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The U.S. Constitution, 2nd Edition (Idiot's Guides) Paperback – September 6, 2016

by Timothy Harper (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 126 ratings
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One of the most revered, imitated, and controversial governmental documents in the world, the U.S. Constitution serves as the foundation for the American government and shapes the lives of Americans every day. Yet, how many of us know its history and the impact it has on guiding our ever evolving nation? Idiot's Guides: The U.S. Constitution, Second Edition, provides you a clear look at the one single document that defines America. Suitable supplemental reading for students in high school government/civics classes and college political science classes, this guide covers the birth of the Constitution and the history and details of its amendments.

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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    DK
  4. Publication date
    September 6, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    7.63 x 0.68 x 9.19 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781465454362
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1465454362
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Timothy Harperis a journalist, author, professor, and lawyer who writes frequently on law, lawyers, and legal issues. A winner of the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel for his journalism, he is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and a former national correspondent for the Associated Press. Tim is a frequent contributor to national magazines, newspapers, and websites, and he is the author of 12 books, including two editions of Idiot’s Guides: The U.S. Constitution. As an editorial and publishing consultant, he also has helped dozens of individuals and institutions research, write, and publish their own books.

Tim has taught in the graduate programs at the Columbia Journalism School and New York University’s Carter Institute and since 2007 has been a visiting professor and writing coach at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He also is the founding editor and publisher of the CUNY Journalism Press. For more on Tim and his work, go to timharper.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1465454365
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DK; 2nd edition (September 6, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781465454362
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1465454362
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.63 x 0.68 x 9.19 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
126 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book educational and interesting. They say it's a good reference book that greatly enhances their understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Readers also describe the book as clear, concise, and easy to understand. In addition, they find it interesting and lively.

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Educational valueReadabilityInterest
19 customers mention "Educational value"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book educational, interesting, and easy to read. They say it provides readers with an accessible tour of the U.S. Constitution. Readers also mention the book covers the basics and provides pertinent and educational case histories. Overall, they say it's a great primer for anybody taking their first serious stab.

"This is a terrific book that greatly enhanced my understanding of our Constitution under which our complex government works...." Read more

"...Idiot’s Guides: The U.S. Constitution” provides readers with an accessible tour of the U.S. Constitution, the foundation of the American government...." Read more

"...I love it! I especially like the notations that help with background & the wording of the time. The layout is helpful for dummies like me." Read more

"This is the best of the best! Well done! Understandable. Every High School student should be required to read this one!..." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very easy to read, clear, and concise. They say it's simple and interesting. Readers also mention the author keeps it vanilla and doesn't look to be provocative.

"...The author discusses each section of the Constitution with simple straightforward prose which helps the reader understand the entire document...." Read more

"...Modifying the Government.Positives:1. A well-written, well-researched book.2...." Read more

"This is the best of the best! Well done! Understandable. Every High School student should be required to read this one!..." Read more

"...The book was easy to read and was very good explaining what each part meant by example and court cases...." Read more

4 customers mention "Interest"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and lively.

"...With reviews annually.Easy Reading and Interesting." Read more

"Well written and made as simple and interesting as possible. Well worth reading!" Read more

"Good and lively..." Read more

"Educational and interesting..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Michael Lapelosa
5.0 out of 5 stars VERY Informative and Thoughtful
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2016
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This is a terrific book that greatly enhanced my understanding of our Constitution under which our complex government works. The author explains the origin, the creation, the debates, the compromises, the changes and impact that are the result of putting this incredible document into action. The author discusses each section of the Constitution with simple straightforward prose which helps the reader understand the entire document. Sidebars and highlight inserts augment the text by underscoring important points.
The narrative is balanced and objective providing perspective and context. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants a better understanding of our unique government.
5 people found this helpful
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Book Shark
4.0 out of 5 stars An Accessible Tour of the U.S. Constitution
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2016
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Idiot’s Guides: The U.S. Constitution, 2E by Timothy Harper

“Idiot’s Guides: The U.S. Constitution” provides readers with an accessible tour of the U.S. Constitution, the foundation of the American government. Journalist, author, professor and lawyer, Timothy Harper, helps readers learn more about the Constitution by focusing on how to approach it and how to begin to understand it. The Idiot’s Guides series is a wonderful series that captures popular topics in an eye-catching format. This interesting 339-page book includes eighteen chapters and is broken out into the following four parts: 1. Constitutional Basics, 2. Balancing the Branches, 3. Your Basic Rights and 4. Modifying the Government.

