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.

I'm an avid reader and bought this book as part of my founding father readings: it is the first book I refuse to finish.Early on the author declares the 16th amendment to have been adopted in 1895; a few pages later he claims our Bill of Rights was passed at the end of 1789. I ignored those obvious mistakes that should have never passed the editing phase of those book, but quit reading when I came to an entire 20 page chapter about presidents didn't become president, but should have, followed by another chapter unrelated to the supposed subject matter: the life John Marshall and his role in the founding of the USA.I could not be more vocal in my telling ppl to avoid this book at all costs-how this person was allowed to write such an important book, I don't know, but this is the first book EVER that I refuse to finish and one of a very few that I regret ever buying. I only wish I hadn't waited so long to read bc now I'm out of my return window for it.

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.