Signing Their Rights Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the United States Constitution

by Denise Kiernan, Joseph D'Agnese

Unfold Book Jacket for a Full-Color Reproduction of the U.S. Constitution

With their book Signing Their Lives Away, Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese introduced readers to the 56 statesmen (and occasional scoundrels!) who signed the Declaration of Independence. Now they’ve turned their attention to the 39 men who met in the summer of 1787 and put their names to the U.S. Constitution.

Signing Their Rights Away chronicles a moment in American history when our elected officials knew how to compromise—and put aside personal gain for the greater good of the nation. These men were just as quirky and flawed as the elected officials we have Hugh Williamson believed in aliens, Robert Morris went to prison, Jonathan Dayton stole $18,000 from Congress, and Thomas Mifflin was ruined by alcohol. Yet somehow these imperfect men managed to craft the world’s most perfect Constitution. With 39 mini-biographies and a reversible dust jacket that unfolds into a poster of the original document, Signing Their Rights Away offers an entertaining and enlightening narrative for history buffs of all ages.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, American Revolution, Historical, Politics

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2006

About the author

Denise Kiernan writes narrative nonfiction about the people history tends to overlook—most often the women who reshaped America while their names stayed in the footnotes. That thread runs from “The Girls of Atomic City,” her instant New York Times bestseller about the women who enriched uranium for the Manhattan Project, to “The Last Castle,” the story of the Vanderbilt family and the building of Biltmore, to her newest book, “Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution,” a national bestseller.

Both “The Last Castle” and “The Girls of Atomic City” were instant New York Times bestsellers in hardcover and paperback. “The Girls of Atomic City” was also an NPR and Los Angeles Times bestseller, an Amazon Top 100 Book of 2013, and winner of the American Political Science Association’s Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award. “The Last Castle” was a Wall Street Journal bestseller and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize.

She is also the author of a Thanksgiving trilogy—“We Gather Together” in adult and young-reader editions, and the picture book “Giving Thanks”—and co-author of “Signing Their Lives Away” and “Signing Their Rights Away.”

A former head writer for ABC’s Emmy-winning “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” she has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time, and has appeared on NPR, PBS NewsHour, and The Daily Show. She lives in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an interesting subject, briefly introducing the 1st continental congress of 1774 and proceeding through the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the voting by representatives of the thirteen colonies on independence. New Hampshire south through Georgia sent representatives and gradually over a period of two years agreed on the resolution to declare independence from Britain. The bulk of the book is biographical material on the 56 signers. The book is too short for all that.

Kiernan’s book describes each signer and what they might have lost—their lives. No such thing happened. I found the famous northern signers plus Jefferson most interesting and of course their stories are well known. A reader from the East Coast might find interest in their state’s signers, but I quickly lost interest. I’m not a native of the state I live in and hadn’t even heard of my obscure three signers. My interest picked up again with South Carolina whose representatives have names that are still big in the Charleston area, even if the author felt they were spoiled rich kids. The split between North and South was already apparent in colonial times. It was pointed out that the Southerners were just about as mistrustful of the Northerners as of their trading partners, Britain. The seeds of the Civil War had already been sown.

The biggest problem with the book is that it is too jokey and might be aimed at a YA audience. That isn’t apparent in cover descriptions and not what I was looking for.

[Paul of Bethesda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Signing that document must indeed have felt, to those 56 men, as if they were signing their own death warrants. The Declaration of Independence represented a challenge to a king who considered himself God-ordained, to a realm whose dominions extended around the world, to an army and navy whose might made Great Britain the lone superpower of that time. Small wonder, then, that Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese gave their 2009 book about the signers of the Declaration of Independence the title Signing Their Lives Away.

The book’s subtitle – The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence – captures accurately an interesting fact about the signers: that many of those 56 men, for a variety of reasons, suffered a variety of hardships and travails – some directly related to their signing of the document, some not. One signer, John Morton of Pennsylvania, was dead within a year of signing the Declaration; by contrast, Charles Carroll of Carrollton lived on until 1832, into the age of railroads and Jacksonian democracy, and spent his last years as “a kind of living monument to the American Revolution” (p. 154). The lives and fortunes of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were that different from one another.

I suspect that some readers will go straight to the most famous of the signers: John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson. Others, more historically savvy, will seek out those signers whose names stand out to them: Elbridge Gerry, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Caesar Rodney, Benjamin Harrison, Richard Henry Lee. Still others may want to seek out notable or notorious characters from the musical play and film 1776: Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, Lewis Morris of New York (“New York abstains…courteously”), Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, Lyman Hall of Georgia.

