58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, November 28, 2007
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the U.S. Constitution (Paperback)
The U.S. Constitution is an amazing document, one that every American should be familiar with, not only because it defines the structure and function of our government and our civil liberties and personal rights, but because it affects us directly and indirectly on an almost daily basis. Anyone reading or watching the news lately can't miss discussions dealing with habeas corpus (Article 1), warantless wiretaps (4th amendment), Presidential signing statements (Article 2), etc.
There have been numerous books written about the Constitution. What I've found, however, is that they tend to fall into 2 extremes: they either are basic introductions, not going much beyond the document itself (e.g., The US Constitution for Everyone); or, they are massive tomes that go into so much detail that the reader can be overwhelmed (e.g., The Heritage Guide to the Constitution).
Either of these is fine, if they suit your need, but with The Complete Idiot's Guide to the U.S. Constitution, Tim Harper has struck a perfect middle ground. He has written a "plain English" discussion of the Constitution that explains the document very well, clarifying the sometimes archaic language, and tracking how its interpretation has evolved through the decades via court rulings and congressional laws. He gives a brief history leading to the clause or amendment when appropriate that adds a richer understanding. He includes the pivotal cases relating to the various amendments without going overboard and bogging down in too many details. And although very thorough, his style of writing is relaxed and informal, so you won't feel like you're studying a textbook.
If you've always wanted to learn about the Constitution, go with this book and you can't go wrong
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clear and Concise, February 16, 2010
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the U.S. Constitution (Paperback)
This is a very well-written, clear and concise book. I love the way the author enlightens the readers about the different concepts presented in the books. Examples of court cases are very informative, they made me understand the constitution better. I purchased this book in preparation for a test and well, I aced it! Kudos to Timothy Harper :)
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic book, September 16, 2009
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the U.S. Constitution (Paperback)
This is a great textbook for those looking for a basic understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Some people might have qualms about picking up an "idiot's guide" to any subject, but I think this book was truly well done. I prefer it much more than some of the textbooks I had for my college U.S. Government class.
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