Our Declaration, Danielle Allen
Our Declaration, Danielle Allen
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Our Declaration
A Reading of Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality

Author: Danielle Allen

Narrator: Robin Miles

Unabridged: 9 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 06/23/2014

Synopsis

In just 1,337 words, the Declaration of Independence changed the world, but curiously it is now rarely read from start to finish, much less understood. Unsettled by this, Danielle Allen read the text quietly with students and discovered it animating power. " Bringing the analytical skills of a philosopher, the voice of a gifted memoirist, and the spirit of a soulful humanist to the task, Allen manages to ... find new meaning in Thomas Jefferson' s understanding of equality," says Joseph J. Ellis about OUR DECLARATION. Countering much of the popular perception, she restores equality to its rightful place, detailing the Declaration' s case that freedom rests on equality. The contradictions between ideals and reality in a document that perpetuated slavery are also brilliantly tackled by Allen, whose cogently written book " is a must-read for all who care about the future as well as the origins of America' s democracy" (David M. Kennedy).

About Danielle Allen

Danielle Allen is an indie romance author, a professor, and a life coach. Living authentically has been the key to her living her best life. With a background in social sciences, helping people better understand themselves so they can become the best version of themselves is one of her passions. She aims to write contemporary romance novels that change the status quo of the genre.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Mishehu on October 17, 2017

My second star is for the author's earnest effort. In disappointing truth, I found this a one-star read. I'm not sure who the intended readership for this book is. Nearly 100 of its 282 pages are devoted to a quite interesting (and well written) preamble telling of the Declaration's history. Which l......more

Goodreads review by Shai on May 05, 2022

This book critically examines the Declaration of Independence, using the tools of literary analysis to argue that equality is a precondition for freedom, rather than an obstacle to it. This argument is a compelling one, since it flies in the face of contemporary political philosophy; it's fairly comm......more

Goodreads review by FyzaReads on July 06, 2016

I had purchased this book a couple of years ago after listening to the author Danielle Allen on KQED's July 4th special show on The Forum. I found her quest to encourage people to do a slow reading of the Declaration of Independence quite intriguing and kept her book on my list to read on the 4th of......more

Goodreads review by Isaac on February 20, 2025

Phenomenal guide into a deep reading of the declaration and the minds of the founders on what they thought the goals of the nation shall be. I have read the declaration many times, but never this thoroughly. I applaud the depth and dives into specifics on choices of words and grammar because this vi......more

Goodreads review by Miriam on January 22, 2018

An accessible, yet profound, reading of the philosophy and logic underlying the Declaration of Independence. Allen deftly and sensitively makes the case that equality and liberty are both necessary foundations for a democratic society. It is an equality that both respects and values difference. One......more

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