Gordon S. Wood praises Akhil Reed Amar's vital contributions to constitutional history

On September 16, 2025, Yale Law professor Akhil Reed Amar released the second volume of his trilogy on America’s constitutional history, covering the years 1840-1920. This volume, titled Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, follows his first, The Words That Made Us: America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840, published in 2021. The third volume remains in progress, exploring the continuing evolution of constitutional interpretation in the United States. Both volumes received high praise from notable historian Gordon S. Wood, particularly for their comprehensive examination of fundamental American values such as equality in political and constitutional contexts, addressing their profound implications on American citizenship. In a notable public appearance at Yale Law School on September 19, 2025, Wood read aloud a detailed review of Born Equal, labeling it “wonderful” and calling it “the most extraordinary kind of history” he had encountered. His remarks emphasized that Amar’s work paid tribute to the significance of equality in American political life, asserting that no historian had adequately addressed this theme before. Wood’s insights were not only informative but also highlighted the transformative power of Amar's scholarship across the political spectrum, suggesting that it could challenge the views of both conservative and liberal readers. Amar’s works have sparked considerable interest and acclaim, with Kirkus Reviews giving Born Equal a coveted Kirkus Star and The Wall Street Journal publishing a positive review by Adam J. White. However, the New York Times review, written by Jeff Shesol, while generally favorable, criticized Amar’s strong defense of originalism, indicating a divide in opinion regarding the interpretation of constitutional history. Readers are encouraged to engage with the text to form their own conclusions about the relevance of originalism in contemporary political discourse. The high regard in which Amar's writing is held is a testament to his scholarship; Wood highlighted that he is among the most accomplished scholars in both historical and legal studies of his generation. Amar’s narrative not only aims to present historical facts but also attempts to reshape how people understand their identity as American citizens in relation to the Constitution, asserting a unique perspective on how foundational moments in American history continue to resonate today.