This week I finished:
The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840, by Akhil Reed Amar: This book preceded Amar’s Born Equal, but I read Born Equal first because I got my copy from Amar at one of his launch events.
This book is on another level than many of the books on the revolutionary era that I’ve read. Amar covers the people, laws, legal interpretations, and plenty more. It’s comprehensive for what it covers: mainly history and law. It’s an awesome book. Every American would benefit from reading it. It shows how the Constitution came to be, starting from the British wins over France in Montreal and Quebec, through the processes of the colonies and their people realizing the need to become independent, to unite and stay united, for several people to start to lead, and so on to forming the Constitution.
Amar covers how the drafters discussed, decided, and assembled the Constitution, whose voices determined it (mainly American culture, also Washington by far more than any other individual), how it was discussed and ratified in the most democratic process ever (if I remember right), then how it was implemented, interpreted, and amended. It covers who did what and why.
I could go on about the content, but you can read about it elsewhere. I’ll share my impression. The book is accessible yet still comprehensive for the topics it covers. It shows Amar’s love for the US, not ignoring its flaws, and how it was formed, to see the least. That love becomes infectious.
One problem: he excuses Washington for freeing his slaves after his death, even praising him. A man who could take on the British empire can free his slaves. I see nothing praiseworthy in waiting to die to free his slaves.
I’ve watched many videos with Amar and listened to many of his podcast episodes plus met him in person a few times. I could point to many videos, but this one with Bari Weiss describes some highlights of this book, as well as his approach.
The Brandenburg Concertos, by Johann Sebastian Bach: I don’t remember what prompted me thinking about these concertos, but I remember learning about them in a core class in college on music history and appreciation. I loved them then, but it was so long ago I didn’t remember them much except how much I loved the fifth. It feels like everyone must love that one most, but who knows?
I downloaded and listened to the recordings below like how I used to listen to popular songs I liked as a kid: over and over.
I don’t know much about music, so I’m just listening to enjoy. I like how the pieces keep moving toward resolution but keep not ending. If you don’t know these pieces, I recommend any of the recordings below.
and
After the first round, I went back for some special cases. I was looking for performances using a piano instead of a harpsichord.
I didn’t keep track of which performances I downloaded, so I probably forgot some, but I figure you get the idea.