Positives:
1. A well-written, well-researched book.
2. Mr. Harper has a great command of the topic and most importantly the ability to communicate what he knows to the general public. It’s even-handed and fact-based and it’s fairly easy to follow.
3. Excellent format. The Idiot’s Guides series excels in presenting information in a clear manner. This book has four sidebars to assist the reader: Cases, Definition, We The People, and What it Means to You.
4. In the introduction the author presents clearly the purpose and scope of the book. “The goal of this book is to present history and today’s perspective in an even-handed, fact-based manner that both informs you and helps you do your own analysis of the day’s headlines.”
5. The book is divided in four logical parts. The author walks you through the purpose of each part.
6. A look at the historical and underpinnings of the Constitution. “In 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation, a pre-Constitution agreement that was more like an alliance among 13 sovereign nations than a charter for a new nation.”
7. The general vision of a nation. “The Federalists foresaw a single nation that allowed the states to retain many powers while following the rules and laws laid down by the national government.”
8. Does a wonderful job of defining what the constitution is. “A constitution, whether for a powerful nation or for a local garden club, is a set of charter rules, a supreme or paramount law that outlines how the organization will operate. In terms of a nation, the constitution sets forth political principles, establishes power and authority, and defines rights and responsibilities. The constitution outlines the general principles for what a government can and cannot do.”
9. Goes over the entire U.S. Constitution, starting with of course The Preamble. “The Articles of Confederation sought a “perpetual union,” while the Preamble has the loftier goal “to form a more perfect union.””
10. Explains how the U.S. Constitution came together. “The first wave of ratification came quickly. The Delaware Legislature was the first state to vote to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.”
11. In Part 2 the author focuses on examining the structure of the Constitution, system of checks and balances.
12. Goes over all the Articles. “Article I establishes the branch of government that includes the elected representatives of the people, where laws are proposed, debated, and voted up or down.”
13. In Part 3 the author concentrates on landmark court decisions. Many examples provided. “In 2005, in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, the Supreme Court held that it was an unconstitutional establishment of religion for schools to require the teaching of intelligent design.”
14. The author goes over each of the twenty-seven amendments of the constitution. “The First Amendment guarantees the government will not prefer one religion over another. It also guarantees the government will not prefer religion in general over nonreligion or the lack of religion, and it will not prefer nonreligion over religion.”
15. The Second Amendment. “To early Americans, guns were more than a symbol of freedom. They were freedom.”
16. An interesting look at the Fourth Amendment: unreasonable searches and seizures. “This chapter explains how the courts have interpreted and enforced the Fourth Amendment to strengthen individual rights in society—your rights—but also highlights the limits to your rights both in the courtroom and out on the streets.”
17. Jump to the Ninth Amendment, “In effect, this amendment says, “In case someone raises a right we didn’t list, it can still be valid. The government cannot take away a right from the people just because we didn’t mention it.””
18. A look at the Reconstruction Amendments. “In one of its most infamous decisions, the Supreme Court held that slavery was legal in 1857. The Dred Scott decision.”
19. Prohibition and Repeal. “After the war, however, the temperance movement grew through the Prohibition Party, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), and the Anti-Saloon League.”
20. Women’s Suffrage. “Many point to the start of the women’s movement as the 2-day women’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, in July 1848. Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the convention concluded with a Declaration of Sentiments that objected to the unfair treatment of women politically, culturally, and economically. It also was the first large-scale public demand for women to have the vote.”
21. Excellent Appendixes that includes the entire uninterrupted U.S. Constitution, resources and a glossary of key terms.

Negatives:
1. It’s intended for a general audience so does so at the expense of depth.
2. No fault of the author but let’s face it some sections are rather tedious and boring.
3. I would have added a section on the most famous Supreme Court cases in U.S. History.
4. The author keeps it pretty vanilla and is not looking to be provocative.

In summary, this is a wonderful book to recommend to laypersons interested in gaining a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution. The author does a wonderful job of going over the U.S. Constitution and he does so in an even-handed manner while providing valuable information. Intended for a general audience, it comes at the price of depth but there is enough here to whet your appetite for more advanced books on the topic. I recommend it.

Further recommendations: “America’s Constitution: A Biography” by Akhil Reed Amar, “The U.S. Constitution For Dummies” by Michael Amheim, “The Constitution: Understanding America’s Founding Document” by Michael S. Greve, “Know Your Bill of Rights” by Sean Patrick, “Supreme Court Decisions: 20 Landmark Cases Summarized and Explained” by U.S. Department of State, “The U.S. Constitution: A Reader” by Hillsdale College Politics Faculty, and “The Federalist Papers” by Alexander Hamilton.
14 people found this helpful
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OC Tita
5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate fact checking tool for Americans today
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
With all the alternative spin on the facts laid forth in our Constitution, lately, I wanted to have it on my phone. This way I can do my own fact checks as soon as I hear the fishy version. I love it! I especially like the notations that help with background & the wording of the time. The layout is helpful for dummies like me.
2 people found this helpful
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Jerilyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched and written!
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
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This is the best of the best! Well done! Understandable. Every High School student should be required to read this one! Also a good book to keep as a reference! Big thumbs up!
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Raddie
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2016
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This book would make an excellent text book in any school. Since most schools do not teach the Constitution everyone should read this book or a similar one. The book was easy to read and was very good explaining what each part meant by example and court cases. I do not give many five stars but this book is a five star book.
One person found this helpful
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Rick Decker
4.0 out of 5 stars Buyer beware it is a long book
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2016
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Too long for my taste and after getting 25% through it, I expected something shorter. Especially given the title. So if you like a lot of detail and are patient you will enjoy it. If are expecting something more on the survey side, you will feel like I did.I give it a four even though I did not finish it as it is a well put together document. Just too much for my taste.
3 people found this helpful
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Allyn
3.0 out of 5 stars Basic writing of our Constitution
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2017
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Adequate coverage of our Constitution
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Timothy J Powell
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Constitution Overview
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020
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Well written and very easy to read. I read it twice to pick up all the facts and information.
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Survey of the Constitution
Reviewed in Canada on November 27, 2016
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This book makes a promise and keeps it: you will learn something about the constitution. Well written, well researched, and well presented.
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