Constitution Café: Jefferson's Brew for a True Revolution

by Christopher Phillips

The author of the Socrates Café trilogy hits the road once again―this time to inspire a new, nationwide Constitutional Convention. Energized by the initial optimism surrounding Obama's presidency and, conversely, the fierce partisanship in Congress, Christopher Phillips has set out to engage Americans in discussions surrounding our must fundamental rights and freedoms, with some help from Thomas Jefferson. A radical in his own day, Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be revised periodically to keep up with the changing times. Instead, it has become a sacred, immutable text-and in Phillips's opinion, it's in need of some shaking up. From a high school in West Virginia to People's Park in Berkeley, California; from Burning Man to the Mall of America, Phillips gathered together Americans from all walks of life, moderating dialogues inspired by Jefferson's own populist political philosophy, formulating new Constitutional articles. With contagious passion and conviction, Philips has taken up Jefferson's cause for a truly participatory democracy at a time when our country needs it most.

Genres: History, Politics, Philosophy, Nonfiction

321 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2011

About the author

"Christopher Phillips is the greatest living embodiment of the Socratic spirit in our catastrophic times. His global grassroots movement of Socrates Cafés and Democracy Cafés have transformed the lives of millions of people in every continent on the Earth. His brilliant and wise books have touched the minds and souls of so many of us. And his soulful style and genuine compassion have enriched the lives of we fortunate ones. When the historians write of the ugly and beautiful in our turbulent age, the Socratic words, works and deeds of my dearest brother Christopher Phillips should loom large." - so says none other than Dr. Cornel West, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy & Christian Practice, Union Theological Seminary; Author of of the classic 'Race Matters' and other works, public intellectual and civil rights activist.

Christopher Phillips has a passion for inquiry. A foremost specialist in the Socratic Method, sought after speaker, consultant and moderator, and noted author of works including the international bestsellers 'Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy,' 'Six Questions of Socrates: A Modern Day Journey of Discovery through World Philosophy', the critically acclaimed 'Constitution Cafe: Jefferson's Brew for a True Revolution', among others, including his newest work, 'Soul of Goodness' and a philosophical children's book series ('Day of Why,' 'The Philosophers' Club'), he reminds us that we ought to ask questions – “not about any chance question,” as Socrates put it in Plato’s Republic, “but about the way one should live.” He encourages us to turn on our childlike questioning lenses, and become our own best thinkers, askers, doers.

Dr. Phillips travels the world over holding dialogues with people of all walks of life. He believes that the process of dialogue and the space of human interaction are good for us as individuals and essential for us as a society. His goal is to inspire curiosity and wonder of a transformative sort, one that nurtures self-discovery, openness, empathy. The acclaimed educator exhorts his fellow inquirers to discover their own unique stores of wisdom and chart, alone and together.

His personal website page is ChristopherPhillips.com His nonprofit website is: SocratesCafe.com His Twitter is @ChristopherCafe His Instagram is @theSocratesCafe
His Facebook pages include:
https://www.facebook.com/SocratesCafe...
https://www.facebook.com/SocratesCafe...

Here's what two reviewers say about Christopher's newest book, 'Soul of Goodness':

"This textual gem of the heart, mind, soul, and body is an intellectual feast and existential blues song of he who decided to be true to his sacred Socratic calling and empty himself of his divine and human gifts in the open streets of the world to enrich the precious lives of us all." - Dr. Cornel West, author, Race Matters, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice, Union Theological Seminary, educator, civil rights activist, author Race Matters and many other works.

"Soul of Goodness is a masterpiece which blends the images of the novel, the philosopher's wisdom and the journalist's clarity. Through an extraordinary use of these skills, Philips has given us a work of art which penetrates the nerve center of being as he patiently enters the interiors of pain, of suffering, culminating in joyous solutions as they seamlessly unravel in Global Socrates cafes to which visitors come to speak, to think and heal by the philosophical wisdoms of the vast literature of the Global South and Global North. In the hands of Phillips, philosophy becomes musical and music and poetry become philosophical. Written beautifully through the powers of images and narratives, the novel is used in the service of philosophy and philosophy itself as the dwelling place of all those who want to wonder, to imagine and be healed." -- Teodros Kiros, Professor of Philosophy at Berklee college & Harvard

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It takes a hard look at the Constitution and breaks it down with real people. Phillips asks each group how they would rewrite it, as Jefferson advised we should do in the first place.

