John O. McGinnis is George C. Dix Professor of Constitutional Law at Northwestern University. Michael B. Rappaport is Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Constitutional Originalism at the University of San Diego.
Originalism and the Good Constitution is a major
contribution to constitutional theory that has no obvious
substitute or counterpart. This book will be much noticed and much
discussed as part of the growing debate over constitutionalism. --
Gary Lawson, Boston University School of Law
This book is a fascinating and innovative defense of originalism.
Unlike some other originalists, who defend the theory because they
claim it is the only feasible way to interpret legal texts,
McGinnis and Rappaport argue that originalism is
superior to living constitutionalism because it produces better
consequences, in the form of legal rules that benefit more people
over time...A great strength of the book is that McGinnis and
Rappaport do not shy away from difficult issues that some other
originalists downplay or ignore...This is the best book on
originalism in a long time, and anyone interested in the subject
should read it. -- Ilya Somin * Volokh Conspiracy *
Originalism and the Good Constitution is an impressive work,
rich with interesting and intelligent arguments. In developing
their normative argument for originalism, McGinnis and
Rappaport stake out and defend various positions on
contested points of originalist methodology. Their book will surely
play a prominent role in the ongoing debate over originalism. -- Ed
Whelan * National Review online *
Originalism and the Good Constitution offers the most
elaborate and coherent explanation and defense of originalism now
available. -- A. D. Sarat * Choice *
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