The U.S. Constitution, David J. Bodenhamer
The U.S. Constitution, David J. Bodenhamer
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The U.S. Constitution
A Very Short Introduction

Author: David J. Bodenhamer

Narrator: Walter Dixon

Unabridged: 4 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/21/2018

Synopsis

Though the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, its impact on our lives is as recent as today's news. Claims and counterclaims about the constitutionality of governmental actions are a habit of American politics. This document, which its framers designed to limit power, often has made political conflict inevitable. It also has accommodated and legitimized the political and social changes of a vibrant, powerful democratic nation. A product of history's first modern revolution, the Constitution embraced a new formula for government: it restrained power on behalf of liberty, but it also granted power to promote and protect liberty.

The U.S. Constitution: A Very Short Introduction explores the major themes that have shaped American constitutional history: federalism, the balance of powers, property, representation, equality, rights, and security. Informed by the latest scholarship, this book places constitutional history within the context of American political and social history. As our nation's circumstances have changed, so has our Constitution.

About David J. Bodenhamer

David J. Bodenhamer is the founding Executive Director of The Polis Center, Professor of History, and Adjunct Professor of Informatics at IUPUI. Bodenhamer is author or editor of twelve books in American legal and constitutional history and in the new field of spatial humanities, which applies geospatial technologies to humanities disciplines. He is also coeditor of a two book series with Indiana University Press and the IJHAC: A Journal of the Digital Humanities.

Reviews

Goodreads review by robin on December 08, 2022

The U.S. Constitution In The Very Short Introductions Series Reflection on the United States Constitution is always rewarding particularly in tumultuous times. David Bodenhamer's recent book, "The U.S. Constitution" in Oxford University Press' "Very Short Introductions" series offers a brief good ove......more

Goodreads review by JS on May 22, 2022

This was actually a really nice, quick read about the constitution and how it has faired over the years. It’s short so it’s obviously not super deep, but I liked the theme and purpose of this book......more

Goodreads review by Jimmy on August 12, 2023

Many Americans have a respect and high view of the Constitution; yet few have read it and know about the content of this important document. Do you want an introduction to the US Constitution? This would be a book to consider. This is part of Oxford’s University Press’ series called “A Very Short In......more

Goodreads review by Anthony on June 23, 2025

For a book about the US Constitution, this book's structure and commentary were a bit too far removed from the document itself for my liking and also, honestly, confounded my expectation. I hoped for a book which went through the document perhaps article by article and talked about its significance......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on March 26, 2021

Once in a while, I like to go back to basics with a topic I already know well. This Very Short Introduction offers a history of both Constitution and its shifting interpretation. While I don't 100% agree with everything in the book (I'm a bigger fan of dual federalism than the author), overall it's......more

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