“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This is the sentence — the first in paragraph two of the Declaration of Independence — to which the title refers. Isaacson breaks the sentence down, elaborating on what each word or phrase meant in the context of the times. He follows this up with concluding chapters that remind us that the principles underlying the declaration were based on the need to balance personal opportunityt with the maintenance of “the common good.” He goes on to emphasize one of the main casualties of today’s lack of balance — the American Dream. He blames this near demise on the elite meritocracy that offers opportunity only to those who acquire educational credentials, leaving the other 62% resentful and foundering.
I found the book well written, full of some interesting tidbits, and thought-provoking, but I would have preferred more depth on exactly how we define “the common good,” as that seems to be a point of some contention in our current polarized democracy. I also feel that while the “elite meritocracy” may be a contributor to our economic and cultural woes, it is overly simplistic to assume it is the whole problem — there are so many contributing factors (not to mention the fact that I know quite a few successful people without college degrees and quite a few very well-educated people who find themselves unemployed with few prospects).
I love Isaacson’s biographies — I’ve read his books on Franklin, Doudna, Musk, Jobs, and Da Vinci. Those are full of the kind of intricate details on both the subject’s accomplishments, and the inspiration and drive that powered the journey. I would have been happier had the (very complex) topics in this book had a similar amount of completeness and clarity to them.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on November 18th, 2026.
Books to look forward to ... 