I thought that I completed this review over two years ago! I liked this book and used it as curriculum in my classroom. I recommend it!

More than "A User's Guide" to the Bill of Rights, this book brings the historic document to life by portraying people who directly benefitted from Supreme Court cases whose verdicts hinged on interpretations on the Bill of Rights.

This should be required reading for every American. This book breaks down the history of the Bill of Rights as a whole and of each right individually, and expounds upon each of the ten rights by outlining important Supreme Court decisions that have impacted the interpretation and implementation. Containing relevant quotes from our "founding fathers," this book is both informative and very inspiring.

THE BILL OF RIGHTS by Linda R. Monk is a fabulous resource (as are Monk's other works in our collection: The Words We Live By and Ordinary Americans). This new version of THE BILL OF RIGHTS: A User's Guide has a foreword by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In the initial section, Monk provides a brief history of the Bill of Rights, including its philosophical underpinnings. Each section then describes one of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, giving the actual text and an interpretation, plus examples of its application with case studies and excerpts from legal opinions. There also is a chapter devoted to the Fourteenth Amendment which addresses citizenship and equal protection of the laws. Finally, Monk comments briefly on rights in the future: should they be "positive" (a right to education, health care and/or employment) rather than "negative" (forbidding government intervention)? Images (photographs, political cartoons and other items) are dispersed throughout and a glossary, bibliography, endnotes and case index are helpfully included. Students will really value the information in this easy to read text.

This is the Bill of Rights. There isn't much to review without entering a philosophical discussion! Five stars!

This book not only explains the Amendments, but also provides court cases that influenced or were influenced by them. Every American should read this, as it lays out the importance and history of these Amendments. It was really interesting to read.

Informative, concise, and an important addition to any collection. We need more understanding of our democracy today and this book is a great way to start the conversation.

Well researched and scholarly discussion of the amendments to the US Constitution which make up the Bill of Rights. Recently updated, highly recommended for library collections and for those studying the US Constitution.

My apologies. I requested a review copy of this book, but see now that it isn't available in Kindle format, which is what I use for all my reading. I appreciate your generosity in making the title available, but I will not be able to review it. I am quite interested in this title, however, and will keep an eye open for it in the future. With best wishes,
Sarah-Hope
(I'm giving it five stars because NetGalley requires a starts rating, and I think it IS going to be a wonderful book.

This is something that every library should have. Very timely.