Aside from the Constitution itself, there is no more important document in American politics and law than
The Federalist
-the series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison to explain the proposed Constitution to the American people and persuade them to ratify it. Today, amid angry debate over what the Constitution means and what the framers' "original intent" was,
is more important than ever, offering the best insight into how the framers thought about the most troubling issues of American government and how the various clauses of the Constitution were meant to be understood. Michael Meyerson's
Liberty's Blueprint
provides a fascinating window into the fleeting, and ultimately doomed, friendship between Hamilton and Madison, as well as a much-needed introduction to understanding how the lessons of
are relevant for resolving contemporary constitutional issues from medical marijuana to the war on terrorism. This book shows that, when properly read,
is not a "conservative" manifesto but a document that rightfully belongs to all Americans across the political spectrum.