We the People

A History of the U.S. Constitution

De: Jill Lepore

Narrado por: Jill Lepore

From the best-selling author of These Truths comes We the People, a stunning new history of the U.S. Constitution, for a troubling new era.

The U.S. Constitution is among the oldest constitutions in the world―and one of the most difficult to amend. At what cost? In this landmark book, Harvard professor of history and law Jill Lepore argues that the philosophy of amendment is foundational to American constitutionalism. Challenging both originalism and the Supreme Court’s monopoly on constitutional interpretation, Lepore argues that the framers never intended for the Constitution to be kept, like a butterfly, under glass, but instead expected that future generations would be forever tinkering with it, improving the machinery of government. In an account as radical as Charles Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, Lepore offers a sweeping, lyrical, and democratic constitutional history, telling the stories of generations of Americans who have attempted everything from abolishing the Electoral College to guaranteeing environmental rights, hoping to mend America by amending its constitution.

©2025 Jill Lepore (P)2025 Recorded Books

Very informative!

A great source of information on the amendments to the Constitution. A very comprehensive description of the amendments. I will buy a print copy so I can use the book as a guide in studying the Constitution.

Her deep knowledge.

Not the best reader. Would have been better with someone else reading it just my thoughts.

What an extraordinary journey is here described

I freely admit to having been a committed fan, nay an addict of Dr. LaPore ever since I read my first of her books, but this one, at least to my mind, is her most effective and most affecting.

I would hesitate to try to either describe or to analyze this extraordinary work. I’ve taught American history at the elementary level for over 40 years, but compared to the depth of scholarship and understanding of our Constitution expressed in this work, I stand a rank amateur.

As an American history teacher I’ve lived that history in a way that many have not, and in this masterful exploration of the core document of our nation and how we have both understood and treated it over its lifetime so far, I find myself almost weeping at our failure to use its potential in so many of the ways we have, and yet overwhelmed with the power of the potential which lies within it. Both are so clear in Dr. LePore’s exquisitely written examination of this flawed yet magnificent document, and the journey it and we have shared.

Had I my way, I would demand that this be placed at the center of every hight school history curriculum in the country.

must read. do t listen

fact filled explanation of a tough subject that lawmakers and judges should read. but probably won't.

Engaging storytelling

This book should be made into a docuseries. As a lawyer, I really appreciated the rich layers of context often dismissed by legal scholars as irrelevant. The level of detail truly humanizes the founding fathers and other figures who lived during the relevant period. It’s a fascinating way to learn important history that most are not aware (perhaps by design).

A gift!

This book was eye-opening and completely engaging. I’m going to listen again. The author’s thesis that the Constitution was meant to be amended over time to serve all the American people and their changing circumstances is supported by numerous facts and stories. I love Lepore’s unaffected, woman’s voice, ideally suited to the intelligence and generosity of what she has given us.

Dead machine

So much to think on. The native American aspects of the constitution were completely unknown, and I never get tired of listening. Even if we are beaten by the times, here is something I hope endures.

Excellent overview.

Well written history of the birth and development of the constitution. Easy to understand. That being said, it’s time this author gets a professional reader to do her books. She did better on this one than on These Truths, but it’s still not great. Her wide variety in dynamics makes it either too loud or too soft. Her phrasing is overly dramatic (a frustrated actor). It’s a shame…a great piece of writing.

Thorough and Relevant

The book's focus was narrower than I expected, but it allowed for such a thorough examination of the history of the amendment process that I was happy for it. It might better be dubbed a history of US Constitutional amendment, but it's a genuinely remarkable book.

Deep research by the scholar of the Constitution

All of Jill Lapore’s books are fascinating history lessons of the USA. As an immigrant to this country, it provides deeper insights into the struggles of amending the constitution to make it a more perfect union.