The book’s arrangement by state, with one chapter for each signer, means that you can make your way through in whatever order you like. For my part, I went straight to the signers from my home state of Maryland – Samuel Chase (“The Signer Better Remembered as ‘Old Bacon Face’”), William Paca (“The Signer Who Dared to Acknowledge His Illegitimate Child”), Thomas Stone (“The Signer Who Died of a Broken Heart”), and Charles Carroll of Carrollton (“The Last Signer to Die,” as mentioned above) – and read their stories, and then went on to learn more about the lives and travails of the other signers from the other colonies-turned-states. Once you get to the state, signer, or chapter of your choice, you will find that each signer is described in terms of some salient personality trait or life event.

The style of the book is best described as casual, informal, breezy, even gossipy. Of Thomas Jefferson (logically enough, he is “The Signer Who Wrote the Declaration”), Kiernan and D’Agnese write that “For a guy who probably would have preferred to be home reading and working in his garden, Jefferson was just too darn smart and capable for anyone to let him off the hook” (p. 177). Regarding the depth and breadth of the achievements of Benjamin Franklin (“The Signer Known Throughout the World”), the book’s authors ask, “How the hell did this son of a candlemaker pull it off?” (p. 105). And Kiernan and D’Agnese note regarding the future second president of the United States that the diaries of John Adams (“The Signer Everyone Loved to Hate”) are “filled with bitchy diatribes about people who dared to question him” (p. 26).

If you like for your history to be delivered in a reverent and old-fashioned manner, with a booming, News on the March-style “voice of God” delivery, then you may want to look elsewhere for a study of the Declaration of Independence. The gossipy tone didn’t do a thing for me, but I knew when I received this book as a gift that it wasn’t going to look at the Declaration of Independence with the seriousness of Garry Wills in Inventing America: Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence (1978), or of Danielle S. Allen in Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality (2014).

If what you want is a fast, light read that will give you a quick overview of the lives of those 56 very different men joined only by the fact that they all affixed their names to that piece of parchment in Philadelphia, then Signing Their Lives Away may work for you.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of history, always have, but for some reason I have just never delved much into the colonial American era. This is a great book for getting you into that early. You get not only short bios of the signers but also some cultural background as well. Very recommended

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. I WANTED to like this. Parts of it were well done and it's always good, IMO, to remind Americans today what people went through to establish our liberties.
However, this particular volume has some weaknesses.
1. Errors. One egregious example is an assertion that the French killed their king, Louis XVI, "two years" after 1785. Umm, we'd need to make that EIGHT years.
2. Controversial opinions cited as fact, not footnoted at all, so readers cannot read the original works and decide among different explanations and hypotheses.
3. Too cutesy, overblown attempts to be "hip" ("The Signer Who Is Two Degrees from Kevin Bacon" ???) Yeah, the Founding Fathers were really worried about that. Huh? Every possible connection made with a pop culture figure like an actor is jumped on; it's funny, but a lot of OTHER eminent people descended from signers were not mentioned.
So, this is a fun beginning. Cleaned up and footnoted, it could be a real gem.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

They fought against the idea of a strong central government based in London but decided that a strong central government was needed in the United States. Signing Their Rights Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the United States Constitution by married writers Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese gives readers a crash course on each signer’s lives up to and after the Constitutional Convention.

Throughout the Summer of 1787 men from 12—not Rhode Island—of the 13 States met in the same building that independence was declared to create a new government before the new nation burned down due to the failures of the Articles of Confederation. Over the course of the hot Philadelphia months, 55 men would participate in what became known as the Constitutional Convention but of those only 39 would sign the document that was sent to the States for ratification and is today in the National Archives. Kiernan and D’Agnese give brief biographical sketches of the 39 men—separated by state—whose signatures adorn the document filled with their life details as several anecdotes from the man who signed twice and who technically did not but is included, who died in a duel but did not get a Broadway bio play created for them, and who is so mysterious that we do not have any clue what he looked like. A illustrated portrait is included with 38 of the biographies to give faces to the signers especially those lesser known by the average American. While each biography is informative, the authors’ choice of off-handed remarks and other stylistic choices are at time annoying and off-putting which as it went on for almost 300 pages resulted in the rating this book received.

