SKU: 54235740659

The Year of Living Constitutionally

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The Year of Living ConstitutionallyBy: A. J. Jacobs The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically chronicles his hilarious adventures in attempting to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, as he searches for answers to one of the most pressing issues of our time: How should we interpret Americas foundational document? I dont know how I learned so much while laughing so hard.Andy Borowitz A. J. Jacobs learned the hard way that donning a tricorne hat

By: A.J. Jacobs     
The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically chronicles his hilarious adventures in attempting to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, as he searches for answers to one of the most pressing issues of our time: How should we interpret America’s foundational document?

“I don’t know how I learned so much while laughing so hard.”—Andy Borowitz

A.J. Jacobs learned the hard way that donning a tricorne hat and marching around Manhattan with a 1700s musket will earn you a lot of strange looks. In the wake of several controversial rulings by the Supreme Court and the on-going debate about how the Constitution should be interpreted, Jacobs set out to understand what it means to live by the Constitution.

In The Year of Living Constitutionally, A.J. Jacobs tries to get inside the minds of the Founding Fathers by living as closely as possible to the original meaning of the Constitution. He asserts his right to free speech by writing his opinions on parchment with a quill and handing them out to strangers in Times Square. He consents to quartering a soldier, as is his Third Amendment right. He turns his home into a traditional 1790s household by lighting candles instead of using electricity, boiling mutton, and—because women were not allowed to sign contracts— feebly attempting to take over his wife’s day job, which involves a lot of contract negotiations.

The book blends unforgettable adventures—delivering a handwritten petition to Congress, applying for a Letter of Marque to become a legal pirate for the government, and battling redcoats as part of a Revolutionary War reenactment group—with dozens of interviews from constitutional experts from both sides. Jacobs dives deep into originalism and living constitutionalism, the two rival ways of interpreting the document.

Much like he did with the Bible in The Year of Living Biblically, Jacobs provides a crash course on our Constitution as he experiences the benefits and perils of living like it’s the 1790s. He relishes, for instance, the slow thinking of the era, free from social media alerts. But also discovers the progress we’ve made since 1789 when married women couldn’t own property.

Now more than ever, Americans need to understand the meaning and value of the Constitution. As politicians and Supreme Court Justices wage a high-stakes battle over how literally we should interpret the Constitution, A.J. Jacobs provides an entertaining yet illuminating look into how this storied document fits into our democracy today.
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SKU: 54235740659

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L R
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Calvin & Hobbs wins again!
Format: Paperback
This is a delightful book and children and parents love it!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026
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numbr6
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
old school entertainment
Format: Paperback
This is funny stuff. It captures the thinking and wonders of a boy.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2025
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Amazon Customer
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Great gift.
Format: Paperback
Gave it as a gift and he loved it!!! It was a big hit.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2026
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Angela Nottingham
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
CLASSIC SPACEMAN SPIFF
Format: Paperback
I loved this book as a kid and I wanted to share the joy with my own family. My stepdaughter dove right in and cuddled up with this under a blanket with a flashlight, even after lights out; which is the perfect way to read this. I can't wait to buy all the books to have in my own house and have the kids learn the elusive rules of Calvin Ball. Buy it, even if you read it in the past, it still holds up and is great today.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
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PollyWolly
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Calvin and Hobbes, we love you!
Format: Paperback
Bought this for my 7 year old who loves comics, and its been a hit! It was nostalgic for me, and so fun to have him excited to read it each morning. He has read it in it's entirety 4 days in a row now. He was a little disappointed that it was not in color, but got over it quickly! I think this is a great one for those kids who feel like reading chapter books can be daunting. Starting with comics is the way all of my kids have caught the reading bug. Old school comics are the way to go!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2024

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