What Kind of Nation, James F. Simon
What Kind of Nation, James F. Simon
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What Kind of Nation
Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States

Author: James F. Simon

Narrator: Patrick Cullen

Unabridged: 12 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/01/2003

Synopsis

The bitter and protracted struggle between President Thomas Jefferson and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall defined the basic constitutional relationship between the executive and judicial branches of government. More than 150 years later, their clashes still reverberate in constitutional debates and political battles.In this dramatic and fully accessible account of these titans of the early republic and their fiercely held ideas, James F. Simon brings to life the early history of the nation and sheds new light on the highly charged battle to balance the powers of the federal government and the rights of the states. A fascinating look at two of the nation's greatest statesmen and shrewdest politicians, What Kind of Nation presents a cogent, unbiased assessment of their lasting impact on American government.

About James F. Simon

James F. Simon is the Martin Professor of Law at New York Law School. A former correspondent and contributing editor at Time magazine and the author of several critically acclaimed books on judicial history, including The Antagonists and The Center Holds, he lives with his wife in West Nyack, New York.

About Patrick Cullen

John Lescault has been an audiobook narrator for over twenty-five years and has recorded more than three hundred titles, spanning works of fiction and nonfiction. He has also provided narration for NPR’s Performance Today, Nightline, and Deaf Mosaic. He has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra as Beethoven and Dvorak at the Kennedy Center.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alan on April 29, 2023

Truly excellent. I regret that I had put off reading this book under the assumption that though it was likely a worthy read, it would most probably be rather dry. Not the case at all. I was fascinated by this history of the political contests between John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson regarding the......more

Goodreads review by Abby on October 30, 2022

To be honest, I can't write as full of a review as I want to with the time that I have. First of all, this is an extensively researched book. Good grief, I want to say there's between 5 to 15, perhaps 20 pages dedicated in the back to the resources used! I appreciate all the effort that was put into......more

Goodreads review by Jeremy on August 27, 2011

Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall were two of the most important men in our nation's history. They both served in the American Revolution, Jefferson more famously as the author of the Declaration of Independence and as diplomat, and Marshall as a junior officer in George Washington's army. Their ca......more

Goodreads review by Bob on March 23, 2015

Summary: Simon's book summarizes the struggle between John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson to define the character of American Federal government, focusing particularly on Marshall's role in creating a strong judicial branch. A good book for anyone interested in post-Revolutionary War American history......more

Quotes

“An epic of the founding, featuring fascinating antagonists, enormous consequences, and alternating episodes of nobility and treachery.” American Prospect

“What Kind of Nation is a fine read.” Washington Post

“Simon’s book illumines the origins of a national political debate that continues today.” Publisher’s Weekly

“Simon’s excellent venture in legal and political history illuminates both the roots of an ongoing controversy and the characters of two great historic figures.” Kirkus Reviews

“The narrative requires clarity and balance, and Patrick Cullen’s delivery provides both.” AudioFile

“James Simon has written a legal suspense story…[that] helps us to understand the court battles that go on today, no less partisan, no less urgent.” A. J. Langguth, author of Patriots

“A model of narrative history written by someone who knows the law.”  Joseph J. Ellis, New York Times Book Review

Awards

  • National Review’s 100 Best Nonfiction Books of the Century
  • New York Times Notable Book
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