Overall, this is a good overview of all the men who created the system of government that we still use today at least if we can keep it.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who were the men who decided to stick it King George’s eye in July 1776 and vote for independence? Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence by married writers Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese gives readers a crash course on each signer’s lives up to and after that momentous day.

In June and July 1776, the men in the Second Continental Congress debated if the Colonies should declare independence from Great Britain. Then on the 2nd of July they took the step to do so and, on the 4th, approved the Declaration written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the Congress. Finally, on August 2nd the 56 Congressmen from all thirteen states signed the Declaration that we see today in the National Archives. After giving this brief timeline of the creation of the Declaration of Independence, Kiernan and D’Agnese give brief biographical sketches of the 56 men—separated by state—whose signatures adorn the document filled with their life details as several anecdotes from who signed the document even though he voted against independence, who died in a duel, and how many of the men represented states they were not born in. All the signers’ biographies have an illustrated portrait to give a face to those not well known by the average American. While each biography is informative, the authors’ choice of off-handed remarks and other stylistic choices are at time annoying and off-putting which as it went on for almost 300 pages resulted in the rating this book received.

Overall, this is a good overview of all the men who essentially signed their own death warrant if events had turned out differently.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of vignettes about the signers. It was interesting and the authors did an amazing job compiling history with trivia.

But it is not a book with a plot so there is no compelling reason to read it all in one sitting, hence the length of time it took me to get through it. I would read a few vignettes, set the book down and then come back to it in between other books.

Each vignette indicates where the signer is buried. I loved visiting Boston and seeing the gravestones of several signers. I’m keeping the book because I think that could be useful when planning a trip.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn more about this assembly of men, most of whom I wasn't previously familiar with. Roger Sherman is my favourite. An avid reader who came from humble beginnings, he was a shoemaker, writer, lawyer and bookshop owner, among many other things. He apparently didn't own slaves. He was a true patriot involved in the development of the new United States and even suggested the dual structure of Congress.
Although it's understandable that the authors of this book would want to use lively turns of phrase, there are too many snarky or flippant editorial comments.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is written in a style that made the signers of The Declaration of Independence become human. It gives a glimpse into the personal lives of each signer as well as what part they each played in the quest for independence from England. It is not a book that can be read cover to cover. It is not a page turner. I decided to read it in small bites, reading just a couple of entries each day. It was the non-fiction read for our book club this year. We each took a minor signer and reported on him at our meeting. I chose Lewis Morris who was one of four representatives from New York. New York was the only colony to abstain from signing the first draft on July 2. They were not receiving any direction from their colony and were not willing to decide one way or the other. Lewis Morris helped lead his delegation to approve the Declaration of Independence making the Declaration unanimous. However, as I read I found that a lot the obscure signers made contributions that are still affecting the way we are governed today.

The authors chose a loose writing style that makes this an easy and enjoyable read. They also included The Declaration and a time line of events leading up to the signing and a Time Line from the beginning of the process until George Washington was inaugurated. There is also a Miscellany of independence; such as, who and how many signed which documents.

Highly recommend! It will answer some questions and motivate you, is so inclined, to make a deeper study of the beginning of our Republic.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the content of this book is interesting, the writing style is remarkable only for its unfortunate clumsiness. This author writes using puns, colloquial phrases, bad jokes, poor diction, and worse. I cannot recommend this, even though I did learn things about the founders that were previously unknown to me. Was she trying to amuse herself? Her colleagues? Her readers? Was this meant to be something along the lines of a 21st century Mark Twain-esque effort? If so, it fails.

[Adi Basu-Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the same vibe as visiting a Colonial American landmark or museum and having an excellent docent give a tour filled with interesting factoids, compelling narratives, and hokey jokes. There are multiple outdated references aimed at a very specific demographic. There are multiple points in the text that are a bit repetitive. But some of the historical analysis and folklore is well worth the read. I had no idea of Caeser Rodney's legendary ride from Delaware nor of the rarity of Button Gwinnett. This book was recommended in my US Military History class, and I can see why. If you love America, then you will find something to enjoy in this book.

[Atticus Swett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and quick read about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. If you’re looking for a little history without too much commitment, it is definitely worth the short time to read it!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun way to examine the signers of the DoI. Admittedly, I didn't know all of the patriots who participated in this process, and it was neat to see what each brought to the table.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Kiernan and D'Agnese's brief but very informative book was right up this history buff's alley. After a brief introduction on the the Convention that produced the United States Constitution, the rest of the book devotes a chapter to each signer of the Constitution, giving a solid biography of each, as well as highlighting their contributions to the Constitution. There are appendices that list the full original text of the Constitution and its Amendments, as well as quick blurbs about other individuals associated with this historic document, including convention members who did not sign the final document.

