Testimonials

“Get this book if you want to know what really was being said about the Constitution of 1787 and what it portended for the future of federalism, separation of powers, and individual liberty.”
—Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash, James Monroe Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Virginia

“There are many editions of The Federalist Papers, but Gary L. Gregg and Aaron N. Coleman’s Reflection and Choice surpasses them all. Their introductory essay and section introductions are clear and thoughtful, and organizing the papers by topic is an innovative contribution. . . . Highly recommended!”
—Mark David Hall, author of Did America Have a Christian Founding? and Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American Republic 

“Anyone grappling with the original design of America’s constitutional republic will celebrate publication of Reflection and Choice. . . . This collection will be welcomed by teachers, students, homeschooling parents, and any citizen concerned about the fate of liberty in troubled times. Its relevance is obvious on every page.”
—Richard M. Gamble, author of In Search of the City on a Hill: The Making and Unmaking of an American Myth

“[Reflection and Choice] promises to become the go-to book for anyone who wants to understand the reasoning behind the Constitution and the objections and reservations from its earliest critics.”
—Ryan J. Barilleaux, Professor of Political Science, Miami University 

“The essays remind us not only of the seriousness of the ideas being debated, but also of how civility, goodwill, and depth of learning made the American constitutional order possible and are essential to its maintenance. . . . this collection is the only one-volume collection that thoughtfully and comprehensively compares arguments being made on the basic principles of democratic governance. The book will be essential to people teaching the American Founding, or to any citizen with an interest in what gives our constitutional order its moral authority and resilience.”
—Jeffrey Polet, Professor of Political Science, Hope College

“[Reflection and Choice], by incorporating Anti-Federalist writings and by dividing the essays thematically, recovers much of the rhetorical context that shaped this important debate.”
—Adam Tate, Professor of History and Chair of the Department of Humanities, Clayton State University 

“Coleman and Gregg offer this timely and necessary anthology to a new generation of scholars and students questioning constitutional governance and the nature of the American Republic. In the collection, the Anti-Federalists are restored to their rightful and necessary place as co-creators of the American political tradition with their Federalists counterparts.”
—Miles Smith, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, Hillsdale College

“The beauty of the selected essays, in combination with the ‘Questions for Our Time’ sections, vastly increases the usefulness of the book as a teaching tool for the examination of themes and topics not only during the early republic’s time but also up to the present day.”
—Joshua M. De Borde, A.P.U.S.H. Instructor, District Chair Social Studies, Barbourville Independent School District

"This volume helps the reader approach the ratification debates with the context that reveals the fuller meaning of famous ideas. It also fosters an appreciation for a dissenting tradition in American political thought. Maybe the best of what the American founding era offers is not a sacred text at all, but a lively debate." 
—John G. Grove, Associate Editor, Law & Liberty

"[Reflection and Choice] compel[s] readers to move beyond the role of mere observers of historical events long past and to evoke such historical experiences as a way of exercising their duties as citizens in contemporary America, to be students and stewards of the republic. The book allows readers to deepen their historical knowledge as a prelude to participating in American politics in a more insightful, historically informed, and thoughtful way."
—Michael Federici, Professor of Political Science, Middle Tennesee State University, The University Bookman