The Practical Guide to the United States Constitution
A Historically Accurate and Entertaining Owners' Manual for the Founding Documents
The Practical Guide to the United States Constitution is a plain-English, often funny walk through the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights: what they say, why the Founders wrote them that way, and why it still matters. It's written for adults who never quite got it in school, and plenty of readers pass it along to teenagers and homeschoolers.
Choose your formatYou've got opinions about the Constitution. Most people do. But could you actually explain what it says?
No judgment. Most Americans couldn't, and it's not their fault. School made the subject dry, forgettable, and weirdly disconnected from real life. This book fixes that, in about the time it takes to binge a short Netflix series.
It isn't a textbook. It's a walk through the Constitution with a friend who knows the material cold and thinks you deserve to understand the document that runs your country. You get the history, the arguments, the personalities, and the "wait, really?" moments that make this stuff fascinating.
What you'll learn
- The story behind the Constitution: not just what it says, but why it says it
- What the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights really mean, in plain English
- Why natural rights and consent-based government were revolutionary ideas
- The arguments and compromises that nearly derailed the whole thing
- Why it still matters every time you read the news
Get your copy
Buying direct supports the author.
Prefer Amazon? It's available there too. Buying a few copies? See the bundles or group orders.
What readers are saying
"I'm 73 years old, and this book taught me things I didn't learn from my school days. Mr. McHale presents the Constitution in a way that lets me visualize and imagine what the founders went through. I also bought a copy for my grandson, hoping he'll catch the excitement for what this country can be."
"When I began to read, I had an immediate thought of regret, that this was another slanted vision of history. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. The book is educational, witty, funny, and very much worth the purchase."
"The author's style is reminiscent of Dave Barry's humor. He weaves it entertainingly throughout the narrative but also provides relevant yet succinct coverage of the history."
"I've listened to this book three times already. It should be given to every child in the United States."
Book details
- Author
- Tom McHale
- Paperback
- 202 pages, published December 2018
- ISBN
- 978-0996085380
- Audiobook
- 4 hours, 53 minutes, unabridged, read by the author
- Formats
- Paperback, eBook, audiobook
- Publisher
- Independent Publishers Group
Common questions
What is The Practical Guide to the United States Constitution about?
It explains the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights in plain English, following the order of the documents themselves. Along the way it covers the history, the arguments, and the people behind them, with enough humor to keep you reading.
Is the book politically slanted?
No. It explains what the founding documents say and why the Founders wrote them that way, and it leaves the conclusions to you. One reader who expected "another slanted vision of history" wrote that he couldn't have been more wrong.
Is it good for teenagers or homeschoolers?
Yes. It's written for adults, but the plain language and short sections work well for high schoolers, and many readers buy copies for teenage children and grandchildren. A longtime homeschool history and government teacher recommends the series.
How long is it?
The paperback is 202 pages. The unabridged audiobook runs 4 hours and 53 minutes, narrated by the author.
What formats are available?
Paperback, eBook, and audiobook, all sold directly from the author. It is also available on Amazon.