In general I love how Quirk books tend to highlight the truly weird and fascinating, while still maintaining some sort of value. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was my first introduction to this publisher and I can't say that I've been disappointed in much I've seen from them, and this entertaining, yet really useful non-fiction title is no exception.

The dust jacket carries portraits of the signers with colorful one word descriptions such as "Bankrupt" "Pretty Boy" and "Fugitive", and even unfolds to reveal a replica of the original Constitution. The colorful descriptors on the cover match up with the equally memorable chapter headings such as "The Signer Who Stole $18,000 From Congress" and "The Signer Who Believed in Aliens". But, while making sure to highlight these colorful incidents, the book still sticks to the facts and provides a solid biographical sketch of each signer from birth to death without being too long, dry, or boring.

While I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover, the book offers key biographical information on some of the lesser known Founding Fathers that would be useful to many students of American history. Maybe not a top priority for serious academic libraries, but certainly worth including in public libraries and middle and high school collections.

[Kristi Thielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brisk, extremely readable and very witty look at each of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, detailing their lives to 1776-77 and what followed thereafter.

Pick a fate and you'll find it here: the celebrated man who signed and then languished into obscurity; the noble soul who did this one good thing in his life and then vanished from history; the spirited extrovert, the humble introvert, the rock stars of the Revolution (read: Adams, Franklin, Jefferson) and the ones dragged kicking and screaming into signing, who really would rather have not. (And at least one of whom said that very thing, later on.)

A few men saw their fortunes decline drastically, after helping to fund independence from Great Britian and - wouldn't you know it - several men were impoverished because the new American government PROMISED to pay them back . . . and then didn't.

An entertaining detail: many signers became the focus of after-the-revolution legends which stated that they had - gasp! - lost their homes and property due to violence at the hands of British troops. In fact, no such thing happened. Which means that Americans have been dramatizing American history since - well - since American history started to BECOME American history.

Read this book in a lawnchair on the 4th of July, with a (Samuel Adams?) brew or a lemonade at your side. You'll enjoy the experience!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a goodreads giveaway win for me. Signing Their Rights Away is a series of very short biographies of the men who signed the U.S. Constitution. I liked the concept -- learning more about each man involved and their interactions. However, the pieces were too short to give the the reader a real sense of these men. Most were just 3 or 4 pages long. Once the authors covered the basics of of birth, marriage, children, profession and death, there wasn't much space to cover their personalities or how each man influenced they Constitution. The book is probably targeted at high school students without much knowledge of early American History. Considering that, it could be useful to get young teens thinking about the real people who created the rules still govern us.

*Update* I gave this book to my 86 year old mother who enjoys reading history but is often not up to following a long biography. She reports really enjoying it.

[Lori Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Signing Their Rights Away' is an excellent Cliff Notes type of book, quickly highlighting the important aspects of the lives of the men who signed the United States Constitution. Some are famous, some not-so-famous and some more infamous than anything else. I will certainly look at current day politics a little bit differently as it seems they are no better...or worse...than they were during the early days of our country. It is awesome to see the things that have stood the test of time, and those that had to be changed so our country could stand the test of time. This book would make a great companion book for students of U.S. history, political science, or for anyone who just wants to know more about the men and the politics behind the Constitution...the longest-standing one on the entire planet. These guys must have done something right!

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a letter to John Adams, signer Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote: Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up one after another, to the table of the President of Congress to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants?

Yes, there were many who knew they were doing a very dangerous thing. There were also some who believed the time was not right to do so. Afterall, there was no army with which to wage war - not even near enough ammunition or other supplies if they did. But 56 men who had been sent to the Continental Congress by their colonial legislatures did place their signatures on that historic document.

Despite the danger of that time and that act, the authors have given their subject a light touch.

In April 1775, Hancock and his pal Samuel Adams were in Lexington, staying at a parsonage that once belonged to Hancock’s grandfather. Paul Revere famously rode by and scared the pants off everyone.

