James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic 2nd Ed. written by Jack N. Rakove is more than a biography about James Madison our fourth President of the United States. Reading this book you get a real feeling for Madison and his philosophy.

As Madison firmly believed, his record as a statesman should be a record of public deeds, not gossipy tale of ambitions, achievements, disappointments and revelations. Madison took care in to preserve his political papers as well as to ensure that the details of his private life would remain forever hidden from posterity.

Thus, it was only in the conduct of public affairs that his deepest talents and interests found expression. Madison was a political thinker of his generation... in the task of creating the extended national republic of the United States, he had many partners but very few equals. Madison played a key roll in every significant development in national politics: efforts to ratify and amend the Articles of Confederation, the adoption and ratification of the Federal Constitution, the framing of he first amendments, the organization of the first opposition party, the initial controversies over constitutional interpretation, and the long diplomatic and military struggle that ended with the War of 1812.

Madison's distinctive contributions to the American constitutional tradition were first and foremost a reflection of his remarkable capacity to reason abstractly about funamental problems of political life on the basis of lessions drawn from experience. We see the author taking Madison and showing us how ideas that began with books were shaped and elaborated and reconsidered through the experience of revolutionary, republican, and constitutional politics.

James Madison does not resonate nearly as deeply in our historical memory. Yet his lasting achievements are arguably no less important. As Madison deepest legacy for the American constitutional tradition, he helped to create the understanding of these two distinct problems of majority power and minority rights.

This is an excellent book and it really gets into the conscience of Madison and it gives the reader some analysis of the potent legacy for the statesman named James Madison.

A must-read for any student of United States History. Rakove's writing seems as effortless as it is informative. I thought I knew James Madison after reading this book.

This book was very good. I liked it, it made you want to keep reading it to see what would happen next. From the beginning to the end, I could not put it down. The book was just as good as the others. I can not wait until the next ones to come out!!

Far Hills Junior High is going to Jasper Woods for thier school trip...and Madison Finn is both excited and nervous. It's her first camping experience, but Maddie isn't sure she's going to like spending it with Poison Ivy Daly and her drones. Camp gets off to a bad start for Madison, especially when she fnds herself sharing a cabin with Ivy and her friend Fiona appears to be mad at her. Madison can't seem to get the attention of her crush, Hart either, since it seems that he's settled for Ivy. But when camp really gets going and Madison finds herself attempting to climb a tower, se begins to wonder if camping is so bad after all. This book is a really good addition to the Madison Finn series. I liked it a lot.

My son was born without his right hand. This book details everything we went through getting his prosthetic. He is only 15 months old, but it is a great book to read to his four year old brother so he can understand and feel a part of what is happening. I plan on keeping this book around to present to my son's teachers to use as an aid in the classroom. The story is very easy for a child to understand, but also detailed enough that I had my family read it to see exactly how the process works. The pictures are amazing--combining real photos with drawings. Very unique. This is the only book of it's kind. I am gratefull someone is finally taking notice of upper limb differences and offering support to families.

I think this is a great book for kids to read with a grownup that can explain what is happening on the pictures. It helpes de-dramatize physical disbility in a natural way. Step by step description of how the doctor makes "Madisons very special hand" are very good. I would definitely like to recommend this to anyone that's working with or having children on their own.

Finally! A book which not only gets to the heart of the"workshop" debate but also provides meaningful insights onwhat makes fiction work. On my shelf, this book has replaced Gardner's Art of Fiction as my bible for guidance in fiction writing.

One of the country's best young authors provides an excellent textbook treatment of architectural matters lying at the heart of a writer's most basic concerns. Mr. Bell examines the invisible structures that underlie fiction.

While emphasizing that "form is of first and final importance to any work ..." he also pays pleasurable attention to the writer's need for spontaneity, attending to the peculiar struggle battling in the mind of a writer that requires constant shifting between the right and left hemisphere's of the head.

Happily, from the very beginning of the book, Mr. Bell makes plain his distaste for absolute, undying allegiance to form, and in a provocative essay, allows himself the pleasure of ruminating about self-hypnosis and rock 'n' roll in ways that stretch the reader's imagination as a warm-up before undertaking the very serious, quite detailed analytical dissections of a series of short stories that follow.

