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" Truly these essays are must-reads if we want to perpetuate the freedom that our Founding Fathers envisioned. "
- Jenny, 2/15/2014
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" I tried to read through this slowly, and give it the due attention that I felt it deserved. I can see vividly from the words how our government was to be set up and what challenges, and advantages the writers of the Federalist papers wished to propose to the people. It was clearly layed out in sections based on branch and subject matter. As a reading material it was dry and boring, as a historical document it was interesting and of course important in understand the foundations of America. "
- Cassandra, 2/13/2014
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" Must read for every American Citizen "
- Jen, 2/12/2014
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" The "Federalist Papers," originally a series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, selling the Constitution to the citizens (and their electors) in the state of NY, is a reasoned discussion of the various aspects of the Constitution and a rebuttal of possible (and actual) objections raised to it. Doing a quick read of the work (well, a month's time) doesn't do the work justice, for it is a work of amazing breadth. The work is not an easy work, but reads rather like an 18th c. lawyer's brief -- very well written, but also quite dense. Still, it serves as the best discussion and defense of the US Constitution. So I give it a 5 when it comes to importance and the quality of the writing, but only 4 when it comes to the experience of actually reading it. "
- Bernard, 2/9/2014
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" Everyone should read this books. A brilliant study of politics in all its forms. "
- Pete, 1/28/2014
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" If you have ever wondered for even a moment how this nation got here. This is a quick read and a susinct explanation. "
- Patrick, 1/25/2014
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" I've been very surprised in the absence of biblical reference. I've read a number of the papers and they are all rational and pragmatic, but by what source? "
- Rkeddins, 1/24/2014
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" I think the thing that struck me most was the emphasis on things we no longer do (tariffs) and the total lack of mention of things we think are a big deal (immigration). "
- Randy, 1/22/2014
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" Hard reading - but SO telling "
- MET, 1/19/2014
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" Excellent. Interesting to hear the differing perspectives of what kind of government the founding fathers were looking at forming. "
- Kyle, 1/12/2014
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" If you ever wonder if our founding fathers knew what they were doing the book answers that question. Sheer brilliance. You will end up knowing far more about our constitution then they ever taught in school. "
- Rob, 12/31/2013
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" I started reading this to learn what the founders of our nation intended when they put together the Constitution. It took me a long time to work through it. The Federalist papers are not an easy read! However, glad to have completed the task. Some of the things I've learned: our present federal government is too big. Most of the power was to reside in the states, closer to the people. The Presidency is too big, through a bloated executive branch. The military is too big; needing to be just big enough to protect us from foreign encroachments. One faction (political party) having dominance of the Legislature and the Executive is dangerous. Dangerous laws (dangerous to the rights of the people) are too easily rushed through when there is no competent opposition. It was intended the Legislature would be gridlocked with the Executive, requiring discussion, debate, and consensus building. Long detailed debates gets all the various sides of an issues exposed, and the will of the people can be learned and known.
The men who built our Constitution were truly men of vision, and geniuses. It is a miraculous document. It must be protected and cherished! "
- Gary, 12/28/2013
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" Praise God I'm an American. One should not be able to graduate public high schools without mastery of Basic Economics & The Federalist Papers. "
- Ally, 12/27/2013
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" I LOVE THESE. I have no idea why. But I do. Well, I suppose I am of the opinion that Alexander Hamilton was a genius. Seriously. I love that man. But anyway, I majorly enjoyed reading these. "
- Annabelle, 12/27/2013
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" The quintessential primary source reading for anyone interested in comprehending the formation of the American government and, especially (obviously) its federal structure. Man, these guys were smart. "
- trivialchemy, 12/27/2013
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" If you have ever wondered for even a moment how this nation got here. This is a quick read and a susinct explanation. "
- Patrick, 12/21/2013
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" It's funny. I think even Hamilton might be distressed at the amount of power the executive branch has. I also think that with the practical demise of the electoral college they would fear the unintended populist power which goes unchecked. I would love to hear them weigh in on campaign contributions but that problem didn't seem to be on their horizon. "
- Dianna, 12/16/2013
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" SJCA - Politics and Society "
- Alex, 11/30/2013
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" Early political op/eds on the Constitution. "
- John, 11/2/2013
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" An important collection of historical writings. "
- Ben, 10/27/2013
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" Okay, this isn't for anybody but the serious reader of American history and politics. "
- David, 9/27/2013
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" Even when he's wrong, Hamilton's adorable. "
- Ishpeck, 9/5/2013
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" Indispensable. A must-read. "
- Conrad, 8/25/2013
