The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved Our Country--and Why It Can Again [Hardcover]

Eric Lane (Author), Michael Oreskes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1596911999 | ISBN-13: 978-1596911994 | Publication Date: September 18, 2007 | Edition: First Edition

An inspiring and revelatory look at the document that has made our country the longest surviving democracy in the history of civilization: The Constitution of the United States.
 
The history of democracy is a history of failure. The United States holds the record at 230 years, yet the document at the nation's center is one that we take for granted. Due to a combination of heightened frustration, moves to skirt the constitutional process, and a widespread disconnect between the people and their constitutional "conscience," Lane and Oreskes warn us our system is at risk.
 
The Genius of America looks at the Constitution's history relative to this current crisis. Starting with the eleven years between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution's adoption, they show how our near failure to create a loosely knit nation led the framers to devise a system that takes human nature into account. Next they provide examples of how we have weathered crises in the past, from early attempts at political tyranny to the Civil War. Finally they turn to two periods, one of great consensus (from Roosevelt's New Deal through Johnson's Great Society) and another of division (from Reagan through George W. Bush), both of which demonstrate the Constitution's effectiveness.
 
In the final assessment, Lane and Oreskes challenge us to let this great document work as it was designed--in times of change and stasis. They hold our leaders accountable, calling on them to stop fanning the flames of division. And while evenhanded in its presentation, The Genius of America reminds us the Constitution is our national glue.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Oreskes, executive editor of the International Herald Tribune, and Eric Lane, a Hofstra law professor, offer a pithy and insightful analysis of the historical development of the Constitution, emphasizing the spirit of compromise that informed the deliberations in the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787. The authors are equally adept at demonstrating the threat that today's deep partisan fissures pose to the founders' vision of constitutional government. To Lane and Oreskes the Constitution's chief virtue is the intricate system of checks and balances that constrains the tendency of people, whether as majorities or minorities, to impose their own self-interest on others. They argue that the recent rise of partisanship has eroded the underpinnings of the constitutional system; Congress has forgone its oversight responsibilities; the executive branch claims extraordinary powers; and the will to make political compromises is dead. But the authors don't sufficiently develop suggestions for how to reinvigorate the constitutional system of checks and balances. Oreskes and Lane are superb at explaining underlying principles of governance embedded in the Constitution; readers will find their book provocative, but may be left unconvinced that a meaningful correction is within easy reach. (Oct.)
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Review

"Though the personal stories of the founding fathers have become hot properties, the institutions the framers created--the executive, the judiciary and especially the congress--enjoy none of that popularity. Lane and Oreskes seek to change that by reminding us of how essential the Constitution is to our nationhood and why it's important for the country to rekindle the Constitutional conscience as we face the challenges of the twenty-first century." --Cokie Roberts, ABC News and NPR, author Founding Mothers
 
“Our Constitution properly understood and applied could restore the nation’s equilibrium between the instinct for individualism and the need for vital sense of community. It might also have avoided the tragedy of Iraq by prompting Congress to use its power under Article 1 to declare or not declare war, as well as to end it. Lane and Oreskes summon us to restore our Constitution’s efficacy by our reconnecting with its history and its intelligence. They do it brilliantly.”—Governor Mario Cuomo
 
“We the Readers have a treat in store: a close look inside the secret meeting that struggled, convulsed and produced America’s political Scripture.  Mike Oreskes and Eric Lane explore the collective genius that created our ‘constitutional conscience’ and show how the genuine political genius of Madison enables today’s majority to rule without ruining the rights of the minority.”—William Safire, New York Times columnist
  
“With vivid narrative and perceptive analysis, The Genius of America reminds us of the Constitution’s amazing resilience and adaptability.  Lane and Oreskes bring to life the era of the Framers and the critical moments in our history that tested their vision, and make a powerful case that the troubled state of contemporary American politics can be rectified within the structure of a constitutional system predicated more on the pursuit of self-interest than the spread of republican virtue. Every American would benefit from reading this book—starting with the president and vice president and the members and leaders of Congress."—Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Co-authors of The Broken Branch:  How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 305 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; First Edition edition (September 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596911999
• ISBN-13: 978-1596911994
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Urgent and Enjoyable, October 2, 2007

By 

s.carlson, Jacksonville, FL - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved Our Country--and Why It Can Again (Hardcover)

I would have never expected that a book on the Constitution and its continuing importance in American life would be so engaging and enjoyable. In a highly approachable manner the authors made me truly understand, for the first time since being in school, why the future of our country depends on the understanding and protection of this remarkable creation. I am going to recommend it to all my friends, especially to those who are parents with school age children so they can put pressure on educators to give this subject the attention it deserves.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for all, October 23, 2007

By 

Daniel Simons (Bethesda, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved Our Country--and Why It Can Again (Hardcover)

I'm a business person--not student, not a scholar. This book is fantastic--readable, digestible, and incredibly well-written. It does a great job of presenting the information, and avoiding the typical pitfalls of trying to use a modified version of history to support a political view. It was interesting to read, and it kept my attention through-out. The modern day tie-ins are great as well; the examples of the Constitution's struggles and victories are well-presented. My hunch is that scholars will admire the book, students will learn from it, and I can vouch that as a business person who likes to expand my depth of knowledge and look for historical lessons in the country's successes/failures that I can apply to business, I certainly appreciate this book...Thanks for writing it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timely and fascinating reminder, October 2, 2007

By 

CK Jayden (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved Our Country--and Why It Can Again (Hardcover)

Intelligent, well written, and totally accessible. This is a book for everyone. It tells not only one of the most amazing stories in history - the creation of our country's constitution - but also reminds us what this great document means for our future.

A must read, I highly recommend.