It will rivet anyone who cares about the Constitution...Jack Balkin is one of the most insightful scholars working on constitutional issues today, and Living Originalism is a great read for any originalist who wants to stop and think every few pages. -- Robert VerBruggen Washington Times 20120213 Living Originalism...succeeds in providing an endlessly engaging theory of constitutional law that wrestles with the field's most urgent concerns in a way that accounts for nuance without sacrificing clarity. That is no meager achievement. Balkin's book will likely serve as a focal point for constitutional theorists of various stripes for years to come. The volume's prominence seems assured because it presents in an unusually acute form the fundamental question of whether any variety of originalism can provide what liberals want--and, significantly, what liberals in future generations will want--in a theory of constitutional interpretation. -- Justin Driver New Republic 20120405 American constitutional interpretation generally divides into two rival theories. The first, originalism, contends that the Constitution should be read in light of the intent or original meaning of its framers at the time it was constructed. The second, living constitutionalism, encourages judges to read the document in light of contemporary understandings and society. Both theories are controversial, have partisan adherents, and are deficient, according to Balkin, in that they fail to capture how the Constitution must be read within the context of American democracy and the broader role that not just the courts but also the other branches of government and citizens have in giving meaning to it. Balkin offers a powerful theory that clarifies originalism and living constitutionalism, constructing a theory of living originalism that brings the two together. Balkin articulates a theory about how constitutions have basic meanings that are particularly applied in and over time, showing how text, intent, and meaning can provide both a framework for democracy and a guide for how judges should approach specific issues such as equal protection. -- D. Schultz Choice 20120601