The most significant aspect of Mr. Bell's analysis is that he points to two general methods of building narrative structures: one, he calls "linear design," which develops along the time continuum, the chronological flow of events with which we are all so familiar; and the second, which he calls "modular design" - a great form for non-fiction writers, I believe - which relies more on an arrangement of ideas, images, motifs or abstractions.

In linear design, a writer would think of his or her material as a sculptor might, regarding one block of wood or granite by imagining the seemless, smooth shape that could be carved or chiseled out. The overall work - the long form with its distinct beginning, middle and end - is considered the most important single aspect of the piece.

In modular design, however, the writer's effort is not aimed at whittling away at the block until the form beneath is clear, but at assembling bits and pieces, as one would a mosaic. Looking at the work from a distance, the writer would thoughtfully place these bits and pieces in a meaningful, aesthetically pleasing way, letting the natural contrast between pieces, speak to the whole. If linear design is essentially subtractive, Mr. Bell says, modular design is additive. In non-fiction, there are lots of great examples of this, such as Tracy Kidder's chapters on the lumber industry in his book "House." John McPhee has used this form, to a large extent, and to great success. Many essayists rely on modular design.

The book is particularly enjoyable because of the form Mr. Bell has chosen. He relies on a wide range of stories, analyzed in detail, peppered with footnotes, to examine the structural choices of professional and student writers. Best of all, Mr. Bell writes wonderfully and playfully. His observation of writing structure as analogous to the underlying chords for jazz or rock 'n' roll improvisation is an example of his own ability to riff on a theme, compelling writers to have fun, to think seriously about the value of form, but to find ways of using structure that leave the imagination lively and flexible.

I'm a fan of his, in part, because he brightens the literary landscape of my town, Baltimore, as a writing teacher at Goucher College, and he also happens to be a brilliant novelist, selected by Granta as one of the Best Young American Novelists in 1996 and a finalist for the National Book Award for fiction ("All Soul's Rising").

I am a non-fiction writer, so Mr. Bell's work interests me in ways in which his lessons can be applied to literary journalism. Although he does not discuss non-fiction, a genre that offers its own peculiar problems, the book can be useful for those who do not write fiction, but do rely on the techniques of fiction to strengthen the field of vision in creative non-fiction. He has noodled out many dilemmas of the craft, producing an excellent workshop book that any writer could take to the woodshed.

Like other estimable teaching books, such as John Gardner's "The Art of Fiction," Mr. Bell's "Narrative Design" is a gift for those who care to think seriously and deeply about applying architectural-like standards to narrative structure in the creation of their own literary arts.

This is not only fascinating reading, but is a critical primary source for understanding our Constitution. This is Madison's first hand account of the secret proceedings of the Constitutional Convention. You'll see how the debate unfolds and understand more fully the difficulty of creating a governing document for our nation.

Most importantly you'll see the difficulty in divining the original intent of our founders. There were many intents and many "founders" of this important document. It is not surprising that many involved in the creation of our constitution could afterwards disagree on the substance of what different articles "meant." That is why the argument over original intent can never be resolved, and why, for better or worse, the Constitution remains open to interpretation.

Perhaps no work, outside of the Federalist Papers, is more crucial to understanding the US Constitution. Madison's Notes, drawn from those hot days at the Constitutional Convention show the building of our federalist system. From what was included, to what was rejected, to what was never proposed, Madison reveals so much.

He told us exactly what happened. No editorializing. No Political correctness. Lots of detail. Pure Honesty.

We get to see what the Constitution was meant to be from the point of view of the founders themselves. Before you read any popular media work on the Consitiution, Read this. You'll need to think a little, but well worth it.

--George Stancliffe

In this period of seeming upheaval in the American government, constitutional questions are thick on the ground and the least-used clause in that document is again being exercised. We'd do well to examine what actually happened so many years ago. Familiarity with the Constitution itself is not enough--indeed, it's never enough. To borrow a page from "Star Trek," we should know the thoughts of those 55 men as well if we are to truly understand what they intended for the United States.

