The History Book Club discussion

They may have the older one - but most libraries will order a book that you are interested in.

Glad you will be joining in. Doesn't start until August 9th I believe so you have time.

Yippee, Bentley. My library has it and it’s checked out to me!!! So, count me in!!!
Regards,
Andrea

Which one? Feldman or Ketchum?

Ralph Louis Ketcham (no photo)

Noah Feldman

Sorry, Bentley, I got carried away. Feldman, please.
Regards,
Andrea

Noah Feldman

That is the group read and the other quite venerable historian is the free read.

Bentley, thanks again for sorting me out. I vaguely understand what the difference is, and I am learning, oh so much!
Regards,
Andrea

You are most welcome Andrea.

was just delivered. I am excited to read this.

Sandy, you and me both!
Regards,
Andrea

Terrific

We begin the following discussion: (link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)

The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President

by Noah Feldman

Synopsis:

A sweeping reexamination of the Founding Father who transformed the United States in each of his political “lives”—as a revolutionary thinker, partisan political strategist, and president

“In order to understand America and its Constitution, it is necessary to understand James Madison.” —Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci

Over the course of his life, James Madison changed the United States three times: First, he designed the Constitution, led the struggle for its adoption and ratification, then drafted the Bill of Rights. As an older, cannier politician he co-founded the original Republican party, setting the course of American political partisanship. Finally, having pioneered a foreign policy based on economic sanctions, he took the United States into a high-risk conflict, becoming the first wartime president and, despite the odds, winning.

Now Noah Feldman offers an intriguing portrait of this elusive genius and the constitutional republic he created—and how both evolved to meet unforeseen challenges. Madison hoped to eradicate partisanship yet found himself giving voice to, and institutionalizing, the political divide. Madison’s lifelong loyalty to Thomas Jefferson led to an irrevocable break with George Washington, hero of the American Revolution. Madison closely collaborated with Alexander Hamilton on the Federalist papers—yet their different visions for the United States left them enemies.

Alliances defined Madison, too. The vivacious Dolley Madison used her social and political talents to win her husband new supporters in Washington—and define the diplomatic customs of the capital’s society. Madison’s relationship with James Monroe, a mixture of friendship and rivalry, shaped his presidency and the outcome of the War of 1812.

We may be more familiar with other Founding Fathers, but the United States today is in many ways Madisonian in nature. Madison predicted that foreign threats would justify the curtailment of civil liberties. He feared economic inequality and the power of financial markets over politics, believing that government by the people demanded resistance to wealth. Madison was the first Founding Father to recognize the importance of public opinion, and the first to understand that the media could function as a safeguard to liberty.

The Three Lives of James Madison is an illuminating biography of the man whose creativity and tenacity gave us America’s distinctive form of government. His collaborations, struggles, and contradictions define the United States to this day.

About the Author:



Noah Feldman specializes in constitutional studies, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between law and religion, free speech, constitutional design, and the history of legal theory.

Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, he is also a Senior Fellow of the Society of Fellows at Harvard.

In 2003 he served as senior constitutional advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, and subsequently advised members of the Iraqi Governing Council on the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law or interim constitution.

He received his A.B. summa cum laude in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University in 1992.

Selected as a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies from Oxford University in 1994.

From 1999 to 2002, he was a Junior Fellow of the Society of Fellows at Harvard.

Before that he served as a law clerk to Justice David H. Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court (1998 to 1999) and to Chief Judge Harry T. Edwards of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (1997 to 1998).

He received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1997, serving as Book Reviews Editor of the Yale Law Journal.

He’s the author of eight books: The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President (Random House, 2017); Cool War: The Future of Global Competition (Random House, 2013); Scorpions: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR’s Great Supreme Court Justices (Twelve Publishing, 2010); The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State (Princeton University Press, 2008); Divided By God: America's Church-State Problem and What We Should Do About It (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2005); What We Owe Iraq: War and the Ethics of Nation building (Princeton University Press 2004); and After Jihad: America and the Struggle for Islamic Democracy (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2003). He also co-authored two textbooks with Kathleen Sullivan: Constitutional Law, Twentieth Edition (Foundation Press, Fall 2019) and First Amendment (Foundation Press, 2016).

