Our Declaration: A Reading of Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality

Written by Danielle Allen

Narrated by Robin Miles

In just 1,337 words, the Declaration of Independence changed the world, but curiously it is now rarely read from start to finish, much less understood. Unsettled by this, Danielle Allen read the text quietly with students and discovered it animating power. " Bringing the analytical skills of a philosopher, the voice of a gifted memoirist, and the spirit of a soulful humanist to the task, Allen manages to ... find new meaning in Thomas Jefferson' s understanding of equality," says Joseph J. Ellis about OUR DECLARATION. Countering much of the popular perception, she restores equality to its rightful place, detailing the Declaration' s case that freedom rests on equality. The contradictions between ideals and reality in a document that perpetuated slavery are also brilliantly tackled by Allen, whose cogently written book " is a must-read for all who care about the future as well as the origins of America' s democracy" (David M. Kennedy).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490628219

Danielle Allen

Danielle Allen is an indie romance author, a professor, and a life coach. Living authentically has been the key to her living her best life. With a background in social sciences, helping people better understand themselves so they can become the best version of themselves is one of her passions. She aims to write contemporary romance novels that change the status quo of the genre.

Reviews for Our Declaration

[ebethe_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well crafted sentences and paragraphs to dissect a fairly short (1,337 word) document. The premier of freedom and equality being the twins upon which the document and ultimately the Constituion lie was well presented. BThe short chapters were appealing when I commenced reading, but became tiresome about a third of the way through.

[schmerguls · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a detailed study of the Declaration of Independence, taking it sentence by sentence. It aims to show that equality was as important to its authors as freedom. Other than decrying the expungement from the Declaration of lines decrying slavery--which Jefferson had put in his draft--it is laudatory of the document and of the men who signed.it. I read it because it won the 2015 Parkman prize and it is the 24th such winner I have read. But the Prize has been awarded for the last 59 years (the first one was awarded in 1957) so you can see that I have a lot more of the winners to read. Most of the winners that I have read I have enjoyed more than I did this one, but I suppose that is because I am more interested in history than in political theory.

[joeydag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great read! The author emphasizes the political philosophy and downplays the history. Very lucid and interesting discussion of the different aspects of equality present in the document. The author handles the failure to implement the ideals extolled in the document very well, I think. I recommend this for everyone to read.