American Epic: Reading the U.S. Constitution

by Garrett Epps Narrated by Lee Goettl

Overview

In 1987, E. L. Doctorow celebrated the Constitution's bicentennial by reading it. "It is five thousand words long but reads like fifty thousand," he said. Distinguished legal scholar Garrett Epps disagrees. It's about 7,500 words. And Doctorow "missed a good deal of high rhetoric, many literary tropes, and even a trace of, if not wit, at least irony," he writes.



In American Epic, Epps takes us through a complete reading of the Constitution to achieve an appreciation of its power and a holistic understanding of what it says. In this book he seeks not to provide a definitive interpretation, but to listen to the language and ponder its meaning. He draws on four modes of reading: scriptural, legal, lyric, and epic. The Constitution's first three words, for example, sound spiritual-but Epps finds them to be more aspirational than prayer-like. He turns the Second Amendment into a poem to illuminate its ambiguity. He notices oddities and omissions. The Constitution lays out rules for presidential appointment of officers, for example, but not removal. Should the Senate approve each firing? Can it withdraw its "advice and consent" and force a resignation? And he challenges himself, as seen in his surprising discussion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in light of Article 4, which orders states to give "full faith and credit" to the acts of other states.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Americans “have little interest in what the Constitution says; but… we are obsessed with what it means,” argues Epps (Democracy Reborn) in this lively, engaging study. Picking apart every article, amendment, and section—from the Preamble to the 27th Amendment—with meticulous care, the University of Baltimore law professor explores their historical and legal contexts and assesses their origins, antecedents, and their legacies. Given that people have been studying, interpreting, redefining, and amending this document for centuries, even a cursory examination might seem daunting. But Epps tackles it with glee, teasing apart what the states and the federal government can and can’t do, and playing devil’s advocate with constitutional loopholes and other points of interest. He approaches the task with a scholarly, open attitude, and his arguments and conclusions are sure to spark debate among readers of differing political mindsets. His stated aim is not to offer comprehensive explanations but to share his reading experience. In doing so, Epps has created the ideal study guide for civics and political science classes, an intelligent and provocative tour through the fascinatingly complicated, vitally important blueprint of the United States. (Aug.)

From the Publisher

"Epps has created the ideal study guide for civics and political science classes, an intelligent and provocative tour through the fascinatingly complicated, vitally important blueprint of the United States." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160366999
Publisher:	Ascent Audio
Publication date:	01/23/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos