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Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May - September 1787 [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Catherine Drinker Bowen
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 30, 1986
This book is a history of the Federal Convention in Philadelphia that resulted in the Constitution of the United States.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May - September 1787 + Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 346 pages
  • ISBN-10: 0316103985
  • ASIN: B000JBY0OM
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Pretty good, full of enjoyable details and amazingly easy to read for a history book. Antonio Sacin  |  19 reviewers made a similar statement
Anyone interested in early American history and government should read this excellent book! C. M Mills  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
The most frequent criticisms have to do with slavery and how it was dealt with in the Constitution. John E. Nevola  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic in its Own Right November 30, 2000
Format:Paperback
After reading this book, not only do I have a greater respect for our Founding Fathers, but I also understand why Ms. Bowen used the word "Miracle" in her title. It's remarkable to think that our Constitution, which has proven durable over the past two centuries in spite of its flaws, arose out of those intense debates in Philadelphia's sweltering summer.

This book is particularly valuable for its perspective. Learning about the delegates' personalities and backgrounds was fascinating, and seeing the Convention in the context of the social and political conditions of early America was especially insightful. I also enjoyed seeing the early colonies through the eyes of foreign visitors.

If you're interested in the history of the U.S. Constitution, this book is a must (my condolences to the disgruntled high school students of previous reviews).

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45 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Miracle at Philadelphia....most illuminating. January 9, 1999
Format:Paperback
I purchased this book over ten years ago and for various reasons, I did not get to read it until last summer. A pleasant surprise! The book places the Constitutional Convention within the context of the times, political and social climate and the beliefs and personalities of those responsible for its creation. Reading this, I developed a flavor for the circumstances which brought about the Constitution. One develops a true appreciation for the ultimate collective wisdom of the founding fathers. The book has been in print for many, many years. If you read it, you'll find out why.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic and Important Book November 1, 2000
Format:Paperback
This is the story of the formation of our constitutional govenrment.

Catherine Drinker Bowen's book is a classic that tells how America's founding fathers debated, compromised and struggled to create a permanent system of rebublican government in a world ruled by monarchs and absolutists.

The debates are here, as well as the personalities. The story of how various elements of our governing structure were arrived at is fascinating as well as illuminating to any serious student of the American system. Important debates regarding the nature of the presidency, small state versus large state interests (how we got our Senate), the desirability of direct democracy versus state interests (part of how we got the Electoral College), the finessing of the slave issue -- its all here.

I read this book and was filled with a profound sense of pride and amazement at the story of how the "gentlemen of Philadelphia" were able to navigate such complex issues and arrive at the masterpiece that is our Constitution.

In Bowen's hands, this moving and patriotic story is well told and thoroughly explored. I imagine many of you reading this review have this book on a political science syllabus, but it should be read by any with an interest in our Constitution or our government's history.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!
I absolutely loved reading this book! It made everything about the Constitution come alive and increased my appreciation for our Founding Fathers. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Cheryl Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
I truly enjoyed reading this book when my friend loaned it to me. I decided that I should purchase my own copy to loan to others to read. Very enlightening! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeanne
5.0 out of 5 stars The best work EVER on this subject
I read this book some 30 or 40 years ago. This time I purchased it as a gift. I did so because of my recollection of just how good, historically, it was. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Michael Buitekant
4.0 out of 5 stars I love it
This is a good book that is very informative well worth the read - It gives you good insight on events surrounding the foundations of our country & the set up of it!!!!
Published 4 months ago by Peter M. Knodel
4.0 out of 5 stars Why I bought: Miracle at Philadelphia.
I gifted this item to my 12 year-old grandson, who is a member of an after school political club at his school in Lexington,Ky. Read more
Published 7 months ago by joe herkness
5.0 out of 5 stars The book that made a patriot out of me
I read this book in 1987, during the bicentennial of the Constitution. When Bowen described what happened at Philadelphia that year as a miracle, she wasn't being original -- she... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Irvin King
5.0 out of 5 stars Index Problems with 1966 ed., second printing
I have the Atlantic-Little Brown 1966 edition (2nd printing) of Catherine Drinker Bowen's Miracle at Philadelphia, which I enjoyed immensely a number of years ago. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Lee C. Browne
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on the Constitutional Convention
With an emphasis on the constitutional disputes, Miracle at Philadelphia shows how really miraculous it was that the convention came away from Independence Hall with any kind of... Read more
Published 15 months ago by James D. Best
5.0 out of 5 stars Stand behind our forefathers as they write our history
A truly great book! Recommended by a historian friend of mine - I will cherish my copy for years to come. Highly recommended perspective that is all too often lost. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Leo
4.0 out of 5 stars Surprised
I read this as a book club member and so was not too thrilled at the prospect of plowing through what I thought would be singularly boring stuff. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Victoria
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