The Founders' Almanac: A Practical Guide to the Notable Events, Greatest Leaders & Most Eloquent Words of the American Founding

by Matthew Spalding

The Founders' Almanac is an easy-to-use guide to the origins of American democracy — focusing on information that is especially valuable for our day. The calendar describes important events of the era. Biographical essays introduce the leading Founders — including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams — and discuss the major themes of their statesmanship. An extensive compilation of quotations reflects the wit and wisdom of the Founding generation, and an annotated bibliography suggests additional readings. Historical documents — the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and Washington's Farewell Address — and interpretative essays reacquaint the reader with immortal words and their contemporary meaning.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2001

Reviews

[Rachel Dando · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Matthew Spalding did a great job of making this book all about the American Founding, while not making it overly complicated.
The biographies of the Founding Fathers (in the book is George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison), are a bit long, but easy to follow and are very interesting.
I've never seen quotes halfway through a book before, but I really enjoyed them. They were wise and insightful. Matthew Spalding also has them in order under specific categories, so it's not a bunch of random things The Founding Fathers said scattered around the page, which was really nice.
The Declaration of Independence is in there, and Matthew Spalding makes an Introduction and a Note on the Signers after you read it. The Introduction explains why they decided to make the Declaration in the first place, and the note on the Signers is about them and where they came from.
Then you read the Constitution, which was...long. But it was cool to see how it changed over the years with our culture.
Washington's Farewell Address was wonderful! He told everyone to stay patriotic and love America no matter what happens. Matthew Spalding also made an Introduction for this, in which he explained what Washington had to do to get the letter on the papers.
Overall, if you want a good American history book, this should be an absolute go to. This book informs you about the Founding Fathers without you having to read a long biography. Definitely worth it.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you want a quicker synopsis that really explains the life and times of the foundation of America, this is the book to read. It's an excellent compilation of works and timelines to explain how things came to be.

[R.Friend]

I had the opportunity to design the cover of this paperback edition, based on 18th & 19th century typography. Being the conservative group they are, The Heritage Foundation nixed some of my other, more exploratory covers (which I preferred, of course...)

[Scott Birk]

I'm learning some wonderful things about the Founders and the history of the establishment of our great country.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book that gives an overview of the Founding Fathers.