Areas of Interest

* Comparative and Foreign Law: Islamic Legal Studies
* Constitutional Law
* Constitutional Law: Constitutional Design
* Law and Religion
* Legal Theory: History of Legal Thought

all by Noah Feldman

PRAISE

“Illuminating and absorbing . . . [Noah] Feldman’s deeply thoughtful study shows that the three identities of James Madison constituted one exceptional life, which effectively mirrored the evolving identity of the American republic in its most formative phase. In Feldman’s capable hands, Madison becomes the original embodiment of our ‘living Constitution.’”—The New York Times Book Review

“Grand . . . Feldman is a very accessible and quietly stylish writer, and his approach to his subject is a fresh one.”—Esquire

“Groundbreaking . . . The Three Lives of James Madison studies all the aspects of Madison’s complicated public career, as both the main author of the Constitution to the country’s first wartime president to the co-founder of the Democratic-Republican Party. . . . [Feldman is] uniformly excellent on Madison the political creature, which can’t help but resonate with the present day. . . . [A] superb account.”—The Christian Science Monitor

“James Madison was instrumental in framing the constitutional government that serves the American people today. . . . This is an insightful examination on how theories and ideals are applied and changed by real-life circumstances.”—Library Journal

“The most stimulating political book that I have read in as long as I can remember. Madison was a young genius obsessed with the idea of constitution-making and government structure and who, in his early twenties, started designing the American government. Almost every debate we’re having now about politics comes back in some way or another to Madison’s vision and the questions Madison was thinking about in the 1770s and 1780s. . . . Madison was way more important to our country than Hamilton was.”—Jacob Weisberg, editor in chief of The Slate Group and author of The Bush Tragedy

“Feldman brings a scholarly rigor and a gift for narrative to this impressive account of the sprawling—and often perplexing—life of James Madison.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

“Feldman gives us a rich portrait of our fourth president in all his many aspects: constitution maker, politician, partisan, friend, slaveholder, husband, president, and elder statesman. The result is a fresh, bold, and much-needed look at a pivotal figure in American and, therefore, world history.”—Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family

“Feldman, combining laudable scholarship with delightful writing, does a brilliant job of showing how Madison’s precise and reasoned mind, along with his personal friendships and rivalries, created our code as a nation.”—Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci

“Feldman skillfully explains the evolving genius of Madison with precision and clarity. The result is a narrative both epic in scope and intimate in detail.”—David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, authors of Washington’s Circle: The Creation of the President

Bentley wrote: "PRAISE

“Illuminating and absorbing . . . [Noah] Feldman’s deeply thoughtful study shows that the three identities of James Madison constituted one exceptional life, which effectively mirrored the ..."


Hi Bentley

I can't find the schedule/ discussion threads for the Madison books - am I looking in the wrong place -

Thanks

Vince

Vince,

The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President by Noah Feldman is in the PRESIDENTIAL SERIES thread.

This is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

by Noah Feldman

We are happy that you will be joining us.

Lorna,
Assisting Moderator (T) - Civil Rights and Supreme Court

Vincent, I have difficulties finding the discussions, too. I tend to find it by entering The Three James Madison into the discussion bar on the right side of the screen.

I wish we had stickies - but the discussion Vincent is in the Presidential Series folder. We have a lot going on and the main screen only shows four of the current books. We have had requests into goodreads for over ten years on this but it is not a priority for them so we do what we can.

Thank you Adelle for giving Vincent some assistance - I was away this week on business.

But having said that - the link and announcement were already posted on message 413 by ME.

Also thank you Lorna for the assist.

Folks, sometimes you have to do some scrolling back. Goodreads has received input from all moderators about being able to announce and show all discussions - we wanted a sticky showing. However, none of that has ever been a priority - other features were more important to the overall site and I understand that.

So we have this thread where if you scroll back to message 413 - I provided the link to the discussion and announced it.

