The Penguin Guide to the United States Constitution: A Fully Annotated Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Amendments, and Selections from The Federalist Papers 1st Edition

I can't remember when, or even if, I read through the Constitution before. Whatever the case, I knew I had to read it now and get to know it.

After several false starts on other versions (a downloaded copy, an iPod app, the appendix of a book on politics), I have finally read it through with actual pleasure using this book. The secret is getting the text in short bursts, with the author breaking in to explain it section by section. It really helps to learn the "why" at the same time as learning the "what." I could digest it in small bites, and really understand what I was reading, so I didn't need to re-read things over and over which I have a tendency to do if I don't grasp the concept.

This book is short but packed with good material. It includes the Declaration of Independence (also broken into sections and explained), a sampling of the Federalist Papers, a few brief chapters on the history of what happened before, during, and after the writing of the Constitution, and a section on important Supreme Court decisions and how they tie in to the Constitution. I feel like I took a quick refresher course in Political Science after reading this through.

A couple of the author's opinions slip in here and there, and he seems to lean a wee bit to the left, but it's nothing you haven't already heard from your schoolteachers. There's nothing in here that should prevent anyone with any particular ideology from using this book to gain plenty of straightforward knowledge about the origins of our country. I would like to add that the publishing quality is superb - the paper is the very white, acid-free kind that will last long on your bookshelf, which was wise to use in the kind of book that will be useful to refer to repeatedly over the years.

This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand our Constitution and the various contemporary controversies regarding its interpretation. It consists of annotated texts of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, followed by slightly abridged versions of three of the most insightful Federalist Papers, followed by a concise history of the genesis, ratification, and early implementation of the Constitution. The author is a recognized expert on the history of the United States and the Constitution. The book is clear, well written, and to the point. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in political theory, government, the history of the United States, and constitutional law.

I like this for several reasons.
1. It contains the amendments, which not all copies of the Constitution being sold on Amazon do.
2. It also contains the Declaration of Independence, selections from the Federalist Papers, and about 95 pages of explanation of the history.
3. The annotations are my favorite part. They are clear, and concise, and really help me to understand the historical context of what I'm reading.

For a quick and readable guide to the U.S. Constitution, in theory and practice, it's hard to beat this little volume by Richard Beeman. A treatment of the Declaration of Independence and excerpts from The Federalist Papers help lay the groundwork, and the text is straighforward. A couple of people have noted concerns about Beeman being "leftist" or "statist," and in fairness I wouldn't particularly dispute that observation. But being a pronounced liberal myself, that presumed inclination of Beeman doesn't disturb me in the least. Your politics might be different, of course, and perhaps here and there a few remarks in the book might rub you the wrong way, I suppose. That still doesn't deny the informative value of this this text.

Excellent. Clear, concise. During a friendly discussion of politics during lunch, I got the last word by pulling it out and reading directly from the constitution.

My Dad, for whom this was a gift, really enjoys this book! He's stated it's easy to understand and loves the history!

Anyone in need of an annotated, compact book covering the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence should consider picking up this book. Written by Dr. Richard Beeman, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania and trustee of the National Constitution Center, this slim book contains the Declarations of Independence, the Constitution, all twenty-seven amendments, selections from The Federalist, and short chapters covering how these documents came to be as well as some discussion on prominent Supreme Court cases. The result is a very effective presentation concerning these documents. Beeman does so in a refreshingly non-partisan way, relying on his professional experience and knowledge in teaching this subject for more than thirty years.

The advantages of reading an annotated version of many historical documents are that they are broken into components where each section is commented on. This allows the reader to explore that particular section before advancing to another one and forgetting what they've read to that point. Students will find that this system of reading results in an increased understanding of the content. Those needing quick answers will be able to not only find the exact passage they want, but a quick glance through Beeman's comments will refresh their memory on what they have learned about the passage as well. The books suits both students and teachers well as both can utilize the book easily for quick reference at any point.

Beeman also added a section on US history regarding the creation of the documents which about a hundred pages. The advantage of this short brief history is to capture the essentials of the subject and get them onto paper. Students will find this to their advantage as one of America's premier US history's professors highlights these essentials which will allow them to focus on what Beeman sees as the most important elements instead of focusing on secondary points. Beeman also provides references for additional reading which always come in handy for any scholar.

It is important to note that Beeman is a trustee of the National Constitution Center. This non-profit organization is also non-partisan and dedicated to illustrating Constitutional ideals and active citizenship through its museum and website which is located on this link: [...] I use the NCC site for my module on this section of US history and have found it to be the best Internet based resource for my students. When used in conjunction with Beeman's Penguin Guide to the United States Constitution the students are given a great learning opportunity which is often lacking in many classrooms. With that in mind, I highly recommend this book for students in high school as well as all levels of higher education as an excellent and compact reference covering these extremely influential documents which have shaped US history since they were first written.