Constituting America’s Book Club
Join our book club (both children and adults) for discussion in our Live Zoom Webinars and Book Club Facebook Group!
Thank You To Our Generous Book Club Sponsors: Robert & Doris Rice
Current Book
All ages welcome!
An American Triumph: America’s Founding Era through the Lives of Ben Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams
Click Here for Book Description and Author Information
Book Description:
Tom Hand’s An American Triumph: America’s Founding Era through the Lives of Ben Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams masterfully blends the personal experiences and historic milestones of these three Founding Fathers into an engaging narrative written for the everyday American. Through a collection of captivating stories from Ben Franklin’s birth in 1706 to the passing of John Adams on July 4, 1826, An American Triumph focuses on the momentous events where Franklin, Washington, and Adams played a vital role.
Several “why it matters” sidebars as well as vignettes on other influential persons, impactful occasions and significant documents provide a broader view of America’s creation and inform readers of often overlooked but still noteworthy topics. These stories, along with 130 historical images and a dozen beautifully detailed maps, help make An American Triumph both educational and entertaining, leading to a deeper appreciation of our nation’s founding generation and inspiring a greater sense of love of country.
About the Editor:
Tom Hand created Americana Corner in 2020 to share informative stories of the momentous events, significant documents and influential leaders that helped create and shape our country. Through compelling articles and captivating videos, Tom hopes to rekindle a spirit of patriotism in his fellow Americans, and remind them of our nation’s incredible past and why our founding era still matters today.
In his book, An American Triumph: America’s Founding Era through the Lives of Ben Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams, Tom masterfully blends the personal experiences and historic milestones of these three Founding Fathers into an engaging narrative written for the everyday American. Both enlightening and entertaining, An American Triumph includes 130 historic images and a dozen beautifully detailed maps along with several “why it matters” sidebars, providing a broader view of America’s creation and informing readers of often overlooked but still noteworthy topics.
Tom’s passion to tell the Great American Story extends to conserving its cultural and historical treasures through the Preserving America Grant Program, which supports diverse projects across the nation that contribute to sharing the rich tapestry of early American history.
Tom graduated from West Point, Class of 1982, and went on to create the Gilman Cheese Corporation after leaving the military. Now retired, Tom spends most of his time on Americana Corner, but also serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Battlefield Trust. He has the good fortune to be married to his best friend, Char, who reviews all his work and provides unending support. He enjoys reading books on American history, classic novels, and playing his guitar.
★ ★ ★
Previous Book
Older elementary through high school & adults will love this book!
Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787
Click Here for Book Description and Author Information
Book Description:
James Madison, best known as the father of the Constitution, was also the most thorough and thoughtful scribe of what one person called in 1839 the “political bible” of the American people – the report of the proceedings and discussions at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Through careful research, Professor Gordon Lloyd has recreated an edition of that report that most closely resembles the version Madison intended to leave behind for “all who take an interest in the progress of political science and the course of true liberty.” In addition to reaffirming Madison’s profound contributions to constitutionalism, Professor Lloyd’s edition restores Madison to his rightful place as the most trustworthy chronicler of the Constitutional Convention.
About the Editor:
Gordon Lloyd is the Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in economics and political science at McGill University. He completed all the coursework toward a doctorate in economics at the University of Chicago before receiving his master of arts and Ph.D. degrees in government at Claremont Graduate School. The co-author of three books on the American founding and sole author of a book on the political economy of the New Deal, he also has numerous articles, reviews, and opinion editorials to his credit. His latest co-authored book, The New Deal & Modern American Conservatism: A Defining Rivalry, was published in 2013, and he most recently released as editor, Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, in September 2014. He is the creator, with the help of the Ashbrook Center, of four highly regarded websites on the origin of the Constitution. He has received many teaching, scholarly, and leadership awards including admission to Phi Beta Kappa and the Howard White Award for Teaching Excellence at Pepperdine University. He currently serves on the National Advisory Council for the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center through the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
★ ★ ★
Explore Our Past Book Club Books
Book Club Hosts
Cathy Gillespie and Constituting America’s Student Ambassador Tova Love Kaplan chat with Constitutional experts on hot-topic issues via Zoom!
Cathy Gillespie
Cathy Gillespie is the President of Constituting America and one of 16 private citizens serving on the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, helping organize the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday in 2026! She is a former Congressional Chief of Staff and former Commissioner of the White House Fellows Commission.
Tova Love Kaplan
Tova Love Kaplan is eighteen years old and lives in Chicago, Illinois. She currently serves as the National Youth Director for Constituting America and runs the National Youth Advisory Council. She is a three-time winner of the “We the Future” contest in the Entrepreneurial (where she created a marketing plan), PSA (entitled “Know Your Rights. Read The Constitution”) and STEM (where she created an app). She is passionate about educating and empowering young people to use their constitutional rights!