Customer Reviews

E Pluribus Unum

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It appears that one person from the same university reviewed the book 3 times and gave it only one star. Someone is trying to smear the book and bring down its rating.. Read it for yourself and ignore the ramblings of ignorant, lazy college kids.

Dr. McDonald makes the Revolutionary period come to life. He was a Pulitzer finalist for Novus Ordo Seclorum & does similarly impressive work here. He does expect the reader to have some knowledge of the period, as some reviewers have suggested, of course the text is written for students of American History.

~E Pluribus Unum: The Formation of the American Republic, 1776-1790~ is an astute and intriguing look at the formative years of the American Republic. The United States was taking shape from the days of the Confederation to the 1787 Constitutional Convention and many pivotal debates emerged as to the nature of the burgeoning federal republic. Particular emphasis is placed also on the Washington Administration and . McDonald offers an informative and intriguing scholarship, which is a solid contribution to constitutional history and early American history.

Dr. McDonald's work here is nothing short of brilliant, but this is hardly surprising coming from one of the nation's foremost historians. The low reviews this book has been getting on Amazon are really a shame, because it's a work of art. McDonald provides a masterful account of the creation of the American republic, giving the reader not just the major events of the period, but also shedding some light on the reasoning behind those events. His focus on the regionalism of early American politics shows the volatile nature of the compact forged in Philadelphia, which would ultimately lead to the destruction and reforging of that compact some seventy years later under the Lincoln administration. His wit and insight make this a truly enjoyable read for anyone with an interest in the period, as do his careful renderings of some of the more prominent figures involved in the Founding. Highly recommended reading to any history buff, or indeed any American citizen.

In the 1920s and 30s socialism was all the rage among the "literate" types in US universities as well as Universities world-wide. A writer named Charles Beard made a name for himself in the field of American historiography by claiming that the Founders wrote the Constitution based only on their avarice and greed, that economics was the sole reason that the country was formed. And it was an economics of exclusion, greed and elitism that they created, too. Beard was an avowed socialist and communist and his agenda was to knock down the USA's reputation as the democratic light of the world a few pegs, if not to totally destroy it. He succeeded for several decades.

Then came Forrest McDonald..

In 1965, McDonald shattered that anti-American, socialist paradigm. In his two most important books, E Pluribus Unum and Novus Oedo Seclorum, he revealed the philosophical influences as well as the economic ones that guided the minds of the Founders and their contemporaries. And exclusion, elitism and avarice were not some of those principles and philosophies.

McDonald's works are easily read by one not historically versed and clearly laid out. They are a must read if you want an introduction to early American thinkers and their goals and influences.

I'm very surprised to see these negative reviews. I read the book a couple years ago, and I found it very worthwhile. I suppose one wouldn't like it much, if one didn't have a particular interest in the founding era. I had no trouble following along or understanding, however, and I've only had a leisurely interest in history. McDonald's other book, Novus Ordo Seclorum, might be better, but they're both very good.

Dr. McDonald makes the Revolutionary period come to life. He was a Pulitzer finalist for Novus Ordo Seclorum & does similarly impressive work here. He does expect the reader to have some knowledge of the period, as some reviewers have suggested, of course the text is written for students of American History.

Clearly the people who have written negative reviews of this book are college students who don't like to read anything that is not simplistic and obvious. For those who want to delve into the the amazingly complex world of the founders this is an amazing book. McDonald understands that history is an uncomfortable jumble of noble ideas and petty self-interest that lead to actions that are often contradictory. Unfortunately today's college students not only do not want to understand the complexity of history, but they also absolutely resent it. This book is for those not satisfied with the kind of history that reduces everything to the level of a cable television documentary. McDonald is one of the greatest historians of American history. He is unique in that his work is both very literary and scholarly. He stand outside the mainstream of historians who crave popularity over achievement. His books are among the few that I read more once. His histories are not for the MTV generation.

I have read a number of books about the founding era and the founding fathers and found E Pluribus Unum to be no more difficult to read or understand than any other similar book. You do not need to be a history major to read and comprehend it. What the negative reviews reflect is a complete failure of our educational system. How can high school or college students not be able to understand anything about the founding of this country? Note to all such students, Wikipedia and the History Channel are not substitutes for a real education in the history of this country.

this is basically a good book though it is hard to follow and hard to understand unless you already have a solid background on the events covered. i had to read it for college and would not recommend it for those just wanting to learn a bit more about history, only for those who have lots of free time and those truly interested in learning more about the formation of the american republic