You have to scroll sometimes but it was posted already.

ALL, CHECK OUT POST 413!

Bentley, when will the group read of Sweet Taste of Liberty begin?
Regards,
Andrea
by W. Caleb McDaniel

Andrea wrote: "Bentley, when will the group read of Sweet Taste of Liberty begin?
Regards,
Andrea
by [authorimage:W...."

I'd like to know this too! Thanks

We will be starting soon - I will be doing set up tomorrow.

You will notice that I removed the Napoleon book because the Kindle version was $64.00!!!!!! Never mind the other versions.

Too cost prohibitive.

Bentley, thanks for the information on the “Sweet Taste of Liberty” read! I’m looking forward to it. Also, my pocketbook thanks you in the matter of the Napoleon book.
Regards,
Andrea
by W. Caleb McDaniel

Yes, I am trying to get things started this week. Tough being away - and I do wish there were 10 of me who could be on 24 by 7.

Finally, the Ralph Ketchum book on Madison is up and posted and ready to go for discussion.

by Ralph Louis Ketcham (no photo)

Here are the links. First the discussion thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And second - the Glossary and Bibliography thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Synopsis:

The best one volume biography of Madison's life, Ketcham's biography not only traces Madison's career, it gives readers a sense of the man. As Madison said of his early years in Virginia under the study of Donald Robertson, who introduced him to thinkers like Montaigne and Montesquieu, "all that I have been in life I owe largely to that man." It also captures a side of Madison that is less rarely on display (including a portrait of the beautiful Dolley Madison).

About the Author:



Ralph Ketcham (1927-2017) was Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He authored numerous books, including The Idea of Democracy in the Modern Era; Individualism and Public Life; James Madison: A Biography; Presidents Above Party: The First American Presidency, 1789-1829; and Public-Spirited Citizenship: Leadership and Good Government in the United States.

all by Ralph Louis Ketcham (no photo)

Join in on the above threads.

Hello,
Would someone be able to reach out to me as I need a little help regarding the BOTM when it comes to following.
With Appreciation,
Lynn Grabavoy
[email protected]

Lynn Ann, currently there are no BOTM group reads planned. However, there are several threads still open of books that have been read recently. If you are interested, you may look those threads over and comment on those threads if you read the book. The links are as follows:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

by John M. Barry
by Madeleine K. Albright

Thank you,

Lorna,
Assisting Moderator (T) - Civil Rights and Supreme Court

Thank you Lorna for responding. When I have the opportunity in a couple of weeks - we will begin one. Unfortunately, my schedule during the global pandemic did not allow me time to be on.

Sorry for the inconvenience but the global situation dictated it.

I had suggested to Bentley that this book should be the Sept. 2021 BOTM read for the 20th Anniv. of 9/11.

by Garrett M. Graff

Since B is not around a lot, it might have to be a Buddy Read. I am not a moderator here, so I am unsure of how proceed. Can I start a thread? What is the format? Many questions. If someone can PM me on how to get this done, that would be great.

Wow, Bentley, it’s so grand to hear from you!!! Are you in good health and weathering this terrible Pandemic? I have truly missed you and your wonderful comments and guidance! Hope to see something from you soon.
Regards,
Andrea

Thank you for your suggestion, Michele. I have sent you a PM regarding your post.

by Garrett M. Graff

Lorna,
Assisting Moderator (T) - Civil Rights and Supreme Court

Thank you everyone. I wish there were more than one of me but alas I do my best with the time that I have.

This year due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the overall somber mood for most folks during this trying period - I have tried to keep the threads and selections more upbeat. There are a great many folks out there who have suffered a great deal during 2020 and 2021 and our hearts go out to all of you and your families.

Every time that we think we have turned the corner - it appears that another variant blocks our paths. With the vaccines, improved contact tracing, individual quarantines and much better testing - hopefully in time we will all be able to live better with this virus which I tend to believe will be among us for some time. In time we will get to herd immunity but it will I am afraid take a little longer.

