Our Republican Constitution

By: Randy E. Barnett

Narrated by: Barry Abrams

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Constitution of the United States begins with the words "we the people". But from the earliest days of the American republic, there have been two competing notions of "the people", which led to two very different visions of the Constitution. Those who view "we the people" collectively think popular sovereignty resides in the people as a group, which leads them to favor a democratic constitution that allows the will of the people to be expressed by majority rule. In contrast, those who think popular sovereignty resides in the people as individuals contend that a republican constitution is needed to secure the preexisting inalienable rights of "we the people", each and every one, against abuses by the majority.

In Our Republican Constitution, renowned legal scholar Randy E. Barnett tells the fascinating story of how this debate arose shortly after the Revolution, leading to the adoption of a new and innovative republican constitution, and how the struggle over slavery led to its completion by a newly formed Republican Party.

©2016 Randy E. Barnett (P)2016 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"This is a very important book for constitutional conservatives and all Americans who love liberty and the country." (Mark R. Levin, author of Plunder and Deceit)

Read the book, don't listen

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The _content_ of Our Republican Constitution is outstanding. If you are at all interested in the Constitution, read the book--but skip the audio book. Only listen to the book if you know that there is just no way you would ever actually read it. Barry Abrams changes his voice whenever he is quoting someone so that he sounds like a breathless, effeminate male--and if not always effeminate, definitely breathless. When he is quoting documents, he lowers his voice and gets some sort of accent so he sounds like a caricature of an old, stuffy, aristocratic Scotsman. (He reminded me of McBadger in the Disney version of Wind in the Willows.) Such inflections became very annoying.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Barry Abrams?

I really prefer the even tone of Scott Brick. He did an excellent job with Hamilton (Ron Chernow), quoting the same people that Barry Abrams quoted, but the tone of Brick provided much more authority and far less comedy.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Must reaf for all Libretarion leaning individuals

Somewhat complicated but a must read to discover the history of the changing interpretations of the meaning of "We The People" In this book, Democrat and Republiican only refer obliquely to our current parties, instead, here Republican refers to an interpretation of "We The People" as the citizens of the US as individual sovereigns whereas Democrat interprets the phrase as the citizenry enmass as the sovereign, or in other words, the majority of the citizenry. Democratic interpretation gives priority to the people as a single body, allowing for loss of individual rights, Republican interpretation gives priority to the individual's rights. The author then proceeds to show how the different interpretations have ebbed and flowed in dominance.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good book to solidify a basic understanding.

The information contained within this book should be taught and reviewed periodically throughout an education.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Worst Narrator

This is a solid book but my be a little tough for non-lawyers or those not familiar with some of the more arcane aspects of our government. It was almost ruined by awful narration.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great indepth look at the history of our Constitu

Would you listen to Our Republican Constitution again? Why?

yes. It was very informative. it put history of government in context and was very informative.

Who was your favorite character and why?

n/a

What about Barry Abrams’s performance did you like?

Voice changes based on character readings

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Barnett nails it.

I really enjoyed this. I am someone looking to get to facts without listening to a left or right leaning interpretation. The idea of natural rights and a government that is supposed to uphold those rights before all else is an idea that's been lost on many of our Justices. I did listen to passages a few times as getting the logic behind Barnett's argument isn't automatic. But once you get it the rest falls in to place. My only criticism was the narrator. First, not easy subject matter to read I am sure. But with this book as well as others I've listened to on Audible there is this annoying tendency for the narrator to change his voice when he is quoting someone. In this particular book he rotates accents and pitches as he quotes different people. Really irritating. Please - you don't have to use whatever you think might be an early colonial accent when quoting the Founders - we're not in pre-school and you aren't reading us the Three Little Pigs.

must read for Constitution scholars

if you want to know about the Practical History of the United States Constitution and its effects in today's modern world you must read or listen to this book

Excellent premise, decent book, ok narration.

I like this book, and it's idea. It has helped me think about the constitution more clearly. The writing is a little repetitive, but in an audiobook it is not bad.
The narrator is a little uneven in tone. He marks out changes in speakers with inflection, but it comes across funny and not very helpful.