"Notes on Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787" is the perfect source for beginning that exploration. If you want the information and the arguments advanced for each section of the Constitution, here they are. This volume is the actual journal of the Constitutional Convention, kept by James Madison (later the 4th President under that document). Preserved after the convention approved their work, it was later published. It still exists as an excellent source of political thought from the age of the Enlightenment; though the Declaration of Independence is more of a proof of those philosophies (based on the contract theory of David Hume), the Constitution was also influenced by these ideas, and represents a distillation of 18th-Century political theory.

It's not an easy read; it is, after all, a product of its time, written in a dense style, with antique language and grammar (to 20th century minds), by one of the best educated men in the Colonies. But even a leaping study of the highlights, the famous debates over the plans for how to establish the Congress, etc., repay the reader. Just an examination of the opening days shows that the representatives came prepared to essentially flout their instructions, throw out instead of revise the defective Articles of Confederation, and start afresh. Several members came prepared with draft proposals, and none appeared overly embarrassed to offer them. Seeing how many differences there are between the first drafts and the final Constitution is quite interesting.

Highly recommended, and all encourgement to the person who chooses this book.

January 27, 1999

I found this book to be very believable and tastefully done. I thoroughly enjoyed every story. Within the first week I read it several times before the impact even began to wear off.

It helped me to realize a lot about myself and the role this type of activity can play in the human mind and heart. I am not into senseless pain and punishment, but a "smarting backside" can have very positive effects if brought to that state by the right hand - as this book shows so well.

I will definitely be looking for other works by Ms. Madison. Salud!

There are few books of this kind which are written with style, intelligence and a thorough knowledge of the subject to the degree of The Reckoning. It is a collection of short stories, some from the male and some the female perspective. Although the stories are set in the modern era there is a timeless quality to them so that lovers of the Victorian era books will take to it very well. It does not have the kind of self-indulgent, unbelievable fantasy drivel that is sadly so typical from male authors of this genre. You will not be rolling your eyes and saying "Oh brother!" here. Ms. Madison has done an excellent job including characters of all ages and walks of life and at the same time manages to breathe real life into each. Every situation is as believable as if the reader had experienced them in their own life. I highly recommend this book and feel that female readers will find it particularly accessible.

It is sad that this book is so hard to find. I have given away every copy I ever owned as gifts and regret it now. If it remains out of print it will be a true loss as it remains head and shoulders above most other books in its class.

This little book pays for itself with the first recommendation one chooses to visit. All of the recommendations for restaurants regardless of price range reflect that the author has actually eaten there. Accommodation recommendations turn San Francisco into both and enjoyable and affordable experience. Using this guide allows one to spend their money fulfilling expectations rather than the too typical vacation experience of financing disappointments. As my heading clearly states, "other investment purchases should be so good!"

In a city where just a cup of coffee can cost you $5, this book will show you where to get an entire meal for half that. $200 a night to stay near Union Square? Not with this book in your pocket. It won't be the Hilton, but for $45, who cares?

We've never had a bad experience at any of the places in these books. Note that in order to give the best possible coverage of the subject, restaurants rotate, so buy as many editions as you can ... just because a restaurant is not in the current edition does not mean it's gone out of business.

This book contains one of my all-time favorite recipes - Cold Noodles with Peanut Sauce. I have yet to make (or taste) another peanut sauce as good as this one.

The recipes are easy to follow, although some of the ingredients are difficult to get!

Overall, this book offers elegant and savory recipes for all levels of cooks, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to make a special meal.

The Savory Way is a wonderful vegetarian cook book without being noticeably vegetarian. I have been working my way through the cook book since I received it as a gift in September '99 and have yet to discover any bad recipes. Some I've even made twice. The recipes are easy to follow and don't require very unusual ingredients. I would recommend this cook book to anyone interested in cooking good food that is not ordinary.

I received this book as a christmas gift and have loved every page. The combination of true stories and vivid photographs are absolutely charming. A true portrayal of the mountain way of life. I believe that anyone who is fascinated with mountain living as I am will love this book.

I'm David Norton Junior is my uncle. This is a great book if your intrested in the way we live in the mountains you should get this book full of great photos of my uncle and aunt Dellie and one great picture of my grandpa Willard.