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" Cool stuff. This is one of the must read books in the world and I'm finally doing it! "
- Baden, 7/20/2013
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" An important collection of papers, published during the Constitutional debate in the late 1980s to try to persuade people to support adoption of the document. It presents important insights into the authors' thinking about this foundational document. "
- Steven, 5/30/2013
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" Anyone at all interesting in our nation, its founding, and our history needs to read these. Even today they will give you chills and make you apprecviate the genius of our founders anew. "
- Michael, 5/29/2013
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" There's no better way to understand the intentions of America's Founding Fathers than to read them from the writings of the Founding Fathers themselves. An absolute must read for ALL Americans to understand the role of our Federal and State governments as well as what we stand for as a Union. "
- Derek, 5/21/2013
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" Hard reading - but SO telling "
- MET, 5/12/2013
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" Props for your Constitution, even if it did sort of fail a hundred years later. Wordy and dry, but packed with important content. "
- Devin, 4/5/2013
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" More folks should read this, but distilling millions of words into a 10 second sound bite is what most will remember. "
- Allen, 12/28/2012
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" this was hard for me to understand. "
- Jennifer, 11/7/2012
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" This is foundational for an understanding of U.S. political science. I didn't give it five stars because it is not light reading. "
- Clint, 10/23/2012
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" Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand American history. Get it strait from the horse's mouth. "
- Ki, 8/30/2012
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" This book is a foundation on which America was built, but it's very boring. It's good to read but if i didn't have to read it for school I probably would never have picked it up. "
- Heather, 8/11/2012
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" Every American should read these, but they're tough to get through. It's astonishing that such elevated, rational essays were originally published in newspapers. "
- Skittle, 7/2/2012
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" i love the juicy little excerpts they make you read in history classes. not so sure i'd love to read all of them in one go, though. "
- Kate, 6/21/2012
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" Makes you think about the number of details and struggles that were required to develop the United States of America and the Constitution. "
- LauraLee, 5/14/2012
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" I'm really just getting started on this as it took me a long time to get through the introduction. So far, I am enjoying this and seeing how many of the themes discussed in relation to the Constitution relate to happenings in the US today. "
- Patrick, 4/19/2012
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" Without reading this book, I would have never fell in love with political science. "
- Holly, 3/13/2012
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" This is a great work to read, but I found that it took effort to keep with it and finish it. "
- Heather, 1/9/2012
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" Every American should read this book! "
- Josh, 8/28/2011
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" read at St. John's College "
- Mischke, 8/24/2011
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" Red some of the book, not all. "
- Lauren, 8/20/2011
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" I have read this 4 times and it is probably the most boring thing I have ever seen. "
- Amy, 7/20/2011
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" If only this could appear in today's newspapers... "
- Rylan, 7/16/2011
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" Essays by the supporting passage of the bill of rights. Gives some surprises as to why these amendments to the Constitution and what their real purposes are. A must read for every American.
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- Fredrick, 6/20/2011
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" A MUST read for every American!Go on...get to it!
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- Bre, 6/13/2011
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" The Federalists won. I haven't read these in ten years. I think it is time for a revisit.
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- Laura, 4/12/2011
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" If you ever wonder if our founding fathers knew what they were doing the book answers that question. Sheer brilliance. You will end up knowing far more about our constitution then they ever taught in school.
"
- Rob, 3/11/2011
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" This is a great work to read, but I found that it took effort to keep with it and finish it.
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- Heather, 2/21/2011
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" The perfect book to help you understand our foundational document.
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- Andrew, 2/10/2011
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" Excellent way to get into the minds of the American Revolution. The Constitution becomes clear once you step into the eloquent and radical shoes of the framers of the U.S. Constitution and the Revolutionary war.
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- Christa, 12/14/2010
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" Said to be required reading- and you haven't read it have you?
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- Robert, 11/4/2010
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" Props for your Constitution, even if it did sort of fail a hundred years later. Wordy and dry, but packed with important content.
"
- Devin, 10/11/2010
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