Customer Reviews

Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May - September 1787

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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).

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.

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.

This book gives a very good accounts of the ins and outs all around the Constitutional convention in Philadelphia from foreign visitors accounts to the inside jokes of Benjamin Franklin. Pretty good, full of enjoyable details and amazingly easy to read for a history book.

This story of the Constitional Convention is a delight to read. Aside from the specifics of the Constitution, Ms. Bowen does a superb job of painting a picture of the personalities involved, and more broadly, what life was like in America in the late 18th century.

My only criticism is that the book sometimes glosses over the actual drafting of the document. While Ms. Bowen does a fine job of identifying the issues that were discussed, the explanations of how various issues were resolved are at times superficial. Perhaps because I am a lawyer I was looking for more substance than other readers might, but I think at times the desire to talk about the personalities and the times they lived in came at the expense of some of the substance of the Constitutional debate.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and learned quite a lot. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about this critical event in early American history.

Miracle at Philadelphia - far from being a "young adult" book - is one book which should be on everyone's top ten reading list. The story of what eventually became the Constitutional Convention, although not starting out as such, the book gives unique insight into the men and the minds that framed our Constitution, the first such written document in the world. Along with the Federalist Papers and other selected correspondence between those both in attendance and abroad (such as Adams and Jefferson), Bowen's book gives a clear and concise explanation as to the form of government we enjoy, as well as showing who supported and who opposed the document coming out of the convention.

This book is honest, intriguing, well written history. Bowen does an excellent job of mixing patriotism with honest history. This book tells the story and lets the reader/student make decisions about how to regard the subject(s). There is no comparison to this book on the Miracle at Philadelphia!

I first read this book several years ago for my high school American History class, and I just recently read it again. This book is excellent no matter what your age or understanding of U.S. History. One of its greatest advantages is that its narrative style makes the story of the Constitution so accessible. It is clear and easy to read; however, it does give a complete and thorough treatment of why the document was needed; the ideas and compromises that went into the document, and the debates that shaped the Constitution. Finally, the book is clearly, excellently based upon James Madison's notes from the Convention itself. All in all, an outstanding book for high school and college students, and anyone else interested.

The Constitution was a collaberative effort of disparate interests and at the constitutional convention, it often seemed as though these interests could not possibly be reconciled. Alexander Hamilton, for example proposed an elected monarch. elected for life. Others feared any executive power vested in one person. There were so many issues that were settled by compromise. Nonetheless, there were influential people who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in their state conventions. For example, in Virginia, Patrick Henry was concerned with the vesting of power in the people as opposed to the states and vigorously opposed ratification. The debates were fascinating and this book enjoyably chronicals them. Additionally, this book gives an interesting social history of this period of American history through the eyes of foreign visitors.

I tend to avoid buying just any book, because you read it one time and it has then outgrown its usefulness. This book is one that is needed in every personal library. It reads like a novel, but can most assuredly be used as a reference book. Bowen is a master craftsman when it comes to biography. You feel like you know them, without the use of superlatives. Their merits stand on their own, with the help of the authors excellent research. Miracle at Philadelphia is the blueprint to understanding that it truly was a miracle that the United States exists. You will be a better person for reading it. I love George Washington!