With apologies to our Publius, who actually knows this stuff …

I’ve just reached the end of 12-lesson, 6-hour lecture series on, ostensibly, the Federalist Papers. I got it free as part of my Amazon membership, but it can be purchased separately for around $15, which I consider a bargain. I say that it’s “ostensibly” about the 85 Federalist Papers, because it’s really more of a history of the Constitution, illustrated and explained using Madison’s and Hamilton’s work. It’s the story, as the lecturer puts it, about how “13, tiny sovereign nations” agreed to cede some, but certainly not all of their powers to a central government while still retaining and protecting the rights and freedoms of their citizens.

Joseph Hoffman, the law professor who wrote and delivers these lectures, clerked for Rehnquist, but is also a leader of the anti-capital-penalty movement, a group that tends to be liberal. Whatever his political leanings, though, to my ever-watchful ear, he keeps the course neutral and his own editorial views out of the discussion.

As the lectures proceeded I kept wishing that our schools — high school or college — would slip these 6 hours into one of their “Why you should hate America” history courses. They’d come away with an understanding of how our republic was structured, and why, and gain an ability to place much of the current controversies into their historical context; hell, they might even be able to discuss and debate issues with something more intelligent than the “that’s racist/sexist/transphobic” argument, which, of course, is no argument at all, and isn’t meant to be. And maybe they’d realize what a superbly crafted form of government the men of 1787 invented, and be less tempted to ignorantly throw away a treasure that’s right in front of their noses.

I thought this review posted on Amazon described the work very well, although he does miss one element that makes the lectures so entertaing: Hoffman has a good sense of humor, and is a fine lecturer.

Fascinating and timely

I’ve read my share of books on the Federalist Papers and the Constitution, but I’ve never had the pleasure of a book or lecture that ties them both together so well as this course. This is one of the best books or courses that I’ve read or listened to in a long time. I suspect many listeners including some of the reviewers are looking for a course which justifies either conservative or liberal viewpoints regarding the role of federal government. You’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for a bias in either direction from this. Hoffman gives a great balance. Superbly done. The details are fascinating.