The Grouchy Historian

By: Ed Asner, Ed. Weinberger

Narrated by: Ed Asner

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Al Franken and Michael Moore, Ed Asner - aka Lou Grant from The Mary Tyler Moore Show - reclaims the Constitution from the right-wingers who think that they and only they know how to interpret it.

Ed Asner, a self-proclaimed dauntless Democrat from the old days, figured that if the right-wing wackos are wrong about voter fraud, Obama's death panels, and climate change, they are probably just as wrong about what the Constitution says. There's no way that 200-plus years later, the right-wing ideologues know how to interpret the Constitution. On their way home from Philadelphia, the people who wrote it couldn't agree on what it meant. What was the president's job? Who knew? All they knew was that the president was going to be George Washington, and as long as he was in charge, that was good enough. When Hamilton wanted to start a national bank, Madison told him that it was unconstitutional. Both men had been in the room when the Constitution was written. And now today there are politicians and judges who claim that they know the original meaning of the Constitution. Are you kidding?

In The Grouchy Historian, Ed Asner leads the charge for liberals to reclaim the Constitution from the right-wingers who use it as their justification for doing whatever terrible thing they want to do, which is usually to comfort the comfortable and afflict the afflicted. It's about time someone gave them hell and explained that Progressives can read, too.

©2017 Ed Asner (P)2017 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Odile Schinosi on 05-20-23

A humorous gem!!!

The Grouchy Historian is a gem of an audio book selection! From the very first sentence uttered by the incomparable Ed Asner, always Lou Grant to me, this was a joyfully entertaining book that went by way too fast leaving me wanting more from the gifted and intelligent Mr. Asner. I found myself laughing out loud in my car listening to his personal impressions and comments on the state of American politics from a historical view. A very witty and thought provoking look at America’s political realities from the writings of the Constitution to the insanity of the present day talking heads. Another sweet reminder of the incredible talent that was Ed Asner and how much he is missed during these crazy times!

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5 out of 5 stars

By Feuerstein Family on 04-29-23

The way our history & constitution should be remembered & interpreted!

This was a pleasure to listen to. Very well framed, written & presented. You learn a lot about history, how our nation & our constitution, laws, bill of rights came to be, and not in the way you may have thought. I laughed out loud many times, & it helped pass the time while laying around the pool on vacation in Florida. I think most of our present right wing conservatives who think they know what the Constitution & Bill of Rights says should read this, so they can learn something and find out what the facts & truth is . Well done Ed! 👌😁

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5 out of 5 stars

By ellen dunscomb on 02-20-20

He is absolutely correct!

Well researched and performed. I learned a great deal that I had never heard of or studied about the "framers" and the Constitution, and I have a degree in History and Government and have been an attorney and judge for 40 years. This book educates and entertains! Every American should read it, although listening was much better!

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5 out of 5 stars

By Glenn Johnson on 01-22-18

History isn't always the way people think it is.

Hearing about how the Constitution was actually framed and the reasons the framers did what they did is a real eye-opener.

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4 out of 5 stars

By Cindy on 11-30-17

Entertaining and Edifying

Some parts dragged (like Melville describing different whale blubbers), but spot on for the most part. And the snark was apropos after years of milk toast responses from pinky-raising Democrats.

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4 out of 5 stars

By Kelly on 08-26-18

great historical context

altough it occasionally bounces around it provides great historical context and shows the hypocrisy in many a strict constructionist arguement.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Katie Luck on 03-20-18

Nice Into into American History

Nice chunky info - a glimpse into our history.....one sided.....? Perhaps. Good read by Ed Asner a truly talented actor/ activist/ humanitarian/ father. Mr Asner makes it worthwhile.

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5 out of 5 stars

By Melinda Skilondz on 07-12-21

Fun fun informative factual!!

so much fun to hear such well researched history and anecdotes!! Ed Asner is fabulous!!

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5 out of 5 stars

By Michael J. Harrell on 11-28-17

Yes!!!! Loved it.

Great kick ass read. Makes me proud to be an American. This kinda American!!! I do read a lot of history but I do not often have as much fun when reading history as I did while reading this historical account.

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5 out of 5 stars

By DryBones on 03-04-18

Enjoyable Learning, Enjoyable Reader

What a great book!! I learned new things, and enjoyed the author's performance, humour and snark. I recommend this book to anybody who cares about the US, about the Constitution, and about the "Constitutional Conservatives'" reframing of history.

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