The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning

New York Times bestselling author Jacobs (A Year of Living Biblically) embarks on another unique yearlong experiment. This time, he explores the mindset of the founding fathers, seeking insight into the U.S. Constitution as he tries to live as if it were the late 1780s. Jacobs describes difficulties he encounters in his quest, from finding era-appropriate food, drink, and dress to considering how the Constitution continues to affect American lives today. Interspersed among personal anecdotes from his experiment, he provides a basic primer on constitutional rights and originalism, offering listeners a mix of serious reflections and laugh-out-loud moments, often at his own expense. Though engaging and irreverent as the audiobook’s narrator, Jacobs isn’t quite a natural; his voice has a reedy quality, and his pronunciations and pacing are occasionally awkward. However, his enthusiasm and connection to the material shine through, making for a compelling work.