Engines of Liberty book cover

Engines of Liberty by David Cole Summary

Engines of Liberty
David Cole
3.97 (228 Reviews)
Politics
Society
History
Aperçu
Points Clés
Auteur
Questions Fréquentes

Overview of Engines of Liberty

How citizen activists - not just courts - shape constitutional law. Named a Washington Post Notable Book, "Engines of Liberty" reveals the hidden forces behind marriage equality, gun rights, and post-9/11 civil liberties. Even NRA's president called Cole's analysis "the most accurate I've ever read."

Similar books to Engines of Liberty

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre
Résumé Rapide11min

Ressentez le livre à travers la voix de l'auteur

Approfondissement42min

Transformez les connaissances en idées captivantes et riches en exemples

Fiches mémo9 idées

Capturez les idées clés en un éclair pour un apprentissage rapide

Fun20min

Profitez du livre de manière ludique et engageante

Points clés

1

When Rights Hang by a Thread

play
00:00
00:00

What happens when the people sworn to protect our freedoms become the very ones threatening them? After 9/11, the Bush administration declared entire zones "law-free." During Trump's campaign, promises to jail opponents and ban religious groups sent chills through constitutional scholars. Yet history reveals something remarkable: even when power seems absolute, ordinary citizens have repeatedly bent the arc of constitutional law toward justice. The real question isn't whether courts will save us-it's whether we're willing to organize and fight. Through three seemingly unrelated battles-marriage equality, gun rights, and human rights after 9/11-a pattern emerges. Constitutional change doesn't flow down from marble courtrooms. It rises up from kitchen tables, state legislatures, and relentless organizing across decades. The victories belong not to lone heroes in black robes but to networks of determined citizens who refused to accept that fundamental rights were beyond reach. Picture Evan Wolfson in the 1980s, a law student so convinced that gay couples deserved marriage rights that he wrote a 141-page manifesto-yet couldn't find a single constitutional law professor willing to supervise it. Consider Marion Hammer, the NRA's first female president, transforming gun rights from fringe theory into constitutional doctrine. Think of Michael Ratner, filing what he called a "completely hopeless" lawsuit to challenge Guantanamo detentions when the entire legal establishment said prisoners had no rights.

2

The Architects of Change and Their Shared Playbook

3

From Impossible Dream to Constitutional Reality

4

Learning to Lose Forward and Transform the Conversation

5

Rewriting the Second Amendment Through State Power

6

Defending Liberty Against Terror's Tide Through Transparency

7

The Constitution Lives in Us

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre
Engines of Liberty n'est pas qu'un simple livre — c'est une masterclass en Politics. Pour vous aider à absorber ses leçons de la manière qui vous convient le mieux, nous proposons cinq modes d'apprentissage uniques. Que vous soyez un penseur profond, un apprenant rapide ou un amateur d'histoires, il y a un mode conçu pour votre style.

Mode Résumé Rapide - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de Engines of Liberty en 11 minutes

Résumé Rapide
Résumé Rapide
Résumé de Engines of Liberty en 11 Minutes

Décomposez les idées clés de Engines of Liberty en points faciles à comprendre pour découvrir comment les équipes innovantes créent, collaborent et grandissent.

play
00:00
00:00

Mode Fiches mémo - Top 9 Idées de Engines of Liberty en Bref

Fiches mémo
Fiches mémo
Top 9 Idées de Engines of Liberty en Bref

Condensez Engines of Liberty en indices de mémoire rapides mettant en évidence les principes clés de franchise, de travail d'équipe et de résilience créative.

Flash Mode Swiper

Mode Fun - Leçons de Engines of Liberty Racontées en Histoires de 20 Min

Fun
Fun
Leçons de Engines of Liberty Racontées en Histoires de 20 Min

Découvrez Engines of Liberty à travers des récits vivants qui transforment les leçons d'innovation en moments mémorables et applicables.

play
00:00
00:00

Mode Personnaliser - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de Engines of Liberty en 0 minutes

Personnaliser
Personnaliser
Découvrez Engines of Liberty à votre façon.

Posez n'importe quelle question, choisissez la voix et co-créez des idées qui résonnent vraiment avec vous.

Personalize Mode

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communaute mondiale de plus de 200 000 esprits curieux

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
Commencez votre parcours d'apprentissage, maintenant
Telecharger ce resume

Obtenez le resume de Engines of Liberty en PDF ou EPUB gratuit. Imprimez-le ou lisez-le hors ligne a tout moment.