John Marshall: The Final Founder

John Marshall The Final Founder is an engrossing book. It is not only the story about the fourth Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and his landmark decisions, it’s also a story that weaves early American history and makes it come to life. Robert Strauss' premise is that John Marshall deserves to be known as the last and one of the most preeminent founders of the US and his mission is effectively accomplished. Marshall's influence transformed the court into the powerful entity it remains today. In addition, the book is filled with fun facts and lists such as the men who almost became presidents but by bad luck, bad timing, randomness, bad karma, etc didn't make it. Other examples are the best and worst Supreme Court judges and decisions, American myths and favorite and unloved amendments. It is a fascinating read expanding the reader's knowledge of American history.

Terrific book! The author has created a delightfully accessible study of John Marshall that explains his role as our country's final founder. The book's anecdotes convey what life was like for Marshall and others during the founding, and how our earliest institutions were created. The analysis of Marshall's transformation of the Supreme Court is masterful.

I enjoyed the biographical essays more than the broader chapters dealing with more general topics.

Go with Brookhiser's or Smith's. This was awful. Poorly written, familiar in tone; the author jumps from senseless anecdote to senseless anecdote. Neither biography nor history.

A good book of history. Whether you are an attorney, historian, or just a casual history buff, this is a great read. Get this book.