It's good to be reminded how much the founding fathers were just making sh*t up at they went along, because they had no fricking clue how their new, independent country was going to work, especially because it was just as hard to get a consensus then as it is now. So many of the precedents and institutions that seem set in stone now were so hotly debated then, and the author does a good job of reminding readers of that fact. The major players are all given time (even in a fairly short book), and while a good chunk of what what the author details about the various debates in the Senate come from William Maclay's diary, other sources allow for more balance.

Speaking of balance, the author didn't quite get away with a totally unbiased account- I get the impression that he's a fan of James Madison, seriously dislikes John Adams, and that he reluctantly appreciates Alexander Hamilton's skills.

All around, an enjoyable book, though definitely one that falls more on the side of pop history than scholarly work.