What do female inmates think "a jury of their peers" looks like? What do boy scouts think the qualifications for president should be? He talks to lawyers, unemployed surfers, attendees at Burning Man, Native Americans, high school students, and everybody in between. The book isn't perfect; I don't think there were any clear solutions to engage in the true representative democracy that many were pushing for, but it's certainly thought provoking and a good discussion starter.

[J.I. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wants to be a Socratic attempt to better understand and reform the constitution, but it is terrible. The conversations have all been extensively rewritten by Phillips, so any group consensus is destroyed with his really hackneyed dialog (it's painful) that is always too abrupt in coming to a conclusion. The amendments agreed upon by the groups are always short sighted and pathetic (are we supposed to lean through haphazard attempts?) and the author's political bias doesn't guide this, it taints it (largely because he attempts to claim that it isn't there). While it brings some interesting ideas to light, it really isn't worth your time.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at America’s Constitution with a focus on Jefferson’s idea it should be revised for each generation. I liked the history and different viewpoints, however all the people speaking sounded like the author, so I didn’t feel like I got a true sense of who the individuals were. I think this would be supplemented by other books about the Constitution.

[Lonni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointment truthfully!

[Orynthea · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had to read it for school so it wasn't really my favorite book to read but it has some good information.

[Jim Neeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd actually like to give this 2.5 stars, but don't take the rating as a reason not to read the book, do read it and talk about it with everyone you know. I support the idea for a new Constitutional convention, and I appreciated the diverse voices in the amendment discussions, especially the female prisoners and the San Fransisco Scouts. The draft discussions are very good, and I agree that if Americas Armies were not all volunteer, we would not be involved in the Imperial ventures in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sometimes books like this tend to gravitate to the opinions of the Masters degree crowd and avoid working class people and the derogatory "fly over country" opinions. Mr Philips thankfully avoided this trap. I did not need talking points for another liberal cocktail party. The problem I had was that the voices all sounded the same in the written style, the writer heard what they were saying, and understood but translated everything in his voice, this was especially obvious with the discussions with the 6th graders. That aside, it luckily didn't descend into bi-partisan happy land, but showed some of the true strengths of America. The ideas were diverse, but it was like one person voicing these ideas.

I share the begrudging respect for Jefferson, despite him being a slave owner and politically a coward, but we all compartmentalize and live with contradictions. We can not take Jefferson out of his time. The historical aspects were well written and informative. Who knew John Hancock was such an ass?

I recently read,along with my daughter a junior in High School,The Birth of the Republic, by Edmund Morgan, Constitution Cafe would be a great companion reading after that. Anything that will help Americans reclaim their responsibilities as citizens over their role as consumers is welcome. Currently in America, leaders and institutes are afraid of democracy, especially participatory democracy.

And if Jefferson is right, well they should be afraid of "we the people".

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm just a cynic when it comes to politics, but I didn't find this book even half as inspiring or entertaining as Phillips' The Six Questions of Socrates. While in theory the idea of going around asking people how they believe the constitution should be changed sounds fascinating, it didn't pan out well in this book.

Firstly, I felt less invited to consider the questions presented on my own. Phillips took the liberty of condensing the conversations into "Constitution Cafe Articles." This really took away from the idea of exploring different viewpoints in a conversation, and made parts of the book seem like more of a manifesto and less of an exploration of constitutional issues.

Secondly, I found the author's own political opinions were far too apparent in the book. The chapter entitled "Money Matters" is probably the best example of this. Phillips writes of recent bank bailouts:"...while [they] added dramatically to the rampant spending and borrowing that triggered the recession in the first place, there's little indication that it has helped abate our ongoing economic crisis." As a bit of an amateur economist, that statement flies in the face of facts, and stinks of excessively political rhetoric.

