First published 2019
Joseph Ellis examines four founding fathers through the lens of contemporary American divisions. The acclaimed author of Founding Brothers and The Quartet takes George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams and applies their thinking to current political deadlocks. Ellis pairs each founder with a specific modern issue. He explores Jefferson's views on racism, Adams's thoughts on economic inequality, Washington's stance on American imperialism, and Madison's position on original intent doctrine. The book creates a dialogue between past and present, using historical perspective to illuminate today's political obstacles. Ellis argues that centuries-old ideas from these seminal figures can help clarify the impasse paralyzing contemporary discussions of these critical issues.
Genres: historical-fiction, american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: dialogue-between-past-and-present, historical-perspective
Period: 21st Century, 18th Century
283 pages · Paperback · Vintage