If anything, he was most often heard opposing someone else’s idea—a habit that won him the nickname “The Objection Maker.” (Apparently “Major Paine” was already taken.) [About Robert Treat Paine]

Morris’s decision to stay on with the fledgling government was lucky for Congress—and for every American since, really—because without Morris’s money smarts (and money, period) Americans today would all be eating chips instead of fries. [About Robert Morris]

Though apparently he was never admitted to the bar, Clark was known as the “Poor Man’s Counselor” due to his willingness to help folks with land disputes, mortgages, and other small legal matters, often for no payment. He was a hero of the middle class. [About Abraham Clark]

I could have highlighted much more. I might not remember the specifics of many of them - probably not even all of the names! - but I did enjoy reading about all of them. Though a majority were wealthy, they didn't all come from the monied class. A couple of them were even orphaned and had to make their own way. It is true, though that by adulthood they all had enough that they could leave home to attend the Congress, serve on committees and debate issues. And to sign this historic document that is the foundation for what became my beloved country.

I usually read one bio a day and spread this out over the summer of our 250th Anniversary. I don't know if this is actually worth the 5 stars I'm giving it, but I did enjoy looking forward to it each day.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle of Signing Their Lives Away gives a great synopsis: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence."

You'll learn a lot in this book! Each of the 56 signers is given 2-4 pages of bio specifically relating to their role in creating and signing the Declaration. You get just a taste of their lives beforehand, and their cause of death. I had somehow missed hearing this, but apparently there's a rumor that they all died sooner than they should have, and by unusual causes? Slight spoiler alert: a bunch of them died of gout complications. One died of a common cold. Even those who died relatively young did not die in any really weird ways. It was the eighteenth century: you could die from an infected stubbed toe. At the very end there's an appendix that addresses the biggest rumors about the Declaration, and a timeline.

The best part of this book is that the author has just the right touch of dry humor/wit in her short bios. I definitely literally laughed out loud a little at many. And I always love learning more history! I learned a lot in this book. In fact, there were quite a few signers I wouldn't mind reading a full book on. Unfortunately, some of them do not even have fully confirmed birth dates, so I don't think there's a ton of info out there on all of them.

This book was a gift to me from my aunt. It came from Better World Books (I highly recommend!) and unfortunately had library bindings and markings. I loved it so much that I wanted to keep it on my own shelf after reading, so I did a little reading and learned how to remove library mylar and tags. I felt kind of naughty doing so, even knowing the book had been withdrawn and sold! It was my first time doing so, and went great. If you can get your hands on a hardcover copy without mylar, there's a neat Easter egg: the dust jacket unfolds and reveals a full-color Declaration of Independence printed on the back! How cool is that?

Highly recommended! I've already aggressively recommended to my husband.

[Mallory Redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow!! I think my favorite book of the year! I have loved every second of this book and wasn’t expecting that due to some of the negative reviews. I had never heard of it, and stumbled upon it in the gift shop while visiting the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon in Charleston where the Declaration of Independence was first read aloud to the South Carolina colonists!! I loved reading the stories of the lesser known signers of the DOI and their Patriotism. Loved the format of this book and the short stories about men I knew nothing about, but were part of such big moments in history. I’ve read quite a few books about this time period the last 10 years and felt like this was full of new facts I did not know! This was the perfect book to take little stories away from and share with my students as we discuss the DOI and Revolution. So thankful for each of these men and their lives. The stories of Delaware’s Caesar Rodney, and Connecticut’s Oliver Wolcott, will stick with me in particular. This book gave me a much better understanding of how colonists felt and what they were like from colony to colony. Also, thoroughly enjoyed the extra DOI facts and info at the end. I will keep this book and reference it forever as I study Revolutionary times! I could go on and on! Loved!! ❤️🇺🇸 Looking forward to reading the next one about the Constitution.

[William Bahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

E Pluribus Unum: From Many, One

This book is an amazing collection of mini-biographies of the many (56) men of vastly different backgrounds who came together to sign the Declaration of Independence, unifying their separate colonies in a singular effort to free themselves from the tyranny of Great Britain. It also includes valuable information on King George III and others. For a book I'm writing, my focus was Francis Hopkinson, a signer from New Jersey and something of a Renaissance man who also designed America's first official flag, among many other creative acts which arguably puts him in the class of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The book is chock full of interesting facts and is highly recommended for any student of how America came to be.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting little book .... as far as I got through it.

More than halfway through, I felt like the stories of the signers got a little repetitive.
Hey, I get it .... These men tended to have a lot in common.
But it seems the author could have dug a bit deeper to pull out some unique aspects of each man, or unique stories.

