Episode 43: 72 Term Papers

October 27, 2021

Our series on books continues with Akhil’s later books, and how he tells a long series of stories – and we explore one in particular:  Justice Joseph Story.

What began as an exploration of sources of authority – citations, rankings, reviews, sales – now continues with our inside look at book writing and publishing.  For those who have considered eventually writing a book themselves – and who among us hasn’t? – we take a deeply honest and nuanced look at all aspects of the process, including many most of us take for granted.  Professor Amar’s personal approach to book writing is discussed, and one short example of it tells the story of Story himself – Joseph Story, that is, and his ongoing role in Akhil’s ambitions.

Show Notes:

Telford Taylor, Two Studies in Constitutional Interpretation

An inspiration to Professor Amar, this work by Telford Taylor, impeccably written and beautifully reasoned, was amazingly essentially a transcript of nearly extemporaneous speeches by the great lawyer.  We provide the amazon.com page, but don’t look to buy it easily, as copies are gobbled up as soon as they become available.  A college or law school library is a better bet.

Link to amazon.com page

Joseph Story: Commentaries on the Constitution

The great Justice Joseph Story wrote the classic three-volume treatise on the Constitution in 1833.  Here, the introduction and contents of this masterwork.  Professor Amar discusses his admiration for Story, and in particular for this magnum opus.  He tells us how it has served as inspiration – and template of a sort – for his current, ambitious, project.

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