Thomas Jefferson designed his own tombstone, describing himself simply as "Author of the Declaration of Independence and of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia." It is in this simple epitaph that R.B. Bernstein finds the key to this enigmatic Founder--not as a great political figure, but as leader of "a revolution of ideas that would make the world over again." In Thomas Jefferson, Bernstein offers the definitive short biography of this revered American--the first concise life in six decades. Bernstein deftly synthesizes the massive scholarship on his subject into a swift, insightful, evenhanded account. Here are all of Jefferson's triumphs, contradictions, and failings, from his luxurious (and debt-burdened) life as a Virginia gentleman to his passionate belief in democracy, from his tortured defense of slavery to his relationship with Sally Hemings. Jefferson was indeed multifaceted--an architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, propagandist, planter, party leader--and Bernstein explores all these roles even as he illuminates Jefferson's central place in the American enlightenment, that "revolution of ideas" that did so much to create the nation we know today. Together with the less well- remembered points in Jefferson's thinking--the nature of the Union, his vision of who was entitled to citizenship, his dread of debt (both personal and national)--they form the heart of this lively biography. In this marvel of compression and comprehension, we see Jefferson more clearly than in the massive studies of earlier generations. More important, we see, in Jefferson's visionary ideas, the birth of the nation's grand sense of purpose.

Roots of the Republic shows how the Constitution was a product, not simply of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, but of a legal and philosophical tradition almost two centuries old. The editors have selected eighteen key documents in the development of that tradition and reproduced them with essays that explain what they mean, why they were written, and why they are important today. Each key document is accompanied by an interpretive essay written by a contemporary scholar. These essays focus on the importance of each frame of government and include commentaries on why they are meaningful today. Intended to help readers learn how to read and understand these documents, the book is also a handy reference and a strong introduction to the development of political thought and the debates surrounding the formation of the state governments and the federal union.

Even as we marvel at the grandeur of our constitutional system, we can't resist tinkering with it. Amending America tells the dramatic story of how, over the past 206 years, the American people have reshaped the Constitution to meet the country's changing needs. It describes how we have adopted 27 amendments since 1789-and debated and rejected 10,000 more.

A provocative examination of one of America's most important yet least-known democratic tools, Amending America brings to life events in our history that continue to resonate today as, as various politicians have set their hearts on amendments to balance the budget, to ban abortion, or to allow school prayer.
"A wonderful book. . . . A magnificent treasure trove of American history."-Arthur R. Miller, Bruce Bromley Professor of Law, Harvard Law School.

"A skillfully rendered, comprehensive, and engaging study of Article V's procedures for amending the Constitution."-Washington Post.

"Instructive and fascinating. The book is thorough, erudite, and packed with the anecdotes that make our political past so enjoyable to review."-Minneapolis Star Tribune.

"Admirably illuminates the complex and remarkable history of the American people's repeated attempts to amend the Constituion, and captures that history's enduring significance."-William E. Nelson, author of The Fourteenth Amendment: From Political Principle to Judicial Doctrine.

"Will amply repay its readers. Scholars of American constitutional development should find the book a useful addition to their shelves; general readers should find it an interesting and enjoyable way to learn about some often overlooked aspects of American history."-Sanford Levinson, History Book Club News.

"Invaluable for just about anybody seeking to understand the contradictions of our approach to constitutional government."-Herbert S. Parmet, author of Richard Nixon and His America.

"An intelligent, carefully researched, and highly readable account."-Detroit News.

"The authors have made our country's charter the centerpiece of a suspenseful and still-unfolding national adventure."-Norfolk Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star.

"An anecdotal guide to the debates and conflicts over each amendment."-Publishers Weekly.

"A thoughtful history of the amendments ot the Constitution and an excellent delineation of issues debated by modern constitutional scholars."-Kirkus Reviews.

"An excellent work about an often-ignored issue. Recommended for all libraries."-Library Journal.

"A fresh and reassuring picture of a living, flexible document strong enough to accept constant challenge and occasional change. The amending process, used wisely, helps meet the needs of an evolving nation. This is an unusual survey of this always-timely process."-Anniston (Alabama) Star.

"For a book with such a weighty subject, Amending America is surprisingly entertaining and humorous."-Alan Mass in the New York Law Journal.