SO, this goes in the #didn'tfinish pile.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book for research and yet I really enjoyed the unique pacing: just a few pages for each signer with interesting details embedded. My appreciation for the people who brought the colonies into the United States has deepened immensely. I also loved how many famous fables the authors squashed.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent popular history of the men who signed our Declaration of Independence. A quick and humorous read. Provides in single source the stories of all these men, a topic I have shelved for too long. There is a lot of information less well known and some surprises.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. Humanizes the founding fathers.

[Michael Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short biographies of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence told with a sense of humor and occasionally with "tongue firmly placed in cheek." Assorted irrelevant facts lighten up this entertaining look at our founders. A quick example: Three founders have descendants who are Hollywood celebrities:
1. John Witherspoon --- Reese Witherspoon
2. William Ellery -- Kyra Sedgwick
3. Robert Treat Paine -- Treat Williams

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

First history book that was funny. It is comprised of short pithy biographies of each of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence grouped by state. Interesting how many signers bodies were moved later in time for shrines/statues of the Signers. Reading this, these men were mostly lawyers who became governors, judges and other politicians.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Argh! I had the review written but then my cat decided she wanted to type and erased what I'd written!

I received this book as a GoodReads giveaway; I signed up for the giveaway because I like history. I'm also well-ware that my last government class was the summer of 1986.

The book's organization reminded me of a series I read in upper elementary whose title escapes me. Each brief biography, averaging four pages, is organized according to the state-represented. The length of the biographies shouldn't be intimidating to teenagers but the length of the book might be. (Teen novels, with a few rare exceptions) appear to be novella-length.)

At first I was put-off by the slang (i.e. one biography referred to a signer's schnoz) and modern history references (the Clinton scandals, the Congressional page scandals, and the housing bubble crisis) which many teens may not understand. Once I understood the writers' styles, the writers' use of slang and references lightened what could have become a dense and intimidating tome.

I began reading this book on the train on the last day of an AVID conference in Dallas. Each biography is chockful of information and I found the reading heavier than I expected. The authors worked hard to find distinctive characteristics about each signer. I originally believed that I could finish the book by the 4th of July. I spent two weeks in Washington, DC. Somehow this book did not make it into my carry-on luggage. I found the book in my to-be-read pile instead of my currently-reading pile of books; I'm not sure how that happened.

I'm glad I took the time to read the appendices, especially Appendix 2. Anyone wanting to learn more about the human element of the Constitution ought to read the Signing their Rights Away.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read (and wholeheartedly loved) Signing Their Lives Away about the signers of the Declaration, there is something unavoidably anticlimactic about going into this one with an identical formula and tone (and even some of the same players). Even so, I couldn't help but enjoy it. Kiernan's somewhat irreverent, though arguably thoroughly researched pocket biographies of these great men who were also greatly fallible is a treat--gossip you can consume with a clear conscience--because it's history! There's also something strangely very moving to me as these pieces come together to form a larger picture, to see how this squabbling group of very human humans came together to compromise, in spite of a lot of strong feelings and personal agendas, for the sake of keeping the country together at a precarious time in our history. Reading this now, at another sort of precarious time in our political climate, is an important reminder that flawed leaders, division, and dissent are as much a part of our history as anything else, and our differences do not have to add up to disaster. It's a nice balance of dry humor/gentle snark and admiration, not so unlike something out of one of Sarah Vowell's many enjoyable books.

I think this book could be a nice counter-point/antidote to some of the more rah-rah idealized bios out there---and much more palatable to the middle-grade reader because the figures feel real--a lot more like unfiltered photos as opposed to slick Sullivan-esque grand portraits, which makes these men feel a lot more relatable to a modern reader.

[Rosemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the close of the Revolutionary War the States were very loosely connected by the Articles of Confederation, which provided for a Congress of one representative from each state. This body had authority to negotiate foreign treaties, fight wars, and settle territorial disputes. It elected its own president without the necessity of consulting citizens but had no power to raise the taxes necessary to perform its duties. The system didn't work very well.

This book is the brief history, told in often amusing anecdotal stories, of the birth of the Constitution of the United States and the 39 men (of an original 74 chosen) who had the courage, tenacity, and vision to see the contentious process through. We are one nation rather than a loose confederation because of their efforts, yet many of them are completely unknown.

The way these very different men with very different perspectives and agendas for the nascent country managed to hammer out their differences and compromise to form the document that produced the greatest nation in the history of the world should shame their successors today.

An interesting and readable look at a period as important as the Revolution, but woefully unknown to many of us!