our own current Congress look like a model of civility and straightforwardness.
The biggest questions that come up are an endless series of what-ifs — what if this person hadn’t been there to push for or against an issue, what if that particu...more
This was an amazing recap of the men who shaped the Constitution, and the ideas which went into the document that still manages America. So much political theory went into that document, so many debates, so much re-working, so many issues, it's amazing it was ever written. It's amazing the country didn't dissipate under the original Articles of Confederation instead of producing a Constitution. For anyone with even a passing interest in constitutional law, or American history, who wants to under...more
Stewart took Madison's notes, records of the weather, and a few letters written by the delegates and created a cohesive, interesting narrative of the famous Convention. After reading it, I feel worn out and sweaty, as if I'd been sitting in the back of the sweltering room in a wool coat and a wig with the rest of the delegates. The main characters of the convention and the actual writer were all mostly unknown to me before, but now I recognize their influence in The Document as easily as I recog...more
This was a fascinating book about the Constitutional Convention that took place in Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1787. It was very interesting to read about the debates they had regarding how the number of legislators will be determined, slavery, and the powers of the president.
I was interested in the men that are usually omitted from the history books but played big roles in the writing of the Constitution like George Mason, John Rutledge, Gouvereur Morris, and Luther Martin. I was also...more
I was interested in the men that are usually omitted from the history books but played big roles in the writing of the Constitution like George Mason, John Rutledge, Gouvereur Morris, and Luther Martin. I was also...more
Informative and just plain good fun.
While Miracle at Philadelphia will probably always remain the so-called "definitive" book about the convention, this one is a much more entertaining read. Stewart proceeds chronologically through the convention, yet organizes each chapter around a key theme, issue, or debate. You'll spend one chapter watching the South try to work its will over the horrid 3/5s clause, another listening to grumbling about the election of the President, and another mediating the...more
While Miracle at Philadelphia will probably always remain the so-called "definitive" book about the convention, this one is a much more entertaining read. Stewart proceeds chronologically through the convention, yet organizes each chapter around a key theme, issue, or debate. You'll spend one chapter watching the South try to work its will over the horrid 3/5s clause, another listening to grumbling about the election of the President, and another mediating the...more
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A potentially dry subject to most people, the author brought our forefathers' struggle to life. I felt like I was in the east room, at the tavern, in Washington's parlor as the events unfolded. The writing our Constitution was fraught with angst, rivalry, jealousy and faith. It was incredibly interesting. I laughed out loud at some of the exchanges between the delegates. If everyone understood how fragile the situation was, of how it's existence almost didn't happen at all in a thousand differen...more
This one was a slow read. I did learn a lot, but already most of the details have already left my head. The big picture stuff I do remember--the South had a lot more influence on the Constitution than I realized; at that point, slavery was already a big issue but one people mostly tap-danced around; and nothing was easy to agree upon--the men who invented the Constitution debated everything and could only compromise. It's amazing that with all of the individual states' demands that we managed to...more
The Constitution, with all of its wonders and of all its amazing insights, originated out of debate, compromise and prudence. When read in light of all of this, it is truly amazing how long enduring this document has become.
The Summer of 1787 tells the story of the making of this document. David Stewart is to be commended for telling this story in a straight forward way. From the establishment of the problem at the Mount Vernon Convention to the noble and (ignoble) ends of the men who attended t...more
The Summer of 1787 tells the story of the making of this document. David Stewart is to be commended for telling this story in a straight forward way. From the establishment of the problem at the Mount Vernon Convention to the noble and (ignoble) ends of the men who attended t...more
Although I really liked this book, there was just a little something that prevented it from being a great book. I actually wasn't even planning on reading it right away, but casually picked it up off my shelf and just began the preface and chapter to get a feel for what I could expect when I did read it. Well, I got sucked in and had it done in under a week. It's organized chronologically and follows the summer in which the Constitution was written, as such more time is devoted to the matters th...more
History has in many ways smoothed over the bumps of the Founding Fathers. The men who invented the Constitution were certainly remarkable. They were starting creating a system of government almost from scratch. But they could be irascible, parochial and often-times short sighted. David O. Stewart has written a very readable account of the constitutional convention in 1787. It's not a scholarly work, laden with minutiae but a story well-told about a very bold endeavor. Stewart mostly has praise f...more
Very interesting read about the drafting of the constitution. Much more human in the approach and less miracle than other books. If one wants to get a different perspective on all the compromising that had to go in to help the founders 'muddle' through to get an amazing (with serious flaws involving slavery) document that has only been amended 27 times. I'd be interested in reading some of this authors other books -- even though he seems like he has a liberal bend.....
