It took me about ten days to read this fascinating book. The author has made an excellent contribution to U. S. history by carefully keeping to his title topic (Catholicism and American Freedom: A History), halting his account when he has made his point, and jumping ahead ten or fifteen years. With a hundred pages of notes and a helpful index, McGreevy has fashioned a parade of people exposing their thoughts and prejudices. I had already known many of the names and events, but I found the quotations startling. Such brazen words written by such renowned men! As for wisdom and insight, Jacques Maritain stood out. I must explain the withheld fifth star: Other authors enliven their work by colorizing, presenting one view with convincing animation. This book is nuanced, more like life, therefore a bit more difficult to read.

This book was a wonderful resource to use when my college in high school course did its final debate on Civil Rights. Not only was I able to find quotes and views similar to the ones I was supposed to fight for, but I also found the very information my opponents sought after and had it it in my hands to use against them. Without the valuable information in this book I would not have been able to win the debate and score an "a" on my final.

I am currently using this textbook for my Constitutional Law class at Winthrop University, and i would like to comment that the book is very well written and easily read. The one problem that i have is that the Opinions of the court are not complete, but only the highlights have been stated, as completely understandable, but I find the extra information also informative when trying to write papers on the Opinions, not just the highlights. I otherwise think that the book is superb and quite helpful in my class.

The author gives you a real feeling for the lives women emigrating from German speaking countries. It is very informative and quite a good reference. I found it somewhat difficult reading because of the numerous citations and language style.

Very good if you want to find out about the experiences of the German speaking immigrant woman.

A very interesting look back at the state of affairs during the period leading upto and after the American Revolution. Worth the purchase.

Barber describes at great length the historical emergence of democracy in communities of the Swiss canton Graubuenden, tracing its origins back more than a thousand years. The book is writen in plain English although it is Barber's aim to fundamentally question the 'liberal constitutionalism' which today marks the household definition of democracy.

Barber argues that capitalism and wealth have eroded much of the basic conditions that he considers requirements for effective direct democratic participation. However, he also points out that the particular historical path has also show that direct democratic systems are adaptable to new circumstances.

The book is a good read for academics and students of democracy studies. It is also an interesting account of the Swiss democratic system giving much elaboration to institutions and procedures. Anybody interested in the historical emergence and present-day workings of direct democratic systems will enjoy this read.

Eringa's warm Christian personality is revealed through his letters and brief autobiography. I am happy to have the original letters on which much of the book is based; they were given me by the man in Holland who found them in his attic. Eringa's faith was passed on to his children and grand-children, one of whom I am.

This is an excellent book for those who would like to know how can we continue to do politics in our present post-modern world. In this book, Laclau continues his elaboration on how do to politics in face of fragmented social struggles. Laclau's essays on universalism and particularism offers an important contribution to understand the various groups that struggle for identification of their rights. There is an introduction of linguistic term of 'empty signifier', that plays an important role to the world of politics. He also includes a critical assessment of Rorty's notion of Liberalism and comments on Derrida's work. Although the book is rather a short, its topic makes it quite dense that can take some time to go through.

By examining United States foreign policy between 1783 and 1809 in their book "Empire of Liberty," Robert W. Tucker and David C. Hendrickson put the myth of Thomas Jefferson under fire. Tucker and Hendrickson's central thesis is that Jefferson's statecraft wavered between two contradictory principles of liberty and empire. While president, Jefferson often found himself torn between pursuing a foreign policy role that provided examples of liberty, and a role as an "active crusader in international affairs" (Chaudhuri, American Political Science Review, September 1991). Tucker and Hendrickson claim that Jefferson tried in vain to accomplish both of these conflicting goals. The aim of his "new diplomacy" was to pursue the traditional ends of security and prestige while renouncing the traditional means of entangling alliances and wars that had been constantly used by European powers in the past (Mayer, Washington Post, August 2, 1990). Instead, Jefferson would rely upon what he called "peaceable coercion"--a foreign policy establishing security by commercial arrangements, through the force of American ideals. Jefferson believed that liberty and empire could go hand in hand in the formation of United States foreign policy.
Tucker and Hendrickson analyze several policies during the Jefferson administration to give historiographical context to their argument. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase is mentioned as a case in point. On the surface, the acquisition of almost half a continent at a negligible price was a great triumph of statecraft. Jefferson believed that this incredible land acquisition "preserved the republican character of the Union by removing the presence of dangerous neighbors and the prospect of wars that must result in the imposition of unbearable burdens on society" (Dallek, New York Times, July 1, 1990). It also insured that a predominantly agricultural political economy would be sustained while the United States experienced a steady increase in population. The Louisiana Purchase appeared to be clearly within the interests of the United States.
However, Tucker and Hendrickson point out that in order to make this purchase, Jefferson abandoned several of his sacred principles of liberty. In acquiring Louisiana, Jefferson abandoned his deeply held commitment to strict construction of the Constitution, which did not specifically mention a power to acquire territory (Dallek 1990). Tucker and Hendrickson question this abandonment of principle in light of the circumstances revolving around the purchase. They point out that Napoleon would most likely have not repudiated the agreement if action had been delayed, and that the speedy ratification of the treaty that Jefferson advocated was not necessary (Cunningham, Journal of the Early Republic, September 1991). Like Henry Adams, whose history of Jefferson's administration the authors admire and frequently draw upon, Tucker and Hendrickson emphasize the president's abandonment of strict construction in regard to the Louisiana Purchase as evidence of his desire to establish an empire.
This book has many notable strengths. Tucker and Hendrickson advance their ideas with a portrayal of Jefferson's statecraft that is very comprehensive. Most of the main foreign policy circumstances and events of the Jefferson era are described in detail--in addition to the Louisiana Purchase and policies regarding Native Americans, the authors provide comprehensive analysis on the maritime crisis with Great Britain, and Jefferson's views on Napoleon. Tucker and Hendrickson give a freshness to historical subjects of the Jeffersonian era that have already been mulled over by countless historians.
Along with its strengths, a couple weaknesses exist in "Empire of Liberty." Occasionally the authors press their points too hard. Although Jefferson somewhat abandoned his embrace of free trade in 1807, Tucker and Hendrickson exaggerate his original devotion to the principle. Additionally, labeling him as a "true believer in strict constructionism" until the Louisiana Purchase ignores his acceptance of Hamiltonian policies from the inception of his administration (Kaplan, Journal of American History, June 1991). Tucker and Hendrickson's critique of Jefferson's foreign policy is perhaps somewhat overbearing.
Regardless of any shortcomings Tucker and Hendrickson's analysis may have, they do an exceptional job of making a definite contribution to Jeffersonian literature. They create a picture of Jefferson somewhat different than the image conveyed by such historians as Gilbert Chinard, Merrill Peterson and Dumas Malone. "Empire of Liberty" tends to lean more towards to so-called "darker side" of Jefferson represented by the work of Leonard Levy. Overall, by provoking thoughts on Jeffersonian foreign policy, Tucker and Hendrickson's work contributes monumentally to the discourse on the life of Thomas Jefferson.

It was enlightening. I love books that push you to think and analyze, even after you put it on your book shelf. The Enemy... did just that. I suggest any analytical minded person to read it.