What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels; no government would be necessary.The ever wary James Madison viewed his fellow citizens as anything but angelic. In this radically new interpretation; Richard Matthews portrays a much less optimistic (and yet more liberal) Madison than we've seen before. Neither civic humanist nor democrat; this Madison is a distrusting; calculating; and pragmatic Machiavellian Prince.Hardly an imposing figure; Madison was barely five-feet-six-inches tall; pale complected; a poor speaker; a perpetual hypochondriac and secret epileptic; pursued by bouts of depression and given to dressing in black. And yet his political achievements and intellectual legacy are monumental. Revered as the "Father of the Constitution;" Madison was also architect of the "Virginia plan"; one of the two principal authors of The Federalist; leader of the inaugural House of Representatives; reluctant champion of the Bill of Rights; cofounder of the Republican Party; Washington's ghostwriter; Jefferson's Secretary of State; and president and commander-in-chief during America's second war of Independence.Nevertheless; Madison's preeminence in the rise of the modern American state has not always been so widely recognized. And; Matthews contends; what has been written about Madison's political thought has been limited in scope and skewed in interpretation.Unlike previous authors; Matthews goes well beyond Madison's work on the Constitution to reconstruct the complete range of Madison's political thought and intellectual development over the course of his extensive life. In the process; he provides a powerful critique of Madisonian politics. It is possible; he shows; to applaud the energy; design; and intellect that went into Madison's thought and simultaneously challenge the assumptions and values upon which that thought rests.Matthews's Madison understood the potentially fatal problems of a weak; divided state; saw salvation in a strong central government astride an expanding commercial republic; drafted that government's fundamental charter; ran the infant regime as an advisor to two presidents before becoming president himself; and; in retirement; strove to control and manipulate historical interpretations of these efforts. From "The Legislator" to chief executive to keeper of the past and controller of the future; Madison adjusted his political posture to suit the moment. . . . just as Machiavelli's ideal Prince would have done. Madison's system achieved the stability he desired; but at a price Americans should have refused to pay.Provocative and controversial; Matthews's study revises our understanding of this central figure in American history. It illuminates his profound impact upon the America imagined by the Framers; his ongoing influence on the nation we have become; and the tragedy of his success in foreclosing the possibility of a radical Jeffersonian America that never was; but might have been.
#1406077 in Books 2016-01-17Original language:English 9.00 x .69 x 6.00l; #File Name: 0692623213274 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Analysis and Insights from multi-linguist Islam expert Timothy FurnishBy Ralph Hunt SidwayDr. Furnish's new book is not merely a welcome addition to the study of Islam and its relationship(s) with the world at large; most urgently through the doctrine and practice of jihad; it is a gripping read; propelled by Furnish's wit and his ability to interweave contemporary events with historical parallels and precedents. Furnish writes like a true historian; crafting narratives which explore the subject matter and unfold it before the reader in a way which imparts not mere knowledge but understanding; whether it is the Islamic State's hierarchy of goals and targets; Islam's troubling relationship towards Christianity; the Ottoman Empire and democracy; or the several other chapter topics which comprise this volume.In his preface; Dr. Furnish categorizes 'Sects' as a "user-friendly; popular work… for non-experts on Islam; and not a reference or text book." While this may be objectively true; within my first few minutes of loading 'Sects' on my iPad; I was using the Kindle search function to reference everything from Pew research on Muslim support for sharia and ISIS; to the Islamic view of the crucifixion of Jesus. The latter search yielded an incredibly rich discussion by Dr. Furnish of the variety of ways in which different Islamic sects have approached; denied or sought to understand the crucifixion. As with so many aspects of Islam; there is not a monolithic stance on the issue; in spite of the apparent directness of the Qur'an denying the historical reality of Jesus' death on the cross; different Muslim sects and scholars have understood the issue in multiple historical; spiritual and semantic ways. This is a prime example of where Dr. Furnish’s experience with the Isma’ili and other sects greatly deepens the reader’s understanding of issues which are typically given only a quick sketch.This brings up another point I think deserves mention. I have been following Dr. Furnish's work for a few years now; and recently attended a presentation he did on Islamic vs. Christian Eschatology. I knew of his credentials as being more than comfortable with the Islamic source texts in their original Arabic; Persian and Turkish languages; but I was surprised to learn that he had been invited to present a paper on Mahdism in Iran a few years back. You can get a sense of his breadth and depth in the vast subject of Islam from his bio; which includes much more than I have mentioned.The point being that Timothy Furnish is a trustworthy voice with the integrity of a classical historian. When it comes to policy discussions; in fact; you will find him equally patient in presenting (and critiquing) the positions of neocons and Republicans as liberals and Democrats. Having been "embedded" in the Islamic world for a time; and certainly being at home in its dominant languages and cultures; Dr. Furnish writes not only with confidence about Islam; but with respect; even while advocating for tough; clear-headed policies based on the reality on the ground and the realities in the cultural and theological realms.I have also purchased the companion book; Ten Years' Captivation with the Mahdi's Camps: Essays on Muslim Eschatology; 2005-2015; and can tell I’m in for quite a journey over the coming weeks. In our times it’s reassuring to have a guide and fellow traveler such as Dr. Furnish to shed some much needed light on a challenging path.BTW; I love the bio photo with the sabre! It resonates with his avowed love for the Lord of the Rings; and the swashbuckling spirit that peeks out in his writing at times.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Great ReadBy Lori GordonI have followed Dr. Furnish's work for several years through his website and many appearance on various radio and television programs; learning so much along the way. When this book was released; I just had to purchase it and while I don't often write reviews; I felt I must after reading the one naysayer who accused Dr. Furnish of "lumping all Muslims together." Clearly; he did not read the book; perhaps not even the cover - the first word of the title being "Sects;" in the plural!The book is well organized; user friendly; and extremely readable for such an in depth treatment of what is for most or us; a somewhat unfamiliar topic. Dr. Furnish explains the differences and similarities of Islamic sects and explores their origins and relevance today. I am not much of a history buff; but he manages to make it interesting and I found myself quite absorbed. I love how he weaves the history in with modern day references - and; believe it or not; with a very funny sense of humor!I am going to recommend this book to several of my friends who are just now becoming aware of Islam because of world events; something I would suggest to everyone.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Important resource for understanding Islamic terrorismBy Shiela ShinholsterExcellent information contained in this book on gaining an deeper understanding of Islamic terrorism. Dr. Furnish pulls from various sources to give information and insight into the who; what; and why regarding the Islamic violence against the West. I appreciate Dr. Furnish's book as he is able to go to the original source materials and read in the original language (Arabic); and as a historian he is able to give context to the information as well. This results in a deep and factual presentation of the issues at hand. For a highly complex issue such as Islamic terrorism; you have to dig deep and I consider this book to be an important resource for those striving to understand the issues that face our world today.