I appreciate all of the recommendations and I invite all of you to participate more - you can lead a buddy read or a free read and we will help you along the way.

So let us know how you would like to assist. We are always looking for others to jump right in and be part of our team.

Bentley

Having trouble finding the Obama book discussion thread. I am either blind and missing it or jumping the gun...

Michael wrote: "Having trouble finding the Obama book discussion thread. I am either blind and missing it or jumping the gun..."

Michael, thank you for your comment. You are not blind. That is a book discussion that Bentley had planned to begin on December 1, 2021. I will be in touch with Bentley and hopefully be able to give you more clarity about the discussion of A Promised Land.

Thank you,
Lorna,
Assisting Moderator (T) - Supreme Court and Civil Rights

by Barack Obama

Lorna wrote: "Michael wrote: "Having trouble finding the Obama book discussion thread. I am either blind and missing it or jumping the gun..."

Michael, thank you for your comment. You are not blind. That is a b..."
Thank you Lorna.

As you are aware - there is a Covid 19 pandemic going on and this has affected many of our families and friends.

I have been traveling when I can or quarantining like the rest of you and I have been working professionally.

I do hope that everyone is well and I will get a book discussion going today.

Sorry for the inordinate delay but these are trying times for all of us and I wish I had more time on my plate and more hands to assist.

Be patient.

Bentley

There is a note that one of our moderators received - let me be clear - we need additional helpers. And when a pandemic occurs - things change - and this has effected all of us in some way. So understand that since March 2020 - all of our lives have changed in some way and be patient. So yes, a lot of us have had other things that we have had to address along with all of you during the pandemic. Remember all of the moderators do this in their free time and are not paid - we are all volunteers not paid employees of goodreads.

So though I love the History Book Club - we have professional demands and family demands which come first.

Please be patient.

We are all good - no issues.

FYI:
There seems to be some glitches with the moderator's listings. The titles seem to be bleeding into each other and one of the mods - Simon could not get in and had to add his profile. A mess. Will contact goodreads to fix. These new codes can be an issue.

Anyway we are all here aside from the order.

Hope everyone is healthy and doing well.

Yippee!!! Bentley. It’s great to hear from you, even if it’s because of a dreadful problem … How are you doing??? Lorna and Jerome, etc., etc., have been doing a great job in your absence. I am well, my cat Napoleon Dumpster is well, and as Julian of Norwich puts it: “All shall be well…”
Warm Regards,
Andrea

Hello everyone,

I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. Stay healthy and remember what is important during these holidays.

Warmest regards,
Bentley

Masthead attributed to:

Photo attributed to Jessica Knowlden
Free to use under Unsplash

Happy New Year to all of our members in the History Book Club throughout the world. Best wishes in 2023 to each of you! Thank you for all of your support throughout the year.


Sydney, Australia, welcomed the new year.MUHAMMAD FAROOQ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES


Fireworks light up the sky over Manila.JAM STA ROSA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

There have been questions as to how to find the discussion of River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in Search for the Source of the Nile.

Currently, Bentley has not yet set up a discussion thread for Candace Millard's book. Therefore, we will need to wait for Bentley's return.

Happy New Year to all of our members in the History Book Club throughout the world. Best wishes in 2024 to each of you!


Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
HONG KONG, CHINA

Fireworks explode during the New Year celebrations, in Bangkok, Thailand. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
BANGKOK, THAILAND

Fireworks explode over the Marina Bay during the New Year celebrations in Singapore. REUTERS/Edgar Su
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

Fireworks explode over Rockwell Center in celebration of the New Year in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Fireworks explode during the New Year celebrations, in Bangkok, Thailand. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
BANGKOK, THAILAND

Happy, Happy New Year, Lorna. Thank you for all the hard work and heavy-lifting you do for the History Book Club!
Regards,
Andrea

Thank you for your continued support, Andrea. Best wishes in the new year to you as well.

Hello all - I finally have gotten in via my phone and my amazon account. I will now try it on my Apple.

Great Bentley, we look forward to hearing from you. Take care.