A concise history of the Consitutional convention; largely doesn't deal with the subsequent wrangling by the various states that produces the Bill of Rights......deals in detail with the struggle between the large and the small states as well as the slave-holding states with the northeastern (non-slave) states. Not a long read and not terribly concerned with explaining the long-terms ramifications of the various compromises and agreements made in Philadelphia that summer.
In many respects, the "s...more
In many respects, the "s...more
Can you believe I am reading this book? It's neither a novel nor a memoir nor a spirituality book. Not like me at all. I was feeling the need to read something meatier, like.. hmmm...HISTORY. I rarely read history, beucase I find I don't retain much of what I read. But somehow this struck my fancy, I think for a few basic reasons: 1) it covers a VERY SHORT period in American history--3 months in 1787, 2) It covers ONE EVENT. The writing of the U.S. constitution. 3) I am generally interested in p...more
An outstanding account of the writing of the constitution during 3 months at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Stewart gives an almost daily account of the events, the arguments, and personalities involved. I would highly recommend this book. It is not a fast read, however. I listened to an audiobook which was great.
Aug 28, 2009
Sandy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
American History lovers
Recommended to Sandy by:
CSPAN Q&A interview
I loved this book. Stewart brings these men to life. We see how determined they were, despite their tremendous differences of opinion, to do what they set out to do: write a constitution for the United States. I especially enjoyed comparing their efforts to those of Congress today grappling to bring both sides together in health care reform.
This is an interesting account of the issues
that faced the men who wrote the constitution and how they resolved them. We seem to always talk about the "Founding Fathers" in rather reverent terms, almost deifying them. This shows that they were just as concerned about their own regional and personal issues as any other politician would be.
that faced the men who wrote the constitution and how they resolved them. We seem to always talk about the "Founding Fathers" in rather reverent terms, almost deifying them. This shows that they were just as concerned about their own regional and personal issues as any other politician would be.
This is a wonderful telling of the birth of the Constitution. I loved following the ideas back and forth. I enjoyed knowing about the Committee of Postponed Parts. It definitely shows that there were many compromises to made and that everyone needed to "give a little, get a little" to merge a system that might be workable. I was amazed at how many ideas there were on electing a president.
This is wonderfully researched, told with passion and intellectural curiosity, and describes so many of the v...more
This is wonderfully researched, told with passion and intellectural curiosity, and describes so many of the v...more
Easily read book on the Constitutional Convention. There are interesting items and little known facts; information on little known delegates; several good quotes. Provides history of the tenuousness of the passage of the Constitution and the compromises made to get it passed. There are also several endnotes.
I am always so amazed that the men of the late 18th century could create the U.S. government. It is important to understand where they went wrong, and the power of slaveholders is frustrating -- I understand the economic forces that made men want to maintain slavery but I can never wrap my mind around the fact that these economic forces were so much stronger than basic human rights. The Constitution was not perfect, nor is it perfect today, but it is incredible that representatives from the stat...more
Learn the personalities, context, and debates that formed our constitution. Much of this book is taken from Madison's notes along with a lot of other very thorough research. This is a very comprehensive and incredibly enlightening book on our founding fathers and our founding document.
Dec 27, 2008
Michaelpatrick Keena
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who love our constitution and know that is was made by extrodinary men not demigods
Shelves:
early-republic
The Constitution did not just fall out of Heaven; nor was done cavalier manner. No, it was the result of a tug-of-war carried on by many of America's greatest minds and hearts. Sadly, men such Patrick Henry who boycotted the convention, could have even made it better; but what we have is still the greatest charter of freedom and government the world has yet to see. What resulted by the end of that summer has not only lasted longer than its designers expected; but became a light upon a hill for t...more
Aug 06, 2011
Anne
added it
As entertaining as it could get; thanks to the author. Really, the subject of the Constitution is such dry reading, but Mr. Stewart does try very diligently to make it interesting. Very well written. Just hard to get through; again, not the author, but the subject!
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