I was frustrated enough by these two problems that I ultimately didn't finish the book. Interesting idea, but not well fleshed out.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book only to prepare for a city-wide book event; previously I had little interest in the constitution, under the notion that it's the foundation of American politics that should not be disobeyed nor (God forbid) changed. Phillips' discussions about doing the latter make the idea actually seem reasonable, if not feasible.

The book doesn't begin all that exciting - after all, since when is there a nonfiction thriller about the constitution? - but it's worth reading to get a glimpse of things you had no idea were in (or weren't in) the famous document, and what could be changed to better fit our modern-day America. Phillips interviews a variety of people from grade school students to an Indian tribe to members of congress to get their ideas. He also consults the opinions and qualities of Thomas Jefferson throughout the book, revealing that the constitution may have been different, perhaps better, had Jefferson written it.

A casual reader with no interest in politics or history would likely not get through this book, but I do recommend it to anyone interested in those subjects and who has an open mind with regard to changing the current government.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book! When growing up a history teacher told us history has away of repeating itself.
I think our country really needs some hero's like are founding fathers! I don't think they would like the way America has become! There really is no middle class just rich, poor and the very poor!
Isn't the reason why we left England and fought them for this country! Is we wanted independence and freedom. Not the greedy thats become the normal. Happy how many knows what that means any more with the high gas, food and the house market! People lossing their homes!
What happen to really caring how this country worked! We were where other wanted to go and live! Now I hear other moving out to countries like canada. I think sad very sad! I think this is a great book pick up a copy and get some history on how this country started! Maybe we need a refesher course! Perhaps the author should go on Bill from HBO! Thanks so much for giving me this book!

[Ronnie McGhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Phillips has thrown a big, fat, juicy bone into the political arena that is sure to please both Constitutional Statics (restraint) and Constitutional Activists (responsive) alike. No matter where the reader falls on this continuum, each knows that there is nothing more satisfying than reading a well-written and researched argument about the merits of judicial restraint. Within the contour of numerous vignettes based upon anecdotal reasoning, personal interviews and historical review, the pages of Constitution Café emerge as a must read to all the political junkies inhabiting the modern American landscape today. Readers will no doubt find themselves screaming in opposition or cheering in agreement. Christopher Phillip's, Constitution Café, thankfully leaves little ambiguity on the topic.

Received through goodreads.com giveaways program.

*Donated to the Dougherty County Library upon completion*

[Carlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off interesting, but by about 1/4 through, I got bored. Learning about how Thomas Jefferson (and the men of his time) envisioned the Constitution and relatedly, the Declaration of Independence, is interesting. You don't spend much time in 8th grade US History or 10th grade AP US History on this stuff (or maybe you do, and I just didn't pay attention). However, reading the interpretations/opinions of regular joes across America? Decidedly less interesting. For me, at least.

[Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book refreshing in the midst of the election of 2012. A new perspective on what our constitution could be and what it was meant to be. What a great concept".. Changing our constitution with the times. Taking out what does not fit anymore and adding in what does.
I did not necessarily like the recommendations, but love theconcept. And I loved reading about the history of our constitution and Jefferson's thoughts on it.

[Sandy Neal]

Received through goodreads.com giveaways program. Not received yet.

[Juliana Philippa]

NPR - December 10, 2011
Reconstituting The Constitution: How To Rewrite It?

[Brendan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't read all of this , but it is interesting

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

adult nonfiction. Goodreads refused to save my last review (again) and I'm not going to write it again.

[Jonathanj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!! I learned a lot from this book, I'm going to buy my own copy so I can annotate it.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting exercise in small group contemplation of parts of the Constitution, what people generally believe, what is actual, and stories about how these sections came about in Jefferson's time.

[Lori Lemmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas but not well written. Ideas/arguments lack substantive development.