We the People A History of the U.S. Constitution

Shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize 2026 From the best-selling author of These Truths comes We the People, a stunning new history of the U.S. Constitution, for a troubling new era



The U.S. Constitution is among the oldest constitutions in the world—and one of the most difficult to amend. At what cost? In this landmark, lavishly illustrated book, Harvard professor of history and law Jill Lepore argues that the philosophy of amendment is foundational to American constitutionalism. Challenging both originalism and the Supreme Court’s monopoly on constitutional interpretation, Lepore argues that the framers never intended for the Constitution to be kept, like a butterfly, under glass but instead expected that future generations would be forever tinkering with it, improving the machinery of government. In a radical account, Lepore offers a sweeping, lyrical and democratic constitutional history, telling the stories of generations of Americans who have attempted everything from abolishing the Electoral College to guaranteeing environmental rights, hoping to mend America by amending its constitution.