The 5000 Year Leap

by W. Cleon Skousen

Paperback, 2007

Status

Available

Call number

320

Genres

Politics, Government, Law and Public Policy

Collection

Anomaly Archives

Publication

National Center for Constitutional Studies (2007), 337 pages

Description

"Discover the 28 Principles of Freedom our Founding Fathers said must be understood and perpetuated by every people who desire peace, prosperity, and freedom. Learn how adherence to these beliefs during the past 200 years has brought about more progress than was made in the previous 5000 years"--P. 4 of cover.

User reviews

LibraryThing member cranmergirl

This is an excellent book about the American Founding Fathers and our Constitution. It is an easy read but also extremely informative. It should be required reading in all American high schools and universities! It gives the American citizen a better understanding and appreciation of the ideals and

precepts upon which our great country was founded. This is especially important at a time when the foundation seems to be crumbling beneath us. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in getting back to the basics which brought us the American dream. Someone should send 535 copies to the United States Capitol. They seem to need a primer.

Show Less

12 more

LibraryThing member Voracious_Reader

5,000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen is actually a very quick, enjoyable read. I agree with its overall sentiments; nevertheless, it has some structural and grammatical issues. Skoussen's ideas are not fully flushed out, the piece lacks flow, and it is in dire need of some editorial tidying. Its

issues detract from what is a really strong survey piece. How can things go to press with errors like the use of "it's" where the author means "its" etc.? It's a good survey of American Constitutional History.

Show Less

LibraryThing member colleenharker

This was a book club pick and I was less than enthusiastic about it, I'll admit. I would have been even less so if I had known Glenn Beck has been promoting it. But despite myself, I really enjoyed it. It is surprisingly readable given its subject matter, and pretty compact as well. It outlines 28

principles that the Founding Fathers promoted and integrated into the Constitution. As I have been pretty apathetic and willfully uninformed about politics for a long time now, I found it to be an excellent review of how our Constitution meant for our government to look and function. I highly recommend it.

Show Less

LibraryThing member ThorneStaff

An interesting book that outlines 28 principles of freedom the author believes were understood by the founding fathers as they embarked on a new constitutional republic. Well worth reading whether or not your political views agree with those of the author - an easy read as well.

LibraryThing member jmecham

Read it if you care about the Constitution of the United States and preserving our freedoms to life, liberty and property.

LibraryThing member nittnut

Finished The 5000 Year Leap. Loved it! It was more of a study-type read than a breeze through, so it took me awhile.

My favorites: All the excerpts from Cicero and the section on avoiding foreign entanglements. Now I have to read [The Republic and the Laws] to hear more from Cicero.

A basic primer

on the ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers and how they are still applicable today.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Voracious_Reader

5,000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen is actually a very quick, enjoyable read. I agree with its overall sentiments; nevertheless, it has some structural and grammatical issues. Skoussen's ideas are not fully flushed out, the piece lacks flow, and it is in dire need of some editorial tidying. Its

issues detract from what is a really strong survey piece. How can things go to press with errors like the use of 'it's' where the author means 'its' etc.? It's a good survey of American Constitutional History.

Show Less

LibraryThing member HistReader

I found this to be a great introduction to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Before getting into the "meat" of the documents, the author goes step-by-step in the foundation - legally and ecclesiastically - of the reasoning behind the Constitution and our republican form of government.

The

only criticism of the book I found was aimed at the author; either he is an FBI plant or some how illegitimate because of his Mormonism.

Show Less

LibraryThing member cwflatt

God was part of the creation of this country get over it. If you can't then where in nature in any other animals world does one have the RIGHT to have dominion over the others of its kind? It took 5,000 years for men to realize that man does not have the RIGHT to rule over any other man.

LibraryThing member 6boysandme

Summary: 26 principle that were the basis for the creation of this country and absolutely essential in maintaining the kind of government the Lord had in mind when he inspired the founders.

LibraryThing member KR_Patterson

This was great. It's a little scary, though, to see how far we've slipped as a nation when you become more aware of where we started. I was surprised to see how much of our freedom we've lost already.

LibraryThing member jessicajames

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves their country and wants to understand what is being done to it. Points out the 28 principles of freedom our Founding Fathers said must be understood, and how the adherence to theses beliefs is what brought about more progress than had been made in the

previous 5,000 years.

Show Less

LibraryThing member HeidiAngell

The book is a very fascinating and in-depth review of the constitution, the influences of the time that helped to shape the Founding Father's thoughts as they wrote it, and quotes from the Founding Fathers to clarify, confirm, and warn Americans of their belief in the importance of maintaining the

basic principles of the Constitution. The author rides a very fine line of guiding Americans in their implied responsibilities with the constitution, warning of the dangers of our not remaining vigilant in protecting the rights established for us through the constitution. It is, as one review on Amazon pointed out, "an incredible book that should be read by all Americans." (S. Peek, Amazon.com) But I would take it one step further, and say that this is a book that should be read by anyone who believes in freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and wishes to protect their own freedoms in the countries in which they live. It is also a book which I feel is important to re-read as often as necessary to keep these precepts fresh in our minds. I do not know if I agree with everything the author says, but as a whole, this book is brilliant and really hit home for me!

As we enter yet another election year, I feel that it is more important than ever for people to read (or re-read, as the case may be) this book and consider these principles and take a close look at who we are voting for. We need to take our duties seriously, if we wish to maintain our freedoms. An educated people is a happy people, and sadly as Americans we have let our political education slip, not studying our candidates and their policies before we elect them. I am not promoting one candidate or another, and neither does this book. That is what I love about it. The point is not "who is right, the Republicans or the Democrats?" The point is that we as a people need to be vigilant in protecting our rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!"

Show Less

Fewer